Coronavirus prep
Replies
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missysippy930 wrote: »Speaking of hand sanitizer. Living in a cold winter climate (Minnesota), I’ve always steered away from it. Until covid. I’ve got a real issue with dry, chapped, cracking hands. The hand sanitizer makes it worse. Believe me, I’ve tried everything for softening my hands. It’s really bad this winter. Can anyone relate, and does anything work?
I haven't had dry skin in the winter since I got control of the thermostat and cranked it down, but I remember from the Home Heating thread in Debate that you like it super toasty, so not an option for you.
Are you limiting your hand sanitizer use to only when you don't have access to soap? My OH likes to use wipes in the car but I just wait until I get home and use soap.
I have increased my hand washing frequency and duration, and my hands did start drying out. I use the same soap in the kitchen after I come in from the outside (actually dish detergent) but for my bathroom soap I started making my own moisturizing soap, which fixed my hands:
https://bodyunburdened.com/diy-all-natural-rich-creamy-moisturizing-hand-soap/5 -
@snowflake954
Yeah, me too. The hand sanitizer makes it worse.
@kshama2001
I do like it toasty, and heating with wood, it gets really dry in the house in the winter. I’ll try your recipe. I do use it only when I’m out and about, and wash my hands as soon as I get home, and slather on lotion after washing my hands. We feed the birds and it’s kind of hard maneuvering and filling some of the feeders and heated bird baths, so the winter gloves come off a lot outside, which doesn’t help. In a normal year, it’s tolerable, but because of covid, more frequent washing hands, and sanitizer, it’s really bad right now. I’ve been retired 3 years now, but it was really bad this time of year passing colds/flu around at work, so I’ve been washing my hands for at least 21 seconds for a long time. It gets to be a habit.5 -
missysippy930 wrote: »Speaking of hand sanitizer. Living in a cold winter climate (Minnesota), I’ve always steered away from it. Until covid. I’ve got a real issue with dry, chapped, cracking hands. The hand sanitizer makes it worse. Believe me, I’ve tried everything for softening my hands. It’s really bad this winter. Can anyone relate, and does anything work?
I can't use alcohol based sanitizer at all because of contact dermatitis. If it came down to a choice between possible contamination and skin blisters of course I'd use it but I stick to hand washing otherwise. I also have bad eczema so that's been a bit of a disaster too.
I exclusively use perfume and dye free soaps. I bring my own little bottle around with me, I never use the cheap industrial quality detergents in public facilities. I apply lotion immediately after washing, while my hands are still damp.
For lotion I can't go cheap. The Cetaphil lotion is excellent. My other favourite is La Roche Posay Baume Lipikar. Lotion at night with cotton gloves. I have a coworker who says she uses Vaseline with gloves at night.
Polysporin and bandaids when the skin starts to split.6 -
missysippy930 wrote: »Speaking of hand sanitizer. Living in a cold winter climate (Minnesota), I’ve always steered away from it. Until covid. I’ve got a real issue with dry, chapped, cracking hands. The hand sanitizer makes it worse. Believe me, I’ve tried everything for softening my hands. It’s really bad this winter. Can anyone relate, and does anything work?
Two things that I've tried work better than other things. I get huge gashes in my skin over Winter. Aveeno has a cracked hand formula (CICA balm?) that's relatively cheap and O'Keefe's works well too. I like the Aveeno over the O'Keefe's but both are good. I had a cut on my one finger that wouldn't heal -- I think just from flossing. Was open for like two weeks. The day after using the Aveeno for like 3 times in a day it closed up.
Real handsoaps with glycerin make a lot of difference. Trader Joe's has a decent one for cheap. Shea Moisture makes some good ones too with lots of glycerin in them and shea butter.8 -
missysippy930 wrote: »@snowflake954
Yeah, me too. The hand sanitizer makes it worse.
@kshama2001
I do like it toasty, and heating with wood, it gets really dry in the house in the winter. I’ll try your recipe. I do use it only when I’m out and about, and wash my hands as soon as I get home, and slather on lotion after washing my hands. We feed the birds and it’s kind of hard maneuvering and filling some of the feeders and heated bird baths, so the winter gloves come off a lot outside, which doesn’t help. In a normal year, it’s tolerable, but because of covid, more frequent washing hands, and sanitizer, it’s really bad right now. I’ve been retired 3 years now, but it was really bad this time of year passing colds/flu around at work, so I’ve been washing my hands for at least 21 seconds for a long time. It gets to be a habit.
Oh, I meant to ask - do you use a humidifier to counter the wood stove dry air?
