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.

Sending hugs to all and a wave to anyone who remembers me from earlier threads. We’re dealing with some serious illness in a couple of family members, not Covid-19 but drastically affected by current demands on nhs. 🌿🌺

@AlohaMolly I would post if truly desperate but honestly I'd really rather avoid that if possible not least because it's not as simple as being able to accept help from just anyone for a variety of reasons. Not least of which is personal safety as I live alone.

@Neome sorry you have loved ones who are sick, wishing them a full and speedy recovery and hope you're able to be less worried very soon. Scary times

@Graphista our local group has created a support network so we will be helping each other around when we go into self isolation. So may be you can create one in your neighbourhood group calling all volunteers that can help the other vulnerable members also? That way if situation gets bad it will be easier for you to request help from others? I would suggest to create a separate covid support network Facebook page and post it to the neighbourhood Facebook group

There's already a covid page created but nobody on it offering help. Not sure why.

I don't feel confident to put myself in firing line of complaints etc if I set up a group myself. Mh already very fragile.

All I can think is perhaps to contact council, gp surgery and similar for support/signposting to support as they already know my circumstances.

DH just said to me that although he thought my Brexit stash was crazy at the time he now appreciates it and the fact that bar a couple of top ups of mill and bread from a friend we’ve got through 2 weeks of self-isolation pretty well.
Lacking in fresh fruit and veg now but will be able to go out on Thursday so will go and do a proper shop.

Graphista, please do reach out to your council/GP or MP. I work for an MP and we are getting lots of emails and phone calls at the moment from people needing help. In nearly all cases we can signpost them to either groups that will help (like churches) or council contacts. AgeUK are also doing some brilliant work- not just for older people, but all vulnerable people who need help.
There is help out there- and as well as the informal like on Facebook, there are more formal and official things too- where you can be sure the people have been checked etc.

Please do ask- nothing makes me happier than when I can solve someone’s shopping problems for them.

And in my view, if you said you had agoraphobia and couldn’t go out- well for me that’s definitely a reason to try and help you.
If you contact your MP you’ll need to give your address (to price you’re a constituent) and understand that it would almost certainly be one if heir staff who’d come back to you. (If the MP is any good)

Ventured out for the first time in over a week - maybe 2 - today.
Went to a couple of different supermarkets to find essential items - finally found a 10 pack of eggs and long life milk but no chopped tomatoes, caster sugar, pasta or rice anywhere that I looked.
Totally weird and scary atmosphere everywhere. Won't be doing that again in a hurry. Fortunately I think we have enough to see us well for a few weeks now.

Apparently all our local supermarkets are back to normal stock wise now, bar flour. Obviously with the limits on people coming in and out there are queues outside etc, but stock levels good. No delivery slots to be seen though, but Morrisons click and collect keep popping up.

@IndecentFeminist true that. I’m not venturing out anywhere and thankfully sainsburys is releasing their slots every day for the next three days where I live. So that’s sorted for now. Also Costco have added their “grocery delivery” feature now where food items marked under grocery delivery tag will be delivered in two business days. If anyone is looking up to stock dry fruits, coffee , tea and other things as such may be you can check it out?

Thank you for the costco tip, that's great!

@Oxyiz you are welcome!

If possible ask your neighbours that if they are willing to combine their grocery deliveries with yours or to club theirs with yours together. So one delivery slot will be enough to serve 2/3 households atleast. This will help free up delivery slots being booked up all together and free up to those who need them the most.

I think it’s peaking already with positives nearing 30k. That’s very scary

@GeneticTest thank you for your kind words and advice. I'm hoping if I need to that all my health issues (mental and physical) will be considered but I'm worried that many won't be as sympathetic and understanding. I'm struggling as it is just to maintain where I was with the ocd before all this started anyway. I must be one of the few people (inc other ocd sufferers) who is desperately trying NOT to wash and clean more than usual!

@Sprayitall thanks for the Costco tip I may not use soon but might have to in near future

Where (ish) are you based Graphista? (I'm wondering if you're somehow near me!)

Wow at today's numbers.

Is online shopping working for anyone? I have more slots but thinking it's just more hassle right now.

I want to go back to my normal 9pm Aldi dash days 😭😭😭

29k cases, 2k deaths.

