How has the Pandemic affected you as a cancer patient/survivor

here we go. Our neighborhood just skyrocketted. So far, public hospitals just banned visitors

https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/coronavirus/2...

Funny, I have a remote relaxation for surgery workshop today. My anxiety is through the roof, no time to relax

I had my lupron injection and covid booster (Moderna) within a day of each other. I was up at 2am with both chills and hot flashes, sometimes simultaneously if you can even imagine that. My hypothalamus had no idea what it was doing.

DH and I gathered with his family last Saturday to celebrate Christmas. There were 15 of us and I believe all are vaccinated and most are boosted except the 1 year old baby. My son and my niece bowed out as they knew they had been exposed to Covid last week. My son’s home test was negative, however he was waiting on PCR results. He felt it was too risky to attend, especially with the unvaccinated baby. As a side note, my son is immunocompromised with an incurable, life threatening disease so he is very cautious. All of this was discussed within the family in a lengthy email trail (although the family is not aware of my son’s Illness as he prefers to keep it private). My in laws are all about getting vaccinated and following the science. Yet my BIL attended knowing he had been exposed and was waiting on PCR results. He didn’t tell anyone other than his wife. He had taken a home test which was negative and a PCR test 2 days prior to getting together. We attended, had a wonderful time, hugged, talked and ate. We no sooner got back home than we received a message that my BIL’s PCR test was positive for COVID. Grrr…. My husband had to take unpaid time off of work this week as his boss has had lung cancer and has reduced lung capacity. They work in a very small,office and Contracting Covid could be life threatening for the boss. In good conscience DH could not go into work. I went into work but isolated in a closed door office, wore a mask when moving around the building and skipped theoffice holiday festivities.

I’m pretty ticked off at my husbands sister and BIL for attending and not thinking about how it could affect everyone else. Now DH’s sister and BIL have had a rapid diagnostic test which is negative so they are telling us the PCR results must have been a false positive. I suppose it is possible but it sure messed up our week. DH and I will get PCR tests tomorrow (CDC recommends waiting 5-7 days after exposure). We have no symptoms so we’re presuming the results will be negative and we can resume our normal work week next Monday.

So frustrating……

I wish those resisting their communal and public health responsibilities would realize that everyone is worn out, short tempered and very tired of how Covid19 has changed our lives. But… this is life or death and I have no problem dealing with whatever benefits my family and community. Honestly, it’s not that difficult and some of the anti-vax folk just sound like cranky, oppositiotoddlers.

had a visit at cardiologist's office with an lpn to show me how to use my DH's blood pressure cuff at home and to calibrate it with the office cuff readings as the readings I was getting were very high. And though I was indeed using it upside down, it's readings were similar right side up and as alarming as at home. The office cuff however did in fact register much lower BP BUT still too high considering my BP medication dosage had been doubled in November due to similar high readings at my annual PCP physical (which was why I decided to check it at home). Waiting call from cardiologist and have ordered a new cuff using AMA list of approved cuffs. So Covid-wise - it was the end of the day and I was the only patient! yay! but I walked the 1.5 miles to the hospital and going home, would be facing 17mph winds - should I risk the bus? nah - I walked and survived.

I was able to buy in house testing, negative for now, which is good, and could book a pcr test end of next week! It was the soonest available appointment. Thanks chowdog and others for your insights but getting a test is nightmare these days, I am pretty sure only some cvs and Walgreens which access drive through are open to public, most larger sites are already close like dodger stadium, many appointments have booked in advance for employees from corporations for regular testing, and large group of travelers..

update from that thoughtless family, apparently the couple had been already exposed by their friend before they came dine with us, their son tested positive today and now home quarantine, only god knows how many people got infected by them... just wow how some people can be so careless while they do know I am stage 4. My pcp urged me to go urgent care, since I have mildsymptoms and in-house test was negative I wait until tomorrow.

Harley07, how thoughtful you your dh and your family are, it is heartwarming to see your dh cares about his ill boss,thanks for sharing. Honestly I need to read this sort of stories, social responsibility is the best gift we can share in this holiday season.

Stay safe everyone

We keep setting records. New cases up by 48% in one day. Hospitalizations up by 52% in 6 days. New cases are hitting high-density areas in Montreal. Test positivity rate in Montreal around 20%. QC leaders reduced max number of people for home gatherings from 10 to 6 after Christmas because the virus observes holidays? Restaurant indoor dining still allowed at 50% capacity because the virus doesn't transmit when eating. Grrr. I have my Xgeva shot today. My husband has a booster appointment in January. Going nowhere else. Unvaccinated people are about 20% of total population, but accounted for 66% of new hospitalizations. Vaccinations work!

Our health minister bragging on news about lots of over 70s had booster. They are still not offering to anyone until 6 months post 2nd dose.

With rules so arbitrary I can see why many people are just deciding to figure out for themselves how to be safe and ignoring the rules. Each province is so different.

Dancemom, urg so sorry.

Dancemom - I’m sorry, but it’s not looking good for surgery. QC is allowing HCWs who are asymptomatic COVID+ to work, so I want to avoid the hospital as much as possible.

Be safe!

Definitely confusing!

Now I'm curious. What kind of restaurant?

ETA- No need to answer, but if I ever get back to NYC, I’ll PM you.

Dancemom - so disheartening to hear your surgery may be delayed again, but hoping it can still go forward on January 3rd. Keeping you in my thoughts.

thank you for the good vibes

I'm in NY and I'm interested in your family restaurant! What neighborhood is it?

I'm seeing the angle from the schools and it's exactly like that, more and more kids out as close contacts every day, and other kids being kept home out of caution. Yeah, De Blasio gets to brag that the schools are open, but what kind of education is happening when attendance is at 25%-55%??

I'm hoping that if your surgery is delayed, it won't be for too long. Hopefully this will burn through fast... I don't know, this is all so messed up.

We only had one friend coming over for the holiday dinner but I cancelled that due to omicron. The county positivity rate is still low at 8% but 3 close friends have tested positive in the last week, so not taking chances. I will pick up our anniversary dinner curbside but after that we’ve decided to hunker down except for my upcoming chemo and scans. Hopefully this blows over quickly.

Dancemom, I’m sorry about the delay’s, I’m sure it must be concerning and super annoying.