I would be interested to know if anyone has any opinions or medical knowledge about how wearing a mask might affect the immune system if it’s compromised. There were a lot of reports and discussions by ‘experts’ about the merits of face coverings at the beginning of the pandemic and some were very much against it for health reasons. These seem to be swept under the carpet now that ‘the science’ has instructed us all to wear masks regardless of whether it’s healthy or not - with a few exemptions. I have read little snippets that warn of breathing in your own bacteria and germs which is then recycled and not good for a weak immune system - this makes sense but how important is it for people like us who are always aware that we have a dodgy immune system and have to look after ourselves? Along with probably thousands of other people I hate them, but have gone along with the mandatory guidelines ....until yesterday when doing a rare supermarket shop and rebelled! I’m quite happy to put a mask on for short lengths of time, but I was going to be in there for over an hour and that’s a lot of breathing in. I wasn’t challenged by either staff or customers but was ready with a lengthy explanation about my PMR and weak immune system - I thought I could either bore them or confuse them! It would have been my luck though to have been challenged by a doctor or anyone else with medical qualifications as the supermarket is next door to the local hospital. Maybe next time I can have some accurate information ....just in case!
Masks - good or bad!: I would be interested to... - PMRGCAuk
Masks - good or bad!
Hi HB
I think it will be interesting to read other people’s replies, at the beginning of the Pandemic they said Masks were unnecessary but l believe that was only because they were short of Masks & PPE!
Lots of Colds, Flu’s & Virus’s are passed by droplets, sneezing, coughing, talking so to me it made sense to wear one. I personally would not go out without a Mask, no matter how uncomfortable it is particularly this week with the higher humidity & consequent steaming up of my glasses.
I think we all have to make our own minds up & do what’s best for ourselves. I’ve been Shielded so have only just started venturing out, l have had Chemo in the past with a totally wiped out Immune System so l am well aware of how to keep safe & for me it’s a Mask 😷 every time.......
Hi Mrs N. It sounds like you have to be extremely careful and I can understand your need to be wearing a mask. Fortunately I don’t have any problems like that and don’t feel particularly vulnerable. Other than PMR since early 2019 and down to 8mgs of prednisolone, I am otherwise In good health .... most of the time. I do however agree with you that you have to do the best for yourself - this is what I stressed to my husband when it all started and am still trying to do now. In my area of the midlands the virus has so far been ‘sparse’ - no one I know has had it which has been reassuring. All the local food shops and supermarkets have had the restrictions but none of the staff have succumbed to the virus...thankfully. Masks haven’t been necessary, only used by some people who felt the need to stay safe but otherwise it’s been a matter of personal choice ....as it should be I think. That has now changed, but it isn’t due to any increase in the infection cases. Which brings me back to my original thought - is wearing a soggy mask doing me more harm than if I didn’t wear one?! I might just add that my husband loves wearing his at any opportunity but he did once mention to me that he would have liked to have been a brain surgeon and it looks like a mask is the nearest he’ll ever get to being one!
Love your Husband’s Attitude! It felt strange going into the Post Office wearing a Mask 😂
Where are you based? We’re in Telford & have had very low Numbers so far until this week when we’ve had a Care Home with 13 Cases & 15 elsewhere but we only had four the previous week.
Soggy Masks are not a good idea, apart from anything it’ll chafe your skin & cause irritation. My good friend had to take hers off in Sainsbury’s as she became ‘all over come’ & thought she’d pass out.
We have our Big Order delivered & just do a few bits n bobs in M&S but this week with the humidity 🥵
Take Care
MrsN x
We live in Nottinghamshire , a small village near Mansfield. We’ve been very lucky with very few reported cases and no cases at all in any of the care homes. I think this will all change though when autumn comes and brings the flu season - not looking forward to that! But looking on the bright side - can you imagine the scope for Christmas masks?! Rudolph has got to be the favourite I think but there’ll be tinsel and glitter and even fairy lights. Now that has got to be something to look forward to!
