So, I'm pretty scared right now. Anyone else?

[stormie]

So, level yellow is just the same old thing?

SF is doing OK,SD is sort of doing OK, my family is OK as far as I know, and any problems I have are trivial.
Keep with the updates y'all. I'm pulling for you.

[Oxirane]

Originally Posted by NAF1138

From what I have read the very slow recovery my wife is experiencing isn't unusual. It just really sucks.Mostly shes just very easily fatigued now. But still no fever and no coughing, or very little coughing and as long as she isn't trying to do anything more active than going downstairs she's totally fine. So, progress, I suppose.

This is exactly what we're seeing with our son, slow recovery, did have the relapse but said this morning he slept better last night than the nights before, and feels a little better today. He's got the cough/shortness of breath, but is easily fatigued...that could be a combination of the symptoms and the fact he's up half the night coughing...definitely hope she'll feel better soon...

[SweetPea]

I don't post much (or at all) anymore, but I wanted to add here that we are finding that proning is really helpful for those who are actively fighting/recovering from COVID. The longer/more often he can lay on his stomach the better. It's okay to use pillows to support the belly and make the neck more comfortable as needed.

This position reduces the stress on the heart, makes it easier to inflate the lungs, and improves oxygenation by decreasing lung compression. Your people may benefit from this tactic if they are feeling short of breath.

Stay safe, everyone.

[Detroit Hoser]

Originally Posted by SweetPea

I don't post much (or at all) anymore, but I wanted to add here that we are finding that proning is really helpful for those who are actively fighting/recovering from COVID. The longer/more often he can lay on his stomach the better. It's okay to use pillows to support the belly and make the neck more comfortable as needed.

This position reduces the stress on the heart, makes it easier to inflate the lungs, and improves oxygenation by decreasing lung compression. Your people may benefit from this tactic if they are feeling short of breath.

Stay safe, everyone.

Is ECMO being used at all or is it not even worth it?


(Good to see you, SweetPea!)

[Oxirane]

I passed along SweetPea's recommendation to oldest son, he was like, "Wait, 'pruning', what is that?", I said, "Proning, you're in the prone posture for shooting, but without a gun", he got it, hopefully he'll try it, thank you for the insight!

[SmartAleq]

I must be channelling the doctors because after two years of exclusively side sleeping due to a frozen shoulder it's loosened up enough that I've been able to sleep on my front fairly well, it's a welcome change of pace and just in time in case I cotch the plague.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Is ECMO being used at all or is it not even worth it?

ECMO? https://www.ucsfhealth.org/treatment...ne-oxygenation
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

The ECMO machine is similar to the heart-lung by-pass machine used in open-heart surgery. It pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest. When you are connected to an ECMO, blood flows through tubing to an artificial lung in the machine that adds oxygen and takes out carbon dioxide; then the blood is warmed to body temperature and pumped back into your body.

[3acres]

Haha, I just rescheduled my appointment for a checkup with the doctor. That postpones two trips out of the house till June (doctor's office and blood tests at the lab). I'm not going anywhere this month, except to take the truck out for a drive down the highway and back so the battery doesn't run down.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by 3acres

Haha, I just rescheduled my appointment for a checkup with the doctor. That postpones two trips out of the house till June (doctor's office and blood tests at the lab). I'm not going anywhere this month, except to take the truck out for a drive down the highway and back so the battery doesn't run down.

Tonight's run to the pharmacy will be my charge the batteries and lubricate the car run. I'll also pick up McDonald's for dinner is sounds like.

[Glazer]

I have to run my engine about every third morning so I can recharge my power banks.

[Oxirane]

Oldest son is about the same, he ended up back at the hospital last night around 3 a.m. as it was just very painful to breath, they checked him out again, gave him a mild painkiller which helped, so they sent him home with some...the doctor said they've seen a lot of cases that the respiratory aspect drags out, turns into bronchitis which it has in his case...he says it hurts to talk and talking makes it hard to breath, so since his job consists of sitting on a computer and talking through online meetings, he's taking a couple of more sick days...we got up and stayed in touch with him, so I did the WFH thing today...which consisted of maybe five e-mails and a lot of staring at a computer screen...this evening is better, we're just texting...the agonizing things are the separation, the unknown, the getting better and getting worse is just horrible...

But, we're in an OK place now, I have to believe he's getting better, tonight and tomorrow will tell a lot...

We opted for pizza tonight, we want to support the local businesses, and pizza seems as safe as anything...Mrs. White and I figured we will get pizza one night a week, and buy gift cards once a week as well...