Mom has a wood stove and that room gets super dry. I haven't seen her humidifier make an appearance yet this year and will ask her what's up with that.3 -
I keep a large stockpot of water on the wood stove to add moisture. Otherwise I start getting nosebleeds from the dry air.8
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Outdoor Hands is my favorite hand lotion - i have had great results with it... it doesn’t leave the same coating as O’keefe’s (I have sensory issues so I couldn’t do that one).
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/outdoor-hands-intense-skin-therapy-cream-34-oz-tube-5147182?store=1625&cm_mmc=feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-5147182&gclid=CjwKCAiAxKv_BRBdEiwAyd40N13UOa-ccWUBLvOj2XGQCuaaQ2NbN1bIyIDAl5a_d6g1n8_mrN4Y9hoCui0QAvD_BwE
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Thanks everyone! You’re the best! I have a lot of things to try on my quest for battling dry, cracking hands.
We don’t have a humidifier, but do have two cast iron tea kettles filled with water on top of the wood stove.4 -
missysippy930 wrote: »Can anyone relate, and does anything work?
As someone with eczema, whose knuckles are cracked and bleeding every winter, I can totally sympathize. With Covid, this year has been particularly rough. I use O'Keefe's Working Hands religiously. If it gets really bad, I'll apply an anhydrous lanolin emollient (like Bag Balm) and put cotton gloves on my hands before bed. Usually, though, the O'Keefe's is sufficient.4 -
missysippy930 wrote: »Speaking of hand sanitizer. Living in a cold winter climate (Minnesota), I’ve always steered away from it. Until covid. I’ve got a real issue with dry, chapped, cracking hands. The hand sanitizer makes it worse. Believe me, I’ve tried everything for softening my hands. It’s really bad this winter. Can anyone relate, and does anything work?
I get extremely dry skin in the winter. Not as bad as an adult, but when I was a kid, the bottom of my feet would get so dry that they would crack open and bleed. I found that keeping my feet suffocated is the only way, and has worked well for decades. For other skin, aquafilic ointment works very well.2 -
I keep a large stockpot of water on the wood stove to add moisture. Otherwise I start getting nosebleeds from the dry air.
I get nosebleeds too, even here in west TN where the coldest it has every gotten since I moved here was 20F. Even yet, I've had several nosebleeds in the past 2 weeks especially and struggle to keep my humidifier filled with water so I can keep it on full blast.5 -
Long time atopic dermatitis sufferer here, so I appreciate the suggestions.
Crossed a covid Rubicon in the family tonight. Blended family, so our three daughters have two other parents. Two daughters live with us when not at college, and one lives in her own apartment locally (visit every week -outdoors-since she moved out in June.) Heretofore, we have been unwilling to ask them to limit contact with their other parents. We know that elevates our exposure risk, so we lower our risks in other ways. One of the other parents has repeatedly invited the girls to dinner without telling them beforehand about congestion/cold symptoms, and the girls have felt disrespected and a little scared on previous occasions. It happened again tonight, plus the reveal that the other parent is awaiting covid test results. They were together xmas eve for an indoor meal, so if it is covid the damage is done, and we have all been exposed. The oldest daughter isolated 5 days after her last day at work (7th grade math teacher) and tested so that we could all be together indoors safely at Christmas. So this other parent is clearly the weak link in all our precautions. The ripple effects and consequent stress bring us to the point that, if the test comes back negative (our area testing 15% positive now, so likely to be negative), we are ready to limit that exposure. It's just not worth stressing and having to limit OUR activities so we don't pass it on.
Many people have local extended family members with different risk tolerances and sensibilities about precautions, so the family dynamic isn't confined to blended families. It's just a difficult time.21 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I keep a large stockpot of water on the wood stove to add moisture. Otherwise I start getting nosebleeds from the dry air.
I get nosebleeds too, even here in west TN where the coldest it has every gotten since I moved here was 20F. Even yet, I've had several nosebleeds in the past 2 weeks especially and struggle to keep my humidifier filled with water so I can keep it on full blast.
Winter nosebleeds are also a thing of the past for me since I got control of the thermostat and cranked it down. I have it at 58 degrees F at night and 61-65 during the day.
I had it even colder at my last place, where I lived alone and had electric heat, and layered me up during the day and my bed at night. I love burrowing into heavy piles of quilts on a cold winter night! There I also used an electric blanket. Here, I just need a sheet, weighted blanket, and one quilt. (Weighted blankets are really warm.)