You take care too Mrs N.
Keep Rudolph’s Nose warm anyway! 🎄
😂😂😂
Praise to your husband for being so sensible. I fear the issue over masks is highlighting some of the ills we are seeing. You may be feeling ok but you may have the virus. The whole point is, you do not know. It is for yourself but it is also to protect others from you. Different masks vary. Some are more pleasant to wear than others. If yours gets very damp, carry a spare and use it. The more this virus is allowed to spread the longer it will be around and we will all be inconvenienced that bit more.
Hi Herdysheep —. This is how I look at it .... at the beginning it was quite scary, having seen all the news articles coming from China - true or not. For the first few weeks of house arrest we did as we were told and was very careful- my husband has type 2 diabetes and I had the issue of taking steroids which we were told could be disastrous if you were unlucky enough to catch the virus. So we were glued to the tv desperate for advice and information to help us look after ourselves. At this point the advice was contradictory to say the least and it changed daily as did the rules. In my opinion this is when the face coverings should have been made mandatory and everyone would have complied - because the majority would have been too scared not to. And this should have continued when restrictions were lifted. Now it’s a shambles and people are questioning whether face masks are necessary ...and you can’t blame them! However, I have no problem with the face mask that I have - my granddaughter made all the family one each - 14 of us! My query was - do face masks affect the immune system and there are some reports stating that this is indeed possible. And if it is a possibility do we want to be wearing a mask for longer than is necessary? None of us want to catch the virus but neither do we want to give our immune system any more problems. A tricky one I think!
Not tricky at all. Face masks have no effect on whether your immune system is working.
Thanks, I’ll take your word for it .... but will keep an open mind!
An open mind is a good thing. It keeps your learning. Just make sure you have good sources of information.
And err on the side of caution.
You don't wear a mask to protect yourself, you wear a mask to protect others. Their masks protect you.
I have a mask and I have a face shield. I don't wear them at the same time. I love the shield when I go shopping in the grocery store esp. I wear the mask if running in to use a bathroom at the gas station on our trip. See if you can order the face shields. Face Shields are said to protect you from others and a mask is said to protect others from you. You must handle them both with care so not to cross contaminate yourself.
I have a Face Shield to wear with a Mask when l decide it’s eventually time to get my Nails done 💅🏼 but for now Me & Elegant Touch are getting along famously 👏🏼
A face shield will protect you from liquid respiratory droplets directed at your face, but will not protect others from what you exhale. Your exhalations will be directed downward and to the sides of the face shield. And you'll be sucking in whatever is in the ambient environment from the same directions.
What Good Grief said. Note that medical personnel add a shield to a mask when they need extra personal protection themselves. Dentists, dental hygienists have used both for years, ever since HIV became a thing. Never a shield by itself.
Oh, I live in the USA and my son-in-law's company sells the face shields. byrne.com/face-shields-kit
A little bit too far for me to come for a face shield from your son in law but it made me smile as my son in law is a photographer and has printed images on to face masks.
He’s doing very well with this enterprise and is hoping the mandatory face mask rules go on for a long time!
Early on, when there were no masks of any kind to be found anywhere, we organized a group and started making masks out of whatever we could find. We eventually made nearly a thousand triple layer cotton masks to distribute to the local residents, and even found a source for N95 filters to slip into pockets in the masks. Those we gave to the hospital.
I suspect the rebreathing of one’s germs is one of those things that sounds logical but if you think about it, doesn’t quite make sense. You are teeming with potentially harmful organisms all the time. I doubt that you breathe out very many compared to the billions in your body. If you sit in the car for a couple of hours in winter or even sit still in one room I wonder how many organisms you rebreathe?
My daughter works in a shop. They don’t challenge people because they have found that non-wearers can get quite nasty if challenged and there is no backup or support.