[Helena]

I'm sorry it's dragging on, Oxi. That seems to be how this crud works. But he's getting through it.

[Solfy]

I’m glad he’s seen docs in person, Oxi.

We’ve been doing takeout once a week both to support local businesses and to have something to look forward to. Though many local places are closed. Last week was Chipotle.

[Wolf Larsen]

We've decided to get takeout from local places (not chains) once a week to try to keep them in business. Restaurants run on a shoestring and a couple of months of being closed could put a lot of them out of business.

[Oxirane]

Our favorite local pizza joint is a family owned place, the phone just rang and rang when I called, I hope they'll survive, they make a tasty pie, but more importantly, they're good people...we ended up ordering from our second favorite place, they're owned by two brothers who have three shops now, so I think they'll be OK...

[Sputnik]

We've been avoiding fast food just because we're not sure how clean they really are. We do still order from our favorite BBQ shop, but we know and trust the owner to follow all the rules. He told us he's having a tough time now.

[Emiliana Z]

So sorry for folks dealing with sick family members.

I feel fairly numb, mainly because I'm working about 12 hours a day preparing and teaching my online courses and helping students navigate all the changed policies and uncertainties. Work has kept me really focused on the here and now. Once the semester is over I'll have far more time to worry. Which is partly why I signed up to teach an online summer course for the first time!

[JackieLikesVariety]

the agonizing things are the separation, the unknown, the getting better and getting worse is just horrible...

I'm so sorry, Oxi, I hope he turns around for good soon!

[stormie]

Hi Sweet Pea! If you feel like a little digital socializing, come on down! I like you.

Good wishes to all

[Oxirane]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

I'm so sorry, Oxi, I hope he turns around for good soon!

Thank you, Jackie. There has been a lot of moral support across the board, to me and to others, it really helps, certainly for me...now we have Solfy offering to make masks, which is just awesome...

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

Tonight's run to the pharmacy will be my charge the batteries and lubricate the car run. I'll also pick up McDonald's for dinner is sounds like.

So I ran up to the Pharmacy, mask at the ready and it turns out they close at 5pm. Forgot to mention that little nugget when they let me know the prescription was ready for pickup.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I guess this is the place to post my latest angst.

I have not made good choices in dealing with the pandemic. avoiding reality is the underlying instinct and it makes things worse, at least long term. and we have to assume there is a long to plan for, right?

I'm going to try and do better.

in fact, I'm going to put the chromebook away and start now.

[Solfy]

Corporate announced pay cuts this week. Looking on the bright side, I love three-day weekends! Less bright: less money to fuel the projects I'd like to be doing on three-day weekends.
More concerning: I don't know if I'm going to be able to finish my MBA as originally planned. I have two semesters left, but I suspect my tuition coverage just went down the drain.

[Mr. Plumbean]

Boo. Sorry Solfy. Hope you can get a break on the tuition.

[Emiliana Z]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

I guess this is the place to post my latest angst.

I have not made good choices in dealing with the pandemic. avoiding reality is the underlying instinct and it makes things worse, at least long term. and we have to assume there is a long to plan for, right?

I'm going to try and do better.

in fact, I'm going to put the chromebook away and start now.

We have to assume there's a long term. We just don't have a clue as to what it will look like. To the extent that you can take things one day at time, it helps not the fall down the rabbit hole that is the future. Hang in there.

[mjmlabs]

Hear, hear. Capital-L Life can be overwhelming, but the AA folks were right about at least one thing: You only have to make it through today today.

Or like Ol' Slowhand said:

Life is what you make it,
At least that's what the people say.
And if we can't make it through tomorrow
We'd better make it through today.

[Oxirane]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

I guess this is the place to post my latest angst.

I have not made good choices in dealing with the pandemic. avoiding reality is the underlying instinct and it makes things worse, at least long term. and we have to assume there is a long to plan for, right?

I'm going to try and do better.

in fact, I'm going to put the chromebook away and start now.

Hang in there, Jackie!

Originally Posted by Solfy

Corporate announced pay cuts this week. Looking on the bright side, I love three-day weekends! Less bright: less money to fuel the projects I'd like to be doing on three-day weekends.
More concerning: I don't know if I'm going to be able to finish my MBA as originally planned. I have two semesters left, but I suspect my tuition coverage just went down the drain.

Damn, Solfy, I'm so sorry...

[Solfy]

All hope is not lost (yet). I talked to HR, they said as of now there is no plan to halt benefits, which is how my tuition reimbursement is classified. So I put in my application to cover the summer semester, and I registered for my LAST semester today. Fingers crossed that it goes through.
Short term pay cut plans are trickling in from other sites. It's predictably gruesome.

