Prepping for a Pandemic - Thread 16

[Sprayitall]

I don’t know why another thread hasn’t been created yet , so here you go. Now as we prep ourselves to the peak of this pandemic, let’s all face it together and appreciate how fragile our lives are and how we need each other to survive and flourish.

@JustMeAndMyTins It's probably just anxiety but might be a good idea to speak to a GP. Can you get a phone appointment? Just to be on the safe side.

That's made me anxious about going outside @Sprayitall I think I'd have a major panic attack if some nasty idiot deliberately coughed on me. I was wondering whether to wear a mask for my walk. I've only got a few disposables. I'm seriously considering going out at 2am just round the block. DP thinks I'm being OTT.

Thanks for the tip @Legoandloldolls That's another thing to worry about. We have a small flat and communal bins for the block. It's a small block but still that's rubbish from several different households. There's no space in the flat to store rubbish.

Anxiety often makes me have silent acid reflux, leading to chest pains, trouble breathing, sore throat and coughing - which is just fabulous when those are the things you look out for.

My tickly throat the other day went away after some food and some rennies.

I’m another one who gets physical symptoms of anxiety, hope you feel better soon. I am finding not knowing when anything is going to change so hard so I really do sympathise.

We’ve also had reports of groups of youths causing trouble - where are the parents? Hoping the police start patrols in the parks etc to disperse these types of groups.

Today’s figure is a scary one too 87 more deaths and more than 1400 new cases, I’m sure the figures will rise this week but will hopefully start to fall next week if people stick to the social distancing measures. This seems to have worked in both China and Italy, fingers crossed that their figures continue to come down!

I’m trying really hard not to panic/twitch and not exactly succeeding necessarily.

None of the 3 supermarkets that deliver to my address have any new delivery slots coming up, it’s really starting to look like they’re plain not releasing them to be honest as even checking at midnight which normally releases the next date isn’t working.

They’re supposedly prioritising vulnerable customers but we can’t get through to them to tell them we’re vulnerable because the phone lines are completely clogged and they’re not making other options possible.

As I said earlier on thread I’m ok for now but I am starting to worry about those stocks running low and not being able to get essentials.

It’s already been almost 2 weeks since this started to be a problem will they really get it sorted in the next 3? Because if not myself and many others are utterly screwed!!

I am of course grateful to those on the frontline dealing with stressed and irate customers and trying to get shelves filled and online orders completed etc my issue is not with them.

It’s with the managers who’ve known what the situation is for a while now and yet have failed to put the seemingly most common sense fixes in place.

Glad I ordered my prescriptions when I did which was a little (couple days) earlier than usual. But as I can only get 28 days at a time I’m worried what’s gonna happen for next lot.

Thanks, all. You’re so kind.

It’s not anxiety in itself (I’m very familiar with that) but @Oxyiz I think you may have a point about reflux - which may or may not be caused by anxiety. Either that or it’s a chest infection. Hopefully the standard kind.

I feel dreadful. And on top of the ongoing throat infection, it’s really rubbish. @tryingtoprep I think I’ll try and get an online appointment if I’m no better tomorrow. I had to do some work today because I’m really not doing a good job at the moment (can’t concentrate) and I just got promoted the week we were sent off to wfh.

Why on earth would somebody be so mean as to cough on people? What the fuck is wrong with people?! I really feel like I’m seeing the best and worst of humanity right now!

I get terrible physical anxiety, I had such a bad year last year that I ended up having vomiting as a side effect of anxiety with terrible acid reflux. Doctor prescribed omeprazole as a starting point and that does help so far.

Eerily quiet now in snowdonia - people seem keen to comply. We took our 3 year old out just now and we/others crossed streets to stick to 2m rule. Police on Anglesey have also been stopping cars to ask where they’re going etc.

It seems Italy has had a bad day again in terms of deaths but I’m eagerly awaiting Veneto’s update to see if the number of positive tests has dropped for the third day in a row.