Hi Snazzy D . I think that it’s not only germs and bacteria that aren’t being expelled when they would be if you’re ‘unmasked’ it’s also the matter of breathing in enough oxygen which our lungs need. Regardless of whether it stops viruses from either getting in or out it seems to me that a mask isn’t a healthy item. Maybe it isn’t so bad for a few minutes in a shop, but to wear one for hours could possibly not be healthy. I don’t know, I’m no ‘expert’ but I have to say that over the last few months we’ve been given an excessive amount of information to sift through and no definite answer has been given to the public. I think we will just have to go with our gut feelings - it can’t do any worse than we’ve had from the ‘experts’!
I do feel really sorry for the shop assistants having to deal with awkward customers - they’ve been thrown to the lions I think. I’ve been particularly grateful to my local Co-op - not only have they kept open and well stocked throughout this crisis, they now have an announcement ...along with the cheerful music playing.... asking customers to be aware that some people are unable to wear a mask and to please be considerate and understanding. I will carry on shopping there, even though some goods are more expensive!
Surgeons wear Masks all the time in Operating Theatres to protect the Patient on the Table......
As well as to protect themselves FROM the patient on the table...
"Maybe it isn’t so bad for a few minutes in a shop, but to wear one for hours could possibly not be healthy."
Hasn't killed off many members of the NHS yet and they wear them all the time - whereas Covid-19 has.
Yes that’s very true. There’s been food for thought with everyone’s replies and I think it will keep my brain occupied for a while! It helps to put things into perspective and it’s something we haven’t been used to dealing with before. I find it very difficult to just accept what I’m ‘told’ to believe and get an uncontrollable urge to delve and look for alternative answers. I’m my own worst enemy and I know that sometimes I’m going to have a restless night! I wasn’t like this until I started with PMR - but it could be worse I suppose!
I get it. I'm a rebel, too.
But science is science and biology is biology.
To me, refusing to wear a mask is like refusing to wear a condom. A virus doesn't care about your personal preferences, and test results only tell you the status as of the moment the sample was collected.
It's not news that asymptomatic people can spread a deadly virus. And it's not news that a respiratory infection is going to be airborne to some degree, at least.
We don’t have to wear condoms too do we? Must have missed that.
I do feel lucky that being a scientist myself I am confident in assessing the pros and cons of "do this, don't do this" and seek the reliable information that in the case of Covid is freely available. The gubmint's claims of "following the science" have been a tad misleading - they didn't appear to me to be very scientific about it but I live outside the UK and heard the arguments directly without the smokescreen BoJo and co laid down. I've also discussed it and heard the evidence from my younger friends working here on the front line with Covid patients as well as local older medics.
A study found that here in Italy well over 70,000 infections were prevented by the introduction of mandatory face coverings - had it been earlier, it would have been more. As soon as the evidence was available that face coverings did make a difference I started wearing one - I had to to go shopping. I don't feel it an imposition - if it helps reduce the number of infections and make other vulnerable people feel safer in going out then why should I not do it as a responsible member of society? I still keep as far away from others as possible - especially any not wearing a face covering - and wash my hands. It is like a stool - if it has 3 legs it will work, take one away and it won't.
My opinion regarding mask wearing: regardless of the good or bad debate, they are necessary. They protect people from asymptomatic carriers and protect others in case we are infected.
I wear a mask all the time if I am out. It makes me feel safer. I would avoid those who don't wear masks if I am in the same space. It will be interesting to see what transpires from this Mask Debate.
I was sure you were going to say that Parker has to wear one all the time 😁. I still smiled even though you didn’t write it.
Am I crazy or just looking for a laugh. ....... 🤗
Parker has a black ski mask he wears. Puts it on when he goes to work whatever the weather. I sometimes think he has a different job to the one he tells me about?
Those concerns are all dug out of dark corners by people looking for excuses not to do the sensible thing and wear a mask. It is likely to be your own germs you rebreathe - that is the whole point of wearing a mask and why it works best if everyone wears them.
