Health and Sanity Check-Ins

[sprocketta]

Things are crazy now. I think we are all trying to stay healthy and maintain sanity as well. I thought I would start this thread so folks can check in and discuss how they're doing. I want all my BIC friends to be okay. I will kick this off with a first post. Take care of yourself lovelies.

[yuline]

Not crazy. CDC is not crazy, just desperate and forced to go to extremes because of shortages and certain deeply rooted behaviors or habits that are difficult to change. A little fear can actually work in one’s favor to make sure things are taken seriously. We just all need to practice defensive driving so to speak. Not trying to fear monger (in case anyone thinks one accidental slip up is the end, I’m sure viral load determines risk too but why even chance it if you can help it) which is counterproductive. Anyway sometimes a strategy that works for me when I have worries is try to put some perspective. If you’re not a doctor, nurse, or essential personnel, I would be glad not to have their worries.  Especially when they too have families and children at home to support. Right now 60+ year old Drs are coming out of retirement to work 12 hour shifts to help with staff shortages and PPE in short supply.

[mrsmouse]

Nope, not crazy at all @GG84!  I think we are all wondering, considering, etc how long the virus can survive on surfaces.  If clear information was out I think we would all feel better, but I have seen so much varying information that I am just not sure what to believe.  I think the reality is that even the experts aren't sure.  With how long everything is taking to arrive, I'm less concerned about the contents, but no packaging comes into the house.  I open everything outside with gloves on and dump the contents just inside the door. I discard the gloves and leave the packaging outside.  As a result, I've started quite the collection on my porch.  😉  Hang in there!  We are all in this together and we will get through it together.  *hugs*

[itscarin]

@GG84 I think you’re having a reasonable reaction to the information that has been presented. What’s crazy are the cdc’s recommendation that you strip naked every time you come home and immediately shower and wash your clothes. There’s a lot of germophobes out there getting triggered so hard right now. 

[WinglessOne]

@GG84  I can’t call you crazy since I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (which I realize is also not “crazy” in psychiatric terms, but still) and my GAD’s living large these days. 😄 I open shipping boxes with gloved hands, then spray (with Lysol) my box cutter blade. Since most orders take longer to arrive nowadays than this virus can survive, I use bare hands to remove goodies from shipping boxes—though it took 4 packages to convince myself it’s okay to reach in ungloved. I put gloves back on to break down and discard shipping boxes, then either wash or spray down my gloves to remove all cooties. If I run out of Lysol, I know isopropyl alcohol (minimum 70%) In a spray bottle will also work. 

I’ve been hosing down my keys, winter gloves, scarf, etc. with Lysol each time I leave my home with them. Luckily I haven’t left often, aside from going down to the mail and package rooms. I do this hose-down routine each flu season, but not as frequently as I have this month. My iPhone and iPad get wiped down with isopropyl alcohol or another disinfectant daily each flu season (don’t wanna reinfect myself; I almost always catch the flu whether or not I get the seasonal flu shot), so that’s nothing new these days. 

Someone in my building has tested positive for COVID-19; we got that news tonight. I’m not so much “omg now all public-space surfaces compromised here and do they live on my floor and omgomgomg”; I’m much more “wait, how the hell’d they manage to get tested?” 😄 But I have things to ship to other people (including some BIC folks) and I’m now getting worried about not spreading another resident’s viral cooties to them. I must remind myself that said cooties will likely be dead by the time my packages reach their destination—assuming no one else with cooties has bare-handed or coughed/sneezed on those packages during transit. That’s how my anxiety flares: not what’ll happen to me, but what badness will befall other people. I’m wiping down everything before packing and shipping it. 

I say all of this because I can’t (without hypocrisy) tell you “don’t worry so much, it’ll be fine!” I can only say you’re not alone in the “craziness.” ❤️

[Sunnysmom]

Same @GG84 , driving me nuts trying not to handle them or touch my face accidentally! Stay safe and well. What a wild crazy time. We’re all in it together which is comforting and I’m so grateful to have you guys to chat with!! Now why don’t I clean my closets or makeup area. 😳😕hugs 🤗

[jen81]

@GG84  @Ispend2much6  I don’t think that’s crazy at all. I’ve been quickly emptying boxes. Wiping products inside. Dumping boxes in trash can I garage. Some boxes I haven’t brought inside! Don’t outside the brought contents inside to wipe down. This virus seems way to resilient for my liking. 

[Ispend2much6]

@GG84   I'm sorry you are in the situation you are; it makes everything tougher and more complicated (I'm in the same boat.)  I wish I'd learned that freezer bags of food aren't "safe," as viruses can live for two years in the freezer, before I stocked up on them! 

What I've read is: it can survive on:

1. Paper/cardboard for up to 24 hours (some are now saying a few hours, but I'm not taking chances.)

2. Plastic and glass for up to 72 hours.

3. Synthetic material on shoes- like 4 days.

We are leaving our mail and boxes set for an entire day before opening them.

