Does being around people-since Covid-bother you?

Maybe try again to get the Evusheld infusion.

I’d try starting at places that are small and outdoors like Texas BBQ. Do it gradually until you are more comfortable and then work your way up to indoors and around more people.

It’s unfortunate that the FreeDumb crowd doesn’t care about science or other peoples’ health. Wear a mask, try to get antibodies and practice good hygiene, that’s about all you can do. There are some good anti-viral treatments now available.

CCinPA said...

I was able to get the Evusheld injections on Thursday so hopefully they will help. Everyone is acting as though Covid is over, but it's not for some. We're left on our own. I even had to research how and where to get Evusheld as my PCP had never heard of it. Turns out they give the shots at the same place I get my infusions. The nurses there told me they give lots of the shots ... probably because it's a cancer center and I think the cancer docs encourage their cancer patients to get them.

Any GI or other side effects from the Evusheld? Your experience might make for a good thread, I’m sure others are interested.

Clo-,
I have to work, so I am around college students every day, but my department has allowed me to mandate masks. If it weren’t for those masks I don’t think I would be so comfortable. I still keep my distance from people, have turned down a lot of jobs (I’m a classical musician) because I cannot play unmasked, and generally still do curb-side pick up for my groceries. If you can get Evu-shield that would be great, both for you physically and emotionally. Hang in there!

P.S. Your feelings are valid. You have pretty unique and challenging health issues, so the fear is totally understandable. We have all been through health trauma with UC, too. Unfortunately, we can't control what other people do. You'll probably never see those elevator people again, so try not to worry about that, lol. I probably would've done the same thing. Oh, and I just re-read your post--yeah, if masks were required in there, that would've pissed me off too, even if I wasn't at higher risk.

I had the Evusheld quite a few weeks ago. No side effects at all. My infusion doctor ordered it. I receive my infusions in cancer facility. She ordered it and within that week I received it. Never had the Covid boosters so she was happy I agreed to take it.

Thanks CCin PA,

I did reach out thru the portal. They want me to come in for an appointment. 1st one they had was in July. I took it. Crossing my fingers,!

Clo

I mostly don't wear a mask any more except on public transport and in the hospital, but I also avoid crowds and only go to restaurants and sports facilities etc with good ventilation, and i do freak out if anyone comes within a metre of me (including family).

I now have a 3rd friend with long covid. Like the other two they were age ~40 and extremely fit and healthy (as in doing triathlons). They've been on sick leave for over 2 months and are too fatigued to carry out basic tasks. For some reason long covid gets brushed under the carpet by policy makers. It definitely scares me.

As posted above, long covid doesn't care how immunocompromised you are or how fit and healthy you are. I guess being 40 (the most likely age to be affected by long covid) I know more people who had it and am also more at risk. And again, it gets brushed under the carpet because as long as you're not dead then there isn't a problem right?

VanJordan said...
I think how the government has behaved has mostly been immoral, especially toward the elderly in long-term care. The chance of getting severe covid that requires hospitalization is extremely low, if you look at the data. Even people over 65 who are at highest risk have low chances.

Speaking of immoral, your post is immoral. There are 1 million dead Americans who are no longer with us and are unable to comment on how stupid your post is; that’s 1 out of every 330 Americans - that’s not low risk, ask an insurance actuary. There were 14 million other people who died worldwide. This doesn’t take into account the number of hospitalization from Covid. The people who needed organ transplant, had strokes, or needed to learn how to walk again after being hospitalized for months.

Your post is so callous, how are people who read it supposed to feel that lost friends, family and loved ones to this virus?

I've been hearing good things about the anti viral Paxlovid. A co-worker's unvaccinated wife felt better within 24 hours of taking it and she was pretty sick. She said it was a game changer. Then the next day I heard a talking head on TV say he had recently been given that drug and used the same words -- "game changer". If you start having symptoms do a home test and if positive call your doc. The sooner you can take it the better. And since there is a big supply they aren't limiting it to high risk people. Co-worker has diabetes and his doc doesn't want him to take Paxlovid due to his diabetes meds (no idea why). He said he just feels a lot of fatigue and body aches -- he's fully vaxxed and boosted.