I realize there are a lot of people here with Raynaud's or who just really dislike the cold for which these cold temperatures would not work, but for others plagued by winter dry skin or nosebleeds, do consider turning down the temperature.3 -
We have electric baseboard heat and I ordered a surprise heated mattress cover for my husband! Each room is controlled individually so we leave the bedroom off until just before bed, but the sheets are still frigid cold. Now, to find a heated toilet seat for himkshama2001 wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I keep a large stockpot of water on the wood stove to add moisture. Otherwise I start getting nosebleeds from the dry air.
I get nosebleeds too, even here in west TN where the coldest it has every gotten since I moved here was 20F. Even yet, I've had several nosebleeds in the past 2 weeks especially and struggle to keep my humidifier filled with water so I can keep it on full blast.
Winter nosebleeds are also a thing of the past for me since I got control of the thermostat and cranked it down. I have it at 58 degrees F at night and 61-65 during the day.
I had it even colder at my last place, where I lived alone and had electric heat, and layered me up during the day and my bed at night. I love burrowing into heavy piles of quilts on a cold winter night! There I also used an electric blanket. Here, I just need a sheet, weighted blanket, and one quilt. (Weighted blankets are really warm.)
I realize there are a lot of people here with Raynaud's or who just really dislike the cold for which these cold temperatures would not work, but for others plagued by winter dry skin or nosebleeds, do consider turning down the temperature.
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kshama2001 wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »I keep a large stockpot of water on the wood stove to add moisture. Otherwise I start getting nosebleeds from the dry air.
I get nosebleeds too, even here in west TN where the coldest it has every gotten since I moved here was 20F. Even yet, I've had several nosebleeds in the past 2 weeks especially and struggle to keep my humidifier filled with water so I can keep it on full blast.
Winter nosebleeds are also a thing of the past for me since I got control of the thermostat and cranked it down. I have it at 58 degrees F at night and 61-65 during the day.
I had it even colder at my last place, where I lived alone and had electric heat, and layered me up during the day and my bed at night. I love burrowing into heavy piles of quilts on a cold winter night! There I also used an electric blanket. Here, I just need a sheet, weighted blanket, and one quilt. (Weighted blankets are really warm.)
I realize there are a lot of people here with Raynaud's or who just really dislike the cold for which these cold temperatures would not work, but for others plagued by winter dry skin or nosebleeds, do consider turning down the temperature.
I start thinking it's too warm at 63. I have noticed the dry skin isn't as bad this winter though; I just didn't realize it was due to the temp.0 -
Area news reporting record hospitalizations in my area—93-95%utilization of ICU beds and 89-92% of acute care. What is not being reported (at least in my cursory search) since earlier this month is ER status—from folks working inpatient at a local hospital, patients who need emergent procedures are having to wait hours—I mean, not an hour or two but many hours—to even get in and get a bed. This is w a doctor calling the ER to say patient needs to be admitted for procedures—there are no beds.
I’m sure this is fluctuating a bit day to day, and these patients were needing emergent (but not “they are dying this minute” procedures), but moral of story is don’t need the ER right now. The report from two weeks ago says area hospital are still accepting transfers, but if the volume remains as high as it is, I can’t see that continuing.
Hospital staff are overworked and stressed, as they’re dealing w high volume of sick patients as well as annoyed patients fussing about their wait time, not understanding or caring that the reason they had to wait so long is bc there are a ton of sick people and no beds.16 -
gradchica27 wrote: »Area news reporting record hospitalizations in my area—93-95%utilization of ICU beds and 89-92% of acute care. What is not being reported (at least in my cursory search) since earlier this month is ER status—from folks working inpatient at a local hospital, patients who need emergent procedures are having to wait hours—I mean, not an hour or two but many hours—to even get in and get a bed. This is w a doctor calling the ER to say patient needs to be admitted for procedures—there are no beds.
I’m sure this is fluctuating a bit day to day, and these patients were needing emergent (but not “they are dying this minute” procedures), but moral of story is don’t need the ER right now. The report from two weeks ago says area hospital are still accepting transfers, but if the volume remains as high as it is, I can’t see that continuing.
Hospital staff are overworked and stressed, as they’re dealing w high volume of sick patients as well as annoyed patients fussing about their wait time, not understanding or caring that the reason they had to wait so long is bc there are a ton of sick people and no beds.
With holiday spread, this is going to be much worse in the next 1-2 weeks.7 -
Mid-week humor
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The state of TN completely changed their vaccine rollout plan. Among other things, they eliminated a category for multiple comorbidities and now I am in ohase 1c instead of phase 2. Also, there is a new phase 1c and phase 2 has been split into phases 2a and 2b. So I'm still in the 4th group.
They have added age-based rollout simultaneously with the rest of the vaccination categories and added estimates for dates.