When you wear a mask you are helping protect others - but there is also a level of protection for you from others who aren't wearing a face covering. The face covering you wear will catch most of the droplets YOU expell when speaking - they contain the virus and because of the fabric don't get as far from YOUR face to reach others. But it also acts as a barrier to any left over droplets from someone else.
If someone with Covid who doesn't know they have it is out but wearing a face covering over their mouth and nose the amount of virus they shed into the air is reduced considerably. If you are also wearing a face covering it also reduces the amount that can reach your face and nose. The image below shows the differences between one and both people covering their face. It's the best I can find - there are some super ones circulating on Facebook:
shutterstock.com/image-vect...
You do not know who is around you carrying Covid. Right from the start here in Italy our local head of the hospital laboratory said they were sure that up to 70% of people with Covid showed no symptoms at all but were shedding virus - a figure that has been agreed with again and again. The virus is now affecting younger people more and they are less likely to have any symptoms, waiting for them to realise because they have a cough is not going to work.
If you don't wear a face covering and someone near you in the shop also without a mask sneezes or coughs in your direction the droplets have been shown to travel more than 20 feet - and you have no protection at all. Even outdoors a sneeze can reach a LONG way if it is in your direction.
It is your choice - but by not wearing a mask you are missing out on a level of protection for yourself. And really, if you are concerned about your immune system - wearing a mask is a sensible precaution. That is why dentists and medical staff wear a mask all day - to provide themselves with protection from you, the patient.
Ah - got a better image:
communitymedical.org/CMC/me...
And a PS - if your hairdresser/waiter/whoever wears a visor and no mask and they are infected - the droplets will fall out underneath the edge of the visor!
I have little to add to the views expressed above but the one extra area of concern for me is the question of what happens to those masks that we use numerous times while out shopping for example,or wandering around town.
If my wife and I are walking along the sea front or where ever we often remove our mask if on our own or well away from other people,I put mine in my pocket and my wife in her bag.
For those who may be carrying the virus,(possibly us,God forbid,) what happens then ? They/we get the mask out and re use it,by now it has contaminated a pockets contents or a bag,the mask remains contaminated and where does it go ? Already we see them thrown around in the street along with plastic gloves.
This is an important issue without doubt but it is far greater than wearing them or not,it is about the ongoing responsibility of how they are used and disposed of.
I carry a small bag with me to put the mask in. The cloth mask gets washed, and so does the (plastic) bag! On a par with a doggy bag if taking the mutt for a walk
Ditto!
If you remove your mask, use hand sanitized after you've stowed it and after you've put it back on.
Like any other "dirty" thing, I don't put them directly in my pocket or purse, but in a clean plastic bag. The bags I use can be sealed, and resealed and are reusable. I wash them with the masks at the end of an outing.
I also carry extra clean masks so if I've been perspiring, or suspect someone near me has been infected, I have a clean mask to wear. I keep clean masks and gloves in a clean resealable bag.
I rarely wear gloves, but when I do I wash them or use hand sanitizer before I take them off and throw them away at home.
Apparently, the outer membrane of the virus is disrupted with simple soap, so laundry soap or dish washing liquid will do the trick.
You’re very organised - I’m impressed!
I have to be. I live in New York, which was the hotspot of the world early on. Of course I'm on pred, and that's bad enough, but my husband had congestive heart failure - although well managed. If he got the virus, he would most certainly die.
We moved out of our NYC home to our Southampton beach house in mid-February, and have remained here throughout. We strictly quarantined for a few weeks after our arrival to make sure we didn't unwittingly bring the virus with us. We're out here most weekends all year round, and much of the area closes down for the winter, so the house is usually well stocked with whatever we might need.
It must be a big worry for you having to keep your husband out of harms way ....and yourself too. But it sounds like you have an ideal place while waiting for the virus to go away! We have a mobile home on the East coast of the UK. which is a nice little bolt hole for us. We had just arrived there for the season in March, had 2 nice days and then Boris told us we had to pack up and go home again to be locked in for a few weeks! We didn’t manage to get back until July but have luckily made up for it since. Hopefully the sea air will keep any bugs away from you !
