As an ER nurse I am still getting plenty of ‘close contact’ with folks. Thankfully only 8 cases in our county so far, and none in this community as far as I know.
Covid 19 or not we are still having tib/fib fractures, chronic renal failure, incontinent patients from the nursing home, lacerations/puncture wounds, hypertension/hyperglycemia patients, CODE 10 calls, GeroPsych pts that create “Dr Strong” situations, etc. etc. So we get to be “up close and personal” on a regular basis.
Got screwed on the camping trip with the grands last week when the NPS cleared us off Cumberland Island, but c’est la vie. I could be unemployed.
@chienfou Cool. We had a Dr. Armstrong at the inpatient drug rehab I worked at a few years ago…I wonder if they were related? He was kinda big guy, lots of arms and legs…
I have officially been deemed necessary/ essential. (I knew we would be considered thus, but now it’s official.) I even have a paper to carry around in case my state goes to a “stay at home” order. Just getting that paper raised my stress level quite a bit as it made everything a lot more real to me.
For me, all the other things/ policies that have changed for the time being have been more on the level of inconvenience but not especially stressful. (I don’t have kids so the no school hasn’t really affected me.)
I’ve been able to joke around with customers about some of the restrictions (while not undermining them) like how we now have to maintain a 6-ft distance from the customers at the register (I’m a cashier at a convenience store). I call it “dancing with the customers” and “making sure everyone gets all their steps in” to try and help alleviate the stress of all the changes. (And changes in policy have taken place just about every day.)
On the bright side, I’m now making $2 more per hour for however long this emergency period lasts.
@Knightp Good luck, and keep us updated on your condition. Any fever? How are you medicating? It’s helpful to know how other people handle this.
So far, I’m OK, other than what I think are my usual seasonal allergies which have hit me earlier and harder than usual, but I’m two degrees away from several other people positive for CV.
@Knightp
My mom works at a hospital and sent me this today.
Fwd:
FYI:
Information from Vienna’s laboratory studying COVID-19 say vast majority of people who died had ibuprofen/Advil in their system so do not take it!! Those who recovered did not take ibuprofen so if you have symptoms, take Paracetamol only!!! Looks like this virus thrives on ibuprofen so don’t do it and tell everyone you can!!!
Please pass this information on to everyone in each family. I don’t want to miss anyone so share as much as you can. Or copy and paste!
I just spoke with my friend who is a nurse at VGH (Vancouver) and they just learnt that Advil makes the virus 10x worse. Tylenol ONLY for the time being. She said Advil kickstarts the virus into pneumonia.
She also said she found some people in there 40s and 50s who were previously healthy to be on ventilators and having major difficulty breathing because they took Advil.
Also 4 doctors at VGH are now infected and she said she has never seen her doctors so worried before. So please no Advil and stay safe!!!
There are a few articles online
No Advil
No Advil or any NSAIDS!!!
At the end of last week, both the European Medicines Agency (the European Union’s equivalent of the FDA) and the World Health Organization tried to tamp down the furor. They both weighed in to say there is no reason to stop using ibuprofen to home-treat fever from Covid-19.
I work remote, but most of colleagues are usually in an office where they distract each other. Now, they are all working remote and driving me crazy with chats, calls, meetings, video thingies!!! AARRGGHHH!!!
@jml326@RiotDemon A GMP Facility is a production facility or a clinical trial materials pilot plant for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. It includes the manufacturing space, the storage warehouse for raw and finished product, and support lab areas.
@Fuzzalini@jml326 Actually what is even worse IMHO is that we are doing a crappy job of collecting for the tests we actually have. I have seen reports of over 50% of tests submitted in some areas being refused for incomplete information, inadequate specimen content, and/or not being kept cool enough after collection/during transport to the test centers. THAT is borderline criminal… Not only is that a resource waste, but the pt is now an additional day (or more) away from getting a legit result. Slow down and Do it right for the love of God…
@chienfou@Fuzzalini depending on which test is being run that is a gross misuse and misunderstanding. Test times vary from 4-24 hours. It could also be equipment running 24/7 that was never made to handle that load. Or the operator getting sick.
