Coronavirus

[lady_*nix]

For me the second one's side effects took more like 72 hours to fade, and I continued getting "flashbacks" with temporary chills and weakness for two weeks after.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are very effective, but they're harsh. Harsher if you're young, harsher if you're female and/or AFAB, extra harsh if you have autoimmune issues. Judging from my own reaction, I basically assume the fullblown infection would have killed me.

Edit: I have one friend (AFAB woman, about my age, bunch of autoimmune issues) who's still getting those symptom flashbacks over a month later. Obviously everyone should get the vaccine if at all possible but like... understand that this will probably hit you harder than any vaccine you've gotten before, and plan accordingly.

[pumpkinpi]

I went for a walk after lunch and when I got back I thought, I'm more tired than I should be.....then I slept for 5 hours. My cat loved it!

[Rommie]

Ah interesting, after the first one I waited a few hours but it was such a pretty day I went for a walk in a local Audubon area. When I reached the car I was similarly "I am way too tired for the amount of walking I just did." Fascinating how the body works.

[Rommie]

It's very strange to experience what I can only call the pandemic senioritis phase in the USA juxtaposed with the terrible situation in India and how my colleagues from there are dealing with it. I have one collaborator who has lost both an aunt and a grandma in the span of a week. To be so removed from your country and suffering relatives like that seems so difficult and terrible.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Here, things are as bad as usual.

[pumpkinpi]

Whereas MN is lifting capacity an distance restrictions as of May 28. Right now, with the 6' requirement we can fit no more than 30 people safely in my planetarium. Yet somehow it will magically safe to fill it with 120 people. Yay, four times as many people we have to fight with to keep their masks on.

[Rommie]

That must be so frustrating!

Definitely pandemic senioritis going on right now, IMO. (I mean it's also May, so the time for senioritis in general.) Around here they're lifting things pretty slowly, so the only one that's really changed in my daily life is there's no longer a mask mandate outside if you can keep distant... which I believe is what most of the country was doing already, but we're slow on this here I guess. Anyway I walked into work today ~40min and didn't have to put on my mask once (had it in my pocket, but could keep well away form everyone on said walk as it's not crowded) and can't say that wasn't really nice!

I think the thing about masks and people fighting about them is I think it's fair to say no one likes them (excepting maybe a tiny minority), but most of us realize we live in a society and need to do our part for the public good in a health emergency. The idea that you want to argue with a random planetarium worker over this over a year into a mask mandate is just such a dick move!

Anyway, on a more fun note, my father's 75th birthday is later this month and because everyone in my family will be fully vaccinated we are getting together to celebrate it. That definitely hasn't happened during the pandemic and maybe not to 4th of July before that, I think, so we are really looking forward to it.

[lady_*nix]

Hey I'm kinda in that minority

The main thing I don't like about masks is my glasses fogging up (and a lot of commercial antifog sprays containing fluorocarbon compounds that I'd be skeptical of even if I didn't have multiple immune disorders).

Other than that though?

- Masks hide my facial hair shadow (and my big scar-pocked masc-looking nose) so people gender me correctly
- I don't have to feel inscure about what the goyim think of my nose, because they can't see it
- I don't have to worry about if my breath smells terrible to random strangers
- Randos don't try to try and force me to talk to them
- I can stay warm much more easily in spring/fall type weather, even in winter TBH
- I get less of the very specific and scary kind of street harassment that obvious trans people get
- I don't have to worry about colds/flus/stomach bugs so much (SRSLY that's huge, I used to get sick all the time from riding transit)
- I feel less gross and unsafe when men spit-talk at me (esp. in combo with the glasses yay)
- I just feel... safer? somehow, not constantly showing my whole face to strangers. Less exposed.

So yeah honestly despite the horrors of this year, having to hide most of my face all the time in public has been a godsend, and I'm probably going to keep wearing reusable cloth masks long after the pandemic is a distant memory. Maybe even after I get the electrolysis and nose job and all that.

It's def a minority viewpoint... but I'm okay with that, as long as nobody gives me grief for it.

[Rommie]

Hey, you do you. I don't really get why anyone cares what someone else chooses to wear or not wear, I just think it's weird when places like Brookline insist on outdoor masks in all cases even when the CDC/ the state no longer think that's needed.

Got the booster on Sunday and man, that was weird. No other word for it. Yesterday my pain in my arm was radiating all the way to the middle of my chest (sore armpit sure is a weird feeling), but also just generally tired/off so I took a sick day. Like a fever but never hit a fever temp-wise. Well, glad that's over with.

[pumpkinpi]

You win some, you lose some.

Today is my F-V Day*! So what's the best way to celebrate? Having Rooster home for a week of quarantine because a classmate tested positive last Friday. Woop!

Funny thing is, I've been anticipating this day for so long, but I didn't even realize it was today until Rooster reminded me when I picked her up. We're going to celebrate with cupcakes and ice cream. I tell you, it feels good not to be worrying about myself during this potential exposure period. (MrPi has had dose 1 so I am less worried about him too.)

*Fully-Vaccinated Day

[Rommie]

Congrats!

