Sunday, April 19, 2020
2020 and Covid19
Oh, where to start? The year blossomed as a relatively safe journey into the next 12 months. January led us to believe all was well. aWe weren't told everything about January. That came 3 months later and come it did. It came to the tune of quarantines and masks and hand santizers and frequent hand washing. Not much more information was given on self care. They (the scientists) said the length of time it took to sing happy birthday 3 times would break the lipid coating surrounding the virus and deactivate or kill it. My hands are red and raw and my blood pressure is high from the anxiety. We are now told to wear masks if we suspect we are carrying it to protect others around us. Around us means staying 6ft. away from other people. Don't touch your face when out around people and in stores. Use santizers to clean your hands unless you are home because soap and water work best to kill the virus you may have come in contact with. As the days pass, more information is filtered down via the media from the scientists and the length of infection on paper, wood and metal is released.
Initially only people suspect has to wear masks. A month passes and now masks are suggested for everyone.
All non essential businesses are to be closed. I assumed this mean doctors, nurses and any hospital or care takers were considered 'essential'. Not so. The big box stores stayed open to supply electrical or plumbing parts in the event a homeowner needed to repair a critical breakdown. Washers and dryers appparently are essential. Anyplace that sold a crust of bread could stay open and the restaurants did 'curbside' or takeout only'. Curfews in place and the months rolled along.
Hospitals pleading for help from the federal government while medical people worked in unsafe conditions to fight this virus and try to save some of the people stricken.
Governors, the Democratic ones, were blatanly ignored and vilified by the commander in chief. He didn't try to hide his dislike nor his preference on who he would offer Federal help. Death continued to race upward while morgues were set up outside the hospitals to store the bodies and still the Defence Protection Act was passed but not initiaed by the commander in chief. A bidding war broke out between the govenors of the states on ventilators and PPE's. Soon trenches were being dug and wooden coffins lined up at the bottom of those trenches of the unclaimed. Dirt was shoved in and we moved on.
One of the things I will always remember is the President insinuating that the massive use of gloves by the doctors, nurses and hospital staff was excessive compared to months in the pass before this virus hit. He insinuated they were being stolen by staff.
As a nurse working containment, double gloving is mandatory. Changing gloves after iniating contact with a patient and before seeing another patient is mandatory for the health of said patients.
The fight continues with the mayors now on opening the economy while the virus death count continues to rise. Testing has been stopped at the site that is free here. If you want testing, you will pay for it. Most people here are unemployed right now and food money is the main concern. Food lines at food banks are swelling and the supply is low.
Food supply is in danger as the meat packing workers are becoming infected and the plants are shutting down.
The president wants to open the economy, 20 million people out of work and he is eying his chances at the upcoming election as he has always touted the strong economy as his main point for reelection.
Every briefing from the Whitehouse is now a rally for his base. He brags about the testing available for everyone as the scientists say this is the only safe way to open the economy. MTest and quarantine and test again.
The govenors do not have the means to acquire the tests. Only the Federal Goverment has access to the means to order and acquire. Knowing the only safe way to reenter the marketplace is testing and the months it would take to do this, the president is insisting the market place be opened without testing everyone which would be a monumental task.
A plan has been presented on a 'slow opening'. Rules are set on how this is to be done. Nobody is buying this and the public remains cautious and I remain nervous and at home.
My trips from my house are to my clients house where I maintain the position of his personal RN. I slip through the drive through window at Walgreens with my hand sanitizer close by, pick up meds and roll right back to his house. Occasionally I do a drive through for lunch pickup; shop for groceries every two weeks and only go to the 'senior hour' shopping where the shoppers are few and the aisle are directional, following the arrows on the floor and spacing 6 feet away from other shoppers. The checkout line is now encasing the cashier behind plastic, while you slip your debit card into the machine and pay the bill. There is very little chatter with people around you.
Everything is a danger. The plastic bags, the card, the door handle of your car and the bottom of your shoes. Don't touch your face. Don't touch your face. A chant I have to do to remind myself. Go home, wash your hands.
Amazingly there are still people posting that this is no different then the normal flu that passess through each year. To this I say, the numbers of casualties for the normal flu is over the span of 12 months in the year. THIS VIRUS has killed over 30,000 people in 8 WEEKS!
I haven't got to the point where I rip all my clothes off as soon as I get in the door. I don't want to give my 90 yr old client a myocardial infarction.
Initially only people suspect has to wear masks. A month passes and now masks are suggested for everyone.