But hey! It only took me an hour to do my econ homework tonight, so maybe now I have the wherewithal to face the Swimmy-educational stuff I've been dodging.

[eleanorigby]

All these ripples in this plague-pond. Fall-out or collateral damage? Both, I imagine...Here's hoping you can finish, Solfy.

Glad your son is better, Ox, but I hear you on the anxiety as his convalescence drags. I've heard/read anecdotes that it really does beat you all to hell and then one day, you wake up and can tell it's "gone". I dunno if that is what will happen here, but I hope so.

My work has been incredibly supportive. They are renting out hotel rooms for those direct-care clinicians who can't go home due to high risk folks at home; they are stocking their cafeteria with essentials like gallons of milk or eggs so that people don't have to go to the store but can grab what they need ($$) prior to going home (they've partnered with a local grocery here to do this—so clever, so efficient), and they are encouraging folks to take a day off, rest, find a Covid-19 buddy you can talk to etc, to get through this.

I almost feel like I want to ask them if they're our real Admin. Still, it is really great to see. They are also sharing ventilators within our system so that we don't have to ask Chicago or anyone for them (Chicago proper can't spare any). We're getting it done...

I find I'm getting weird when the weather is warm because there are too many people out and they're mostly too close together. I know my being on my driveway is fine, but having to see 3 guys too close together on the next driveway bothers me. I don't want to be "that neighbor" so I don't say anything, but my anxiety ratchets up even when I know it's beyond my control and the chips will fall etc. Good times.
Today the temp dropped about 25 degrees and what started out as a lovely spring day with brilliant sun and the bluest of skies is now 45F and raw/raining. I am happier with that because no one is outside. Smh.

[hajario]

I pretty sure that the place where I work is fixing to do some layoffs and to cut benefits. In particular, our 401k match is very generous and I bet that they are going to either cut it temporarily or permanently reduce it to "industry standards".

I only have 17 more working days til retirement so there isn't a damn thing that they can do to me. Since this is my last year, I front loaded my 401k and maxed it out last week. There is nothing those corporate fucks can do to me now. I feel sad for my co-workers though. I suggested to all of my co-worker friends to max out their 401k early if their cash flow will allow it.

[JackieLikesVariety]

thank you to all for the kind words. I feel a lot better today.

Rigs, I'm glad to hear work is going so well.

Haj, good for you. that has to feel wonderful!

All hope is not lost (yet). I talked to HR, they said as of now there is no plan to halt benefits

YAY!

[stormie]

Dammit Jackie! You've been posting about what you have been doing and you've been doing the right things. Ease up girl, you're doing great!!

[AuntiePam]

I've been hearing reports that thousands of small businesses, restaurants, bars, etc. will not reopen when this is over.

Why? If there was a need for the business before COVID, the need will still be there when it's over.

Assuming business owners and customers weren't COVID victims, why wouldn't the business reopen? Will people be scattering, like they do after wars?

Help me understand this, please.

[Pure]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I've been hearing reports that thousands of small businesses, restaurants, bars, etc. will not reopen when this is over.

Why? If there was a need for the business before COVID, the need will still be there when it's over.

Assuming business owners and customers weren't COVID victims, why wouldn't the business reopen? Will people be scattering, like they do after wars?

Help me understand this, please.

Many small businesses run on razor thin margins. Restaurants still have to pay rent and utilities, have food they’ve paid for rotting in the coolers, and have to use what cash they have to pay themselves for their own mortgage and basic needs. Some are trying to keep paying salaries.

They just don’t have the cash reserves. Or they just decide it’s not worth the uncertainty and go work for someone else.

[mjmlabs]

Originally Posted by Pure

Many small businesses run on razor thin margins. Restaurants still have to pay rent and utilities, have food they’ve paid for rotting in the coolers, and have to use what cash they have to pay themselves for their own mortgage and basic needs. Some are trying to keep paying salaries.

They just don’t have the cash reserves. Or they just decide it’s not worth the uncertainty and go work for someone else.

All true. Plus, as an illustration of just how razor-thin those margins are, something like 80% of all new restaurants/bars go out of business in their first year during normal times. And [wry understatement] these are not normal times. [/w.u.]

[Helena]

I read about a couple of Seattle restaurants using their supply chains to sell groceries. Now Panera's doing it, too:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/08/pane...s-plummet.html

I'm on Panera's mailing list, but I haven't seen anything about it locally yet.