Random detail, F went to donate blood about a week after the first vaccine, and his blood came up positive for "you have antibodies that probably mean you got the vaccine, but not that you've had covid." Fascinating stuff.

[Rommie]

Yesterday was the first day we recorded zero deaths in Massachusetts from COVID in pretty much forever. It's been jumping around the single digits for some time now, and probably going to be some time yet until the 7 day daily average is zero, but no reason to not take victories when we've got 'em.

Met my supervisor for the first time since last fall outside, and unlike then for the first time we actually took off our masks (as he's fully vaccinated and we can sit 6 feet apart easily). Very civilized!

[lady_*nix]

Yesssssssss

[Thumper]

You win some, you lose some.

Today is my F-V Day*! So what's the best way to celebrate? Having Rooster home for a week of quarantine because a classmate tested positive last Friday. Woop!

Funny thing is, I've been anticipating this day for so long, but I didn't even realize it was today until Rooster reminded me when I picked her up. We're going to celebrate with cupcakes and ice cream. I tell you, it feels good not to be worrying about myself during this potential exposure period. (MrPi has had dose 1 so I am less worried about him too.)

*Fully-Vaccinated Day

Yea, we noticed some decreased stress after we passed through F-V Day.

[Thumper]

Yesterday was the first day we recorded zero deaths in Massachusetts from COVID in pretty much forever. It's been jumping around the single digits for some time now, and probably going to be some time yet until the 7 day daily average is zero, but no reason to not take victories when we've got 'em.

Met my supervisor for the first time since last fall outside, and unlike then for the first time we actually took off our masks (as he's fully vaccinated and we can sit 6 feet apart easily). Very civilized!

Very nice.

[pumpkinpi]

The mask mandate in MN is lifted as of tomorrow. Within minutes of learning that I got an email that my daughter's quarantine is extended because she was in close contact with a confirmed covid infection for 6 days. Fortunately her quarantine ends (assuming a negative test result) the day of her dance recital.

[pumpkinpi]

The mask mandate in MN is lifted as of tomorrow. Within minutes of learning that I got an email that my daughter's quarantine is extended because she was in close contact with a confirmed covid infection for 6 days. Fortunately her quarantine ends (assuming a negative test result) the day of her dance recital.

I'm really in a bad place about this right now. A state of limbo, with some important unanswered questions.

I have a daughter who has had multiple exposures in close contact with people who have tested positive covid. She can't take a test until Sunday at the earliest, 5 days past her last exposure.

I have a call in to my doctor about whether my immunosupressant medication could make the vaccine less effective on me. Waiting for the return call.

I have two children under 12 so it will be a while before my household is fully vaccinated.

I'm worried about what will happen in my workplace. The museum is part of the University which is a public institution. We are all awaiting word from our president on whether we can still enforce masks in our museum when we open today, 45 minutes from now. Since we opened last July, the #1 priority was enforcing the mask policy with visitors to keep them and our staff safe. It seems completely wrong to just flip the switch on that with less than 24 hours notice. I'm not working today, but I am scheduled to work tomorrow.

I will continue to wear my mask until it's safe not to. (That's actually something Rooster said this morning. Their schools are still enforcing masks.) Of course, who knows what safe really is. Some experts and decision makers seem to think it is now.

I just hope I don't get mocked, ridiculed for it. I don't care to have to explain myself, my reasoning.

[Rommie]

That fucking sucks, pumpkinpi. I'm so sorry to hear that.

It's pretty wild how cavalier some people are about throwing children under the bus TBH. I guarantee people won't be treating them in public spaces as unvaccinated people, they'll just be ignoring them.

[pumpkinpi]

The uncertainty keeps getting worse.....the school nurse called, because there are three separate cases in class Rooster has to stay home for the full quarantine period, until May 26. The nurse said the only symptom the kids have had so far is a stuffy or runny nose. Which everyone has right now, in allergy season.

After that phone call I found out there are actually four cases. Her best buddy, who she spends time close to every day (masked fortunately), tested positive yesterday. Also, just a runny nose.

The nurse advised us to wait until Sunday to get a test, based on the most recent exposure of Tuesday. Which makes sense, if she contracted it Tuesday she might not test positive yet. But if she contracted it last week, she'd be positive already. So I figure it's ok to do this test, and another one after Sunday if it's negative!

So I wait.....I called the doctor to see if we could get a rapid test. Since she doesn't have anything more than a stuffy nose, the answer is no. The at home test results come in pretty quickly, so we'll have it this weekend. I checked with work--even if Rooster is positive, I don't have to quarantine unless I have symptoms. Man am I glad I got the shot. It's stressful enough to be dealing with Rooster. If I had any sincere concerns about my health, I don't know how I would handle it.

What most worries me is this puts Rooster's dance recital in the middle of the quarantine period. I have to call the dance studio to find out how to handle it. She will be so upset if she has to miss it.


Thanks all for being a "listening ear" on this. It's actually been interesting having this log of our Coronavirus experiences to look back on.

[geonuc]

Sorry you're going through that, pp. I've been fortunate that I can just hole up in the house for the duration, what with no kids and no job.

