topic Re: Mask fatigue in Community Chat

Mask fatigue

SaggingGal — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:10:54 GMT

We are at high risk for Covid because of our age. We live in a resort area that has been mostly shut down for the winter. We have stayed in our home except for essential errands since March 2020. Only one to two errands at the most per week to lessen exposure. We wear nitrile gloves and double mask outside of the home esp. grocery shopping and getting gas. I grocery shop at early bird hours usually 6:30 to 7:00 a.m. We take off our clothes on the screened in porch and shower ASAP when entering the home after any errand and launder our clothes after a 24 hour wait. Nothing enters the home after an errand but a dash into the shower being sure not to touch anything on the way to the bathroom. All pulls and light switches and faucets and door handles are washed several times a day. We typically talk with a delivery driver or neighbor through the front window.

We both got vaccinated this past week. My husband was fine but I am having a bad reaction unlike the first shot a month ago. I only had a sore arm then. I got a fever within 24 hours and have the chills and nausea, an expected reaction for some but dreadful nevertheless. Sleep has been the best medicine.

Today a couple my husband worked with before retirement showed up on the front deck to say Hi. They are vacationing here since it is warming up. Neither had a mask on. They crowded close to my unmasked husband all standing outside the front door. I saw no one had a mask on so I handed one quickly to my husband. They stood maybe 3 feet apart reminiscing and walking around the property that abuts a nature conservancy. In essence my husband gave them a tour standing right next to them for about a half hour.
I am both frightened and angry he forgot social distancing protocol as if everything is normal again. The visitors are both a good fifteen years younger and made no effort to mask or stand back. The male visitor had Covid in Sept. and his wife works in a hospital, both perfect candidates for Covid carriers. Despite my best efforts to stay away from others I am a victim of his poor judgment and their lack of respect for us as a higher risk age bracket. He was simply too close to them for too long. He said he did not want to bother them to ask them to wear a mask. Putting us both at risk I am furious with him. I am still going through my harsh reaction to the vaccine. My husband's dear friend is a retired M.D. and even he stays masked and six feet away from others at all times. So now I worry if we will get Covid as I recuperate from the vaccine yesterday. I even had my husband wash our dogs since both visitors petted them for half the visit. Of course my husband let them out despite my efforts to keep them inside. Transmission of Covid to humans via pets is real and has been documented. So I live in fear of Covid now for us. Staying away from each other while quarantining is not easy. Do you find you are getting lax about Covid protocol?Would you mask up inside for two weeks to be safe?

Re: Mask fatigue

on the bay — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:26:17 GMT

@SaggingGal -

I'm so sorry. I know that fear, esp after trying your very best to stay safe.

Half our family is much more cautious and safe then others so yes at times we do quarantine from each other for 14 days. We have done that many times this past year to keep esp the vulnerable ones safe.

Even after we are all vaccinated, some of us will wear masks if indoors and maybe outdoors too.

We have for over a year so we may as well keep it up until a real more realistic green light comes.

I hope you feel better soon.

I didn't feel great at all after my second one but fortunately it didn't last more than 24 hrs.

So yes I would do the same, and quarantine from each other for 14 days.

Some may think that is extreme but I don't think it is at all. It is just doing everything you can to not get this virus!

And those 14 days will give you peace of mind and not as long as if one or both of you end up with the virus because of his exposure.

You've tried so hard for all this time, so 14 days is not long.

ps-the hardest time I think is deciding again what to do, then once you make your decision, even if hard, at least it is less fearful and you know you are doing the best thing to be safe.

Re: Mask fatigue

Dusty1 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:22:18 GMT

@SaggingGal I am sorry that you are going through such a scary time. I hope you come out of this okay.

I am sure that you will!

Re: Mask fatigue

Foxxee — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:25:07 GMT

Since both of you have had your second injection, you do have some protection, so I don't see the need to worry so much.

If you are using hand sanitizers why the need to wipe everything in the house?

I think you are practicing overkill at this point.

Re: Mask fatigue

SandySparkles — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:38:25 GMT

I can certainly understand your trepidation, but I think you should do whatever makes YOU feel secure! As expected, many people are feeling COVID fatigue and are choosing to alter, or abandon their compliance with restrictions altogether.😐

I choose to abide by the requirements until the experts deem them to be no longer necessary. Unfortunately, several members of my family and I had COVID last year, and it is for this reason that I will diligently continue to do my part in helping protect OTHERS.😊

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

Re: Mask fatigue

fthunt — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 01:42:00 GMT

OVERKILL - to the point it's driving you nuts - and that's not healthy.

Re: Mask fatigue

CrazyDaisy — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 02:07:02 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
OVERKILL - to the point it's driving you nuts - and that's not healthy.

Have to agree. Some have been so traumatized by all these fear tactics they may need professional help to get back to some semblance of normal life.

