#plague time

Seemed like a good idea to make sure we had some other staple items, plus some snacks and easy to prepare items too. [ETA: I'm also almost out of paracetamol/Tylenol, and thankfully they do have that too.]

Thankfully, being Mathem? They did still have some delivery slots open for tomorrow afternoon and evening. 👍

The first thing I'm actually cooking since I got sick before Christmas. At least the first thing more complicated than "concoct congee out of leftover rice with a few vegetables thrown in for good luck", "boil some eggs ", or "quick oven pseudo-pizza using ready-made flatbreads and sauce from a jar".

This is likely to be interesting, since I still can't smell or taste worth a damn. But, I felt like I needed something warm and comforting with a few actual nutrients, and I can almost kinda-sorta smell the onion and vaguely curry spices now. They at least smell like something, and not offputting in any way. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Still not expecting a taste explosion, but hopefully it will be acceptable. Because this is looking like a couple of days' worth of soup.

A couple of items to use up: Some leftover Brussels sprouts and carrots that Mr. C made (part used in that rice porridge already), which I am planning to quickly cut up a little and supplement with whatever looks decent from the freezer. Plus some of the jarred pasta sauce I had open in the fridge, for a tomato component. Mostly tasting a little salt, tartness, and chili heat off that right now, so why not.

My thought process tonight, y'all. 😬

Yep, I had another gastroscopy Wednesday. And am actually really hoping that this hot-and-cold bullshit and headache are 'just' a more persistent than usual drug reaction. Especially in combination with the still-sore throat--which could well 'just' be from the scope itself.

The IV shit they've been giving me does, indeed, mess with my thermoregulation. But, the hangover symptoms beyond some fatigue don't usually linger on for more than a day. It's actually been starting to feel stronger and suspiciously feverish tonight.

About to head to bed soon, and I guess we'll have to see how things are looking later.

But yeah, this would NOT be the first time I managed to get sick with suspicious timing, when the university medical center was the only place I had been. Including 2/3* of the rounds with COVID to date, which started off about like this

Mostly bitching into the void because I really am feeling pretty rough about now--but mostly I'm just frustrated and worn out with basically everything concerned here. A sleep reset will hopefully remedy that, at any rate!

I don't know how much good this is even likely to do me, but I just ended up heading out of the waiting room to get slightly out of easy droplet range from this lady. (No escaping the aerosols, for anyone in this building this afternoon. But, it's something.)

Who has been coughing and clearing her throat almost constantly since she checked in. With the damned mask pulled down under her nose, because of course. While a particularly contagious subvariant is sweeping through.

It really does not sound like a tic. She sounds actively unwell in some way. At least she is wearing a mask at all, unlike 95%+ of the people through here? 😩

I just barely resisted sneaking a pic when she was right by a sign by reception, helpfully showing an identical disposable mask worn properly. Spot the differences!🤔 Didn't want to maybe act like some kind of creep myself, but I am honestly past having any fucks to give if this is how she is choosing to conduct herself in a surgical clinic.

So, we're settling for a little strategic sticker redaction! She seems happy enough to leave that nose out on public display, after all. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ETA, since it's set to no reblogs:

The sign in question, minus the cougher. Plus some sort of translation job:

Mouthguards for everyone visiting the facility. Patients and visitors (children over 12 years of age) should always wear mouthguards when visiting healthcare facilities. You will receive a mouth guard from the reception or department you are going to.

Or, you know, not for a long time now. There are still bottles of not so helpful hand sanitizer literally everywhere, including grocery store entrances. But, it's a tossup by now if there's even going to be a box of masks set out by reception.

BTW, I do also blame the significant terminology difference there, besides just public health messaging in general. Because yeah, that was a very literal translation of the sign text.

The ZOE Covid Study app allows infected people to report their symptoms while suffering from the virus.

The data provided is then analysed by King’s College London researchers who track infections across the UK, as well as identifying who is most at risk and where high-risk areas are.

Almost 58 per cent of all Covid patients who used the app reported suffering a sore throat before returning positive tests.

A headache, blocked nose and cough were reported as the next most common symptoms.

Professor Tim Spector, who leads the Zoe Health Study app, said: “Covid is still rampant in the population. ZOE Health Study data shows that there were over 350,000 daily Covid cases this week – a new record for the UK.

“So much so, that if you have any cold-like symptoms at the moment it’s nearly twice as likely to be Covid as a cold.

“Even if people have had a past infection and are fully vaccinated, people are still catching it.

“Although we all want to make the most of the good weather, people will need to decide for themselves whether going to large events, working from the office or using busy public transport is worth the risk.”

Not hard to add in between the lines: "...in spite of the absolute politicized idiocy of current policy." 🙄

“There was a popular narrative that after surviving COVID-19, the next infection will be milder. Anecdotal experience had however shown that’s not the case. Many people have said that their second bout was worse, while others have said it was mild,” Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman, National IMA COVID Task Force tells The Hindu.

“Now, this study has confirmed that with every subsequent bout of COVID-19, there are additional and cumulative health problems. In other words, it is not necessarily going to be a common cold the next time around. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is not a common cold virus, it can repeatedly affect organs such as blood vessels, immune system, heart, brain and the lungs. It has shown that it can infect people who were unvaccinated, vaccinated or boosted,” he adds...