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MLAA

(17,115 posts)
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 09:59 AM Aug 2021

Forced to swim in Florida's Covid infested waters for a couple of weeks, cross your fingers.

I’m fully on board the shun and shame covidiots train. These covidiot murderers need to feel the consequences of their actions. Ideally before they die or kill someone. So I’m all in on shun and shame. Last week I shun and shamed my brother after his being unvaccinated resulted in me having to fly to Florida from AZ to care for my Dad who needed hospitalization and now this week in rehab. My brother is in easy driving distance, but since he isn’t vaccinated not letting him anywhere near my dad.

This meant I left a wonderful health compromised husband for what will wind up being 2+ weeks and risking covid and then bringing it home to my husband. I’m considering quarantining at a hotel when I return to be super safe. I would likely have come anyway initially to make the major decisions for his care, but could have left after a week and leave brother to handle rehab.

Last week when this began and I made immediate plans to fly the next day, he called to ask what he could do. I told him ‘get your fucking shot if you ever want to see him again or go to his funeral’. Idiot said he would consider it.
Once I made it to Jacksonville (24hr delay due to weather in Dallas) he texted ‘I hope you get some rest’. I replied ‘I can live without rest I’m concerned about getting Covid because so many idiots in Florida won’t get vaccinated and I’ll take it home and kill my husband’. The next day he got the vaccinated.

So there are now soon to be two less covidiots on the loose in Florida (my holier than though Bible quoting (as long as it doesn’t restrict him from something he wants to do) hypocritical evangelical brother took his 2nd ex-wife soon to become 4th wife after his divorce to 3rd wife becomes final) with him for shots he is still 5 weeks away from being as protected as possible so no help with this current situation. Sorry for the run on sentence, I was on a rant.

I also shamed a nurse into getting his shot. While with dad in the hospital for 4 days he had one particularly wonderful nurse. Extremely caring, professional, and efficient. He anticipated needs and took care of them before I even realized Dad needed something. I asked if he was vaccinated and he said not yet. He wasn’t against the vaccine, just hadn’t done it yet. He thought he may have even had covid earlier. I spoke to him like he was my son and highlighted all the new issues with the Delta Variant. I managed to be patient with him, but firm. Later that day he came in and proudly showed me the bandaid on his arm. During his lunch break he got vaccinate.

So now up to getting 3 Floridians on their way to not dying or killing someone but damn it has come at a high personal cost. I’ll be her another week or so and will keep pushing for more.

Only one in 10 or 15 people are wearing masks in hotel, drugstore or grocery store. I wear mine everywhere and only going out when essential. No restaurants, luckily my hotel room is like an efficiency apartment.

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Forced to swim in Florida's Covid infested waters for a couple of weeks, cross your fingers. (Original Post) MLAA Aug 2021 OP
Good on you! Hope your Dad is doing better.. secondwind Aug 2021 #1
Thank you! MLAA Aug 2021 #2
You should be giving seminars to the un-vaxxed and shaming them into getting vaxxed. LisaL Aug 2021 #3
I'm trying not to miss an opportunity to do that. MLAA Aug 2021 #4
Stay safe and healthy malaise Aug 2021 #5
Thank you, Malaise MLAA Aug 2021 #7
Good luck to you and your Dad. We thank you for your success in fighting ignorance. n/t. NNadir Aug 2021 #6
Thank you NNadir. MLAA Aug 2021 #8
Thank you for this. lark Aug 2021 #9
Thank you, Lark! MLAA Aug 2021 #12
You're doing great work. yardwork Aug 2021 #10
Thank you for your kind words. MLAA Aug 2021 #11
I'm my mom's POA and she has advanced dementia. yardwork Aug 2021 #33
Those are wise words, thank you for sharing them with me. MLAA Aug 2021 #34
Watch your back. If DeSantis gets wind of this post he will send the State Troopers for you. Chainfire Aug 2021 #13
Oh yes! MLAA Aug 2021 #14
Good for you seta1950 Aug 2021 #15
Thank you for the kind thoughts, it helps. MLAA Aug 2021 #26
it sounds like you're doing everything perfectly orleans Aug 2021 #16
Where did you get N95 masks? CaptainTruth Aug 2021 #20
believe it or not: menards n/t orleans Aug 2021 #32
There was a post here on DU months ago. A Miami Florida based medical Blue_true Aug 2021 #37
Thank you, I ordered 50 of those a couple weeks ago when I saw where things were headed. MLAA Aug 2021 #25
If you decide to quarantine, upon return, Maru Kitteh Aug 2021 #17
What's your opinion of the rapid covid test? babydollhead Aug 2021 #19
Rapid covid tests have a high false-negative rate when the person is asymptomatic Maru Kitteh Aug 2021 #28
Thank you babydollhead Aug 2021 #38
Great advice, thank you! MLAA Aug 2021 #22
Make no mistake, besides republicans disregard for life, they are doing this to blame Escurumbele Aug 2021 #18
So true. MLAA Aug 2021 #24
Stay in a motel not a hotel - less indoor air to breathe. CottonBear Aug 2021 #21
Agree, need to double up and make sure masks fit well. MLAA Aug 2021 #23
Be safe, be well & good luck! CottonBear Aug 2021 #30
For sure. MLAA Aug 2021 #31
I don't know where you are, but most of the covidiots seem to be in the panhandle Warpy Aug 2021 #27
Agree, better in Jacksonville ( we are Jax Beach) than say Panama City or Tallahassee. MLAA Aug 2021 #29
Good for you MLAA! lunatica Aug 2021 #35
Thank you for the encouragement Lunatica! MLAA Aug 2021 #36

