I'm high-risk with asthma. How to stay safe with viruses?

@fiesty76 I too am at high risk with the age of my triple by pass . Today I was so upset . The post office here wont deliver packages we have to go down putting me at risk I got a hugh heavy box how was I to handle this . Thank goodness I had my walker but this is ridiculous especially when Amazon said they are delivering it to my door . My chest is hurting right now . If it doesn't quit soon I will call the Dr. Im fed up with this .

@lioness- how will you stay safe when things start opening up?

@fiesty76.. For a very long time I had this recurring dream which really bothers me. It's about me not being able to find my car. I would be coming out of my house, stores, restaurants, buildings etc and my car was not to be found. I would walk up and down the street, the parking lot etc. It gets to the point where I was afraid of it happening in real life. This dream has not happened lately but when I go out, I would still make a conscientious effort to remember where I park my car, this is one dream I don't want to come true. I wish someone would tell me what it means.

What we are concerned about is the plans for exit, in what seems to us in our case probably at some point within the next 2 years!

Our 44 year old Son that lives with us, has a whole long list of Chronic Health issues, and if there was a list of High Risk people to the Covid-19, he would probably be somewhere on top of the list. He was born with a serious Congenital Heart problem, and throughout his life the Mayo Clinic Doctors and Staff, performed 7 open Heart procedures, managed his eventual acquired Ventricular Tachycardia successfully through a series of Ablations, and partially recovered from 3 strokes that caused some Neurological difficulties.

Thanks to the dedicated and compassionate care he receives at the Clinic for the last 44 years, he is stable and enjoys his life the best he can.
Knowing his vulnerability we voluntary Quarantined ourselves at home with our Son 2 months ago. In addition to our son of course, my wife and I never live the house, we let no one in, and are very careful and cautious, knowing that his chances from recovery from being exposed to the Virus are almost none.
In addition to that, we live in "New York", which is not exactly the open spaces of other communities.

We are comfortable, and all 3 of us are in high spirit, we do everything we can to stay safe, we constantly update ourselves on what is known to the Medical world, and what they are still trying to learn about this Pandemic.

We are by nature positive people, and we don't worry about things that are absolutely not in our control. We are confident that a solution will be eventually found, but until then, we are convinced that we cannot take any chance, before a tested and approved vaccine will be available.

@fiesty76 I too am at high risk with the age of my triple by pass . Today I was so upset . The post office here wont deliver packages we have to go down putting me at risk I got a hugh heavy box how was I to handle this . Thank goodness I had my walker but this is ridiculous especially when Amazon said they are delivering it to my door . My chest is hurting right now . If it doesn't quit soon I will call the Dr. Im fed up with this .

@merpreb I will try to be selective about coming out of isolation too. For over a month we have been sheltered in place, but reallyy had started "contracting" before that, stopping outings to church and other crowds. I venture out only rarely to the grocery, my husband to pick up takeout. When we return home it will become very difficult, as our children and grandchildren will be so close but still unattainable. Our house will be supplied with necessities for us by a friend before we arrive.

The scariest thing for us is our 1500 mile road trip next week - we are preparing with food for the car, and equipping it to sleep inside if possible (weather will determine that.) The only stops will be for gas and restroom breaks, and we are well-supplied with disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, masks and gloves. Those who have traveled ahead of us report that rest stops and truck stops are open on our route, and are being liberal about allowing travelers to stop and sleep in the car.

At home we will quarantine ourselves for 2 weeks, but my gardens will keep us very busy, and I have most planting supplies on hand to get started. By that time, we will hopefully be able to safely reschedule all the cancelled medical appointments and tests...I have high hopes for safety since our clinic closed early on to walk in traffic, have been using telemed or referring those who must be seen to special sites. It seems really weird to have docs go back to "prescribing by phone" for common ailments after all the years they tried to stop doing that.

After that, it will be a decision process based on (perceived) ability to be safe and maintain distance. We have already cancelled summer plans that involve crowds, and asked our early-summer guests to cancel their trips to our home. It will be a strange time indeed.

Another decision point for us will be the holidays next year, when we typically fly home to Minnesota to be with family - we need to decide whether we will take that risk, or make the drive...
I fear that "normal" is in the distant future
Sue

Oh, @lioness, I am so sorry you had to try to manage going down for a huge heavy delivery. Hope there is someone in your bldg you can call on for help or even offer to pay if that occurs again? My friend in Queens has to do the same and some deliveries are multi-item in large boxes too unwieldy or heavy for her to carry. If she opens it downstairs, she worries about theft before she can get back.

Please don't hesitate to call your doc if the pain hasn't stopped. I'm hoping it was from a combo of the anxiety plus physical exertion you had to take but don't wait to get help if the chest pain continues and please let us know how you are. ok?