@colleenyoung At this time I have had all my treatment at my local hospital – Sanford in Sioux Falls SD. In the last 8 weeks I have been involved with radiation, ER, I have been admitted to the hospital, the outpatient care center (infusion center), several testing areas, had a tunnel cath put in and have been in several doctors offices in various buildings. All employees wear masks. About 70% of patients wear masks. There are shields in front of all check in desks. I use hand sanitizer everytime I enter a building and everytime I leave. I don't touch any of the door handles. I could take my mask off when I was in my hospital room, but any time they took me out into the hallway to go for a test, I needed to wear my mask. I haven't had to travel, stay in hotels or eat out yet. I am scheduled to go to Rochester in July. We are trying to figure out how to deal with that.

Jump to this post

We just got my husband home from the hospital. He had been there since March 9th. MRSA and eventually two heart surgeries, which were likely caused by the MRSA, has left him sixty five pounds lighter, and a whole lot grateful.

I wear a mask whenever I forage for food or medicine. We will have his first heart doctor appointment in one more week. We will have hand sanitizer with us and will wear our masks throughout the process. We have some gloves, but we don't have a steady supply. They are hard to come by. So, I will save them for the home health procedures they have taught me to do.

For deliveries, everyone is instructed to place items on our front porch. I wear a mask even to go to the mailbox. I cannot control how close a neighbor will come up to me. Church is online. Prayer chains connect us daily. The non profit I work for continues to serve the community in spite of restrictions. Safely, of course.

We may have to do all of this for a very long time. Even when things open up, some ways of doing things may be forever changed.

I had to give my husband his antibiotic infusion today. I was scared to death. But because of Covid19, home health has to restrict what they can do.

Love and hugs to all our friends at Mayo Clinic Connect! We can do this. We are resilient.
And we are better together.
Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

Jump to this post

We just made a 1500 mile 3 day trip between our winter and summer homes. To say I was anxious beforehand would be an understatement!
Here are some things we did:
– Called and asked about precautions being taken before reserving our hotel rooms.
– Stocked up on masks (reuseable ones), sanitizing wipes (including several in baggies for our pockets-see below) and pet waste bags (for touching gas pumps.)
– Planned our route to allow stops at rest areas (less people than truck stops) when possible.
– Carried all our own food and beverages & disposable tableware for the 3 day trip, including evening meals to warm up in the hotel. Sanitized refrig and microwave before using. We elected not to try takeout because we had no idea what restaurants would be available.
– Used sanitizer wipes thoroughly in all restrooms and hotel rooms and on surfaces we touch in the car after each stop.
– Wore masks in all rest/truck stops, hotels common areas and elevators.
– Showered and washed our hair before going to bed, and changed all outer clothes each day. Washed and dried all masks each evening.
– Used our own pillows and blankets.

Here are some things we observed:
– Most people were not wearing masks, but many tried to maintain distance, especially retail workers and truck drivers, who seemed aware that the extra exposure to people put them at risk.
– Self-serve areas were mainly closed in truck stops and hotels, a single employee poured coffee, bottled drinks were sold, hotel employees gave out brown bag breakfasts of packaged items in lieu of a buffet.
– Hotels had shields at their desk, or set out paperwork a safe distance from the employee, they were busy sanitizing surfaces between customers.
– Less traffic, except trucks.

So, travel is possible, just not very much fun right now. 7 days later, we survived the trip nicely, and are in day 7 of our self-quarantine, feeling just fine, thank you.

Next week, we will both be heading (locally) to rescheduled lab and medical appointments. I am anxiously hoping thumb repair surgery is in my near future, so I'll be waiting to hear about anyone else's experience in clinic/same day surgery.
Sue

Jump to this post

Hi @mamacita What is MRSA? I'm suppose to have a swab done for it since I'm having surgery at Mayo.
Bless you and your husband. You have been through a lot. This Covid-19 had really thrown everybody for a loop, if you know what I mean and then having to deal with health problems on top of it.
I liked what you said though, that we are resilient and we are better together. Love to you, Mamacita Jane

Jump to this post

I drove from North Carolina to MN with my dog at end of March and here are a few things I did to keep safe on road:

– I packed a bag similar to a diaper bag and had essentials in it: toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfect wipes, baby wipes, gloves, paper towels, mask, Kleenex, etc….
– Packed food and water to have along the trip. Did buy some food and coffee at drive thru, but tried to avoid when possible.
– I used gloves when filling up on gas.
– Used credit cards only, avoid handling money.
– Wore mask when ever left car.
– After using rest room and wash hands, would take couple extra paper towels and use to open any doors on way out.
– Used hand sanitizer when ever I got back into car and before took off mask.

Every state was different as far as what was open.

I did stay one night a hotel. I only took into room what was absolutely necessary for night.

Safe travels

Laurie

Jump to this post

I drove from North Carolina to MN with my dog at end of March and here are a few things I did to keep safe on road:

– I packed a bag similar to a diaper bag and had essentials in it: toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfect wipes, baby wipes, gloves, paper towels, mask, Kleenex, etc….
– Packed food and water to have along the trip. Did buy some food and coffee at drive thru, but tried to avoid when possible.
– I used gloves when filling up on gas.
– Used credit cards only, avoid handling money.
– Wore mask when ever left car.
– After using rest room and wash hands, would take couple extra paper towels and use to open any doors on way out.
– Used hand sanitizer when ever I got back into car and before took off mask.

Every state was different as far as what was open.

I did stay one night a hotel. I only took into room what was absolutely necessary for night.

Safe travels

Laurie

Jump to this post

I drove from North Carolina to MN with my dog at end of March and here are a few things I did to keep safe on road:

– I packed a bag similar to a diaper bag and had essentials in it: toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfect wipes, baby wipes, gloves, paper towels, mask, Kleenex, etc….
– Packed food and water to have along the trip. Did buy some food and coffee at drive thru, but tried to avoid when possible.
– I used gloves when filling up on gas.
– Used credit cards only, avoid handling money.
– Wore mask when ever left car.
– After using rest room and wash hands, would take couple extra paper towels and use to open any doors on way out.
– Used hand sanitizer when ever I got back into car and before took off mask.

Every state was different as far as what was open.

I did stay one night a hotel. I only took into room what was absolutely necessary for night.

Safe travels

Laurie

Jump to this post

Good points. If one has to stay in a motel I would look for an outside access instead of going inside.
Where in Minnesota?

Jump to this post