Connect
← Return to COVID-19 and MAC: What are you doing differently to protect yourself?
Discussion
COVID-19 and MAC: What are you doing differently to protect yourself?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Sep 11, 2020 | Replies (264)Comment receiving replies
Windwalker. Terri. I am concerned about masks as I will be keeping an in office apt with the orthopedist next week for an evaluation and X-ray of my shoulder, which has been excruciatingly painful since the beginning of July. The office requires that I sign in before the appt which means that I will have to go thru’ the waiting room where there will be several patients waiting to be seen by various specialists. I am not able to breathe well in an n95 mask and almost passed out in the super market back in March before the pandemic became so widespread. My heart also begins to race. Would you recommend that I wear a cloth mask and a face shield and gloves. Do you think that would be protection enough?? I do need to get some relief as my sleep has been badly affected by the pain in my shoulder. Thanks for your input.
Replies to "Windwalker. Terri. I am concerned about masks as I will be keeping an in office apt..."
Can you stand to wear a N95 mask only during the time that the dr is within 2 feet of you? I struggle to breathe in them as well, but I tolerate it. Sometimes I have to lift the mask and take in some air, but I do it not near others. Perhaps wear the office lobby mask most of the time, but put on or at least hold the N95 to your face while a physician or nurse is within feet of you. I hope that you can find some relief for your shoulder pain. Been there, done that. I know how aggravating that is. Let me know what they recommend for you.
Connect
Here is my experience - I am older, asthmatic & have bronchiectasis, so am considered high risk. I have been in and out of doctor, surgery & therapy offices since about 2 dozen times since June. High touch surfaces, including pens & clipboards/tablets for paperwork, are diligently disinfected between patients EVERYWHERE I have been. Temperatures are taken & patients quizzed about health and exposure before being seen, companions generally not allowed, and seats set far apart. Hand sanitizer is everywhere, and staff and patients all seem to be using it often. Remember staff is serious about preventing infection for their own health, and for the ability to stay open and working. Also remember that the likelihood of infection is a combination of factors - the length of exposure and the quantity of live virus that makes it into your eyes and nose, where it is able to take hold. It does not infect through your skin.
If you cannot wear the N95 or KN95 mask, the cloth mask plus shield sounds like a good solution. I wear either a 3-layer cloth mask or N95 mask without valve, depending on whether I will be in close contact/there for some time, or shorter & less direct contact. I have not felt the need to wear a face shield.
"The jury is out" on the necessity for gloves - as time goes on, evidence of transmission by touching surfaces has not been strong. The reports that virus particles are found on surfaces is not definitive - there is no peer-reviewed study showing these are viable & able to infect you. If your face & eyes are covered so you cannot touch them with contaminated fingers, your risk would be negligible. Diligent hand cleaning is better, because it avoids inadvertently transferring contaminants from one surface to another as gloves can do.
(Note: This may not apply to other places like grocery stores and other high-traffic, high-touch places if you are at very high risk. Those places would be better avoided altogether.)
I hope this helps ease your mind.
Sue