All non essential businesses are to be closed. I assumed this mean doctors, nurses and any hospital or care takers were considered 'essential'. Not so. The big box stores stayed open to supply electrical or plumbing parts in the event a homeowner needed to repair a critical breakdown. Washers and dryers appparently are essential. Anyplace that sold a crust of bread could stay open and the restaurants did 'curbside' or takeout only'. Curfews in place and the months rolled along.
Hospitals pleading for help from the federal government while medical people worked in unsafe conditions to fight this virus and try to save some of the people stricken.
Governors, the Democratic ones, were blatanly ignored and vilified by the commander in chief. He didn't try to hide his dislike nor his preference on who he would offer Federal help. Death continued to race upward while morgues were set up outside the hospitals to store the bodies and still the Defence Protection Act was passed but not initiaed by the commander in chief. A bidding war broke out between the govenors of the states on ventilators and PPE's. Soon trenches were being dug and wooden coffins lined up at the bottom of those trenches of the unclaimed. Dirt was shoved in and we moved on.
One of the things I will always remember is the President insinuating that the massive use of gloves by the doctors, nurses and hospital staff was excessive compared to months in the pass before this virus hit. He insinuated they were being stolen by staff.
As a nurse working containment, double gloving is mandatory. Changing gloves after iniating contact with a patient and before seeing another patient is mandatory for the health of said patients.
The fight continues with the mayors now on opening the economy while the virus death count continues to rise. Testing has been stopped at the site that is free here. If you want testing, you will pay for it. Most people here are unemployed right now and food money is the main concern. Food lines at food banks are swelling and the supply is low.
Food supply is in danger as the meat packing workers are becoming infected and the plants are shutting down.
The president wants to open the economy, 20 million people out of work and he is eying his chances at the upcoming election as he has always touted the strong economy as his main point for reelection.
Every briefing from the Whitehouse is now a rally for his base. He brags about the testing available for everyone as the scientists say this is the only safe way to open the economy. MTest and quarantine and test again.
The govenors do not have the means to acquire the tests. Only the Federal Goverment has access to the means to order and acquire. Knowing the only safe way to reenter the marketplace is testing and the months it would take to do this, the president is insisting the market place be opened without testing everyone which would be a monumental task.
A plan has been presented on a 'slow opening'. Rules are set on how this is to be done. Nobody is buying this and the public remains cautious and I remain nervous and at home.
My trips from my house are to my clients house where I maintain the position of his personal RN. I slip through the drive through window at Walgreens with my hand sanitizer close by, pick up meds and roll right back to his house. Occasionally I do a drive through for lunch pickup; shop for groceries every two weeks and only go to the 'senior hour' shopping where the shoppers are few and the aisle are directional, following the arrows on the floor and spacing 6 feet away from other shoppers. The checkout line is now encasing the cashier behind plastic, while you slip your debit card into the machine and pay the bill. There is very little chatter with people around you.
Everything is a danger. The plastic bags, the card, the door handle of your car and the bottom of your shoes. Don't touch your face. Don't touch your face. A chant I have to do to remind myself. Go home, wash your hands.
Amazingly there are still people posting that this is no different then the normal flu that passess through each year. To this I say, the numbers of casualties for the normal flu is over the span of 12 months in the year. THIS VIRUS has killed over 30,000 people in 8 WEEKS!
I haven't got to the point where I rip all my clothes off as soon as I get in the door. I don't want to give my 90 yr old client a myocardial infarction.
Friday, August 16, 2019
The Dental Experience
All that money in my lifetime that was invested in my teeth. The goal was to keep them.
My visit to the dentist 4 months ago did not end as I had expected. I was anticipating pouring more money into my mouth..a couple of inplants and I would be all fixed up. Not so. My dentist had other ideas. He advises against the expensive implants as the teeth were not stable and it would be investing more money into implants while other teeth were sure to go. Deep pockets, gum disease and unstable teeth and it was time to go another route. Tears streaming as he said it was not time to think about dentures. All these years he has tried to prepare me for this day. I thought I would be ready but apparently I wasn't.
We had the discussion. I don't want to have all the problems my friends and family complain about with dentures so I let him know that I wanted the implanted dentures. I left the office that day with a prescription for Halcyon and some antibiotics. In two weeks I would return all Halcyoned up...and the extractions of molars would begin meanwhile a care plan would be initiated with the costs detailed.
21,000.00. I wasn't too shocked. I had researched the cost of having this done and knew it wouldn't be cheap.
