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COVID-19 and MAC: What are you doing differently to protect yourself?

Posted by kathyhg @kathyhg, Feb 27, 2020

Is anyone doing anything differently to protect themselves now that we are facing the reality of covid-19?

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Sep 11, 2020
In reply to @sounder27 "Windwalker. Terri. I am concerned about masks as I will be keeping an in office apt..." + (show)
@sounder27

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.

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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.

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Sep 11, 2020
In reply to @lorifilipek "@windwalker @macjane The N95 mask with an exhalation valve in the front will protect the wearer,..." + (show)
@lorifilipek

@windwalker @macjane The N95 mask with an exhalation valve in the front will protect the wearer, but it doesn't protect others. In fact, if the wearer is infected, the front valve will concentrate the infected air and shoot it toward any person in front of the wearer. To guard against unknowingly infecting others, a second, cloth or lobby-type disposable mask should be worn over the N95 one to cover the valve.

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Hi Lori. Yes, I get that. You are correct; someone could be exhaling covid through that valve. I have tested negative and have not been anywhere to pick up the virus or had anyone around me that may have it. I feel certain that I am not a silent spreader. I do sometimes wear my pretty fabric mask over my n95 because it looks better.

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1 reply
Granny | @goddard | Sep 11, 2020

I wear an N95 mask although it is uncomfortable and I hate it, because it is the only one I know of that will protect me (as well as others). The ones with exhalation valves must be worn with an additional mask on top that fits snugly to protect others, because they do nothing to protect others from your exhalations, and neither you, I nor anyone else knows for sure if at any particular moment they have or do not have the disease-- too many false negatives, and you might just not have enough virus in you at time you have test to register positive even though you are. I wear a face shield in addition when I fly. That this virus is so frequently asymptomatic is why this virus is so hard to stop. It is silent. And it doesn't kill off a lot of its victims-- so they are alive to keep spreading it. Some viruses kill right away-- eg ebola-- so there is not a huge population to spread it and it eventually dies out. It is irresponsible to wear an N95 mask with an exhalation valve and no additional mask on top.

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lorifilipek | @lorifilipek | Sep 11, 2020
In reply to @windwalker "Hi Lori. Yes, I get that. You are correct; someone could be exhaling covid through that..." + (show)
@windwalker

Hi Lori. Yes, I get that. You are correct; someone could be exhaling covid through that valve. I have tested negative and have not been anywhere to pick up the virus or had anyone around me that may have it. I feel certain that I am not a silent spreader. I do sometimes wear my pretty fabric mask over my n95 because it looks better.

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@windwalker Hi Terri! Yes, I know you've tested negative. i was mostly concerned about people wearing an N95 mask with valve who go to the grocers and other places who think they're fine, but may not be. They may not realize that they could be exhaling covid through the valve.

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