My boss got me an exemption to have VPN access so I have been back to working from home and wasn't exposed to the co-worker. I would have been freaking out.

It's kinda lonely now -- seems like very few people take precautions anymore. I'm nearly always the only one with a mask when I go anywhere. The state I live in is only reporting cases and hospitalizations once a week now even though when they do post the numbers are increasing fairly rapidly. Hospitalizations have significantly increased in the past month. Covid isn't gone and it's still killing people. Weird how how everyone acts like it's no big deal anymore. I do feel a bit safer since I got the Evusheld shots and know I can get Paxlovid if I ever need it. Still avoiding people for the most part though -- have come to enjoy the solace ... most of the time anyway.

CcinPA,

My nieces and nephews bought them online from some cheap site that will put what you want on t-shirts. Uberprints makes you order 11? At a time and they run about 20.00 per shirt I think. They are very thin and not something I wear alone--I wear them over my other shirt. But it's an explanation of sorts. My other niece went to a print store in Houston (that one's nice) and my nephew (he's refinishing his boat seats) actually embroidered it on a nice shirt after I told him how helpful the other shirts are. (Although his wife probably helped him alot). Those shirts started out as a joke, I was complaining about people looking at me crazy when I got gas or went out--because I wore a mask and was very skittish. I said I wish I could just tell them why without debating everything with them. I was sure the majority of people would do the right thing. They got together and got me the shirts. Sorta tongue in cheek. I visited some of my family members that are in the medical field when I had to go to the hospital for something--wearing the tshirts-sorta tongue in cheek--and was amazed by the difference it made. I don't know if it was me or them. I no longer care. I just keep one in my car and pop it on if I have to get gas or run into a store. The nice ones I wear when I have to go to a doctor's visit... There are some print shops in Dallas and Fort Worth I have been thinking of calling to get a price on. I have had people behind me at the grocery store actually take a few steps back when they read the shirt. LOL....

I actually asked my PCP if I could get the Paxlovid for a "just in case" scenario. He refused of course. But he too said that he has his patients telling him that it makes a huge difference. My nieces and nephews are in the medical field and they too have said it is a game changer. So that makes me feel alittle better.

Monday I am going to go in and try for yet another vaccine booster. It'll be my 5th. The evusheld... I have an appointment later on and will beg for that too.

I still isolate. It does get lonely. One of my nieces is frustrated with me. She cried the other day. She just wants to give me a hug..... So I told her to grow longer arms.... Lol...

Hang in there. I've heard there are yet other variants coming--but they are not a bad as some of the others.

Clo
We do travel alot. I have given some motivational talks since COVID. It's always very small groups, masks, outside and they stay away from me.... It is for friends that own small businesses. But hardly do that anymore. I am just too freaked out. Since we started opening up people seem to forget that there are others out there that are not like them--that need that extra personal space.

I am glad that your boss did get your VPN access back for you. Some bosses/businesses aren't that accommodating. I've retired so I don't have to worry about that as much.. I don't think I could work--I would be too concerned.

Good luck getting you tshirts. If you find a good place online please let me know. I'd like to get something alittle nicer.... And not hurt their feelings. LOL.

Loads of my fully vaccinated colleagues/friends have had covid, including two over 60s who had their 2nd booster and then got covid just a couple of weeks later (they both had mild symptoms and were back to normal after 2 weeks). I think I've come to accept that a vaccine doesn't stop you getting sick, just reduces the severity of symptoms.

I'm nervous now because it's 4 months since my last booster and apparently by 3 months the chance of preventing symptoms is already down to 50%. And also seeing my friend with long covid, fully vaxxed plus booster, go from a type A personality to needing bed rest after any exertion and unable to work, reminds me that covid is still a problem.

It's really hard to find the right balance between living life and being safe. I kind of swing between the two.