Monday round-up

Good morning everyone,

It's been an awful week for most people with a deepening COVID-19 crisis, panic buying and shortages of all things. There's scant reason for optimism and yet we have to go on for ourselves and for the people we are caring for.

Please do share with us any shortages in professional medical help that's happening with you, how well you are getting necessary equipment, and what extra challenges in caring for someone else, you are experiencing. It does help to share.

If you are struggling with self isolation and need some lighter relief can I mention the 'Positive Wellbeing During Self Isolation' forum on Health Unlocked. I have already met lots of you from this forum there already, and it's quickly developing into a lovely community which is trying to help keep spirits up.

Have any of you ever read the book by Lisa See called ‘Snow Flower and the Secret Fan’? (there was a movie too, but it wasn’t a quarter as good in my opinion). It was a smashing read, and one of those stories that resonates with you for a long while afterwards. (Sorry guys, it is a bit of a girlie book, but you might want to give it a try).

For those who haven’t read it, it’s a historical tale of two Chinese girls from vastly differing backgrounds who communicate secretly with each other through messages written on fans, an ancient Chinese art known as Nu Shu, and the book documents their friendship through the years, in their triumphs and troubles. Strangely, in that book too, there is a medical crisis in which many people become sick and die, so it's quite relevant to the current crisis, too.

I’ve never mastered Nu Shu, of course, but I have a confidante with whom I share a similar but more modern method of personal communication…. the email.

We were close friends when we lived as neighbours in the Caribbean, and eventually both of us ended up back in UK, but are now separated by many more miles and find getting together much more difficult.

But every day we mail each other and have been doing so for the past ten years since I first came home.

We have seen each other through thick and thin, both as neighbours and now, still as firm friends, even though we can’t meet up regularly. I know that when the going gets tough I can share my trials in perfect confidence with someone who will always be supportive, and celebrate my triumphs too, as I do for her. No-one else can see what we have to say to each other, so we can always be relaxed and open and honest with each other. And it's such a boon to have this long, ongoing friendship that can easily endure the stark period ahead of us with so little interaction possible.

I think that everyone needs that. Someone or something we can trust will give us support when the going gets tough, and I’d like to think that the Care Community can help to do something similar for those who don’t necessarily have the supportive ear that I have in my friend.

Please stay safe and try to stay well. I hope that all of you are managing to get groceries and any supplies you need. Try to keep your loved ones well too. Very best wishes and love to you all at this troubled time.

[sassy59]

Love to you too. Hope you’re doing ok and that everyone stays well.

Take care all xxxx

[Lynd in reply to sassy59]

We are coping in our own way.

I was really upset about Mum being in hospital. They turned her out pretty quick. The sister told me it was dangerous for her to be in the hospital.

She wants to stay home. I have invited her to stay with us but she doesn't want too. So at 87 she is tottering about looking after herself. My sister delivered food and neighbors keeping an eye.

My big gripe is that my daughter collected our prescriptions. When I opened Jim's I was two boxes short.

Rang pharmacist. Said I would have to go for emergency drugs. Daughter not around so had to break my isolation to go get them. Asked if I could have the two boxes as he has been having them for nearly two years. NO must go back at later date. That could take me out of isolation again.

The really upsetting thing is the guy next to me coughed towards me without as much as covering his mouth. That has really freaked me out.

Hope everybody is coping.

We will get through this. Be strong x

[sassy59 in reply to Lynd]

Thinking of you and your family Lynd. As you say we will get through this. I’m not very impressed with your pharmacist though. Not very helpful. Stay safe. People who cough like that are disgusting! Xxxx

[FredaE in reply to sassy59]

i have been looking into home made masks. I have time as I am no loger an MSA carer.

there is a firm who are specialist mask makers (so they say - who knows - it could be the Russians again) and have equipment for testing.

they say that that two things that matter are fabric and fit.

Anything is better than nothing but they like best those towelling tea towels - the white ones with coloured checks, and polycotton tee shirts with scarves especially silk right at the bottom. of the list I seems obvious that the easier it is to breathe through the more things can get throughit.

I have been experimenting with various online designs for fit and they are not bad but not that good

my conclusion, for what it is worth is that If I HAVE to go out I shall fold the tea towel in four and clasp it over my mouth and nose. into the hot wash to clean it

this according to their table should be about 70% better than nothing especially with sneezing idiots about...and it seems to be the big droplets from them that are a big threat

The objection that when masks get wet they are useless, according to them applies to the flimsy disposable masks and THEY SAY the performance id still as good with the tea towel after 3 hours.

As I say. no idea if this is of any value or a hoax- Any comments please????

[sassy59 in reply to FredaE]

Worth a try I would say Freda. Something is better than nothing to stay safe. We have disposable masks our daughter bought for Pete so I can use them as necessary. We are staying home and Pete’s been isolating for over a week anyone.

Stay safe and let us know how the mask making goes. Good luck. Xxxxx

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Hi Freda E, I tend to agree with sassy59 that it's worth a try. We aren't really being encouraged to use masks anyway in UK, but I really do feel uneasy when I'm in a supermarket queue and people are huddling far too close together, and indeed inside them too.

Not even the best masks are 'safe' and especially when used by people who aren't used to infection control, which I expect you are FredaE, so not so much risk to you to rely on masks.

I think I'd carry on. Read some alternate sources and then just form your own conclusion. I doubt at very least that what you come up with will do harm and it's a great way to pass some time when you are confined at home suddenly when you usually have a busy and fulfilling job.

Lovely to catch up with you, and try to stay safe and well.

[Lynd in reply to FredaE]

I would say anything is worth a go but be aware that we don't really know if it helps.

I wrapped a big woolen scarf round my face when I went to the chemist but had to keep pulling it down as I couldn't breathe 😁

[Hidden in reply to Lynd]

That conjures up a picture Lynd! It's so difficult isn't it? What price now with masks and scarves being forbidden in shops and banks. Poor old staff don't know if we are there to rob them, do a bit of banking or get our paracetamol!

Hope you are managing as best you can and managing to stay upbeat. Take care.

[FredaE in reply to Lynd]

They did say that scarves were at he bottom of the list but if you can't breathe it must be keeping something out!!

[Lynd in reply to FredaE]

So true.!!!

[Hidden in reply to Lynd]

Oh what an absolute palaver with the medications Lynd. There's so much to be worrying about right now, that you could do without THAT! Hope your mum continues to keep well on her own. That must be another big worry for you.

And don't get me started about that coughing thing. What is annoying me is that common sense seems to go out of the window, the moment people approach a supermarket door. They form tightly packed queues and if you leave a gap, someone's sure to be cheeky and nip in front of you. Our local Waitrose had controls in place to control the ingress of customers but no attempt to suggest that people keep their distance. No good 'ole' Boris insisting we all maintain our distance if someone doesn't get a stricter handle on this.

Take care Lynd, and I hope you aren't worrying too much or getting too stressed. Stay well all of you.

[Lynd in reply to Hidden]

Good days and bad days with the stress. I am sure we are all the same.

We can only deal with today.

Love to everyone x

[Hidden in reply to Lynd]

Yes Lynd, too depressing to think of more than one day at a time!