Coronavirus support

[SleepingPhlox]

I told my employer that I would like to work from home as I live with someone with underlying lung issues at risk from the virus and want to take precautions.  I was told I need to come into the office or lose my job effective immediately.  I am 90% leaning toward the losing my job option.  I'm not really all that keen on putting anyone else's life in danger to benefit these selfish assholes.  I don't even feel like I have the right to complain as my position is far more fortunate than many people but this is not a position I ever thought I'd have to be in and I'm not entirely sure how to deal with it.

[aggedy_ann]

I’m waiting to be called for shifts.  Have a bunch coming mid April.   Dropping out for the term because I can’t concentrate and I refuse to tank my grades.   
affairs are in order.  Just in case.   
Basically my time right now is searching for distraction and catching up with my healthcare friends.  We’re all telling each other we love each other right now.  Just in case.  
I cry a lot.  Here is the US, we’re powerless to get what we need.  
I'm on forced lockdown now, instead of voluntary.  Well, it’s still voluntary, but this mandate came from the governor and you can receive a misdemeanor if you don’t comply.  This lasts until April 10 at which point I will have been isolated 36 or 37 days.  And it won’t be over.  
my state isn’t testing.  Which means we have no idea how bad it is.  

Edited March 29, 2020 by aggedy_ann

[March Hare]

Y'all can PM me an e-mail address and I'll send you an e-card. Thinking of you, people.

[Heathcliff]

18 hours ago, SleepingPhlox said:

I told my employer that I would like to work from home as I live with someone with underlying lung issues at risk from the virus and want to take precautions.  I was told I need to come into the office or lose my job effective immediately. 

Can I just say, I find that unspeakably foul.

I know businesses are struggling but asking someone to risk a person's life? I think it's wrong.

 

[Stimuli]

21 hours ago, SleepingPhlox said:

I told my employer that I would like to work from home as I live with someone with underlying lung issues at risk from the virus and want to take precautions.  I was told I need to come into the office or lose my job effective immediately.  I am 90% leaning toward the losing my job option.  I'm not really all that keen on putting anyone else's life in danger to benefit these selfish assholes.  I don't even feel like I have the right to complain as my position is far more fortunate than many people but this is not a position I ever thought I'd have to be in and I'm not entirely sure how to deal with it.

That is entirely unacceptable behavior from that person. Not only does that person neglect the safety of you, the person neglects the safety of so many others too. 

Frankly this warrants a workers rights strike. (my apologies for getting all political, but it truly upsets me to see such inconsideration) 

[Heathcliff]

Just if anyone needs some relief at this difficult time, I've just lost myself over this clip:

(I've watched this about 4 times because the stupid humour made me laugh and cry, and just released some tension.)

Edited March 30, 2020 by Heathcliff

[Bubbles]

The unit where I work has now been turned into a Covid emergency unit and I will be working on the front line, after years of specialising in treatments for chronic illness and substance misuse.  I'm way out of my depth.  I have been off sick for over 2 weeks now following having the symptoms of Covid yet testing negative.  To be honest, half of that time was because of my mental health.  I don't want to go back.  My mum's cancer treatment has been postponed because of this, and I can't even go to see her anyway.  I've worked out that if I quit my job, I could manage paying my bills for about 5 months before my savings run out.  I was also in the middle of a funded course which I will have to pay back the money for if I leave. And I was also about to do my final fertility treatment in June, which has now been put on hold until this is over, but I'll be too old by then and that's what the money I had saved was for.  I don't particularly want to die of Covid, and someone needs to take care of my mum.  I know the health service needs everyone they can get right now, but I don't think I'm that person anymore.  I don't know what  to do.

Edited March 30, 2020 by Bubbles

[aggedy_ann]

20 minutes ago, Bubbles said:

I don't particularly want to die of Covid, and someone needs to take care of my mum.  I know the health service needs everyone they can get right now, but I don't think I'm that person anymore.  I don't know what  to do.

Same boat.  I  don’t want to die, but I’m scared I will.  
 

And I know they need more nurses than they have right now, but damn, I was 6 months from graduation in public policy and not being a nurse.   And now schools on hold because I have to go where I’m needed.   
 

I’m not that person any more either.  But I feel like I have to be and it’s terrifying.  I can’t tell you what to do.   Just that it’s ok to be scared.  
 

Message me if you want to talk.   