The Professor is very careful. At first, it was a struggle to get him to wear a mask. He finally surrendered when I told him he'd look like a Trumpeteer if he didn't wear one. I'm just glad he was on a pre-planned semester off from teaching this spring, doing research, and that his school is 100% remote for the fall.
The virus isn't going away anytime soon. It's just going to keep looping the planet until it runs out of victims.
And no, the sea air won't keep the virus away.
We came out here because we have a lot more room - inside and out - and because the population is far less dense. Of course we love it here, but we miss the city. And the city is not going to ever be the same in our lifetimes.
This is a different scar than that from 9/11, or from Superstorm Sandy, in a lot of ways deeper and even more traumatic. It will be a very different New York City after this.
We've been told to carry our mask in a paper bag, this allows it to dry if it is a bit moist from your breath. I'm currently using disposables. I only wear a mask for a short period of time so when I come home I put it in a sunny window. I rotate what's there on the windowsill and will keep on using them until they are all worn out. I do have cloth masks on order. The cloth masks I have right now aren't working well (my glasses fog up). As we now know the coronavirus does not live very long on fabric or paper surfaces so I'm not concerned about my pocket!
I feel it helps me AND others - that's good enough for me.
Thanks Miss_Diagnose, but it sounds a bit complicated for my needs! I only go to the local supermarket once a week but it’s nice to know there are such masks out there if needed.
There is no negative effect on your immune system caused by wearing a clean face mask for any period of time. That's pseudoscience.
There are tens of millions of people who wear face masks in the ordinary course of their employment, all day every day - health care workers, food processors, janitors and cleaning people, factory workers, painters and contractors - and tens of millions of just plain ordinary folk in Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Japan, Korea, Vietnam etc.etc.etc. who wear face masks on a daily basis, and have for years now, whenever there's a flu or other infectious agent outbreak.
Your face mask cuts down on the number of virus and/or bacterial particles you expel when you cough, sneeze, speak or exhale. In addition, whatever you expel through the mask travels at a slower velocity - and therefore travels a shorter distance - no matter what type of mask you're wearing. And the face masks other people wear do the same thing for you. Hence, the 3 meter or six foot apart rule. The thinking is that many particles are likely to drop to the ground in that space, cutting down on the viral load transmitted to others. If you're not wearing a mask, you need to stay at least 20 feet from others, and you should avoid being anywhere indoors that isn't your own home.
Don't Be a Victim. Don't Be a Vector.
Stay home as much as possible.
Avoid confined spaces.
Avoid crowded spaces.
Wash you hands.
Wear a mask.
Doing anything else is irresponsible.
A mask with a valve does not protect the people around you. The valve concentrates whatever you exhale into a stream.
I think many others have already said my own thoughts. I didn’t think masks were a good idea but the WHO came out with a recommendation and I am persuaded that wearing one will help protect others. (But I confess I think masks are spooky and they give me the heeby jeebies!)
But they need to be worn correctly, replaced if they get wet and washed afterwards (or thrown away). As I told my mother today: think of them like a pair of knickers. Always wash them after you’ve worn them once.
I appreciate a relatively few people have legitimate reasons for not wearing a mask but everyone else should especially where it is mandated. As far as I know, no one died from wearing a mask.
Yes, but the WHO have a bad habit of changing the facts regularly ..... ‘masks are bad for you’. ‘No they might not be bad’. ‘It doesn’t make any difference if you wear one or not’. And now .... ‘we recommend that everyone wears a mask’. See what I mean?! There are too many scientists and experts all wanting their moment of glory!