@jml326 (assuming this was addressed to me…) here you go (just one example that I am familiar with, but I can’t believe this is ONLY a problem at the hospital in Tuscaloosa…
@chienfou Ok this could be a number of issues and big problems. The country is seeing a shortage of media that can save the RNA when doing a collection. With out more details on the type of test being used this is really my best guess. Some labs have resorted to using Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Where this can keep the virus stable for a short period it will not help to save the RNA long term.
@jml326 I think a lot of them were probably “sputum” collections that were really ‘spit’ collections. Gotta have that loogie!
Also, there was an issue with temp control…
I’m an introvert with no social life, so I’m doing fine. I’ve got a good setup for working from home, and I’m thankful to have a job and a house and enough food and so on.
Doing meetings online is pretty amusing still, even if it’s not as efficient.
The rare times I go out, it’s nice to have almost no traffic.
Not getting to go to restaurants etc. is starting to get annoying, and I worry that some of my favorite local businesses won’t make it.
I miss physically being around my friends, I really miss being around my kids and kids-in-law, I really, REALLY miss being around my grandkids.
And a lot of people I care about are squarely in the vulnerable category, so there’s that.
When I was at work there were a few people for whom “social distance” was in your face. Now it is so much more comfortable. As an introvert, being at home is more comfortable. Just being alone with my wife is more comfortable. So, I am enjoying everything about staying away from other people.
It is just watching TV, and hearing about all the illness that makes me uncomfortable.
the staying at home doesn’t bother me. i’m at home most of the time anyway. also, extremely lucky that my partner can WFH but is also an essential employee so we still have income. also extremely lucky that we have neither kids nor roommates, and being around each other 24/7 doesn’t faze us.
however, due to a classic cocktail of mental illness and personality type, between my own anxiety & anxiety-related stuff, and absorbing the anxiety of those around me, it has been a bit of a rough ride. before my partner was cleared to WFH i was in full on meltdown mode. thankfully i’ve come out the other side of that but i’ve had to be really careful about screen time and sticking to routine. at least if i fuck up we have a fresh bottle of ativan on hand.
additionally, if this goes on much longer and corporations, institutions, and the government do nothing, the already large class divide is gonna open up like a fuckin’ chasm and swallow up a lot of people. already seeing friends out of work with no income and no safety net. at the bare minimum we need checks and rent forgiveness, now. this goes under “logical/informed anxiety.”
@lisaviolet I’m not going to do it, because I don’t want it in my browser history, but I wonder what happens if you actually do a search for “crafting porn”… “Oooh big boy – bring that hot glue gun over here and squirt your steaming goo all over my felt fabric…”
Working from home is in every way an improvement. Now that everybody else is remote, they’re actually contacting me more – they wouldn’t walk up to my desk, necessarily, but they will text or call, which they weren’t doing as much before. But even all that isn’t too disruptive.
I’m still eating better (the fridge is right there)… things are more comfortable, more peaceful… it’s easier to concentrate, there’s more flexibility in scheduling.
Even though I have to go to work, I’m really enjoying the empty roads. My usual 60 minute ride home is taking about 40 minutes these days. I hope ya’ll realize working from home is awesome and you continue to do so after this is all over.
I can’t do all my work remotely, so I’m still going to work. I’d estimate 80% of our workforce is teleworking, so the office is quiet. It’s amazing how much I get done because people aren’t around to distract me.
@w3kn (Finally getting around to) working from home has been a real eye-opener for me. Why didn’t I start doing this years ago? After this mess is over and isolation is no longer required, I think I’ll just continue the practice.
Essential workers, mandatory distancing at work…
Which brings me to my rant.
At work we moved all work stations 6’ apart so to lessen the chance of casual spreading of cooties19.
Yesterday, three of my operators came in, laughing at how stupid the company is, because THEY take their 30 minute lunch and go sit in the cab of his truck and eat and smoke together.
Then, at 230, one of them comes to my office and tells me she doesn’t feel good and is heading to the nurse because she is having a hard time breathing and has a horrible headache.
Nurse sends her home with a fever of 100.8. And the other two get sent home because they have spent every lunch this week cramped in the cab of a truck with someone who may have it. And just like that, one sub assembly line is shut down.