Two weeks later, and 1 hour before the appointment, I swallowed the Halcyon. I do not remember getting to the office nor getting in the chair nor any of what happened during the next hour. What a blessing! I'm a white knuckle dental patient and was not believing that Halcyon would be this effective. I'm a believer and already have my next dose for my next visit. Love me some Halcyon. Someone should have told me about this when I was having root canals and implants done!
My next visit was not supposed to be for 4 months as a bone graft was done on the first visit and a 4 month waiting period is needed to give the bone graft time to grow and fill the huge pocket from an old infection. I had to visit earlier then expected. A cavity was rocking my head; one that could not be repaired. A root canal would be necessary and neither the dentist nor I wanted to put that much money in a tooth that would be eventually extracted. Our plan? We pushed the extraction of the remaining teeth forward. An impression was made for the temporary denture that should arrive in two weeks. The remaining teeth will be extracted at that time and I will have to wear the temporary denture for a longer period of time. The bone graft will have to fill that space (4 months) and then the implants will be placed and those have to heal for 4 months. During this time I will be wearing the temporary dentures.
My dentist had warned me this would be a long process and would take patience and to just "hang with me" till we get you through this. It's one day, one month at a time right now.
My little cavity is being medicated with Orajel and hopefully we can move to the next step. The temporary dentures should arrive in two weeks and one week has already passed. I'll contact the hygienist next week for an update.
I'm not looking forward to the conventional dentures as most people I know are not happy with them. I've heard all kinds of stories on soreness, looseness and inability to chew. Hopefully this will be temporary and the implants will not offer these problems.
Updates to follow.
My visit to the dentist 4 months ago did not end as I had expected. I was anticipating pouring more money into my mouth..a couple of inplants and I would be all fixed up. Not so. My dentist had other ideas. He advises against the expensive implants as the teeth were not stable and it would be investing more money into implants while other teeth were sure to go. Deep pockets, gum disease and unstable teeth and it was time to go another route. Tears streaming as he said it was not time to think about dentures. All these years he has tried to prepare me for this day. I thought I would be ready but apparently I wasn't.
We had the discussion. I don't want to have all the problems my friends and family complain about with dentures so I let him know that I wanted the implanted dentures. I left the office that day with a prescription for Halcyon and some antibiotics. In two weeks I would return all Halcyoned up...and the extractions of molars would begin meanwhile a care plan would be initiated with the costs detailed.
21,000.00. I wasn't too shocked. I had researched the cost of having this done and knew it wouldn't be cheap.
Two weeks later, and 1 hour before the appointment, I swallowed the Halcyon. I do not remember getting to the office nor getting in the chair nor any of what happened during the next hour. What a blessing! I'm a white knuckle dental patient and was not believing that Halcyon would be this effective. I'm a believer and already have my next dose for my next visit. Love me some Halcyon. Someone should have told me about this when I was having root canals and implants done!
My next visit was not supposed to be for 4 months as a bone graft was done on the first visit and a 4 month waiting period is needed to give the bone graft time to grow and fill the huge pocket from an old infection. I had to visit earlier then expected. A cavity was rocking my head; one that could not be repaired. A root canal would be necessary and neither the dentist nor I wanted to put that much money in a tooth that would be eventually extracted. Our plan? We pushed the extraction of the remaining teeth forward. An impression was made for the temporary denture that should arrive in two weeks. The remaining teeth will be extracted at that time and I will have to wear the temporary denture for a longer period of time. The bone graft will have to fill that space (4 months) and then the implants will be placed and those have to heal for 4 months. During this time I will be wearing the temporary dentures.
My dentist had warned me this would be a long process and would take patience and to just "hang with me" till we get you through this. It's one day, one month at a time right now.
My little cavity is being medicated with Orajel and hopefully we can move to the next step. The temporary dentures should arrive in two weeks and one week has already passed. I'll contact the hygienist next week for an update.
I'm not looking forward to the conventional dentures as most people I know are not happy with them. I've heard all kinds of stories on soreness, looseness and inability to chew. Hopefully this will be temporary and the implants will not offer these problems.
Updates to follow.
Friday, April 26, 2019
Great Plans Laid To Waste and Trippin to The Coast
I had some great plans and one of them was to blog daily. The last time I posted was almost a year ago and it was on the trip Carrie and I took to expose her to as many states as possible.
We were on Day 2 which had us arriving in Casa Grande Arizona. It was Friday and we decided to stay with my sister in law through the weekend and escape the weekend motel rates on the coast. We would eventually leave early Monday morning for San Diego.