I laughed at the advice you gave your mother about her knickers! Someone in my family sent a photo on our group messaging app of someone wearing a very tiny pair of bikini briefs covering their nose and mouth, with the message ....‘don’t try this with yours mum - Sainsburys aren’t ready for that sight! ‘. Although I can’t help but wonder if that’s what the shoppers need - a bit of light humour! And no, no one has died from wearing a mask - as far as I know - but I know that it can be very unpleasant for some people who are prone to panic attacks, anxiety and phobias .... and there are plenty who do. I think some people need to be more tolerant of others disabilities - I know a few people who are exempt but won’t go into shops at all now that masks are mandatory because of the hassle of having to explain. Not good for people’s morale I think.
There are definitely people with legitimate problems. And then there are some who engage in creating problems for themselves and others because it's somehow more satisfying to them than doing what needs to be done, even if it's unlpleasant.
Lots of recommendations will change as the facts become evident. But if symptoms emanate in the respiratory tract, you can be pretty sure that the infectious agent is somewhat airborne, even if the science lags behind because the new infectious agent hasn't been subjected to scientific rigor.
Well, I honestly don’ t think that I have encountered anyone who have created problems for themselves or others - not in my circle of acquaintances anyway. But I’m sure there are some like that - after all that’s what makes us so diverse. Glad I don’t know anyone like that!
Yes, I’m sure some recommendations will change eventually - especially once the mandatory vaccinations start!
I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of people exactly like that, hence the continuing spread of the virus in areas where people commonly refuse to wear masks.
Is that happening in the U.S? I think we have a few groups of anti-maskers here.... one such group stormed into a supermarket in London recently, much to the astonishment of the shoppers, and shouting at people to take off their masks and don’t give in to the New World Order! But other than that I think most people have complied to the mandatory mask rules. Except for the odd rebel of course! There’s always going to be those who complain and those who hate to be told what to do and what to think but if it wasn’t for these people it could be a bit Orwellian...and that won’t be good!
We have a wide variety of nuts here, not the least of which is our President.
I think I would agree with that!
Don't you just hate seeing someone wearing their mask below their nose, or on their chin. A friend of mine told me she's seen someone who had cut a hole in their mask so they could have a cigarette. Honestly! And we call ourselves the most intelligent animal on the planet. 🙄
Or dangling from one ear so it’s ready to put back on.
Here in Scotland we have been very successful in keeping the prevalence of the virus low, Because People Did As They Were Told. Now clusters have started up, one of the reasons being that some people think they know better and do their own thing, with no consideration for other people. We all have to do our bit, I wholeheartedly agree with the above posts from PMRpro & Good Grief. Masks are mandatory for a reason, To think they should be a personal choice in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, I mean, Really! If you are so worried about masks and your immune system why not ask your GP.
A GP?? Do you mean one of those rare species who ran for the hills at the beginning of all this and most are still missing?! And if I were lucky enough to get to see my GP this side of Christmas I don’t think a friendly chat about my PMR and immune system would be encouraged - not serious enough . That’s why I look on here for advice and opinions as it has been more use to me than my GP will ever be - something I am very grateful for. And while I really appreciate your views about masks ...as with all the others kind enough to give their views .... I’m going to dare to disagree about masks not being a personal choice. Up until the 24th July when masks became mandatory in shops - here in England - all of the customers in the few supermarkets in my area I thought were very considerate, sticking to the distancing rules, sanitising hands and trolleys, queuing in all weathers with very little complaints. Some people wore masks, others didn’t, but all I noticed was consideration for others whether masked or not. My point being that we had a choice...and more important was that most of us used our common sense and did what we thought was right. Again, importantly, it didn’t take too much pleasure out of shopping - we could still smile at each other or apologise if we thought we’d gone over the 2 metres or we could roll our eyes and say ‘isn’t this a nuisance!? But now, we can’t say anything as it’s muffled, and we don’t know if anyone is smiling or scowling. The social part of shopping has now gone - Because We’re Doing As We’re Told! But we can go and sit in a pub next to strangers for hours with no masks on of course!
And I sympathise completely with that view. I just feel that as a decision has been made about masks we should. Properly of course otherwise it’s worse.
You are right of course. I only hope it works ... in as short a time as possible!
