1. < Asthma

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

Posted by suerc @suerc, Apr 20, 2020

I am very afraid of contracting this virus. I have asthma and high risk. Afraid when this country open. Some are pushing to open and it scares me.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Asthma Support Group.

zep | @zep | Apr 21, 2020

Congrats on being in high spirits; that's quite an accomplishment.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 21, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@fiesty76 I too am at high risk with the age of my triple by pass ...." + (show)
@lioness

@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 .

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

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lioness | @lioness | Apr 21, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@lioness- how will you stay safe when things start opening up?" + (show)
@merpreb

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

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@merpreb Hi I probably wont change anything . I,ll stil l wear my mask for awhile I One thing is to use the bus more to go to stores but will still use Clorax more in cleaning . My son will be able to come over I,ll get to see my grandson go and use there pool hot tub for my back and to relax . We will be able to communicate with out neighbors here Other then this my routine will stay the same . Exercise class will resume and adult coloring . I will plan a trip up to see my friend which will be like a vacation for me . Just taking precautions when out How bout you Merry ?

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 21, 2020
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "@fiesty76.. For a very long time I had this recurring dream which really bothers me. It's..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

@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.

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@mayofeb2020, Certainly no expert by any means but I have had the almost identical similar recurring dream as well. Not recently thank goodness but each time was memorable because I needed to be at a certain destination and became frantic in my car search. Going in wrong directions, too much time involved with deadline looming, and with no one who could help find the car...

One Dream book suggested that for most of us, our car is what "transports us through life to meet responsibilities, keep impt. appointments, etc." Suggests that the dreamer is experiencing outward challenges in meeting obligations or moving through life at the moment as desired...just one interpretation but it made sense in my case. Sometimes for me it occurred whenever I was faced with some difficult decisions and felt lost and afraid of not making the best one for the situation.

Like you, those specific dreams may have been trying to aid me in better decision making but they surely made me more aware of noting where I park my car. I've had that "real time" experience of forgetting where my car was parked in very large lots and can become panicky before finally tracking it down. Now I make sure I know what aisle, #, letter, or part of the store sign I park in line with.

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 21, 2020

@merpreb, I apologize, I went off on another tangent about dreams...hard for me to stay on topic and need to work harder at behaving and observing our guidelines...don't wanna' have Connect privileges taken away for bad behavior. Will work to do better!

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 21, 2020
In reply to @fair2all "What we are concerned about is the plans for exit, in what seems to us in..." + (show)
@fair2all

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.

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@fair2all, Hi Jack. You and your family certainly were well prepared and wise to go into quarantine early before it was mandated, especially in New York. Do you live in an urban center or rural?

I can certainly understand your concern about planning for "an exit." and you are well advised to consider that ahead of time in as far as that is possible. Is your son seen locally for his medical needs and coordinated with his team at Mayo Clinic. Do you still go to Mayo for followup visits? I ask because I'm curious to know how that may look for your son in the near term and how telemedicine might now play a role in his care.

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 21, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@fiesty76 I too am at high risk with the age of my triple by pass ...." + (show)
@lioness

@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 .

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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?

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 21, 2020

Hi, suerc, There is so much conflicting and contradictory news constantly bombarding all modes of news media, that I've found the very best action I can take for myself is to really limit my exposure to news reports from all sources. This is a time for us to stay as calm and peaceful as possible and too much daily reporting increases my anxiety, confusion and anger.

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 21, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "@merpreb I will try to be selective about coming out of isolation too. For over a..." + (show)
@sueinmn

@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

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@sueinmn, It sounds as though you have prepared well and thoughtfully for your long trip home. Really good to hear that rest stops and truck stops are open on your route.

As for your return and the garden that awaits, you will have much to do in that regard. I am far behind my usual timeline this year, in part due to erratic and later weather changes and in part because I seem more lethargic and less "eager" than usual because of our new circumstances.

Like you and many others, my plans and that of my family and close friends for summer trips, visits and activities have all been put on hold or cancelled now.

My daughter received a letter from the park our boys have been going to for several years. It was very informative about possible plans and what they were doing to prepare but also presented factual info. with everything still to be determined at a later date.

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lioness | @lioness | Apr 21, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "Oh, @lioness, I am so sorry you had to try to manage going down for a..." + (show)
@fiesty76

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?

Jump to this post

@fiesty76 Thank you I am fine now I think this was the case Anxiety and the heavy boxes . After I rested the pain started to leave . I feel bad we have to endure this at this time . Also Amazon didn't deliver the one small package so I called them had a nice customer service agent that helped me out with the post office . Since they are paying them I thought this is what is happening . Thanks feisty76 for you concern How are you doing? Stay safe

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