Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #108

[Cruiser933]

I am really struggling right now. I have worked from home for the last 2+ years. During that time my husband and I have done some road trips and visited a few relatives, but we pretty much avoid things like stores and restaurants. We do the occasional takeout, but don’t dine in. Order almost everything for shipping and curbside pick up. Now watching so many others acting like covid never happened. We are both triple pfizered.

The issue is that my office has issued a back to office order. It would only be one day a week, but with 20 others in very close quarters. No mask or vaccine requirements. I am considering retiring. I am old enough, though on the younger side for retirement, and could afford it. But I am starting to question if maybe I am nuts, and this thing is as over as it is ever going to be and I should go back to living like it never happened. That is what everyone else seems to be doing.

 

[anneg]

I am really struggling right now. I have worked from home for the last 2+ years. During that time my husband and I have done some road trips and visited a few relatives, but we pretty much avoid things like stores and restaurants. We do the occasional takeout, but don’t dine in. Order almost everything for shipping and curbside pick up. Now watching so many others acting like covid never happened. We are both triple pfizered.

The issue is that my office has issued a back to office order. It would only be one day a week, but with 20 others in very close quarters. No mask or vaccine requirements. I am considering retiring. I am old enough, though on the younger side for retirement, and could afford it. But I am starting to question if maybe I am nuts, and this thing is as over as it is ever going to be and I should go back to living like it never happened. That is what everyone else seems to be doing.

I don't think you are nuts. I wonder if you could reduce your work hours (might affect benefits) and get permission to continue working at home for a while. I worked remotely for my last ten years of employment and cut my hours a few times before I actually retired. I lost my benefits once my hours dropped to under 30/wk but by then I was on Medicare.

ETA: "triple Pfizered" -- LOL! Sounds like a fizzy drink! (I'm triple Pfizered too but thinking about getting booster #2, possibly Moderna this time.)

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I wanted to enjoy it while relaxing instead of eating in the car. We had two awful days on the road- so much traffic and traffic jams. It is good to be home and now I will indulge and have some delicious fudge!!!

Welcome back to the Great Lakes state Gorgeous weather yesterday and today, although rain is in the forecast for later this afternoon. It was an exciting day in the "D" with Miggy getting his 3000th +1 hit, and Tigers winning the first game of the double-header 13-0. I almost wish we had gone. I'll pass on the fudge - way too sweet

 

[mickey2942]

I am really struggling right now. I have worked from home for the last 2+ years. During that time my husband and I have done some road trips and visited a few relatives, but we pretty much avoid things like stores and restaurants. We do the occasional takeout, but don’t dine in. Order almost everything for shipping and curbside pick up. Now watching so many others acting like covid never happened. We are both triple pfizered.

The issue is that my office has issued a back to office order. It would only be one day a week, but with 20 others in very close quarters. No mask or vaccine requirements. I am considering retiring. I am old enough, though on the younger side for retirement, and could afford it. But I am starting to question if maybe I am nuts, and this thing is as over as it is ever going to be and I should go back to living like it never happened. That is what everyone else seems to be doing.

It is confusing. I have kept working the entire time. None of it makes any sense to me.

My own opinion? If you feel like you can retire, financially, go ahead and do it. If you want to keep working, and feel like you can manage it, keep working.

But yes, people are expected back at the office now, for most companies.

 

[Cruiser933]

I am considering Moderna for my second booster too. I have been hoping to wait a while before I get it in case they offer an updated version to cover new variants.

I would probably need to be in the office at least 5-6 hours one day a week. All other full-time hours would still be work from home. They are not being flexible on what day we can be in the office. We all have to go in the same day. I have asked what the criteria would be for an exemption though.

 

[ilovewings]

Welcome back to the Great Lakes state Gorgeous weather yesterday and today, although rain is in the forecast for later this afternoon. It was an exciting day in the "D" with Miggy getting his 3000th +1 hit, and Tigers winning the first game of the double-header 13-0. I almost wish we had gone. I'll pass on the fudge - way too sweet

Thanks for the welcome back- it is unusual to come back to Florida weather in Michigan but very pleasant! I watched the replay of Miggy's 3000th hit- it was awesome - he is truly one of the great ones and has been a Tiger for 15 years (that stat shocked me- time flies)- The fudge is delicious!!!!

 

[ilovewings]

Can't you have some NOW?

I did have some fudge and it was delicious!!!!

 

[margarita25]

Hi, catching up.

Here’s a really depressing, must-watch video by some medical heavy hitters on covid’s effect on the brain and long covid, now that they’ve been able to conduct various studies on numerous patients.

—-

Thanks everyone for the continued discussions.

 

[indicolite22]

Am I so totally anti social, that I miss the Pandemic and Social Distancing? For two years, total bliss. No one came over. We didn't have to go anywhere.

At work, I stayed in my office. If we had a meeting I didn't need to leave my desk. No one ever bothered me. Even worse, we are having a "pot luck" party next week.