Dear Hummingbird28,
From MY point of view, and having recently purchased a Rather Good- hand made- Mask, I'm OK about wearing it. On Balance I think, all 'things' considered, the Evidence- as far as I'm concerned- Indicates it's probably Safer. Don't 'Overthink' Things.... Just find a Mask your 'Happy' with. Failing that Buy a Good Stock, of disposables. (Anecdotally the Chinese wore them, from the 'out', and there cases ARE Falling significantly)
AndrewT
I bought a stock of those. They are very thin so I use two. I only use them if I know I will be in and out of places quickly - then I put them in a plastic bag and chuck them in the main bin when I get home (that is all burnt).
I use good quality (recommended) cloth masks otherwise.
Test your mask. Put one on, hold your hand up to your face and breathe out. If you can't feel your breath your mask is working. If you can, it isn't adequate.
That's why I use two at a time.😂
My cheap ones from the drugstore are fine singly 
Just a little query HeronNS and forgive me if I’m being a bit dim .... if you can’t feel your breath when you breathe out where is said breath going?
And if the exhaled breath can’t get out, how does a new breath get in?
I don't know, I'm not a scientist. But I am able to exhale and I am able to inhale. I haven't suffocated yet!
That’s very reassuring!
if you think you need to freely expel into the surrounding atmosphere your own "bacteria and germs" then what about everyone else? Please use a mask appropriately to help protect those around you,and hopefully most show the same respect for you.
I don't 'enjoy' wearing a face covering but I do it anyway. Before the coronavirus got a hold in the UK I had whipped up a few fabric masks for my family and friends. As early as February I was using hand sanitiser as well as washing hands scrupulously and wiping down chairs and tables with antimicrobial wipes. Some people thought I was overreacting but what they didn't realise is that it wasn't just cv-19 I was protecting myself from. At that time Norovirus and the flu were circulating too and I was hoping to protect against them. Even though Boris and his minions said facemasks didn't stop the spread I still decided to use a mask if I went into a shop or chemist or gp practice. I carry a "wet" bag to put the soiled masks in after wear and use hand sanitiser before and after using a mask.
During lockdown we didn't go out except if it was essential but now we have been out and mask wearing is part of our routine. Its not fun but I see how it can help to protect others but only alongside frequent handwashing and keeping the masks clean. Having worked in health care it doesn't seem unusual to me as was used to implementing infection control procedures. My hubby does absolutely hate wearing a mask though and would rather stay at home than wear a mask for any length of time. Do what you can is one of my mantras
Hi S4ndy. You have been doing exactly what I think everyone should be doing - using your common sense and doing the best for yourself! I told my husband that right from the beginning and we’re still doing it. We’re lucky - we have a nice home and garden to enjoy, we haven’t missed going out to socialise and didn’t see family , other than FaceTime. The fact that our area hasn’t had many cases of the virus and I don’t know anyone who’s had it or anyone who knows anyone who’s had it ....thankfully, I still think that we’ve been considerate to others by following the rules (Other than my little lapse in the supermarket a few days ago!)
But I am 100% in agreement with your hubby!
FYI:
Some reading material authored by one who lived to tell the tale:
latimes.com/sports/story/20...
Wear a mask.
Can't read, have to subscribe.
I haven't had a problem, but YMMV overseas. You could try ti cut and paste the link directly into your browser.
I've probably simply tried to access this publication too often in the last month. They do restrict.
We, in Canada, were advised against mask wearing at the beginning because a) it was thought the virus was spread through touching surfaces and b) the authorities felt we would do more damage to ourselves by wearing masks incorrectly. Over time knowledge has evolved. We now know the virus spreads more readily through breath (droplets) and very little through surface touching especially as we observe hand hygiene and b) masks are essential to curb the spread of covid19, BUT we have to wear them correctly. Masks can make one feel you aren't getting enough air sometimes, but hardly anyone is really unable to wear them, at least for the short period of time you might be in a shop or passing through an indoor public space.
