Although for most of us Covid 19 will be just a dry cough, It’s important to have this possible scenario out there, As today I heard an ICU doctor saying they put people on ventilators for a few reasons, One that concerned me was they had to put previously healthy Covid 19 patients on ventilators because they “physically fatigue, so much they aren’t able to use their muscles to breathe”. (because breathing gets so laboured, it’s also a battle of stamina). So Because ME/CFS has already for many of us, reduced our exertional ability to about 5% of a normal persons energy output (Depending on severity) means as soon as it gets to our lungs and we are forced to breathe harder, that extra exertion needed is what will trigger a ME/CFS crash via an immune reaction, known as Post Exertional Malaise PEM. We all know our immune system isn’t as good when we’ve already crashed. So if we are breathing harder to get oxygen just when the body is meant to be fighting off this Covid 19 infection, the body will start fighting itself too, compromising the ability to fight the virus. PEM is a huge extra strain on the immune system that’s already burnt out. Solution is if we get any form of laboured breathing we need our own doctor’s to have a letter pre-written explaining the above issues that we need to be ventilated the moment we the patients believe we are starting to exert too much, but well before we reach a level that can cause a PEM crash. God help us if that doesn’t happen!!
Regarding possible aerosolization of virus shed in fecal matter (i.e., you poop, you flush, and viral particles fly into the air in microscopic droplets that float around potentially for hours): If you don't have a separate bathroom to isolate your (possible) COVID-19 patient, consider a Luggable Loo and (horse) bedding pellets (made of pine). This is the least expensive, easiest to use, easiest to maintain sort of camping toilet. The Luggable Loo is a toilet set plus lid that snap onto a 4 or 5 gallon utility bucket. It costs $10-15 online and at stores which sell camping gear. The bucket is about $5 at Home Depot. Walmart bakery and grocery store bakeries often get icing in such buckets and will give them free, around 4 p.m., when they're done with it, but you'll need to wash it out. Delis and sandwich shops might get their pickles in such buckets, too, but the pickle smell can be hard to clear. (Why do I know this? Such buckets are also good for a "victory garden" when you don't have a yard.) The pine pellets are cheap, sold at Tractor Supply Company (TSC), or expensive, sold as cat litter (i.e., Feline Pine). Why pine? Consider Pine-Sol. Sure, the pine pellets smell fresh and nice, but they might also have a natural ability to fight microbes. Line the bucket with a strong, large-enough garbage bag. Add about 1/2" layer of pellets. Add a little water, and the pellets will triple in size, but you don't have to do that, because the COVID-19 patient is going to pee in there, anyway. Add more as needed, and even fluff some with water, if needed to cover a BM. There is no flushing, so there is no aerosolization of viral particles. The plastic bag should overlap the top of the bucket, so clean up just means pulling the top of the bag up, sealing it off, then removing it and putting it in the garbage. Nothing to wash. The Luggable Loo seat/lid combo can be disinfected with anything. Just don't forget to post toilet paper nearby and hand sanitizing wipes.
For a mask, I use a large scarf, folded into a triangle and tied like a bandit's bandana. It covers far more than just mouth and nose. Its filtering capacity is easily bolstered by putting a few layers of paper towel inside the fold, then rolling the fold down a couple times to hold the paper towels in place. No sewing, machine washable, nuke in mic as desired, and reusable after the pandemic as just a nice scarf.
Anne Duffy I’d gently wash with soapy water, rinse, then microwave until about 5 seconds after I saw steam coming off it. Stop the microwave for a few seconds, then start it again, repeating the steam coming off it, several times. Or put the microwave on a low setting, as they automatically turn on and off. The steam will periodically produce. This prevents the mask melting or burning. But what I’m doing is having 10 masks on rotate. And after each use I hang on the line for a couple days. As UV radiation is a great killer of viruses and bacteria. Florence Nightingale was an early discoverer of that. She did some interesting experiments with pathogens and sunlight and even discovered a phenomenon at night time that something was killing pathogens, it happened some nights but not others. I can’t remember what it was. Possibly solar radiation which is stronger sometimes more than others. She also had an ME/CFS type illness. Worth reading about her as is so interesting, especially what she did for hospitals and preventing diseases spreading throughout hospitals.
![The Psychology of Chronic Illness: Making it Normal [Part 6: Meaning Making]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eYtwrmSV8Nw/mqdefault.jpg)
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I thought your insights made a lot of sense and were quite helpful!
