My purpose in creating and sharing on this blog is to give insight into what sulfites are and how to manage a sensitivity to sulfites. In addition, I promote a healthy lifestyle and love to share tips that work for me. This week and last, I digress to focus on the Covid-19 Pandemic and what we can do to save many, many lives. The healthcare industry and other essential industries like grocery store clerks, pharmacists, delivery drivers, first responders, truck drivers and more are diligently working incredibly hard to keep people safe, healthy and safe. Read this post to learn why and how you can do your part to help by staying home.
The Coronavirus Pandemic Touched My Life In A Way I Didn’t See Coming
As I sat at my desk, Friday morning, I felt myself breathe for the first time in a week. Felt a sense of accomplishment. Despite the Corona Pandemic, we managed to protect our patients, staff, and family while still taking care of patients. It felt good, in a time where that feeling was hard to come by. I knew there was a lot of work ahead of us. It was not lost on me that it would get so much worse in the weeks ahead. At least my office was prepared to help the best we could with the resources we had.
Then I received a text message that brought all those feelings to a screeching halt. My grandmother, at the age of 95 passed away on that Friday morning. She had had a stroke two weeks prior and had been in rehab for the last 2 days. To my horror, she died alone, in rehab. The family was not allowed into the facility to protect patients from the Coronavirus.
Social Distancing Prevented Me From Going To My Grandmother’s Funeral
While in inpatient rehab to recover from her stroke, she was oblivious to what a pandemic was or how a virus could prevent her family from staying by her side. Her stroke had left her right side weak. She needed more care than could be provided at home without preparation. She died in isolation, surrounded by staff that did not speak her language. There wasn’t anything any of us could do about it even though there were at least 10 doctors in her immediate family.
The thought was simply heartbreaking and soul-crushing. Even sadder and ironic, was the thought that she was the most connected, social grandmother I knew at the age of 95. She received her first iPhone in her early 80’s and I don’t think she put it down until she was prevented from being able to pick it up due to her stroke.
As long as I can remember, she was in constant contact with all of her dozens and dozens of relatives around the world. Everyone knew she loved a good get together and while her knees allowed, she was up for going on any outing we invited her to. She enjoyed trying new foods until the end. She thrived with company around her. Yet, as a medical professional, I knew there was no way to have prevented her isolation. The facility being on lockdown likely also saved many lives of the elderly in that facility, one of the most vulnerable to this novel virus.
Sadly, we can’t go to her funeral because we don’t believe it is safe to fly and there is a limit of 10 people gathering at one time in California. A funeral for her in normal times would likely have no less than a few hundred people. At a time that we should be celebrating her 95 extraordinary years, we mourn in solitude. And that feels like it’s own loss and heartbreak.
But I Still Believe Social Distancing Is Imperative For Saving Lives
Still, though my family has paid an indescribable price because of social isolation, I stand firm in my belief that it is absolutely vital to the protection of millions of people. The health care system is not prepared (though we are diligently and tirelessly preparing) for a sudden spike of cases as in Italy. There are not enough beds, masks, gowns, ventilators or staff to handle those kinds of numbers. It pains me to say this, but at least my grandmother died of natural causes. Not because a doctor had to decide to let her die to save someone younger, as I’ve read has been the case in Italy.
As we try to learn from other countries, the healthcare system is essentially standing there watching this inevitable tsunami come crashing our way. We are begging and pleading for people to heed our warning and take the advice from nearly all the medical experts that have spoken out. Social distance, wash your hands and if you can, stay home.
(I found this image in the Houston Chronicle and thought it was incredibly informative and hopefully convincing.)
If You Want Drastic Results, You Have To Do Something Drastic
Counting medical school, I have been around healthcare for almost 20 years and the last week has been the most challenging time I’ve known at work. As outpatient clinics made a mad rush to make offices safe for patients, staff, and doctors, we focused our effort on Telemedicine .
With the dire shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), we could not afford to risk exposure of possible Covid-19 carriers or those with symptoms. One possible exposure, not to mention a confirmed case, has the potential to force an office to close for 14 days. With even one office closed, it would leave thousands of patients no choice but to go to the emergency room for even the smallest complaint. It could potentially leave diabetics, COPD and heart disease patients with uncontrolled flare-ups. The common flu, though easily treated in the office could become a complicated case requiring hospitalization. Untreated strep throat could lead to pneumonia or kidney problems. Telemedicine, virtual visits, and telephone visits seemed like the only answer to the nationwide lack of PPE.
To protect ourselves and patients, in light of a lack of PPE, we had to find quick solutions. Many converted our practice to mostly telemedicine and only seeing essential visits in the office.
If Social Distancing Is Right, Why Does It Feel So Wrong?
To say the past few weeks have been tough, would be an understatement for most of us. So far, I have missed my nephews birthday and my grandmother’s funeral. The list will undoubtedly grow longer of things I’ve had to miss. As human beings, we are built to connect. It is almost a primal instinct. With the Covid-19 pandemic, we are being told and in some cases, ordered to just the opposite.
Isolated in our homes, we resort to Facetime, Zoom, Webex, phone calls and literally any other way we can connect that doesn’t involve face to face contact. Social distancing has become one of the most common phrases I hear people say now. I’m not sure I even knew that that was a thing even as recent as a few weeks ago.
Ironically, it is this social distancing that will ensure that millions of people live rather than die. Our basic instinct to connect with others is for the time being a risk to our well being.
Self Care While Social Distancing
By social distancing, we can protect those most vulnerable. I need to also take a moment to encourage readers to make sure they are taking care of themselves. Not just physically, but mentally as well. I worry about those prone to depression who may relapse, or those with anxiety not being able to quell their fears due to the ever constant uncertainty as we navigate scenarios that most of us would have not even fathomed. Click here for resources for mental health support.
Over the last few years, I have decided that I need to practice self-care. My philosophy is that if I am going to spend 15-16 hours a day doing a lot of stuff for a lot of people, I need to carve some of that time taking care of myself. If I want to wake up and do it again tomorrow while still enjoying it, I need to invest time into checking in on myself. Sometimes this is 5 minutes, sometimes it’s a lengthy 60-minute workout.
This week has been overwhelming and a true physical and emotional roller coaster. So, I am proud to say I have worked out every day this week. With gyms being closed, I have done work out videos, gotten on my treadmill and dusted off my weights and did some arm curls, etc. I went into each work out thinking I should spend this time closing charts or spending it with the kids. I even started reading Chelsea Handler’s latest book on a Library App called Libby.
It feels good to laugh out loud and clear my mind for a few minutes. I finished each work out and each chapter, grateful to myself for permitting myself to spend those few minutes in making myself a better mom, wife, friend, and doctor.
No doubt this Pandemic crisis is a marathon. I believe a lot of social distancing and a little self-care can go a long way. These simple yet difficult acts may define how we find ourselves at the finish line, whenever that may be.