Dang.

Being an introvert, I had a similar experience. I was working from home until last September when we were asked to return to the office. Some colleagues returned sooner, some never worked from home. I kept to myself and was always masked in the presence of coworkers. The mask mandate was dropped a couple of weeks ago. I'm still wearing my mask inside when in close proximity of others in public spaces. That saved me recently from an infection at a meeting. The other person tested positive the next day. If I didn't wear the mask that day, they wouldn't either. Nearly all my coworkers had Covid at least once, quite a few recently. Some that were triple-vaxxed had it bad (terrible headaches, heavy cough for weeks) and another one has long covid with increased heart rate. My relatives have been luckier so far with only mild symptoms. I'm trying to avoid it if I can because the virus can be unpredictable. Around here, only about 5-10% of people are still wearing masks in public.

 

[ilovewings]

I am really struggling right now. I have worked from home for the last 2+ years. During that time my husband and I have done some road trips and visited a few relatives, but we pretty much avoid things like stores and restaurants. We do the occasional takeout, but don’t dine in. Order almost everything for shipping and curbside pick up. Now watching so many others acting like covid never happened. We are both triple pfizered.

The issue is that my office has issued a back to office order. It would only be one day a week, but with 20 others in very close quarters. No mask or vaccine requirements. I am considering retiring. I am old enough, though on the younger side for retirement, and could afford it. But I am starting to question if maybe I am nuts, and this thing is as over as it is ever going to be and I should go back to living like it never happened. That is what everyone else seems to be doing.

Last week my step son told his dad Covid was gone ( he thinks he knows all) ----
A few days later his fiance tested positive -------she is immuno-compromised---
I know that lots of people have conducted their lives like Covid is gone---
Denial is not helpful in the time of a pandemic-'----
with vaccines and so many people having been infected this means a significant portion of the population has some immunity, but we don't know
How long that immunity lasts--- I think we can get back to a more normal life, but
With caution and an eye on cases, hospitalizations and deaths in your region.
Bottom line is that Covid remains with us.

 

[anneg]

Last week my step son told his dad Covid was gone ( he thinks he knows all) ----
A few days later his fiance tested positive -------she is immuno-compromised---
I know that lots of people have conducted their lives like Covid is gone---
Denial is not helpful in the time of a pandemic-'----
with vaccines and so many people having been infected this means a significant portion of the population has some immunity, but we don't know
How long that immunity lasts--- I think we can get back to a more normal life, but
With caution and an eye on cases, hospitalizations and deaths in your region.
Bottom line is that Covid remains with us.

Re immunity, this article is interesting:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/22/health/immunity-against-covid-19/index.html

Excerpt about immune protection after infection:

A study published this week in the journal JAMA Network Open found that unvaccinated people who had recovered from Covid-19 were about 85% less likely to get it again, compared with people who were unvaccinated and uninfected. People who had recovered from infection were about 88% less likely to be hospitalized than those were unvaccinated.

The researchers said this protection was on par with that conferred by mRNA vaccines and remained stable up to nine months after the infection.

The CDC says that about 90% of people who get Covid-19 will generate antibodies after their infections.... People with symptoms will make more antibodies than those without, and people who were hospitalized make more antibodies than those who were not.

However, all bets are off when it comes to Omicron. A recent study from Qatar found that while a prior infection was highly protective -- about 90% -- against reinfection by the Alpha, Beta and Delta variants, it fell to just 56% against Omicron. Serious outcomes after infection were rare.

Experts agree that getting a Covid-19 infection isn't a great way to build immunity because it can be so unpredictable, even deadly.... "Covid is a high-risk, high-consequence way of getting immunity...."

 

[anneg]

Being an introvert, I had a similar experience. I was working from home until last September when we were asked to return to the office. Some colleagues returned sooner, some never worked from home. I kept to myself and was always masked in the presence of coworkers. The mask mandate was dropped a couple of weeks ago. I'm still wearing my mask inside when in close proximity of others in public spaces. That saved me recently from an infection at a meeting. The other person tested positive the next day. If I didn't wear the mask that day, they wouldn't either. Nearly all my coworkers had Covid at least once, quite a few recently. Some that were triple-vaxxed had it bad (terrible headaches, heavy cough for weeks) and another one has long covid with increased heart rate. My relatives have been luckier so far with only mild symptoms. I'm trying to avoid it if I can because the virus can be unpredictable. Around here, only about 5-10% of people are still wearing masks in public.

So as I understand it, both you and the person you met with wore a mask. I wonder if you would have avoided infection if the other person hadn't worn a mask. It's clearly a good thing you wore your mask!

 

[acutename]

I am really struggling right now. I have worked from home for the last 2+ years. During that time my husband and I have done some road trips and visited a few relatives, but we pretty much avoid things like stores and restaurants. We do the occasional takeout, but don’t dine in. Order almost everything for shipping and curbside pick up. Now watching so many others acting like covid never happened. We are both triple pfizered.