So that's about 7/8% mortality rate of people tested isn't it?

I'm in Scotland. I'm ok for now (although bank account taking a hit!)

Need to calm down I think. Hard though.

Gosh at the numbers today.. I am now so scared to bring anything from outside. Do you people think it’s safe if my big list of grocery turns up this Friday. is it safe? We are self isolating as well.

I’m scared the fs out and not feeling very well at all after the news that the local council has announced the popular ice rink in town is going to be used as temporary mortuaries. My anxiety gets over the roof at times and it’s Not a good feeling at all. I am trying to practice to live for the moment and face each day as it comes but It’s getting very hard for me to put a smile on face and cater to family all day because the worry is all engulfing. every time I hug , I’m holding a bit longer and feeling so guilty when I say I am okay and everything is going to be okay to my little dd. It’s even more difficult for me to talk to my worried parents over video calls. Somehow deep inside I can never accept this is happening and wishing it was all just a dream . I’m finding it hard to channelise my anger towards this situation. Sorry rant over.

With the Preps today I cut and double froze some cottage cheese by meal portions today and froze some more fruits. I have been drooling over the Insta pics of organised pantries and storage as such. How I wish to have them one day..I miss walking and this sitting around isn’t going anywhere.. By the end of this I dread to think i might end up looking like a beached whale. Indoor exercises are a joke at my place and i don’t want to end up with broken bones now. Just waiting for the days to get better so I can spend some more time in the garden.
@ofwarren @VenetoResident hope all is well with you. Missing your updates x

@Graphista I’m on the same boat as you. It’s hard to calm down x

@Oxyiz i think it must be at 9-10% of the tested as the death count is of 5 pm yesterday evening on the website.

I’ve been separating my purchase from supermarkets. Any that need refrigeration or freezer space are wiped and put away when got. Other products are kept in a bag in the garage for at least 24 hours, preferably more before being brought into the house.
Deliveries are again isolated for a minimum of 24 hours and generally much longer.
And I always wash my hands after handling any purchases.

It's really hard. Do you have any mental health people you can talk to? Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger than loved ones. I've been talking to mum who understands me very well and usually manages to calm me. Not by talking about the things that worry me necessarily but talking generally and distracting me.

Have you heard of/tried relaxation techniques? There are loads of different ones and different things work for each person eg the breathing ones just annoy me and make me more anxious but I find grounding exercises work

Here are some helplines I've used in the past:

www.anxietyuk.org.uk

nopanic.org.uk

www.sane.org.uk/support

You are also within your rights to call 111 and ask to speak to a mental health professional and they can arrange that, it can take a few hours for someone to get back to you but they always do ime.

Also

www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/

Are great if the pressures of parenting are getting to you, which I think they would be for pretty much anyone at the moment! I can't imagine how hard it is dealing with children kept at home at the moment.,

We all need a pressure valve to let off steam at times.

I’m thinking most ppl involved with COVID19 will be having mental health issues. And I hope ppl can access the relevant support they need.

Definitely it's a stressful time for all. I must admit part of me has been thinking this is the whole world getting to feel how I do all the damn time! I'm hoping for better understanding for us germophobes but not sure if that's altogether realistic. I think people will forget too quickly.

Graphista one thing is for sure, you won't live without food so don't cancel your order!
Use gloves to bring it in if you are worried, then wash your hands.
I know it's easy for me to say, as I don't have phobias, but honestly, the fear will fo you more harm than the actuality of an on line shop.

Droplet transmission works from person to person. If they cough or sneeze near you.
Yes, the virus can live on surfaces for a while, but you can wipe down surfaces. It can't transfer via the air from the surfaces, only by you touching them and then touching your mouth, eyes, nose etc.
If you use gloves and wipe down the packs, you have really minimised risk.
I really hope that helped explain, rather than making your fears worse
The packs will have been picked, then in a delivery vehicle, so several hours before arriving.

A few delivery slots opened up with a major supermarket for my area for 6-10 April so I booked one for the 10th for elderly neighbours I knew were struggling to get a delivery.
They've now sorted their own order so I still have the slots and all others have been booked.
Thinking I'll probably cancel so as to give others the chance to use this. We aren't shielding/vulnerable etc so are able to get to the shops.