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Want to connect with others with Splenic B cell Marginal Zone Lymphoma
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Nov 15 7:18pm | Replies (329)Comment receiving replies
Thank you Lori for your thorough response. Yes, even before my diagnosis I went back to wearing masks in crowded public indoor places like supermarkets. Now I am wondering how much I should be masking in general when indoors, like when I am visiting with grandnieces who appear to be healthy, or at my new job when I will be in an office, sometimes with one other person for periods of time. I would hate to have to always be separated by others by masks for the rest of my life.
I also wonder about how this changes over the length of time it has been after a dose of rituximab since that med definitely increases or degree of compromise.
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This is a tough one to answer, Sue…when to wear a mask. For me, wearing a mask is second nature now. I wear a mask when I’m out shopping in any store, or elevator or in a car with someone other than my husband. I wear a mask in a friend’s home or even when people visit in my home. They are asked to wear one too. Even when my daughter and son-in-law come for a week or so, while we’re in the house, they pop on a mask. It’s not a big deal. We actually eat with masks on by pulling it down, taking a bite, replacing it. That way we can talk, laugh freely and enjoy our mealtime without worrying about aerosol. Since I know my husband is cautious, we don’t wear masks when we’re alone together inside.
I realize this can seem like overkill, but since we have no idea how my body will react to illnesses, especially Covid, a mask is my first line of defense. And it has served me well for the past 5 years.
Children are germ bombs so I’d especially be mindful of wearing one around your grandnieces. In the workplace, having an appearance of being healthy can be deceiving too. While you may think your coworker is perfectly healthy, you won’t know until they don’t show for work one morning because they’re home with the flu. That means you were exposed the day before.
Receiving a Rituximab infusion can lower your resistance for several months. This medication affects the B-cells (white blood cell that makes infection-fighting proteins called antibodies), which are an important part of your immune system, your body’s defense against harmful pathogens (viruses, bacteria and parasites) that enter your body and make you sick. So for that time span it would be important to be cautious to avoid exposure to infection or illnesses.
Ask yourself this…since you’ve been diagnosed, have you found yourself becoming ill more frequently such as catching a cold? Just use your good judgment in situations. If you get the spidey sense that this may be a situation where it’s best to use a mask, then put it on. If you’re in a grocery store and it’s not crowded, with lots of room and ventilation, then you may not need one. I think over time you’ll get the feel for when it’s appropriate and when it’s not necessary.