[Reader]

37 minutes ago, Bubbles said:

The unit where I work has now been turned into a Covid emergency unit and I will be working on the front line, after years of specialising in treatments for chronic illness and substance misuse.  I'm way out of my depth.  I have been off sick for over 2 weeks now following having the symptoms of Covid yet testing negative.  To be honest, half of that time was because of my mental health.  I don't want to go back.  My mum's cancer treatment has been postponed because of this, and I can't even go to see her anyway.  I've worked out that if I quit my job, I could manage paying my bills for about 5 months before my savings run out.  I was also in the middle of a funded course which I will have to pay back the money for if I leave. And I was also about to do my final fertility treatment in June, which has now been put on hold until this is over, but I'll be too old by then and that's what the money I had saved was for.  I don't particularly want to die of Covid, and someone needs to take care of my mum.  I know the health service needs everyone they can get right now, but I don't think I'm that person anymore.  I don't know what  to do.

I’m so very sorry you can’t finish your fertility treatment. That’s awful and just hurts my heart that these circumstances took that from you. 

You shouldn’t feel pressured in the slightest if you decide not to work on the frontline. You didn’t ask for this and just because it was thrust upon you, that doesn’t mean you need to do it. You have a choice and no one should fault you for whatever decision you make. 

[Heathcliff]

1 hour ago, Bubbles said:

The unit where I work has now been turned into a Covid emergency unit and I will be working on the front line, after years of specialising in treatments for chronic illness and substance misuse.  I'm way out of my depth.  I have been off sick for over 2 weeks now following having the symptoms of Covid yet testing negative.  To be honest, half of that time was because of my mental health.  I don't want to go back.  My mum's cancer treatment has been postponed because of this, and I can't even go to see her anyway.  I've worked out that if I quit my job, I could manage paying my bills for about 5 months before my savings run out.  I was also in the middle of a funded course which I will have to pay back the money for if I leave. And I was also about to do my final fertility treatment in June, which has now been put on hold until this is over, but I'll be too old by then and that's what the money I had saved was for.  I don't particularly want to die of Covid, and someone needs to take care of my mum.  I know the health service needs everyone they can get right now, but I don't think I'm that person anymore.  I don't know what  to do.

Oh Bubbles, please know you're a hero for even working in healthcare at all. I think we're all learning that as a lesson, that people like you are the best among us.

Do you live in Northern Ireland? I don't know the advice there. My mum volunteers for the Citizen's Advice Bureau. Maybe they would be able to help you if you're worried about pay, etc.

[March Hare]

11 hours ago, Heathcliff said:

Oh Bubbles, please know you're a hero for even working in healthcare at all. I think we're all learning that as a lesson, that people like you are the best among us.

Seconded. Same to @aggedy_ann.

[Stimuli]

My mood swings, because of this ongoing disease has reached a new level. 

Working from home (as, some of you know I work as IT-security/Support) and had a client call in. Broke down in his ear and had to mute for the client to not hear me sobbing. 

Oh wow! aName awayyyy

[Heathcliff]

5 minutes ago, aName said:

My mood swings, because of this ongoing disease has reached a new level. 

Working from home (as, some of you know I work as IT-security/Support) and had a client call in. Broke down in his ear and had to mute for the client to not hear me sobbing. 

Oh wow! aName awayyyy

I broke down in front of one work friend on one of the last days we were actually allowed into the office. Not hugely, but I teared up.

I've spoken to him about mental health before. It's funny - because when I met him I thought he was an arrogant prick - and we are quite different people in some ways.

But as I've grown to know him I see he's one of the nicest people I've ever met. He's been a friend and a real support. It's things like this that keep me going - people can surprise you by how nice they are.

 

[March Hare]

Yes, omg, yes. All hella moodswings, all hella day.

[atchoum]

On 3/30/2020 at 10:48 PM, aggedy_ann said:

Same boat.  I  don’t want to die, but I’m scared I will.  
 

And I know they need more nurses than they have right now, but damn, I was 6 months from graduation in public policy and not being a nurse.   And now schools on hold because I have to go where I’m needed.   
 

I’m not that person any more either.  But I feel like I have to be and it’s terrifying.  I can’t tell you what to do.   Just that it’s ok to be scared.  
 

Message me if you want to talk.   

Aggedy_ann and Bubbles,

Can it help if we all say we are with you in all this upheaval ? Probably not much, but we'll say it anyway. 

I know Bubbles as the most generous, selfless person, so I'm not really suprised to learn just how engaged she is.

Take care, stay safe, you are all very precious

 

[Heathcliff]

Wishing Aggedy_ann and Bubbles the best.