My estimated date is March/Q2. This most likely means I will not get the vaccine until Q3/Q4 because I don't think I will be living in TN in March. If I move to the state I think I will, T1D is not considered to be a comorbidity at all despite everything we know about how this virus enters cells being a bigger concern for diabetics (all types because it is increased BG that is the issue). So I basically get stuck with everyone else. I just hope I don't get infected before then.
I will add that the Q3/Q4 2021 dates as the end of vaccinating everyone are extremely optimistic. This is partly because we have heard this may become an annual vaccine, so we start over again at that point. Also, current rate of vaccine distribution will take 7 years. So they need to start giving a lot more shots if they are going to finish in 1 year.8 -
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T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »The state of TN completely changed their vaccine rollout plan. Among other things, they eliminated a category for multiple comorbidities and now I am in ohase 1c instead of phase 2. Also, there is a new phase 1c and phase 2 has been split into phases 2a and 2b. So I'm still in the 4th group.
They have added age-based rollout simultaneously with the rest of the vaccination categories and added estimates for dates.
My estimated date is March/Q2. This most likely means I will not get the vaccine until Q3/Q4 because I don't think I will be living in TN in March. If I move to the state I think I will, T1D is not considered to be a comorbidity at all despite everything we know about how this virus enters cells being a bigger concern for diabetics (all types because it is increased BG that is the issue). So I basically get stuck with everyone else. I just hope I don't get infected before then.
I will add that the Q3/Q4 2021 dates as the end of vaccinating everyone are extremely optimistic. This is partly because we have heard this may become an annual vaccine, so we start over again at that point. Also, current rate of vaccine distribution will take 7 years. So they need to start giving a lot more shots if they are going to finish in 1 year.
Our region just got a notice via the local media that 75+ folks can start registering for their vaccine starting Jan 2. No indication on how long it will be until they actually receive it though. This matters to me of course since we've been in perpetual quarantine to protect my Dad to whom this applies.5 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »The state of TN completely changed their vaccine rollout plan. Among other things, they eliminated a category for multiple comorbidities and now I am in ohase 1c instead of phase 2. Also, there is a new phase 1c and phase 2 has been split into phases 2a and 2b. So I'm still in the 4th group.
They have added age-based rollout simultaneously with the rest of the vaccination categories and added estimates for dates.
My estimated date is March/Q2. This most likely means I will not get the vaccine until Q3/Q4 because I don't think I will be living in TN in March. If I move to the state I think I will, T1D is not considered to be a comorbidity at all despite everything we know about how this virus enters cells being a bigger concern for diabetics (all types because it is increased BG that is the issue). So I basically get stuck with everyone else. I just hope I don't get infected before then.
I will add that the Q3/Q4 2021 dates as the end of vaccinating everyone are extremely optimistic. This is partly because we have heard this may become an annual vaccine, so we start over again at that point. Also, current rate of vaccine distribution will take 7 years. So they need to start giving a lot more shots if they are going to finish in 1 year.
I agree. I don't think I'll even get vaccinated in 2021. Hate to sound like a pessimist but the initial roll out has been terrible. Initially, I was looking at Summer. No way. Fall is optimistic and more likely in 2022.5 -
baconslave wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »The state of TN completely changed their vaccine rollout plan. Among other things, they eliminated a category for multiple comorbidities and now I am in ohase 1c instead of phase 2. Also, there is a new phase 1c and phase 2 has been split into phases 2a and 2b. So I'm still in the 4th group.
They have added age-based rollout simultaneously with the rest of the vaccination categories and added estimates for dates.
My estimated date is March/Q2. This most likely means I will not get the vaccine until Q3/Q4 because I don't think I will be living in TN in March. If I move to the state I think I will, T1D is not considered to be a comorbidity at all despite everything we know about how this virus enters cells being a bigger concern for diabetics (all types because it is increased BG that is the issue). So I basically get stuck with everyone else. I just hope I don't get infected before then.
I will add that the Q3/Q4 2021 dates as the end of vaccinating everyone are extremely optimistic. This is partly because we have heard this may become an annual vaccine, so we start over again at that point. Also, current rate of vaccine distribution will take 7 years. So they need to start giving a lot more shots if they are going to finish in 1 year.
Our region just got a notice via the local media that 75+ folks can start registering for their vaccine starting Jan 2. No indication on how long it will be until they actually receive it though. This matters to me of course since we've been in perpetual quarantine to protect my Dad to whom this applies.
The chart they just released with the new plan has 75+ simultaneous with group 1a2 between Jan-Feb.