We rolled through El Paso, stopping to drive up to UTEP for the view across the Rio Grande. The housing situation appears to have improved since the years past from the last time I was on this site. The tar paper shacks with tin roofs had changed to wooden structures scattered on the hill side terraced down from one level to another. The heat hadn't changed at all. 111 degrees recorded making the exterior of the car impossible to touch. We took a few pictures of Carrie with Mexico across the river in the background, and moved on. We rolled along to Tucson and finally to Casa Grande.
Family appeared to visit bringing along Kentucky Fried Chicken and all the fixins. Saturday we lazed around town and headed later to Chandler, Arizona for lunch. We would later appreciate this down time as the rest of the trip found us on the move exploring new places and old.
Monday morning as planned we headed to San Diego. Through Hotels.com we reserved a room in the hotel circle. The hotel circle, if you are not familiar with San Diego, is an area that has most of the major hotels close to most of the attractions of San Diego. We could have walked to Old Town had we known we were so close. We checked in to the hotel for seventy dollars a night. The room was clean, the pool was clean and the jacuzzi was awesomely warm and the jets powerful we found late that afternoon. This was a hotel frequented by the college crowd but it was quiet and safe and in the right price range. As soon as we unpacked we headed for Old Town. First stop was a wonderful Mexican food restaurant. I had a margarita; Carrie didn't. Later we strolled the streets looking in the shops for souvenirs for Carrie's friends.
The pool and the jacuzzi finished off this day in San Diego. The next morning we headed for the beach. This part of California has a rough rocky beach. The seals were sunning themselves on the ledge and the water was frigid. Later in the day we went to Balboa Park where we spend the rest of the afternoon. We parked in the parking lot and took the tram into the park. I love spending time in Balboa Park. The museum is a must see and the artists that have their oil paintings, the pottery places and the jewelry shops are quaint and afford an afternoon of wandering from place to place. The artists are happy to explain their craft. Again to the jacuzzi in the late afternoon and tomorrow would we would be on our way to L.A.
Freeway driving was an experience in it's own.
I'm going to finish the blogging on this trip in the hopes that someday Carrie will look back on this; read and reminisce.
We were on Day 2 which had us arriving in Casa Grande Arizona. It was Friday and we decided to stay with my sister in law through the weekend and escape the weekend motel rates on the coast. We would eventually leave early Monday morning for San Diego.
We rolled through El Paso, stopping to drive up to UTEP for the view across the Rio Grande. The housing situation appears to have improved since the years past from the last time I was on this site. The tar paper shacks with tin roofs had changed to wooden structures scattered on the hill side terraced down from one level to another. The heat hadn't changed at all. 111 degrees recorded making the exterior of the car impossible to touch. We took a few pictures of Carrie with Mexico across the river in the background, and moved on. We rolled along to Tucson and finally to Casa Grande.
Family appeared to visit bringing along Kentucky Fried Chicken and all the fixins. Saturday we lazed around town and headed later to Chandler, Arizona for lunch. We would later appreciate this down time as the rest of the trip found us on the move exploring new places and old.
Monday morning as planned we headed to San Diego. Through Hotels.com we reserved a room in the hotel circle. The hotel circle, if you are not familiar with San Diego, is an area that has most of the major hotels close to most of the attractions of San Diego. We could have walked to Old Town had we known we were so close. We checked in to the hotel for seventy dollars a night. The room was clean, the pool was clean and the jacuzzi was awesomely warm and the jets powerful we found late that afternoon. This was a hotel frequented by the college crowd but it was quiet and safe and in the right price range. As soon as we unpacked we headed for Old Town. First stop was a wonderful Mexican food restaurant. I had a margarita; Carrie didn't. Later we strolled the streets looking in the shops for souvenirs for Carrie's friends.
The pool and the jacuzzi finished off this day in San Diego. The next morning we headed for the beach. This part of California has a rough rocky beach. The seals were sunning themselves on the ledge and the water was frigid. Later in the day we went to Balboa Park where we spend the rest of the afternoon. We parked in the parking lot and took the tram into the park. I love spending time in Balboa Park. The museum is a must see and the artists that have their oil paintings, the pottery places and the jewelry shops are quaint and afford an afternoon of wandering from place to place. The artists are happy to explain their craft. Again to the jacuzzi in the late afternoon and tomorrow would we would be on our way to L.A.
Freeway driving was an experience in it's own.
I'm going to finish the blogging on this trip in the hopes that someday Carrie will look back on this; read and reminisce.
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