Coronavirus - Health and preparedness aspects - II

[Bongleur]

And so what if it does? Again, what does your post add to the discussion other than "be more afraid"? Nobody here has disputed that this is a serious issue.

Information conquers fear.

I have seen the "80% of cases are mild, nothing to worry about" soundbite repeated on the mainstream national news, without the important qualifications. The respected news networks and official government information is heavily filtered and dumbed down to a 6th grade comprehension level. The advice to "contact the CDC for information" is ridiculous.

I saw an official govt web page (CDC or HHS) which was created in 2006, saying to use hand sanitizer. They have not yet read the Jan 2020 research paper showing that this is ineffective unless you keep it wet for 10 minutes; 78-80% alcohol is required to do the job in 1 minute. Which is still much longer than the amount of time people keep sanitizer on their hands. And sanitizer is at best 70%. Much official advice is simply wrong or mere hand holding.

 

[Gumby]

Your post #21 above, which included the article from the Journal of Hospital Infection, and in which you discussed the information in your second paragraph, was quite useful. Post more like that and less like this (#85).

 

[bbbamI]

Yesterday, I purchased OTC meds to last to the end of the year, personal items for six months and enough can/packaged food to last two months.

DH and I have been talking about getting a freezer off and on thru the years. Recently we did a little research and bought a medium size upright freezer yesterday. It will be delivered next week. All this may be small steps, but for me, doing a little something proactive calms the nerves a bit.

 

[tulak]

I bought some OTC meds yesterday, but honestly, I wasn’t sure what to buy. I rarely take any medicine, except for BP.

What is everybody buying?

I bought some ibuprofen and DayQuil/NightQuil, in case I get flu-like symptoms. But I have no idea if that will be helpful if I get sick. I figure it can’t hurt though.

 

[Bongleur]

I have one of the 3M full face masks with cartridges. I know it would work against the virus because you can walk into a room of chemical smells that would put someone on the floor in a few seconds and with this mask on you can't smell a thing. It has several layers of filtration in the cartridges and obviously has no leakage (since you can't smell any chemicals with it on).

Would I wear it into a public place? Probably not. I think it would cause some serious panic and I might even get hurt.

You don't need to pay extra for an organic vapor cartridge. A particulate cartridge is all you need. "N" is sufficient. "R" and "P" are more expensive because they are resistant to oily things.

You can become "nose blind" to scents. This is not a sufficient test for a face seal.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/default.html

and

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/default.html

 

[stepford]

Information conquers fear.

And suggesting official sources of information are lies (or at best "dumbed down") promotes fear and rumor mongering.

 

[braumeister]

A recent post by Dr. Michael Eades, whom I have enormous respect for, reminded me of the old adage that a good offense is the best defense. A very important way to strengthen your own natural immune system, particularly related to resisting infections that cause respiratory diseases, is get adequate Vitamin D.

A major reason there is a winter ‘flu season’ in North America is because we humans rely on the sun’s rays to naturally convert cholesterol in our skin to this critical vitamin/hormone that famously protects our bones and teeth but equally importantly also bolsters our immune function.*

So it’s wise to get outside and soak up as much unprotected sunshine as you can, as long as you don’t have specific reasons to avoid that. But a good Vitamin D supplement is cheap insurance.

What you eat can make a difference as well. Vitamin D is found abundantly in mackerel and salmon and to a smaller degree in tuna, sardines, and anchovies.

Some good reading:
Vitamin D and respiratory health

 

[bbbamI]

I bought some OTC meds yesterday, but honestly, I wasn’t sure what to buy. I rarely take any medicine, except for BP.

What is everybody buying?

I bought some ibuprofen and DayQuil/NightQuil, in case I get flu-like symptoms. But I have no idea if that will be helpful if I get sick. I figure it can’t hurt though.

I bought those too. I also got allergy pills, sleep aids, low dose aspirin and vitamins.

 

[FIREd]

So it’s wise to get outside and soak up as much unprotected sunshine as you can, as long as you don’t have specific reasons to avoid that.

I went on a long hike in the mountains yesterday and took in plenty of sunshine. As an added bonus, I filled my lungs with fresh air and my head with positive thoughts.

 

[Brat]

One death reported in WA. To the best of my memory the 2 diagnosed were staying at home, one a 50 yo the other a high school student.

 

[walkinwood]

I saw an official govt web page (CDC or HHS) which was created in 2006, saying to use hand sanitizer.

You're posting incorrect information. This was 2 clicks from the cdc.gov site.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

They recommend hand sanitizer on if "Soap and water are not readily available"

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

 

[Born2BRetd]

I have been preparing since the beginning of February. I am cautiously optimistic that we won't need the extra supplies but don't want to be in the stores if there is a last minute panic. I've been approaching this as an educational exercise and have learned some interesting things i.e. powdered buttermilk supposedly helps dogs with tear stains. Who knew? Also, it will be nice to have dried milk/buttermilk on hand if I'm out and want to get started on the baking.