secondwind

(16,903 posts)
1. Good on you! Hope your Dad is doing better..
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 10:17 AM
Aug 2021

Stay safe and get home soon! Quarantine is not a bad idea. I would do the same.

MLAA

(17,115 posts)
2. Thank you!
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 10:27 AM
Aug 2021

His excruciating back pain is now under control for the most part and he will start physical therapy Monday. Hoping to get him transferred to his home town rehab center Monday or Tuesday. All the rehabs were full in his home town and even Jacksonville except this one that he is in now. It’s not the one I would have chosen for him had there been a choice, but was thankful to get him in there. Anxious to move him closer to his home town and away from the Florida coast before any hurricanes come around.

yardwork

(61,331 posts)
10. You're doing great work.
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 11:05 AM
Aug 2021

Hats off to you. It's incredibly challenging and you're meeting the challenges with strength, selflessness, resilience, wisdom and courage.

MLAA

(17,115 posts)
11. Thank you for your kind words.
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 11:33 AM
Aug 2021

It is very stressful trying to make all the right decisions regarding a loved one’s health. I chose not to have children 35 years ago. But this experience is teaching me how difficult it must be to be a parent trying to make the best possible decisions for their children to grow and thrive.

yardwork

(61,331 posts)
33. I'm my mom's POA and she has advanced dementia.
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 06:00 PM
Aug 2021

I also have grown children. On balance, I worry more about the kids but probably spend more time helping mom.

Life is full of surprises, and the best we can do is search for grace and hold forgiveness in our hearts. I'm not sure what that means but it feels right,

MLAA

(17,115 posts)
14. Oh yes!
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 11:51 AM
Aug 2021

I’d rather like a run in with him. I’m no shrinking violet despite being under 5 feet and 95 pounds! I would create a PR nightmare to add on to his existing troubles in that department!

orleans

(33,949 posts)
16. it sounds like you're doing everything perfectly
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 12:05 PM
Aug 2021

my only suggestion would be to get one of those miserable n95 masks (without a vent so you don't spread anything in case you catch anything)

the reason i say they are miserable is b/c i bought a box of them yesterday and used one for awhile; it was tighter than my several layered cloth mask, felt hotter, looked a lot uglier, and was scratchy.

but, rumor has it, they are the best at protecting

maybe that one nurse could give you a couple of them.

hope everything goes well with your dad, and when you return home.

hang in there. you're doing a great job!

CaptainTruth

(6,540 posts)
20. Where did you get N95 masks?
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 12:27 PM
Aug 2021

Plenty of places have KN95, which of course is not N95 & tests show that their performance is all over the map, you can't trust them. I just checked a few vendors now & they all still say N95 are out of stock.

Thanks!

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
37. There was a post here on DU months ago. A Miami Florida based medical
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 09:04 PM
Aug 2021

products company sells N95 masks directly to the public. I purchased a package of 20 masks from it and use them when I feel I need something stronger than my cloth masks. The company is called DemeTECH and you can order directly from it’s website. The masks that I got are authentic N95 masks.

MLAA

(17,115 posts)
25. Thank you, I ordered 50 of those a couple weeks ago when I saw where things were headed.
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 12:49 PM
Aug 2021

They are super uncomfortable but I use it. Now that dad is in rehab I can’t be with him inside. I can only visit from outside his window on the phone. My goal is to transfer him to his home town where he can have a private room and his primary dr there can fill out paper work to call name me an essential caregiver or some such nomenclature so that I will be allowed inside. And I will continue to wear heavy duty masks.

Meanwhile, I don’t get in the hotel elevator with anyone, I wait and go alone. I am also fortunate to have found a car service driver that I use exclusively. He is the kindest man ever who suffered serious illness 2 years ago so jumped at getting vaccinated and we both wear masks anyway. He has been the only individual I have been within 6 feet of since I arrived and left the airport. There I tried to stay 6 feet away, but was not always successful. I’m on my 6th day here, so I’m pretty confident I didn’t get covid on the airplane or airport (though can never be 100 percent sure ).