The issue is that my office has issued a back to office order. It would only be one day a week, but with 20 others in very close quarters. No mask or vaccine requirements. I am considering retiring. I am old enough, though on the younger side for retirement, and could afford it. But I am starting to question if maybe I am nuts, and this thing is as over as it is ever going to be and I should go back to living like it never happened. That is what everyone else seems to be doing.

I had to go back starting last July. It was difficult physically and emotionally. Do not imagine that it is not because it is. There have been cases at work but it has never been me- or anyone that I know(?). I suspect that if you go back, nothing will happen. We all have some PSTD from this because we know that people did die.

 

[indicolite22]

So as I understand it, both you and the person you met with wore a mask. I wonder if you would have avoided infection if the other person hadn't worn a mask. It's clearly a good thing you wore your mask!

The other person was coughing during the one hour meeting in their office. I wore a mask when I entered and they put one on a minute later. Previously I've seen them not wearing a mask around people. Another colleague who was not present is an anti-masker. Even when masks were still mandatory, some others tried to accomodate them by not wearing one.

 

[Jsizzle]

Just spent two weeks in Hawaii. When we left there was still a transportation mask mandate (though not many people wore them and no one said a word). Traveling home today we hardly saw a single person wearing a mask. Kona to Phoenix then Phoenix to BWI. Most people are done with the pandemic and seeing how many people didn’t have them on was telling. Packed planes. Packed airports. I guess, at this point, travel at your own risk. There were many videos of flight attendants announcing on their flights that mask mandate was lifted and people literally throwing their masks in the air.

 

[katydid23]

I am flying again in one week. I will be masked up but I don't expect to see everyone else masked.

It worries me because I will be going from Burbank Airport, to Reno airport, and then to visit my 93 yr old mom. I CANNOT bring the virus to her door.

My son is going with me and we are going to shower and change clothes as soon as we get to Mom's. She knows the drill. lol....No big long hugs until we have our clean clothes on.

 

[Chelly]

My PCP recommended I get my 2nd booster this month and I got it two days ago. I had a few side-effects this time, nothing serious. Better to have a few side-effects than to have COVID.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

Mr Pirate has been a little under the weather the last two days. Tired and feeling 'off'. No symptoms specifically. He takes daily Advil for arthritis and we figured it was his arthritis flaring up. Lo and Behold..he accidentally missed his late afternoon dose and really felt bad. I touched his arm and he was HOT. Temp of 102.5. We immediately did a Covid test that was negative. We figure the Advil was masking the fever. As near as we can tell, it came on Friday night. That is when he started feeling off, fatigued and shaky.
I feel so bad for him. For three days he said how bad he felt but he just powered through it. Yesterday he and three buddies changed the brakes on he car and hung out. He had one beer and that is it. We all went to eat and he didn't eat a bite. Still not even thinking this was related to any illness because at that time he was fever free and had no other symptoms beyond feeling tired, not hungry and off. He has stable CLL ( Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) that is not requiring treatment right now and we were most worried it was related to that. Now it seems he caught something.
Would he have a negative Covid test and no other symptoms of Covid yet still have it?? I know his doctor is a better source of info but since we are talking Covid here, is fever only Covid a thing??? He has had 4 Pfizer vaccines, BTW.

 

[Bravo]

I know of several people who had covid symptoms yet kept testing negative on a home test. PCR tests are only done here for specific folks now. Not the public in general. Ontario Canada.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Mr Pirate has been a little under the weather the last two days. Tired and feeling 'off'. No symptoms specifically. He takes daily Advil for arthritis and we figured it was his arthritis flaring up. Lo and Behold..he accidentally missed his late afternoon dose and really felt bad. I touched his arm and he was HOT. Temp of 102.5. We immediately did a Covid test that was negative. We figure the Advil was masking the fever. As near as we can tell, it came on Friday night. That is when he started feeling off, fatigued and shaky.
I feel so bad for him. For three days he said how bad he felt but he just powered through it. Yesterday he and three buddies changed the brakes on he car and hung out. He had one beer and that is it. We all went to eat and he didn't eat a bite. Still not even thinking this was related to any illness because at that time he was fever free and had no other symptoms beyond feeling tired, not hungry and off. He has stable CLL ( Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) that is not requiring treatment right now and we were most worried it was related to that. Now it seems he caught something.
Would he have a negative Covid test and no other symptoms of Covid yet still have it?? I know his doctor is a better source of info but since we are talking Covid here, is fever only Covid a thing??? He has had 4 Pfizer vaccines, BTW.

I’ve seen many negatives on rapid tests at work with the crew reporting only a minor symptom that day only to test positive the next morning on a PCR test.

Fatigue, fever, just feeling off - any or none could be Covid. Not everyone has the same symptoms. Or it could be something else that his doctor needs to check out?
Especially if he’s feeling really bad.