I have dried fruit, vegetables, nuts, jerky and a few canned items. Honestly, canned vegetables have never been a regular part of my diet and I had a hard time buying those (they'll definitely go to the food pantry unless they are absolutely needed). The dried vegetables will go right into any soup so those definitely won't go to waste.

I have been busy making Fire Cider which is a combination of garlic, onions, gingers, horseradish, peppers, apple cider vinegar and honey. It takes three weeks to ferment so I bought an expensive bottle through Amazon until home production could catch up. We started dosing ourselves every day this last week. Will it keep us from getting sick? Who knows? But if we reek of garlic maybe that will keep people from standing too close

I have also made Medicine Chicken Soup that has garlic, ginger, rosemary, thyme and peppers in it. Each one of those ingredients targets inflammation, cough, etc. I have frozen the broth in separate packets so it's ready to go. If I'm sick, I won't have the energy to do that and the kids would be clueless.

I've also been researching traditional methods for dealing with pneumonia since Coronavirus seems to target the lungs specifically. So, I have hot mustard for mustard packs and castor oil for castor oil packs. In addition, I have Alka Seltzer Gold to use for electrolytes and Mucinex for decongestion. These ingredients last a long time and I hope to not have to use them but if we need to self treat at home I wanted to have the tools on hand.

I plan on creating a spreadsheet with expiration dates of the items listed so I will use them up on time and/or donate.

INFJ here. Curious to know if INFJs are more likely to prep ahead of the masses.

Edit: I also have a slightly large stash of dark chocolate. Forget the stories about stores running out of toilet paper - we'll survive that but no Chocolate? Nope, not safe out there if we don't have our chocolate!

 

[Gumby]

... I have dried fruit, vegetables, nuts, jerky and a few canned items. Honestly, canned vegetables have never been a regular part of my diet and I had a hard time buying those (they'll definitely go to the food pantry unless they are absolutely needed). The dried vegetables will go right into any soup so those definitely won't go to waste....

For many years, the young wife and I have made it a point to have enough food on hand to go at least two months without resupply. We also rarely use canned meats or vegetables, but we always have several cases of them on hand, just in case. I use a Sharpie to mark the end of the case with the expiration date minus one month. When we get to that month, I take the case to the Church food pantry and go to the store to buy a replacement. In 2019, we had a bunch of expiration dates that coincided, so I ended up taking 10 cases of canned food to the food pantry. They were quite happy to get them. I view this practice as cheap insurance and a chance to do some good in the community too.

Edit to add: I find it easiest to buy a full case, so that there is only one expiration date per case. Buying individual cans and keeping track of each date is too much work. So we have a case of corn, a case of green beans, a case of carrots, a case of Spam, etc.

 

[Aerides]

So it’s wise to get outside and soak up as much unprotected sunshine as you can, as long as you don’t have specific reasons to avoid that. But a good Vitamin D supplement is cheap insurance.

I spend more time outside than most, running/gardening, and use sunscreen less than I should...and...florida, etc. (perma decent tan).

And yet my bloodwork comes back low for D. I wish it worked but I have to take a supplement.

 

[shotgunner]

I watched some of the Presidents news conference today. I listened to Dr. Tony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. You can listen to him at 1:11:40 at this Youtube video. He said that 15% to 20% who contract Corona virus will require "advanced medical care". To me that is a big number and I wonder does it have the capacity to overtax our hospitals if the virus becomes wide spread? (No political point here, just reporting what I saw on TV today).

 

[Bongleur]

So it’s wise to get outside and soak up as much unprotected sunshine as you can, as long as you don’t have specific reasons to avoid that. But a good Vitamin D supplement is cheap insurance.

As you get older your ability to synthesize Vit D is severely diminished. Essentially, you NEED to get it from supplements in order to get enough. 5000 units a day is good. And there are cofactors involved.

And most products contain the cheapest form of minerals, which means essentially not absorbed by your body (calcium carbonate = chalk). So spend $$ on a good molecular form blended with the cofactors.

 

[Gumby]

..... I listened to Dr. Tony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ..... He said that 15% to 20% who contract Corona virus will require "advanced medical care". To me that is a big number and I wonder does it have the capacity to overtax our hospitals if the virus becomes wide spread? ....

That's an important reason why we try to slow the spread even if we can't stop it - so that everyone doesn't arrive at the hospital at the same time.

 

[Brat]

I read that the 50 yo in WA (the one who didn't die) worked in health care in a long term care facility. [MOD EDIT]

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02...luster-of-illnesses-reported-in-seattle-area/

 

[davebarnes]

Milano

We flew into Linate Milano from Denver (via Heathrow) on Saturday 29FEB2020.
We did a bit more hand washing and surface rubdowns.

The flight from LHR to LIN was at 30% load factor.
The Linate airport was semi-deserted. The immigration queue was zero.
We did get temperature checked by civil servants wearing red jumpsuits.