Unless someone thinks it's not appropriate I may continue posting occasional interesting things that may distract people at this time. Just found this on YouTube:

 

Amazing fan-project which reworks the duel between Vader and Obi-Wan in the original Star Wars movie. (Also: watch out for the bits where it so obvious the guy doesn't look all that much like Alec Guiness at all)

Edited April 1, 2020 by Heathcliff

[Heathcliff]

Just thought I would share this -  the first time I've ever really felt true respect and admiration for Prince Charles:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-52124694/coronavirus-charles-speaks-following-virus-diagnosis

Edited April 2, 2020 by Heathcliff

[matilda3948]

Oh, @aggedy_ann and @Bubbles I'm so sorry you're in such difficult and scary situations. Asking our healthcare people to face this without the tools and equipment they need is unconscionable. My brother is a doctor just waiting for the spike to happen at our hospital. He'll go when they call him, but he's still scared.

I'm trying very hard to focus on what is good in my life. I've adapted to teaching online and I kind of like the slower pace of day-to-day life. Not that I don't have my moments of total freakout, but in non-freakout moments I'm trying to lean in to the simple, good things.

Oh. And digital happy hour. I love digital happy hour with my friends

[Chanel_no5]

I was going to the store to buy a stamp so I could post a letter to the disability office. Outside the store I ran into someone I was friends with when I was about 15. She basically jumped me and gave me a hug, giving me no chance short of knocking her out to avoid it. Then tells me she and her boyfriend actually live in Spain now and decided to move back here because the risk of getting coronavirus was lower here. I wasn't worried before because I'm super careful, but now I'm scared and I'm also really mad at her, because I know this girl is something of a social slut and if she has been anywhere near a person with it, she's definitely a carrier. 

Guess we'll know within a few weeks. 😔

I would like to isolate myself from my mom in the meanwhile, but I know that if I said that to her she'd tell me I'm ridiculous and stupid and that there's no way I could catch it from a brief hug and that I don't even know if this girl was infected in the first place. I can avoid pretty much anyone else but not her and now I'm terrified I'm infected and will give it to her. 😢

Edited April 2, 2020 by Chanel_no5

[Joal 555]

26 minutes ago, Chanel_no5 said:

She basically jumped me and gave me a hug

I'm so sorry this happened to you, Chanel.

This has to be about as irresponsible as you can get (at best) and frankly, it borders on a criminal assault given the current situation.

Wishing you all the best and thinking of you as we all try to cope in these difficult times.

Take care

 

[snuffle-bunny]

8 minutes ago, Joal 555 said:

I'm so sorry this happened to you, Chanel.

This has to be about as irresponsible as you can get (at best) and frankly, it borders on a criminal assault given the current situation.

Wishing you all the best and thinking of you as we all try to cope in these difficult times.

Take care

 

Seconding this. Thinking of you, Chanel.

[Chanel_no5]

Thanks guys. She wasn't visibly sick or anything, but I still worry now, and I think it's insanely poor taste and judgment in the current situation either way, especially knowing you have arrived from one of the worst affected countries in Europe. I told my mom about the situation and that I will keep as much distance as possible (we still need to go by car to and from the stable and do the chores there together, because I don't have my own car anymore, so that's a problem), meaning no weekend dinners for a while, nor will I come to her for Easter, and I'll be keeping bigger distance than usual even in the stable. She understood and didn't argue at least, so that's a relief. I'm just so pissed. I'm being as careful as I possibly can and limit the few social contacts I have, and someone I haven't seen in a decade just decides to hug me without my permission during a raging pandemic. Thanks for that.  

 

[Stimuli]

I was just at the dentists office and got my scheduled checkup. 

The waiting room was a pure breeding ground of contagion so, if anyone there had it, I damn certain will also have it. 

Bugger it. Already in full isolation mode, not gonna leave my apartment for anything.

I still have a decently full fridge and everything so no need to leave the apartment at any time either

[Shay]

Sorry you were put in that situation. My dentist cancelled my last appointment and won't see anyone that's not an emergency as an abundance of caution, so hopefully  my cavities can wait a month or two. At least they don't hurt or anything.

[Stimuli]

1 hour ago, Shay said:

Sorry you were put in that situation. My dentist cancelled my last appointment and won't see anyone that's not an emergency as an abundance of caution, so hopefully  my cavities can wait a month or two. At least they don't hurt or anything.

I've come to be very chill about possibly catching the virus, whether it's because my worries has exhausted me, or if I've become grounded in myself, I don't yet know

My main concern is to contain it and not spread it to anyone, thus I've set up some rules for myself; I will only meet people every 14 days (and of course, only if I do not have any symptoms within those 14 days), I will not physically touch or hug anyone, I keep my hands in my pockets at all times when outside, I pump myself full of healthy food etc.