Investigations by Chinese authorities have identified human cases with onset of symptoms in early December 2019.The first laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States was confirmed on January 20, 2020, and reported to CDC on January 22, 2020.
After that, ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE!!!
Doing some research on COVID-19, I came across a lot of questions from the public . . .
* Do antibiotics work against the coronavirus?
* How long does the coronavirus last on surfaces?
* What is a pandemic?
* Can the coronavirus disease spread through swimming pools?
*Can the coronavirus disease spread through frozen food?
* Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?
I could probably give you the answers based upon what I’ve read, but that would take too long. I’ll let you research on your own.
What I want to talk to you about is . . .
How is COVID-19 affecting those of us who are LIVING with Dementia?
It is said that those of us who are LIVING (and yes, I call attention to the word LIVING, because it is what we do everyday) with a Dementia-Related Illness are “EXPERTS!”
We don’t know a lot of the medical information (we are NOT Neurologists) but what we do know is how it affects us. A big hurdle the majority of us face is Anxiety.
Anxiety is usually a symptom that comes along with Dementia. It differs from one person to another, meaning that the frequency differs. Some don’t have it all. Others may have hallucinations while others don’t. Dementia is what I call a Designer Disease. We all know that Dementia is not a disease in and of itself, but is has so many diseases that fall under the Dementia Umbrella that makes it difficult to find the ever-escapable cure. But I’m not writing about that . . . I’m writing abut how anxiety comes into play with COVID-19.
I should start off by saying, anxiety is not exclusive to Dementia-Related Illnesses. Anxiety can be present in anyone’s life.
According to the CDC . . . Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
Those of us Living with Dementia-Related Illnesses usually, but not all, have Anxiety that comes along for the ride. I can speak only about my anxiety for, as the saying goes . . . “If you know 1 person with Dementia, you only know how it affects THAT one person.”!
Each day, Maureen will tell me she is going somewhere and asks me if I want to come along with her to “get the stink off!” Just hearing that question triggers my anxiety. All these thoughts start running through my head. All the what-ifs start swarming like bees. Scenarios start popping up like . . .
What if I touch something that someone who is infected touched?
What if we go into a public place and there are people not wearing a mask?
What if I see a non-mask-wearing person sneeze and all their COVID particles are now airborne?
What if someone coughs in my direction?
I even took to wearing Playtex gloves when I pumped gas for Maureen. When I got back into the car, I would sanitize the gloves and then sanitize may hands, just to make sure. You never know who touched what.
I must say . . . “IT’S EXHAUSTING BEING ME!!!”
So, Bella and I stay on the sofa, her sleeping and me doing insignificant things that I feel are of some sort of importance. I would much rather stay inside than to possibly infect myself by walking out the door.
There are, however, times when I will go along for a ride, mostly when I don’t have to leave the car. This usually happens when Maureen wants to have a Diet Dr. Pepper from Chick-fil-A with light ice. (She is a firm believer that Chick-fil-A has just the right mixture of ingredients served in a Styrofoam cup which keeps it cold (and y’all thought I had issues) but I digress!
Look I know I’m being a bit paranoid about the whole “COVID THING” but, I have enough problems with things I currently have. I’m not looking to add anything more to my Disease Resume’. So, I will continue my stubbornness, couch sitting with my faithful furry companion while Maureen goes on her missions into the COVID-19 world.