We ate dinner in a restaurant (Osteria del Corso) that was packed with happy Italians eating excellent food.

We are happy.

 

[Bongleur]

You're posting incorrect information. This was 2 clicks from the cdc.gov site.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

They recommend hand sanitizer on if "Soap and water are not readily available"

Not the same web page.

 

[GenXguy]

He said that 15% to 20% who contract Corona virus will require "advanced medical care". To me that is a big number and I wonder does it have the capacity to overtax our hospitals if the virus becomes wide spread?

Most definitely. It's early in the outbreak in Italy, and I was just reading about hospitals having to transfer patients to other hospitals. But what happens when this spreads, as is apparently happening pretty quickly in places? Indeed, hopefully we can slow the spread.

 

[Bongleur]

I've also been researching traditional methods for dealing with pneumonia since Coronavirus seems to target the lungs specifically. So, I have hot mustard for mustard packs and castor oil for castor oil packs.

AFAIK this will increase inflammation by irritating the skin & nasal passages. IMO exactly what you DO NOT want to do when you are dying of ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, colloquially a "cytokine storm"). You want high doses of anti-inflammatory substances.

Garlic is one (I have read that aged and fresh have different qualities but both are anti-inflammatory) and read up on DHEA. Also investigate zinc lozenges, Lactorferrin and Melatonin as immune boosters at the first sign of an infection.

You might want an Oral Rehydration Solution - you might need 4 to 8 gallons per day in a critically ill situation. Gatorade G2 powder plus 1/2 tsp salt per quart is cheap insurance on your shelf.

 

[copyright1997reloaded]

I've decided that I will not travel by plane or train until a) more is known about the true infection death rate in the United States or b) the number of infection curve stops growing exponentially.

Why? Not only do I not want to catch it, I also have a social responsibility to (as much as I can control) not give others the virus.

For now, I am keeping some college acceptance day visits (for my child), but have switched distant school visits from train to car (where I can better control sanitary conditions).

I do believe (perhaps it is really hope rather than reality) that the infection death rate is likely overstated, as some/many mild cases may go unreported. I am also a little (but not much) hopeful in that the early China cases had a much higher death rate than what they are seeing now.

If/when things settle down, there is plenty of time to travel in large groups (e.g. train, plane, ship). For now, I am trying to practice social distancing as much as possible.

 

[splitwdw]

I have been preparing since the beginning of February. I am cautiously optimistic that we won't need the extra supplies but don't want to be in the stores if there is a last minute panic. I've been approaching this as an educational exercise and have learned some interesting things i.e. powdered buttermilk supposedly helps dogs with tear stains. Who knew? Also, it will be nice to have dried milk/buttermilk on hand if I'm out and want to get started on the baking.

I have dried fruit, vegetables, nuts, jerky and a few canned items. Honestly, canned vegetables have never been a regular part of my diet and I had a hard time buying those (they'll definitely go to the food pantry unless they are absolutely needed). The dried vegetables will go right into any soup so those definitely won't go to waste.

I have been busy making Fire Cider which is a combination of garlic, onions, gingers, horseradish, peppers, apple cider vinegar and honey. It takes three weeks to ferment so I bought an expensive bottle through Amazon until home production could catch up. We started dosing ourselves every day this last week. Will it keep us from getting sick? Who knows? But if we reek of garlic maybe that will keep people from standing too close

I have also made Medicine Chicken Soup that has garlic, ginger, rosemary, thyme and peppers in it. Each one of those ingredients targets inflammation, cough, etc. I have frozen the broth in separate packets so it's ready to go. If I'm sick, I won't have the energy to do that and the kids would be clueless.

I've also been researching traditional methods for dealing with pneumonia since Coronavirus seems to target the lungs specifically. So, I have hot mustard for mustard packs and castor oil for castor oil packs. In addition, I have Alka Seltzer Gold to use for electrolytes and Mucinex for decongestion. These ingredients last a long time and I hope to not have to use them but if we need to self treat at home I wanted to have the tools on hand.

I plan on creating a spreadsheet with expiration dates of the items listed so I will use them up on time and/or donate.

INFJ here. Curious to know if INFJs are more likely to prep ahead of the masses.

Edit: I also have a slightly large stash of dark chocolate. Forget the stories about stores running out of toilet paper - we'll survive that but no Chocolate? Nope, not safe out there if we don't have our chocolate!

Born2B, You made some great choices in your food selections and that's a great idea about freezing the broth. I hang a sheet in my pantry that has my inventory of canned and dried foods. I also write the expiration dates on the cans/packages. We are boring in our food selection so not that many items to track. I keep cans of diced tomatoes on hand because you can use chunky or cook down for a sauce. I'll eat baked beans from a can but don't like most canned veggies. We eat frozen veggies, taste better to us. Anyway, great suggestions and I did forget the chocolate.

 

[FIYes]

Gumby, I like your suggestion to buy a case of whatever and donate it a month before expiration if not used.