Yeah, the jokes on us! Moving work stations doesn’t do a damn thing if people won’t keep their distance.
I am not complaining because I know there are a lot of people who don’t have the luxury of working at home and are having to go without a paycheck. But I am having a hard time getting adjusted to working from home all the time. Nothing major, but a lot of small distractions are causing my days to be 11-12 hours instead of 8-9.
if I notice that the dishwasher needs emptying or trash needs to be taken out, I do it.
paying attention to the dog
with so many people working from home, network traffic has severely impacted response time
I’m eating too much
we have already had a couple of thunderstorms where I needed to power down my equipment (could have safely worked thru the storm at work)
The kitchen table is the only real area in the house that provides an ample workspace and it isn’t as comfortable as the office. I occasionally have to take a break
VPN’ing from home requires I two-factor authenticate 4+ times a day
My son (vacated college dorm), and wife (college instructor) are both having classes online that are hard for me to tune out.
Boss feels obligated to online chat each employee 3-4 times a day. I am pretty sure he just wants to make sure people are actually at their computers. In the office, you could depend on him making his rounds walking thru the cubicles 3 times per day, but he would usually pass by without saying anything.
Like I said, individually all these problems sound petty, but the cumulative affect is something I still need to get used to.
I work for local govt. The only change we’ve made is to lock doors to the public. Just got the first case in our county, a co-workers daughter. People freaked out when they found out. He picked his kid up at the airport over the weekend, then came to work Monday (going to a few different buildings) and came in Tuesday, but left after his daughter told him she had a fever. It got crazy. But we’ve really not planned on any changes and have heard no mention of any changes. So unless the governor forces it, it’s ssdd.
We are still very paper heavy, so any work at home would still require us to go in here and there to pick up and drop stuff off. I don’t see anyone being off unless they are sick or live with someone that is sick. We can use our sick time if we are “non-essential”, but no one knows who is considered non-essential. It’s a cluster. There is other bullshit that makes me wonder wtf people are thinking and where they are getting their info from.
The main thing that really bothers me is that my son is getting no social interaction outside of me and my wife. He’s 19 months old and his language vastly increased the past two weeks. No library, play groups, classes, or visiting family like he’s used to. We try to video chat with family, but it’s not the same.
@Ray21104 interaction with YOU (2) is the most important thing that can happen at this age. He will not get socially delayed by not being in daycare etc.
I’m an introvert and used to staying home, although I’m not crazy about having to do work while I’m here.
@iluvmingos
I agree. I prefer to be at home, but not working at the same time.
I have no life so… meh.
As an ER nurse I am still getting plenty of ‘close contact’ with folks. Thankfully only 8 cases in our county so far, and none in this community as far as I know.
Covid 19 or not we are still having tib/fib fractures, chronic renal failure, incontinent patients from the nursing home, lacerations/puncture wounds, hypertension/hyperglycemia patients, CODE 10 calls, GeroPsych pts that create “Dr Strong” situations, etc. etc. So we get to be “up close and personal” on a regular basis.
Got screwed on the camping trip with the grands last week when the NPS cleared us off Cumberland Island, but c’est la vie. I could be unemployed.
@chienfou Cool. We had a Dr. Armstrong at the inpatient drug rehab I worked at a few years ago…I wonder if they were related? He was kinda big guy, lots of arms and legs…
@chienfou Thanks for all you do.
@ThunderChicken Thanks. This is career number 5 or 6 and overall the one I have kept at the longest, since I truly enjoy what I do.
I hope there’s never a disease that requires social closeness.
@awk I think that’s called an elevator…
@awk
I actually have that disease. I get flare ups whenever the wife is near by and/or naked…
@jst1ofknd
Oh… Did I catch that from YOU?
Oh, I’m cool. I work from home anyway. The traffic from the nearby highway sounds like Sunday mornings all the time now so that’s nice.
I have officially been deemed necessary/ essential. (I knew we would be considered thus, but now it’s official.) I even have a paper to carry around in case my state goes to a “stay at home” order. Just getting that paper raised my stress level quite a bit as it made everything a lot more real to me.
