Covid 19 and Social Distancing for those with Stage 4

I am in self isolation. I only go to lab/MO/treatment. I mask when I go inside & use hand sanitizer at every opportunity. Dh gets curbside pickup for groceries every 2 weeks and in between he goes to the local small shop to stock up on perishables and stuff we were unable to get from the big store. We have 2 adult children living with us & they're also self-isolating. One is a nurse and waiting for a position in a non-covid setting but all they keep offering is casual shifts on possible or designated covid units. That's way too much risk for us...

The other kid is slowly going crazy at home.

I do not envision changing my behavior for the next 4-8 weeks minimum. British Columbia is doing well with flattening the curve & might do some opening in May but I will not be rushing out. If things continue to improve once things open a bit I could see maybe having a park visit with someone whom I trust but still maintain 2m distancing & masks.

I came back from vacation mid February and I haven't gone out very much at all since then. I get my groceries delivered. I have infusions every three weeks so I go out for that and run an errand or two while I am out. I was taking occasional walks in the park with mask, gloves and distance but two weeks ago the parks were ordered closed. I work from home and talk to friends and family through text, phone and social media

Past two appts, the cancer center gave us masks to wear and they have banned visitors accompanying us to appts.. I've been wearing cloth masks and gloves at home even to go down for my mail.

I had a scan app for the 20th but I cancelled it because the thought of laying down in the machine with this virus around was not appealing. I am in NJ with the second highest number of cases in the USA and very close to NYC. But now I have shoulder pain, so I may want to reschedule soon.

We are probably going to be among the last to “reopen." I wish they would open the park though, every time I was there people did respect social distancing.

I expect to stay home until there is a vaccine. Lifted restrictions will not mean much to me. My onc told me I should stay home even before it was ordered. My little world of my house and garden, my DH and kid, and talking with people via phone or text, are enough for me to be content. I order groceries online (and that as seldom as possible) and DH does pickup. We shop online. We bank online. We get prescriptions delivered. We do not run errands. I go to my appointments at the cancer center, which has good safety practices in place, and I go alone. I walk in my neighborhood and do my yoga classes by video. I may as well pack away my dance things. The one place I go other than the cancer center is the plant nursery, wearing a mask and having them put my paid-for order in the back of my vehicle. DH disinfects all incoming mail and packages, and I do the same with groceries. I am setting up my life for this isolation to be of some duration.

I do wish I could visit with my friends and neighbors. The neighbors are around more these days and it would be a perfect time to make some new friends on our new street. I wish I could go see family. My close family member is older and on cancer treatment, so I feel we could endanger each other. That is very sad.

I relate to you moth — My biggest worry is that our kid is still working, though Fortunately with a small group of masked coworkers and not with the public. I hate to take that away, so now we have instituted undress in the laundry room, wash clothes and shower immediately. This was my onc's recommendation.

My biggest fear for me or my family is dying alone in a hospital. I haven't kicked cancer's ass for nine years to die of a stupid virus. And when I die I want to be at home with my loved ones. So I am very cautious.

I think this will be my "new normal" unfortunately. I early retired from my career in December due to the cancer. I was volunteering at my church as the secretary and was on a couple of volunteer committees before the virus hit. Now, of course, those activities have stopped due to the stay-at-home order. But when things reopen, I don't think I will be going back until there is a vaccine. I do want to get a haircut. I hate to think of not getting my hair cut until we have a vaccine. I live alone and cannot cut it myself. And I want/need to do some things when businesses reopen-- dentist, maintenance on vehicle, buy new glasses. Things I cannot do virtually or online.

Now l do my grocery shopping online with curbside pickup and I go to one small store for the things I cannot get at the box store. Our church services are phone-in or on Facebook. I call friends. I chat on here. When I get out-- bank drive thru, pharmacy, or to the small store-- I wear a mask. I had my last MO visit virtually. I skipped my last months' blood work. Next time I am going to MO in person due to injections and blood work. I have scan due in May--don't know if will be cancelled or not.

So I stay inside other than the small store, curbside pick up of groceries, pharmacy, bank (drive thru), and doctor. I live alone so I have no one to do things for me.

I hate to think this will be my life from now on, maybe for the rest of my life. I pray for a vaccine.

One thing I am very anxious to do is to get my dental work completed. I started a dental implant in the fall and I have gone through the entire Christmas season and then my February vacation with a missing tooth in front. As soon as I came home, I did get to have the last phase of my implant completed - and I was to wait two weeks to see the regular dentist for the impressions for my crown.

Well, in that two weeks, all the dental offices were ordered closed so I am still walking around with a missing front tooth and now, the (not sure what you call it - the metal piece that protrudes from the implant for the crown to attach to) exposed. NOT GOOD! I want my tooth. I am going to see my dentist as soon as I am "allowed" to. That's if any dentists are still in business when this is over.

I'll wear a mask while going out shopping, etc.. I am looking forward to visiting with friends but keep the outings to the weeks when my counts are up.

We had a couple of trips planned this summer that I would really like to take those. I would like to see my DS, DIL and grandkids. We have so much we want to see and do while I'm healthy enough to do them.