The good news is that the food from takeout is safe as long as it's heated to 165 degrees for 15 seconds.  Our Chinese takeout stayed hot because it was packed in plastic boxes. 🙂 

As long as you can dump any food onto a clean plate, clean Tupperware for storage, etc., without it touching the outside packaging you should be good to go. 

I was freaking out a little because I went to the grocery store with my gloves, but no mask, a couple of weeks ago.  I had taken off my gloves and needed to unload the groceries I had put into my cart while wearing gloves (didn't think that through,) and when I bent over the cart to grab some products far from my reach, my mouth touched the grocery cart! 

I scrubbed my mouth with a Wet Ones as soon as I got into the car. lol

Do you have any hydrogen peroxide?  That's supposed to disinfect also.

[Sunnysmom]

Good info @Ispend2much6 thank you lovey! 😘

[Ispend2much6]

@Sunnysmom   You're welcome.  I've never cleaned so much in my life. 🙂

[Sunnysmom]

I’m trying @Ispend2much6 , though probably not enough! 😫

[heartsmyface]

@GG84   Crazy no.  The virus can last up to 24 hours on cardboard so I would say that’s a healthy  sense of caution you have there.  At least I hope so.  So, what I’ve been doing is putting dish gloves on to pick up boxes and open them and then washing my dish gloves so my hands aren’t taking such a beating with all the washing.  I look dumb but hey, no one accidentally touches their face wearing dish gloves. :D.  

[Anastasiya13]

@GG84  Its a very tough time, what my mom and I do when we get a shipment is leave it on the floor, open the contents up quickly, wash our hands, take out the items, then go throw away the box, and come back and wash our hands again. That way the box can be quickly thrown away, since mostly when people pack items they use gloves. I can be wrong, but honestly thats our way of doing things to try and stay safe.

[CookieGirl1]

That definitely makes it harder when you're immunocompromised, @GG84, so I understand your concern.  I'm sorry that it makes daily life so much more difficult for you right now--hang in there!  Someday this will be over.

[pocketvenus]

@GG84 Not implying you are panicking but there was an Opinion article published by the Washington Post today going more into depth about surfaces that I found helpful. Since I can't link to it, the headline is "Don't panic about shopping, getting delivery or accepting packages."

Luckily, it doesn't last long on cardboard so if you want to stay safe, you can leave the box alone for a few hours and you should be okay to open the box, just wash your hands to be safe! As for plastic surfaces, I wipe mine down with soapy water. I also heat all my food now.

[GG84]

@pocketvenus 
Oh I am definitely panicking 😳 I’m even afraid to read books I ordered at Chapters, that’s level 100 panic mode! 

[heartsmyface]

@GG84  Just wait 24 hours for paper products although they’re probably safe by the time they get to you unless you have same day delivery.  

[pocketvenus]

@GG84 time to switch to ebooks! ❤️

[pocketvenus]

Checking in from Toronto!

I am fortunate enough to have a wfh situation so husband and I are able to isolate very strictly.

Incrementally, the social distancing measures in the city keep growing stricter although the rapid, piecemeal and inconsistent changes have been confusing for people. While I understand this it's still really frustrating to see gaps in understanding and seriousness between the people I know in hospitals who are like, writing up wills and under constant stress, gearing up for a massive onslaught versus the general public where some people are still not distancing. While healthcare workers are preparing to die for you, you could at least have the decency to not meet up with your friends for a dinner party or socialize with people in the park! Download Skype! 😠 Sorry for the rant, it's just upsetting.

I wish there was more testing going on in Ontario and that it was more rapid. It took my friend around 12h for her to get through to Telehealth ON (on her third try) and over a week to get her test results back. She had returned from the UK and came down with a fever...

To try to stay positive, been doing a lot of skincare, working out indoors, and reading books. Also, wearing all the perfumes I love but can't wear in an office environment! I'm also glad to see people pulling together to fight for worker and tenant rights and to protect the most vulnerable members of society. Like @tastelikewater says, we can look for the helpers and also, we can BE the helpers ❤️

I've read this whole thread, thanks to everyone who checked in and @sprocketta for starting it ❤️ Stay strong everyone!

[curlychiquita]

You have a wonderful outlook, @pocketvenus!  I'm trying to be that way, too.  I am wearing a nice perfume every day while I'm working from home.

[Sunnysmom]

That’s a fun idea @curlychiquita ! I’ve been messing with different makeup so I can try and feel somewhat normal but I like doing idea  of perfume too! 🥰

[pocketvenus]

@Sunnysmom @curlychiquita I'll be here if you'd like to try something new and want recommendations <333

I'm wearing Dzing! today which is too weird for the office. Think saddle leather, hay and... caramel. I know it's a strange combo but I swear it works! And fun for a Friday 🙂