I am massively struggling with my 2 veggies - they are going to have to start more boring meals soon

My cheese mountain - easily 6 weeks for DH, looks to last 2 weeks with 3 of them eating - I suggested they brought huge bags of quorn mince & beans/lentils etc when they arrived.....they bought a pack of quorn sauasages (as they didn't want to eat mince the entire time) and a tin of harricott beans and 3 veggie tins of soup - I guess they are just naive - but it has made me anxious!

I am half way through an audit but it isn't looking great

I think much of the people are sane and are maintaining the necessary distance etc. It’s just the teens who are behaving like that. Teens were going around in groups yesterday but thankfully after the new lockdown I think it’s under control but still I heard they are coughing and laughing when they cross dog walkers or people walking. Yes as @justme said, some people are so rude and unpleasant offlate.. May be just because the stress levels are high at the moment.

I am actually waiting for veneto’s update about today’s number. I hope it goes down. I just want this to get over soon. Weddings are being cancelled, family living in each corner of the world and elderly parents living alone is all too stressful. I often stare in disbelief and think this is all just a dream and sadly it’s not. I just want the normal days back. a walk under the cherry blossoms, buy spring bouquets, shop summer dresses, have a natter with close friends in coffee shops, and enjoy the sunshine - all seem like a distant dream now.

Wild garlic and walnut pesto for dinner tonight, using up a bit of gorgonzola from the back of the fridge

Hi all,

Hope you are all well? I've been having a bad few days anxiety wise and just want to crawl into a cave and hide. I can't do that obviously but I need to make sure I don't end up in the same place I was this time last year.

DD's nursery has closed, I'm WFH, DH is a key worker and is likely to do a significant amount of overtime in the coming months, so I will be spending this weekend re-organising my preps, and getting ready to home-ed DD. She starts school in September so were not doing anything strenuous although we are going to do Joe wicks PE class in the morning!

That's horrific! I can't believe people are deliberately coughing in other people's faces what is wrong with them???

A reminder to anyone who does have a cough and also has a weak pelvic floor to turn to the side when you need to cough!

Can anyone give advice. I've a friend I met through baby group. Drifted apart once DC started school but we try to meet up in school holidays once or twice a year. Ive always been conscious we have more disposable income. He walked out a couple of years ago. She had a breakdown last summer, had to stop work. Had to go through official channels to get him to pay more. He wasn't happy because his gf is expecting etc. I don't know how to ask if her and her DD are ok for supplies. She doesn't have a car, not sure her dad is much support to her. I don't want to offend her, but want to know they're ok, would happily get her a few things in, but not sure if she'd accept. Should I ask? If so, how?

@Sprayitall Italy’s deaths figure went up considerably today compared to the last couple of days but I did read that they are still hopeful as the overall rate of infection is slowing (I think I’ve got that right). Sure it will be clearer when we get Veneto’s update.

I also read that China are lifting lots of their restrictions this week so hopefully this will give us some more information.

We live in a close so having stayed at home for days now I can’t really tell if people are listening to the advice near me but I did notice the sound of a car door slamming at around 4pm today and it startled me which made me think I hadn’t heard that noise much in the last day or so!

That looks amazing Weedsnseeds1! I haven't tried my pickling yet but that's inspired me to get on with it.

I hope you feel better tomorrow JustMeAndMyTins I don't know if you have any licorice? It can soothe the throat.

Sprayitall It feels very unreal. Being indoors so much isn't helping. Feels a bit like it's a giant game of pretence. It doesn't help worrying about coughing teenagers but it's good to know police are cracking down on it.

KatyMac Do you have space in the fridge or freezer to store batch cooked meals? Could you cook some pasta cheese bakes, lentil and potato stews, before they finish off all the ingredients. Assuming they're not in any of the vulnerable groups they can go themselves to the shops at some point to restock.

Graphista I'm feeling the same. I've enough of everything for now but will need a few essentials in a week or so. Probably could stretch things out. I'd hope they have things more organised by next week. Repeat meds is incredibly frustrating. I don't know why they haven't automatically given everyone extra under the circumstances. I got two months but had to pester them.

AlohaMolly I'm glad people have stopped travelling around. They shouldn't be travelling anywhere in the UK unless it's essential like networkers. I got some ashwaganda to try for stress. It's such a stressful situation. So far it seems to help.