Recently wearing masks in public has been mandated in my province although people can get medical exemption.
I thought I'd add this link about evidence that wearing masks does protect you - even if they aren't 100% effective, the less virus that gets to you, the less sick you will become whatever your medical history and risk factors:
theconversation.com/cloth-m...
Thanks for the link - it is interesting and not to be doubted. We were told about the viral load at the beginning of the crisis, especially when masks were not available to the public and we had to follow the 2 metre distancing rule. We were advised to make our own ‘face coverings’ out of old tee shirts, pillow cases etc. or wear a scarf. - some people were very inventive! Of course most people were worried, because at that time you had no idea if someone close to you had the virus and it was said to be highly infectious ...and deadly. And people were suspicious of everyone else, so when walking outside there was a lot of people making a wide berth to avoid any germs coming their way. There was a huge problem that some people were going to injure themselves by leaving the pavement without looking to see if a car or bus were going to knock them down! But one day on our local radio station a professor from Nottingham University was interviewed and he explained about the viral load. He said that there was little chance that people could catch the virus just by passing someone on the street without stopping to talk ....But if people were to stay for a chat, without a mask on for any longer than 15 minutes then there was a possibility that they could be infected. The longer the chat, the bigger the viral load, and the more sick you could be. This logic still applies even with the mandatory masks. However, after reading the post from HeronNS yesterday about the breath not being felt coming from the mask I felt a bit curious and have been ‘delving’! There is quite a lot of information regarding the pros and cons of wearing a mask but I wanted to find out how it affected people who had a weakened immune system ....which was my original query. So, what I’ve discovered is this - if you are healthy, with a healthy immune system then there is no problem with getting a reduced amount of oxygen in your lungs - but not for a great length of time ....some medical staff have had problems during the crisis. If, however, you are elderly, inactive, frail, or have a weak immune system then the lack of oxygen can put the lungs and the respiratory muscles under stress, and bearing in mind that the virus is a respiratory infection, that wouldn’t be good. So, breathing in my own germs and bacteria doesn’t seem to be an issue (until I find something that says otherwise!) but my lungs won’t thank me for not giving them some air. One suggestion was to lift the mask and take a good breath occasionally, or as needed - but what about those pesky germs that will be expelled into the surrounding atmosphere?! Will that be irresponsible of me? Or do I think of my own needs? Or, do I just stay inside until all this silliness has gone away?!
I have no idea what you have been reading - but I can assure you that for anyone who doesn't have physical breathing problems there is absolutely no likelihood that you won't get enough oxygen into your lungs through a mask. The knowledge early on was rather different from now and in fact there is a chance you could catch it in less than the 15 minutes they spouted about - if you happened to be sneezed on by someone you met and then transferred it to your mouth, nose or eyes you COULD.
But my line is that if my husband with only one lung which is also fibrosed due to radiotherapy can manage to wear a mask when out, anyone can. He does find it physically difficult to breathe and could probably get a medical exemption if he asked - but even with a mask on at his rehab physio classes his O2 saturation is 98%, better than mine. That is not the question - it is a gas, it passes through the material.
There’s a great deal of interesting and useful information when you start looking. Some I take with a pinch of salt but mainly the videos, podcasts, articles etc. I find quite enlightening and informative. Your comments about the oxygen and breathing are noted thanks - but I’m going to keep an open mind until convinced otherwise. . Your husband is to be commended as it must be difficult for him having to wear a mask if he has breathing difficulties. I have a friend who has COPD and has to have oxygen with him - it’s been a frustrating 6 months for him as he’s still having to stay inside - there’s no way he could breathe with a mask on and it would be fatal if he caught the virus.
Yes the knowledge has changed since those early days and life in general too I’m sad to say.
OH wouldn't survive it either - it has been an interesting year so far after he spent January in hospital on 3 separate occasions with only a couple of days at home. Then came Covid ...
That’s sad ... for both of you. Hope he’s on the road to recovery now. I’m going to be so relieved to see the end of this year!
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