Although for most of us Covid 19 will be just a dry cough, It’s important to have this possible scenario out there, As today I heard an ICU doctor saying they put people on ventilators for a few reasons, One that concerned me was they had to put previously
healthy Covid 19 patients on ventilators because they “physically fatigue, so much they aren’t able to use their muscles to breathe”. (because breathing gets so laboured, it’s also a battle of stamina).
So Because ME/CFS has already for many of us, reduced our exertional ability to about 5% of a normal persons energy output (Depending on severity) means as soon as it gets to our lungs and we are forced to breathe harder, that extra exertion needed is what will trigger a ME/CFS crash via an immune reaction, known as Post Exertional Malaise PEM. We all know our immune system isn’t as good when we’ve already crashed. So if we are breathing harder to get oxygen just when the body is meant to be fighting off this Covid 19 infection, the body will start fighting itself too, compromising the ability to fight the virus.
PEM is a huge extra strain on the immune system that’s already burnt out.
Solution is if we get any form of laboured breathing we need our own doctor’s to have a letter pre-written explaining the above issues that we need to be ventilated the moment we the patients believe we are starting to exert too much, but well before we reach a level that can cause a PEM crash.
God help us if that doesn’t happen!!
Wonderful, Suzanne! Thanks so much for being of service with such a clear info! Going bourbon shopping:)
Regarding possible aerosolization of virus shed in fecal matter (i.e., you poop, you flush, and viral particles fly into the air in microscopic droplets that float around potentially for hours): If you don't have a separate bathroom to isolate your (possible) COVID-19 patient, consider a Luggable Loo and (horse) bedding pellets (made of pine). This is the least expensive, easiest to use, easiest to maintain sort of camping toilet.
The Luggable Loo is a toilet set plus lid that snap onto a 4 or 5 gallon utility bucket. It costs $10-15 online and at stores which sell camping gear.
The bucket is about $5 at Home Depot. Walmart bakery and grocery store bakeries often get icing in such buckets and will give them free, around 4 p.m., when they're done with it, but you'll need to wash it out. Delis and sandwich shops might get their pickles in such buckets, too, but the pickle smell can be hard to clear. (Why do I know this? Such buckets are also good for a "victory garden" when you don't have a yard.)
The pine pellets are cheap, sold at Tractor Supply Company (TSC), or expensive, sold as cat litter (i.e., Feline Pine). Why pine? Consider Pine-Sol. Sure, the pine pellets smell fresh and nice, but they might also have a natural ability to fight microbes.
Line the bucket with a strong, large-enough garbage bag. Add about 1/2" layer of pellets. Add a little water, and the pellets will triple in size, but you don't have to do that, because the COVID-19 patient is going to pee in there, anyway. Add more as needed, and even fluff some with water, if needed to cover a BM.
There is no flushing, so there is no aerosolization of viral particles. The plastic bag should overlap the top of the bucket, so clean up just means pulling the top of the bag up, sealing it off, then removing it and putting it in the garbage. Nothing to wash. The Luggable Loo seat/lid combo can be disinfected with anything.
Just don't forget to post toilet paper nearby and hand sanitizing wipes.
For a mask, I use a large scarf, folded into a triangle and tied like a bandit's bandana. It covers far more than just mouth and nose. Its filtering capacity is easily bolstered by putting a few layers of paper towel inside the fold, then rolling the fold down a couple times to hold the paper towels in place. No sewing, machine washable, nuke in mic as desired, and reusable after the pandemic as just a nice scarf.
how long do you microwave the mask for
Anne Duffy I’d gently wash with soapy water, rinse, then microwave until about 5 seconds after I saw steam coming off it. Stop the microwave for a few seconds, then start it again, repeating the steam coming off it, several times. Or put the microwave on a low setting, as they automatically turn on and off. The steam will periodically produce. This prevents the mask melting or burning. But what I’m doing is having 10 masks on rotate. And after each use I hang on the line for a couple days. As UV radiation is a great killer of viruses and bacteria. Florence Nightingale was an early discoverer of that. She did some interesting experiments with pathogens and sunlight and even discovered a phenomenon at night time that something was killing pathogens, it happened some nights but not others. I can’t remember what it was. Possibly solar radiation which is stronger sometimes more than others. She also had an ME/CFS type illness. Worth reading about her as is so interesting, especially what she did for hospitals and preventing diseases spreading throughout hospitals.
Potato vodka: Also kosher for Passover! Happy Passover!