Tag: currentevents

5 Things to Keep You Safe During Reopening

On By epil(epsy)ogueIn Health and Wellness, Uncategorized2 Comments

The world is beginning to open back up. However, this does not mean that the virus is gone and everyone is safe again. Here are 5 simple things to keep yourself as safe as possible while entering into the new world.

  1. Practice good hand hygiene. You have done so well in the past 2 months teaching yourself to wash your hands efficiently and completely. Don’t let that great habit die! 
  1. Continue to wear your mask while in public. Don’t touch your face or mask unless you have freshly washed hands.
  1. Keep physically distanced in public spaces. Is the beach absolutely packed and you have to sit within 3 feet of 3 different groups of people? Maybe you can soak up the ocean fun another day. Be flexible on your adventures, and aim for more open space and less crowded places. It may be disappointing that plan A was a no-go, but plan B is just as exciting! Just be sure to plan for both before leaving the house.
  1. Take advantage of contactless pick up/ delivery. As more people are out and about, more people are exposed. It is great that your favorite restaurant is back in business; but the best way to support the community is to keep yourself and others safe and healthy.
  1. Trust your gut. Only you know what is safe, and what is too risky for you. Don’t feel pressured by friends and family to go out if you feel like it is too soon. Be honest to the people in your life; if they love you, they will understand.

What are your plans now that things are opening up? Feel free to share in the comments.

Purple Day and Pandemic 2020

On By epil(epsy)ogueIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

It is scary living with a chronic, uncontrolled illness on a normal day. With the emergence of COVID-19 (coronavirus), it is easy to feel incapacitated.

The need to put your health care first, especially when you have loved ones that need care also, can be difficult. This conundrum has put me in a tough situation. 

The smart doctors and scientists of the world are recommending physical (previously called social) distancing, and to self-isolate if you have symptoms. I don’t have symptoms – yet. And I am not kidding myself by thinking I will not get sick from this.

They are estimating 50% of people will get COVID-19. If I look at my household, between my husband and I… I will be the one to get sick. 

However, I think the best thing I could do right now is to stay at home, isolate myself for at least the next two weeks, and wait to see how the world is then, to make a plan moving forward. Seems really safe, right? 

Not actually. 

My husband still is going to work, as he works an essential job and is at low risk of infection. Because he is my main caretaker, he is the one having to go get my medications, and the household supplies. That puts him out there.

That means he is at a higher risk of contracting the virus, period. Then he comes home to me. We have a “decontamination room” at the back of the house where he strips down and sanitizes. That can only do so much. 

Regardless, he has still been exposed and therefore is exposing me to the virus just by being in the house. Not to mention our wanting to snog transfers all viruses and cooties. 

So where do we draw the line? Where do we find the comfort of “I’m doing everything I can” and keep the practicality of “I still have to live my life.” 

Maybe just holding on to the hope that the majority of the world is also practicing social distancing and washing their hands frequently and effectively, is all that we have right now.

Please, consider sending a text, a tweet, a DM, or video call to the people in your life that you know are supporting people in the high risk group. Thank them for helping reduce the curve. And a big thanks to you, if you are that person.

It is fortunate that I have a job that I can do – fairly well – from home. But it puts a burden on my fellow staff to pick up the slack on all the physical work that I’m no longer there to do.

I am ashamed telling my boss that I have to stay home; because I’m too scared of dying of SUDEP because the strain that getting sick puts on my uncontrolled brain. I need to thank them more, for holding the front lines, and being so understanding.

I want to thank my friends, my in-laws, and my parents, for not taking it personally when I tell them I can’t physically be with them for the unforeseeable future. I appreciate and love all of them.

I hope you feel that kind of support from the people in your life. 

Who do you appreciate the most right now? What do you find most difficult in these troubling times? Share with us in the comments.