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MikePfirrman wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »The state of TN completely changed their vaccine rollout plan. Among other things, they eliminated a category for multiple comorbidities and now I am in ohase 1c instead of phase 2. Also, there is a new phase 1c and phase 2 has been split into phases 2a and 2b. So I'm still in the 4th group.
They have added age-based rollout simultaneously with the rest of the vaccination categories and added estimates for dates.
My estimated date is March/Q2. This most likely means I will not get the vaccine until Q3/Q4 because I don't think I will be living in TN in March. If I move to the state I think I will, T1D is not considered to be a comorbidity at all despite everything we know about how this virus enters cells being a bigger concern for diabetics (all types because it is increased BG that is the issue). So I basically get stuck with everyone else. I just hope I don't get infected before then.
I will add that the Q3/Q4 2021 dates as the end of vaccinating everyone are extremely optimistic. This is partly because we have heard this may become an annual vaccine, so we start over again at that point. Also, current rate of vaccine distribution will take 7 years. So they need to start giving a lot more shots if they are going to finish in 1 year.
I agree. I don't think I'll even get vaccinated in 2021. Hate to sound like a pessimist but the initial roll out has been terrible. Initially, I was looking at Summer. No way. Fall is optimistic and more likely in 2022.
I agree. Things aren’t going as planned with the vaccine anywhere. So, continuing to do what we’ve been doing since March.6 -
T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »baconslave wrote: »T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »The state of TN completely changed their vaccine rollout plan. Among other things, they eliminated a category for multiple comorbidities and now I am in ohase 1c instead of phase 2. Also, there is a new phase 1c and phase 2 has been split into phases 2a and 2b. So I'm still in the 4th group.
They have added age-based rollout simultaneously with the rest of the vaccination categories and added estimates for dates.
My estimated date is March/Q2. This most likely means I will not get the vaccine until Q3/Q4 because I don't think I will be living in TN in March. If I move to the state I think I will, T1D is not considered to be a comorbidity at all despite everything we know about how this virus enters cells being a bigger concern for diabetics (all types because it is increased BG that is the issue). So I basically get stuck with everyone else. I just hope I don't get infected before then.
I will add that the Q3/Q4 2021 dates as the end of vaccinating everyone are extremely optimistic. This is partly because we have heard this may become an annual vaccine, so we start over again at that point. Also, current rate of vaccine distribution will take 7 years. So they need to start giving a lot more shots if they are going to finish in 1 year.
Our region just got a notice via the local media that 75+ folks can start registering for their vaccine starting Jan 2. No indication on how long it will be until they actually receive it though. This matters to me of course since we've been in perpetual quarantine to protect my Dad to whom this applies.
The chart they just released with the new plan has 75+ simultaneous with group 1a2 between Jan-Feb.
I dunno. They've already screwed stuff up here and vaccinations are lagging quite a bit for phase 1a1 so we aren't holding our breath.2 -
I wonder how much leeway there is to get the 2nd shot? If someone is supposed to get it at 3 weeks but it isn't available until 5 weeks, will the efficacy be reduced?4
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Illinois has been doing pretty well with the vaccine based on the numbers I've seen, but I haven't even tried to figure out when I will get it and assume not for ages, since I am in no special category. My sister's SO got it before Christmas, since he is working in a hospital and with some covid patients. (I don't know when he is getting the second shot, should ask.)2
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the indication here is it will be 3 months!!!!! 12 weeks the manufacturers are saying there were no trials with that time lag2
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Illinois has been doing pretty well with the vaccine based on the numbers I've seen, but I haven't even tried to figure out when I will get it and assume not for ages, since I am in no special category. My sister's SO got it before Christmas, since he is working in a hospital and with some covid patients. (I don't know when he is getting the second shot, should ask.)
Also in IL. Friend that is a pharmacist for Walgreens still hasn't gotten his (supposed to be next week). He's going to be going out to nursing homes (which are in the first wave along with 1st line healthcare workers) so not sure if IL is really up to plan yet.
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I wonder how much leeway there is to get the 2nd shot? If someone is supposed to get it at 3 weeks but it isn't available until 5 weeks, will the efficacy be reduced?
I think the short answer is: they don't know, unfortunately.
I know theyre concerned that govts hearing about the surprising antibody levels just the first dose is providing are suggesting to just get everyone their first dose now and worry about the second later. But since the vaccines weren't trialed that way, there's no way to tell when (or if) that immunity level starts to drop absent the second shot.
I'm starting to think the efficacy of the one shot vaccines that aren't approved in the US yet is going to be what makes or breaks getting to the other side of this.7
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