For me, all the other things/ policies that have changed for the time being have been more on the level of inconvenience but not especially stressful. (I don’t have kids so the no school hasn’t really affected me.)
I’ve been able to joke around with customers about some of the restrictions (while not undermining them) like how we now have to maintain a 6-ft distance from the customers at the register (I’m a cashier at a convenience store). I call it “dancing with the customers” and “making sure everyone gets all their steps in” to try and help alleviate the stress of all the changes. (And changes in policy have taken place just about every day.)
On the bright side, I’m now making $2 more per hour for however long this emergency period lasts.
@msklzannie
Hazardous duty pay??
@chienfou I’m not sure if they’re officially calling it that, but basically yes.
I’m OK with staying home, but I’m sick right now with an upper respiratory infection, so that’s got me anxious with everything that’s going on.
@Knightp
Well take care of yourself and please get help if you need to.
@Knightp Good luck, and keep us updated on your condition. Any fever? How are you medicating? It’s helpful to know how other people handle this.
So far, I’m OK, other than what I think are my usual seasonal allergies which have hit me earlier and harder than usual, but I’m two degrees away from several other people positive for CV.
@Knightp
My mom works at a hospital and sent me this today.
Fwd:
FYI:
Information from Vienna’s laboratory studying COVID-19 say vast majority of people who died had ibuprofen/Advil in their system so do not take it!! Those who recovered did not take ibuprofen so if you have symptoms, take Paracetamol only!!! Looks like this virus thrives on ibuprofen so don’t do it and tell everyone you can!!!
Please pass this information on to everyone in each family. I don’t want to miss anyone so share as much as you can. Or copy and paste!
I just spoke with my friend who is a nurse at VGH (Vancouver) and they just learnt that Advil makes the virus 10x worse. Tylenol ONLY for the time being. She said Advil kickstarts the virus into pneumonia.
She also said she found some people in there 40s and 50s who were previously healthy to be on ventilators and having major difficulty breathing because they took Advil.
Also 4 doctors at VGH are now infected and she said she has never seen her doctors so worried before. So please no Advil and stay safe!!!
There are a few articles online
No Advil
No Advil or any NSAIDS!!!
@star2236
Please don’t spread questionable or unsupported “medical fear info”.
https://apple.news/Ak6QDVS1iR4-jPtIuJAG0Eg
(Wired news)
Zero evidence supports this scare.
@f00l
Sorry, I wasn’t trying to do anything bad. My mom works in a hospital and sent it to me and just read you were sick and was trying to be kind.
@star2236
All right. Cool.
/youtube They’re coming to take me away
I work remote, but most of colleagues are usually in an office where they distract each other. Now, they are all working remote and driving me crazy with chats, calls, meetings, video thingies!!! AARRGGHHH!!!
@hchavers I’m feeling this pain. My work from home days used to be for getting stuff done!
My life right now. We retooled an academic GMP facility to produce covid test kits for our hospital.
JHU
@jml326 gmp?
@jml326 @RiotDemon
A GMP Facility is a production facility or a clinical trial materials pilot plant for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. It includes the manufacturing space, the storage warehouse for raw and finished product, and support lab areas.
@jml326 Thank you for providing test kits. The lack of these had been appalling.
@Fuzzalini @jml326 Actually what is even worse IMHO is that we are doing a crappy job of collecting for the tests we actually have. I have seen reports of over 50% of tests submitted in some areas being refused for incomplete information, inadequate specimen content, and/or not being kept cool enough after collection/during transport to the test centers. THAT is borderline criminal… Not only is that a resource waste, but the pt is now an additional day (or more) away from getting a legit result. Slow down and Do it right for the love of God…
@chienfou @Fuzzalini depending on which test is being run that is a gross misuse and misunderstanding. Test times vary from 4-24 hours. It could also be equipment running 24/7 that was never made to handle that load. Or the operator getting sick.
Do you have any documentation?
@jml326 (assuming this was addressed to me…)
here you go (just one example that I am familiar with, but I can’t believe this is ONLY a problem at the hospital in Tuscaloosa…
@chienfou Ok this could be a number of issues and big problems. The country is seeing a shortage of media that can save the RNA when doing a collection. With out more details on the type of test being used this is really my best guess. Some labs have resorted to using Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Where this can keep the virus stable for a short period it will not help to save the RNA long term.