[stormie]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I've been hearing reports that thousands of small businesses, restaurants, bars, etc. will not reopen when this is over.

Why? If there was a need for the business before COVID, the need will still be there when it's over.

Assuming business owners and customers weren't COVID victims, why wouldn't the business reopen? Will people be scattering, like they do after wars?

Help me understand this, please.

Because while they are closed they still have to pay the rent or mortgage, taxes, license fees, any necessary utilities, inventory purchased before the shutdown, and other accounts payable. Those costs will have to come from capital, as they will have no income. A lot of small businesses have very little capital. Lack of capital to bridge the lean times is one of the primary reasons for failure of small businesses. When it's time to start up they may not be able to buy supplies or be able to hire enough people to restart the business. This is what various small business assistance programs are for.

[Jaglavak]

Originally Posted by hajario

There is nothing those corporate fucks can do to me now.

Dude!
:: fist bump ::

[Helena]

Originally Posted by helena330

I read about a couple of Seattle restaurants using their supply chains to sell groceries. Now Panera's doing it, too:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/08/pane...s-plummet.html

I'm on Panera's mailing list, but I haven't seen anything about it locally yet.

I received the email this morning. They offer delivery to my area. I went through the ordering process and with the delivery fee, tax (which we don't have on grocery store food) and minimal tip*, it was $28.96. My order included six bagels, a loaf of whole-grain bread, and a bag of grapes. It would've been $18.00 for pick-up. Nope. That's why we stopped going there. It's so freaking expensive.

* I would've tipped more.

[SweetPea]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Is ECMO being used at all or is it not even worth it?


(Good to see you, SweetPea!)

Thanks We haven't used ECMO AFAIK, but it could be an option in certain cases if venting them isn't getting enough oxygen in...

[Oxirane]

Oldest son reports, "I'm doing OK, hanging in there, sometimes I'm OK, sometimes not"...but no worse, that's encouraging, this shit gets its claws into you and evidently needs to be dragged kicking and screaming...I'm feeling a little better tonight about him, maybe it's my optimistic attitude, I don't know...I have to be positive or I'll go freaking crazy...

[Rock]

Keep giving us updates, Oxirane. And keep being optimistic.

[Oxirane]

Thank you, seriously.

[Detroit Hoser]

Originally Posted by Oxirane

Oldest son reports, "I'm doing OK, hanging in there, sometimes I'm OK, sometimes not"...but no worse, that's encouraging, this shit gets its claws into you and evidently needs to be dragged kicking and screaming...I'm feeling a little better tonight about him, maybe it's my optimistic attitude, I don't know...I have to be positive or I'll go freaking crazy...

Nah, I got a good feeling about this. (I just smoked a bowl so I'm having several good feelings at once right now but in all seriousness, the last two updates have left me optimistic about his continued recovery.)

[Helena]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Nah, I got a good feeling about this. (I just smoked a bowl so I'm having several good feelings at once right now but in all seriousness, the last two updates have left me optimistic about his continued recovery.)

Me, too. It seems like he's doing the normal cycling through it. Thanks for the updates, Oxi!!

[Oxirane]

To put faces to names and since I am incapable of posting an image in this thread despite my best intentions, if you click on the link, you'll see, from left to right, youngest son, middle son, oldest son and his GF...how do you post pics??

[IMG]https://imgur.com/a/QLuXSt9[/IMG]

[Oxirane]

Thank you, all!! Detroit, I will be tomorrow night, sigh, tonight is a school night for me...sigh...

[3acres]

Originally Posted by Oxirane

To put faces to names and since I am incapable of posting an image in this thread despite my best intentions, if you click on the link, you'll see, from left to right, youngest son, middle son, oldest son and his GF...how do you post pics??

[IMG]https://imgur.com/a/QLuXSt9[/IMG]

Your formatting is fine, but imgur doesn't give users a direct link to the picture and therefore won't work. Postimage (https://postimages.org/) gives a direct link to uploaded pictures, which you can use with the IMG tags.

[Glazer]

Originally Posted by Oxirane

To put faces to names and since I am incapable of posting an image in this thread despite my best intentions, if you click on the link, you'll see, from left to right, youngest son, middle son, oldest son and his GF...how do you post pics??

[IMG]https://imgur.com/a/QLuXSt9[/IMG]

You have to upload your photos to a hosting site that supports hot links. I use Post Image.org

https://postimg.cc/FdDSjh7x/5fd22c5f

[Oxirane]

OK, so let's try that again...youngest to oldest left to right, and oldest GF...I think it might be really big?