Thursday, December 08, 2022

Mask4Masc


Today's Wall Street Journal has an article saying that because of the confluence of RSV, flu and Covid, the only way to stay safe is this winter is to "bring back the dreaded mask," something a ridiculously high percentage of people are loath to do. Well, as true as this may be in some cases, I can tell you that I have remained a religious wearer of face coverings through it all -- yet still I am just now recovering from being sicker than I can ever recall. (OK, I'm not dying or anything. But it really knocked me out of commission.) I'm not an infant or (particularly) elderly. I had my annual flu shot. And I've been Covid boosted and tested negative twice during this ordeal. (I also got my first shingles vax a week ago, which I had a mild reaction to that came and went.) So I'm not exactly sure what got me in the end, but all I can say is be careful out there. My poor Fraser fir has looked so naked out there in the living room since arriving home Saturday. Here's hoping I have the strength to deck the halls soon!

8 comments:

Ari R. said...

I am so sorry this happened to you. I want you to know that you are soooo missed. Your blog has been a very important part of my morning for years. I spend an hour sometimes reading everything and visiting every link and I absolutely cherish it. Recover well, my friend.

j said...

I hope you are feeling better- like you I still wear the mask specially in crowded public transporation

RedpineWI said...

Get well soon.

Dale Peterson, Father said...

So true. I just finished with a bad "cold", after 3 years of NOTHING. Masks, amen. I know I will be the only one with my plastic shield up this "season" too, but I know it stops me from being covered in clients "breath."

Good Luck with the tree.

MJL said...

Congrats on the Shingles vaccine -- trust me, you do NOT want the Shingles. It's incredibly frustrating that you can't get it until 50.

JimmyD said...

You poor mess! Damien should decorate the tree as a get well gift!

Edgar_Carpenter said...

I had a bout of illness last July, when there was a spike of covid here. It has been followed by a swarm of long covid symptoms. I tested negative for covid at the time - but I think I had a variant that the test didn't pick up. There are clusters of minor variants around all of the major variants, since the virus mutates freely.

I went to five different doctors over a couple of months to try to find some relief - a pulmanologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist, cardiologist and internist - to see if any of them could identify the underlying cause of the nasty symptoms I'd been having - and none of them had a clue, after sending me for lots of tests.

So I hunted down an acupuncturist, and lucked out. I found a nice guy, probably the best acupuncturist I've ever been to, who has been treating the underlying causes of my symptoms as understood in Chinese medicine, which is very strange when compared to western medicine. Nevertheless, my breathing is greatly improved, my skin problems have begun to disappear (among other things, my body hair had mostly disappeared - and now it's growing back, a bit patchy but completely unexpected), my insides have quieted down and my mental fog is lifting.

So if you have problems after your initial illness, and western doctors can't help, I'd suggest using your contacts to find a good acupuncturist - I know there are some good ones in NYC. Good luck with it all!

normadesmond said...

I continue to wear a mask in any store & while I cut hair.
I hope to never give another cold.