@jml326 I think a lot of them were probably “sputum” collections that were really ‘spit’ collections. Gotta have that loogie!
Also, there was an issue with temp control…
Yeah, that still ain’t happening here. Even if it was, my workplace is technically essential.
I have to go back to work tomorrow after having three blissful days off.
I don’t want to go.
I’m an introvert with no social life, so I’m doing fine. I’ve got a good setup for working from home, and I’m thankful to have a job and a house and enough food and so on.
Feeling like nothing’s changed.
I’m still working for Casey’s General Store, in the distribution center, so I still have some normality in my life.
Doing meetings online is pretty amusing still, even if it’s not as efficient.
The rare times I go out, it’s nice to have almost no traffic.
Not getting to go to restaurants etc. is starting to get annoying, and I worry that some of my favorite local businesses won’t make it.
I miss physically being around my friends, I really miss being around my kids and kids-in-law, I really, REALLY miss being around my grandkids.
And a lot of people I care about are squarely in the vulnerable category, so there’s that.
@mehcuda67 Online meetings be like:
@therealjrn Exactly! Or
/giphy hollywood squares
As far as I can tell, life is the same until I turn the TV on.
Everything there is panic and mass hysteria.
@2many2no We.tv or Sundance. Reruns of Law & Order.
@lisaviolet My wife watches Lawn Order.
That’s exactly what I mean.
When I was at work there were a few people for whom “social distance” was in your face. Now it is so much more comfortable. As an introvert, being at home is more comfortable. Just being alone with my wife is more comfortable. So, I am enjoying everything about staying away from other people.
It is just watching TV, and hearing about all the illness that makes me uncomfortable.
the staying at home doesn’t bother me. i’m at home most of the time anyway. also, extremely lucky that my partner can WFH but is also an essential employee so we still have income. also extremely lucky that we have neither kids nor roommates, and being around each other 24/7 doesn’t faze us.
however, due to a classic cocktail of mental illness and personality type, between my own anxiety & anxiety-related stuff, and absorbing the anxiety of those around me, it has been a bit of a rough ride. before my partner was cleared to WFH i was in full on meltdown mode. thankfully i’ve come out the other side of that but i’ve had to be really careful about screen time and sticking to routine. at least if i fuck up we have a fresh bottle of ativan on hand.
additionally, if this goes on much longer and corporations, institutions, and the government do nothing, the already large class divide is gonna open up like a fuckin’ chasm and swallow up a lot of people. already seeing friends out of work with no income and no safety net. at the bare minimum we need checks and rent forgiveness, now. this goes under “logical/informed anxiety.”
@jerk_nugget
Those people you mentioned are the ones that need a bailout, not airlines, cruise ship companies, and the like…
@jst1ofknd yup, bingo.
To be honest with you I admit to watching tons of porn.
CRAFTING PORN!
Like this. Or this. Or that. Or this other magical thing. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
You should see my Amazon wishlist right now.
@lisaviolet those are wonderful! I love that you watch those!!
@lisaviolet
I know exactly what you mean with your amazon wishlist.
@lisaviolet I’m not going to do it, because I don’t want it in my browser history, but I wonder what happens if you actually do a search for “crafting porn”… “Oooh big boy – bring that hot glue gun over here and squirt your steaming goo all over my felt fabric…”
@shahnm Yeah, that might not be a good idea. Which is why I supplied links. lol
@lisaviolet @shahnm reminds me of this… which has become our go-to gift for baby showers.
@chienfou @shahnm Sweet.
@lisaviolet yeah, it’s been a big hit with moms…
@chienfou That book is hilarious!
Working from home is in every way an improvement. Now that everybody else is remote, they’re actually contacting me more – they wouldn’t walk up to my desk, necessarily, but they will text or call, which they weren’t doing as much before. But even all that isn’t too disruptive.
I’m still eating better (the fridge is right there)… things are more comfortable, more peaceful… it’s easier to concentrate, there’s more flexibility in scheduling.
There is no downside.
@InnocuousFarmer
And … you don’t have to wear clothes.
Right?