@preponderings So many people have struggled to get what they need because of panic buyers. Could you word it like that? Say you know lots of people are finding it difficult with shops running out of stock and you'd like to help if you can. She may feel too embarrassed to ask for help but that way you don't need to make it specifically about her circumstances.

@tryingtoprep they @dont want to eat the same thing every meal' so they are cooking tomorrow & meal planning for Thursday - no new shopping until Sat (I hope Tesco's delivers some of what I have ordered)

We are trying to all stay in as DH is so vulnerable (but no sign of our letter yet the GP surgery have always looked shocked everytime we mention Papworth and then they read his notes properly)

I'm beginning to get a little concerned about food too. We can't go out, but nowhere has any delivery slots. I can get vegetables delivered in a fortnight, but no milk or other fresh stuff.

We will be ok, but I'm finding it very hard that others can go out to shop but we can't because of being in a vulnerable group. I can see why others would just give up and go shopping anyway.

TryingToPrep pesto is something you could do with your kale if you have a bit of cheese. Kale leaves, cheese, nuts of some sort ( or pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, even brown breadcrumbs), spot of oil, garlic and salt.
Freeze that, or store in fridge and use within a few days

@preponderings I would just ask. You don't see her that much so any awkwardness will be gone by the time you see her. I asked a single mam I'm friends with who has now temporarily lost her job. Turns out she didn't have enough and was struggling.

I also think Tesco has stpped its deliveries. Our waitrose has introduced 2m apart queuing and one in, one out so I hope that stops my mum going shopping every day. She is miles away and 76.

I'm going wait until we are eating dust then send dh to shop. I did the prep, the rest is his issue. My lovely builder looks like he is going to get into financial trouble now as work has dried up and builder merchants closed. Our house we are extending is empty. I wish we had more cash and materials in

Had to go out to the pharmacy trying to sort out my mother's missing meds from her delivery. Normally if items are missing there is an owing note in the bag but nothing only one lot of meds sent out.

Not answering the phone, can't sent an email problem with server so forced to go there to find out what was going on. Get there and they are closed for two hours for lunch.

Trying to be understanding but this makes me very ranty. Just put a note in to say "your meds will be delivered when we get a chance" job done.

While out did a small shop at big food warehouse, very few people which relaxed me a bit. Not much there but enough fresh for the next few days. Got a few tins and some long life milk for me and my mother.

Sorry to hear of everyone's anxiety, bought myself some chamomile and honey teabags, I take a mug of the stuff up to bed while I half watch the news and try to unwind.

Stay safe.

@Houseinthemiddle I went for a walk late last night to top my daily steps up and I saw a note in the pharmacy saying closed 12-2 so maybe this is a new thing.

I had to go to the pharmacy yesterday near here and they had a long queue snaking around the block, they were only letting one person in at a time. But surely if you're just moving forward slowly into someone's air that's no good?

Anyway the team looked exhausted. They don't have masks or protection, I couldn't see any handgel, and they looked like they were working flat out. Someone in the queue said something like they couldn't see a doctor so were going to check with the pharmacist, so I think they're being used as unofficial face to face doctors too. I feel incredibly sorry for them.

What I don't quite understand is why they don't post prescriptions. Surely their post could somehow be prioritised? It would save so many people coming in and spreading bugs around.

Regulations around certain medications prevent the postal service being used. Certainly mine can't be sent by post I'd probably never see them if they tried! (Very popular with certain segments of society)

I normally get delivered by boots and pay for the privilege but it takes a lot of organisation.

I've got to go back to pharmacy in Friday for 2 prescriptions, I was there Monday but my sons item wasn't in yet as they said there is some delays. If found the anxiety when out the worst. My chest gets tight and when asked what I was there for I wasn't sure I was going to be able to speak or just cry 🙄 I'm not too bad at home at least. My husband is still working as he's a mechanic and we are careful when he gets home to keep his work overalls out of the house along with his boots. He wears gloves mostly at work and washes his hands again as soon as he gets in then into the bath. It's a very unsettling time for everyone.