My wife just got her second dose yesterday, which makes both of us a little less uneasy. Our county is still in the middle of the worst covid peak since the pandemic started. Oregon is doing better as a state but we have a lot of folks locally who choose to ignore mask mandates and won't get vaccinated.

[Rommie]

So, I learned this weekend that my fully vaccinated parents are the sort that ignore signs when going into buildings about having to be masked, and then argue with the security guard who tells them to put one on because the CDC says fully vaccinated people don't need to be masked, and don't they trust the science? Then when the security guard whose job it clearly ain't to set the policy tells them it's private property, they will put one on and scoff to each other about how everyone is brainwashed. Ugh.

I know my dad. He and my mom and all their friends have been fully vaccinated for months now, and my dad doesn't get why people wouldn't vaccinate and sees numbers dropping, and frankly has a tough time getting that not everyone thinks like him so that includes either not actively getting vaccinated, or lying that you're fully vaccinated to not have to wear a mask. But after everything, it's such a weird, selfish hill to die on in the grand scheme of the universe.

[pumpkinpi]

The uncertainty keeps getting worse.....the school nurse called, because there are three separate cases in class Rooster has to stay home for the full quarantine period, until May 26. The nurse said the only symptom the kids have had so far is a stuffy or runny nose. Which everyone has right now, in allergy season.

After that phone call I found out there are actually four cases. Her best buddy, who she spends time close to every day (masked fortunately), tested positive yesterday. Also, just a runny nose.

The nurse advised us to wait until Sunday to get a test, based on the most recent exposure of Tuesday. Which makes sense, if she contracted it Tuesday she might not test positive yet. But if she contracted it last week, she'd be positive already. So I figure it's ok to do this test, and another one after Sunday if it's negative!

So I wait.....I called the doctor to see if we could get a rapid test. Since she doesn't have anything more than a stuffy nose, the answer is no. The at home test results come in pretty quickly, so we'll have it this weekend. I checked with work--even if Rooster is positive, I don't have to quarantine unless I have symptoms. Man am I glad I got the shot. It's stressful enough to be dealing with Rooster. If I had any sincere concerns about my health, I don't know how I would handle it.

What most worries me is this puts Rooster's dance recital in the middle of the quarantine period. I have to call the dance studio to find out how to handle it. She will be so upset if she has to miss it.


Thanks all for being a "listening ear" on this. It's actually been interesting having this log of our Coronavirus experiences to look back on.

Rooster's first test is negative, and I just sent the 2nd one in. Fingers crossed!

[pumpkinpi]

2nd test is negative!
And a letter to the editor I wrote got published.

I am extremely disappointed in Gov. Tim Walz's removal of the mask mandate. My third-grade daughter was already in quarantine this week due to exposure to a classmate with a positive COVID-19 test. Within minutes of the governor's announcement I learned that there were even more cases in her class. The exposures ranged from May 4 to May 11, so in all likelihood, the virus was transmitted from child to child, even with strict masking and distancing protocols in the school. The only symptoms in all four cases were stuffy or runny noses. I don't fault parents for sending their kids to school with a stuffy nose in the middle of allergy season. How can we feel safe without masks, with so many people still unvaccinated and the virus still going around?

This time, I am really not going to read the comments.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Good for you

[pumpkinpi]

So here's why I'm really torn about the lifting of the mask mandate. I've gone on a walk or run just about every day this past year. In my area, people don't wear masks while out. Including me. I've always figured we can get far enough away from people in passing. But I'm really getting tired of this game of chicken on the sidewalk when I see someone approaching. I think, Should I move to the side and run in the wet grass/snow/mud? Should I go onto the street? Well, they are walking against traffic so it's their responsibility to go on the street, they should know that. But if I don't move aside I'll look like the bad guy.

Last time I was out and someone was going the other way, I decided I wasn't going to move. I've done the responsible thing and gotten vaccinated. The science says there is negligible risk that I could catch or pass the virus by running past a person at less than 6'. If they are worried, they can move to the side. It's been ingrained in me at work that it's become an era of "personal responsibility" instead of an era of public health. So I'm fine with taking the risk of going unmasked outside. (The other person moved to the side, but they also had a dog.)

On the other hand, I still may be compromised because of my medication, so if I am worried I would catch something while inside, I should wear a mask even if I don't have to.

The risk is still there, especially when I'm inside at work all day. We can't enforce mask wearing for the unvaccinated. We can't ask our coworkers if they are vaccinated. So I have to decide how I feel about it. I can assume most people unmasked are vaccinated, and if they aren't and one of them happens to be sick, there is still little chance I could catch it because of our large open spaces and good ventilation. And so I'd feel comfortable taking my mask off. Or I can keep thinking like I have been told to at work for the past year, to assume that you are sick and everyone else is too, and take every precaution not to catch or pass the virus. Then it's my responsibility to take care of myself. It comes down to a personal change in perspective. We were bound to get to this point eventually, it was just such a surprise to come this early, well before the elusive herd immunity.

I need to protect myself--not rely on others to protect me.