Maru Kitteh

(28,302 posts)
17. If you decide to quarantine, upon return,
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 12:06 PM
Aug 2021

Stay in the hotel, then on the 5th day go and get a PCR test at a testing site. Call ahead and see who can get you the fastest results. Let them know you are a medical caregiver and it's imperative that you return to your caregiving duties as soon as possible. They should be able to bump you up in priority.

Make sure you remind them again when you test that you are a medical caregiver and need the test developed at a high priority.

You should have results you can trust in 24hrs or less.

This way you don't have to do the full 10 days.

These are current CDC recommendations, backed by data from multiple studies I have personally read. It's the protocol I would follow to protect my most precious loved ones.

As a matter of full disclosure, I report data to the CDC.

babydollhead

(2,231 posts)
19. What's your opinion of the rapid covid test?
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 12:23 PM
Aug 2021

Five year old nephew’s camp counselor is vaxxed, her unvaccinated husband gets covid. She tests positive. They get the kid a rapid test 4 days after his exposure to camp counselor. Negative. So now they are going camping and to visit family including a baby and an old lady

Maru Kitteh

(28,302 posts)
28. Rapid covid tests have a high false-negative rate when the person is asymptomatic
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 01:07 PM
Aug 2021

This is because the test is looking for proteins on the outer shell of the virus that become more abundant/easily found when the viral load has been high enough, long enough for the body to start breaking it down. This usually happens after a person develops symptoms, unfortunately.

That being said some people, especially kids, never develop symptoms or at least they didn't with covid "classic."

It's a maddening virus but the short answer is, I would suggest PCR testing to be sure.

Alternatively, test with a rapid test every day before being around the elderly for sure. Somebody told me you can get home tests at Walgreens 2 for $24.

Escurumbele

(3,316 posts)
18. Make no mistake, besides republicans disregard for life, they are doing this to blame
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 12:21 PM
Aug 2021

Biden, we all know they always try to blame everyone but themselves on their misdeeds, and this is another one they will try to blame on Biden.

We need a tough lawyer to find a way to blame all these deaths due to COVID as "intent to cause harm" on the republicans, like DeSantis, Abbot, etc. who have made it so difficult to keep the pandemic down, these people are willingly killing people of all ages just for political reasons.

CottonBear

(21,596 posts)
21. Stay in a motel not a hotel - less indoor air to breathe.
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 12:34 PM
Aug 2021

Double mask everywhere - inside and outside.

I wear a blue medical mask with the nose piece under full coverage cloth mask every day. I tie little knots (so that knots are behind my earlobes for greater comfort) in the medical mask ear loops in order to make it fit tightly.

CottonBear

(21,596 posts)
30. Be safe, be well & good luck!
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 02:42 PM
Aug 2021

You might consider a face shield in addition to the masks for indoor situations.

My aunt lives in Jacksonville, FL. It’s going to be a long time before I can see her again.

MLAA

(17,115 posts)
31. For sure.
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 02:49 PM
Aug 2021

I cannot get over how few people are wearing masks. I’ve had to go to the drugstore twice for dad and the grocery store twice for us. The most would be one in ten. And probably closer to one in twenty. The employees all had masks but probably half weren’t wearing them fully/correctly. So it sure will be a while before you see your aunt I’m sorry to say.

Warpy

(110,746 posts)
27. I don't know where you are, but most of the covidiots seem to be in the panhandle
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 01:00 PM
Aug 2021

The area around J'ville is in the 60% ballpark; Miami-Dade is a whopping 76.4%. The problem in a lot of Florida are the happy vacationers who think they're taking a vacation from Covid. Surprise, fools.

5 days in a hotel when you get home sounds like a good idea, pick one with a spa and decent food. Most vaccinated people are not getting breakthrough Covid, so you can hope for the best. Of those who do, most are getting identified through routine testing at work since the symptoms are so mild they've been blown off as allergy.

If it's not a short quarantine at a nice hotel, it will be masking in the house with bottles of hand sanitizer in every room.

MLAA

(17,115 posts)
29. Agree, better in Jacksonville ( we are Jax Beach) than say Panama City or Tallahassee.
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 01:07 PM
Aug 2021

Though to get dad in a private rehab room with better services it will be in a rural area with less vaccine coverage. When he was discharged from Mayo Clinic there were no rehabs within 100 miles except this one, so I grabbed it. The good news is that rehab center is not allowing visitors except those with essential caregivers documentation and I expect few will go to that trouble or qualify. My dad has some memory issues so I think I will be able to get the documentation from his primary Dr.

MLAA

(17,115 posts)
36. Thank you for the encouragement Lunatica!
Sun Aug 8, 2021, 08:30 PM
Aug 2021

Dad had a good day today and got the ball rolling to move him a couple of hours inland south and east of Jax Beach to avoid any potential hurricanes on the horizon.

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