Re: Mask fatigue

Free2be — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 02:39:28 GMT

The couple may have also been vaccinated, especially the female who works in a hospital. Both you and your husband are just days away from being considered as immune as possible per being vaccinated.

You can worry yourself sick.

Re: Mask fatigue

tucsongal — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 02:51:15 GMT

You have obviously been very cautious throughout this pandemic and I can understand your concern. However, the fact that you have both received your second shots, and your husband was outdoors with a mask on mitigates significant risk in my opinion.

Re: Mask fatigue

happycat — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 02:54:06 GMT

I'm so sorry, @SaggingGal. Your husband just didn't think, is what I think but I'd be mad too. We had neighbors, younger than us and unmasked come to our home last summer, after we had been living much like you and your husband and I was not happy either.I was furious actually. It seems like people just do not think. Even if they don't care if they get it or not, I don't want covid. I don't want to find out how sick I will be with it. I wish people could respect that.

As far as wearing a mask in the house, I'd do whatever I felt like I needed to do.

And I hope you are feeling better soon.

Re: Mask fatigue

agb80 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 02:59:24 GMT

@SaggingGalmy husband made an error in judgement too and this happened before we had received our vaccination. I too was angry and told him to quarantine himself from me for 2 weeks which did not make him very happy. He apologized and said how stupid he felt. In about 2-1/2 days I forgave him and everything is fine, he did not get sick and we both had our first shot recently. It wasn't easy but I'm over it now and we're both healthy. Good luck to you.

Re: Mask fatigue

agb80 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 03:21:38 GMT

Here's something to cheer you up a bit.

Indonesia Airlines painting face masks on their air buses.

Re: Mask fatigue

skatting44 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 03:52:14 GMT

The stress of worry , anger and fear , which can increase blood pressure, increase heart rate and increase serum cortisol levels . No I would not stress myself to the point of having a MI . You did indicate you handed your husband a mask pretty quickly.

We are all only human and humans are naturally social beings . You will likely need to communicate to your friends how you feel more comfortable with continued social distance.

Re: Mask fatigue

Kalli — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 05:04:09 GMT

@SaggingGal , I’ve been pretty strict in following Covid precautions during the last year but husband has made a few mistakes along the way. It’s been frustrating for me but each time I worried, lost sleep and was miffed at him and we were ok.

For you right now, what’s done is done. You can’t change it, you can only go forward. Try to push your worrying to the back of your mind. When you feel better, try to keep yourself busy physically and mentally so the waiting period goes faster. That’s what worked for me.

I do believe you can take some solace knowing that you have some defenses to Covid already since you have had both shots. You’re more protected now than you’ve ever been so hold on to that thought! The time will go by and the waiting period will be over soon. And then at some point you’ll even start to feel safe enough to relax more. As of yesterday, Dh and I are 2 weeks past our second shots. We feel like a great weight has been lifted off us. We are still wearing our masks and distancing. But we just feel lighter.

Hang in there!

Re: Mask fatigue

walkingal — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 05:16:43 GMT

@SaggingGal I'm sorry to hear that even after you both decided to receive the vaccine, you're still worried. I have heard and read from medical professionals it's most important to keep your hands away from your face (eyes, nose, mouth) and continue washing your hands. That's the area the virus enters your body.

Re: Mask fatigue

rms1954 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 05:20:52 GMT

How very sad.

Re: Mask fatigue

Bibione — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 05:42:28 GMT

Don't worry too much about covid. I am also very careful. Lately I have been using a surgical plus the copper mask on top.

In Italy they are having a huge spike with the English variance. They are closing everything down again in most regions.

Both my husband and I work in very public places. We have been lucky sofar. We just got the vaccine.

Your husband did the best thing keeping the couple entertained outside the house.

Re: Mask fatigue

DiAnne — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 06:15:19 GMT

I am scheduled in 2 weeks for my second Pfizer shot. With all the variants around I plan to continue grocery delivery, masking and social distancing. I keep some disposable masks by my front door for guests even though we will be outside. Haven't had to use them yet because everyone around here maskis up.

Re: Mask fatigue

haddon9 — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 06:22:02 GMT

I am sorry that you are so afraid. The chances of your husband contacting Covid from these people are very slim since they were all outdoors and it's much more difficult to transmit under those circumstances.

You haven't mentioned if you have optimized your vitamin D levels as well as take zinc, Vitamin C & quercetin. Those supplements will help to make your immune system strong for fighting any viruses. Make sure to eat good whole organic foods and stay away from processed junk foods too....doing these things can only help in your virus fighting arsenal.

Re: Mask fatigue

just bee — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 12:19:36 GMT

I'm a psychiatric nurse and, frankly, I'm more concerned about what this is doing to our minds rather than the actual virus itself.