/giphy naked buck
@f00l @InnocuousFarmer
I don’t.
@f00l Exactly! Audio only on the VOIP calls!
@f00l @InnocuousFarmer @jst1ofknd
have to or wear them?
@chienfou @f00l @InnocuousFarmer
Wear them. I put on a shirt for Zoom calls and get dressed for walks twice a day. Other than that my work hours have been naked.
Even though I have to go to work, I’m really enjoying the empty roads. My usual 60 minute ride home is taking about 40 minutes these days. I hope ya’ll realize working from home is awesome and you continue to do so after this is all over.
working from home and loving the commute
Also I have no shortage of things at home to amuse myself with.
@infornography
I actually miss my commute. I listened to audiobooks.
@infornography @jst1ofknd
Audiobooks rock!
working daily from home. Paycheck still coming in. And I’m coming more because I jerk off on the hour. All good…or all goo
@mydrivec
Is that a Zoom work conference customary practice at your place of employment?
@f00l @mydrivec Glad the porn industry isn’t suffering too much…
I can’t do all my work remotely, so I’m still going to work. I’d estimate 80% of our workforce is teleworking, so the office is quiet. It’s amazing how much I get done because people aren’t around to distract me.
@w3kn Don’t say that too loudly. I get the feeling this whole shit show is going to be used as some kind of precedent for “reorgs” later on.
@w3kn (Finally getting around to) working from home has been a real eye-opener for me. Why didn’t I start doing this years ago? After this mess is over and isolation is no longer required, I think I’ll just continue the practice.
Essential workers, mandatory distancing at work…
Which brings me to my rant.
At work we moved all work stations 6’ apart so to lessen the chance of casual spreading of cooties19.
Yesterday, three of my operators came in, laughing at how stupid the company is, because THEY take their 30 minute lunch and go sit in the cab of his truck and eat and smoke together.
Then, at 230, one of them comes to my office and tells me she doesn’t feel good and is heading to the nurse because she is having a hard time breathing and has a horrible headache.
Nurse sends her home with a fever of 100.8. And the other two get sent home because they have spent every lunch this week cramped in the cab of a truck with someone who may have it. And just like that, one sub assembly line is shut down.
Yeah, the jokes on us! Moving work stations doesn’t do a damn thing if people won’t keep their distance.
I am not complaining because I know there are a lot of people who don’t have the luxury of working at home and are having to go without a paycheck. But I am having a hard time getting adjusted to working from home all the time. Nothing major, but a lot of small distractions are causing my days to be 11-12 hours instead of 8-9.
Like I said, individually all these problems sound petty, but the cumulative affect is something I still need to get used to.
@DrWorm Your VPN sounds brutal. I’m an IT professional, so I understand, but that seems like overkill.
I work for local govt. The only change we’ve made is to lock doors to the public. Just got the first case in our county, a co-workers daughter. People freaked out when they found out. He picked his kid up at the airport over the weekend, then came to work Monday (going to a few different buildings) and came in Tuesday, but left after his daughter told him she had a fever. It got crazy. But we’ve really not planned on any changes and have heard no mention of any changes. So unless the governor forces it, it’s ssdd.
We are still very paper heavy, so any work at home would still require us to go in here and there to pick up and drop stuff off. I don’t see anyone being off unless they are sick or live with someone that is sick. We can use our sick time if we are “non-essential”, but no one knows who is considered non-essential. It’s a cluster. There is other bullshit that makes me wonder wtf people are thinking and where they are getting their info from.
Joan Armatrading - - - " Down To Zero " - YouTube
The main thing that really bothers me is that my son is getting no social interaction outside of me and my wife. He’s 19 months old and his language vastly increased the past two weeks. No library, play groups, classes, or visiting family like he’s used to. We try to video chat with family, but it’s not the same.
@Ray21104 interaction with YOU (2) is the most important thing that can happen at this age. He will not get socially delayed by not being in daycare etc.
I bet the Amish are laughing at us … again, ya know y2k
Weird Al Yankovic - Angry White Boy Polka - is just as good as Disturbed - Down With The Sickness
This young woman is literally climbing the walls!
https://www.instagram.com/brookeclimbs/?hl=en