Putting Hygiene First - General/Health

As you're reading this post I'm sure you'll either get annoyed or agitated at the mention of COVID but don't worry it's only being mentioned in passing, I'm not going to be expanding on it. With that being said, moving on!

I'm not sure if any of you picked up or did any special hygienic steps when you would eat out during COVID, that is when restaurants started allowing you to dine in again. I know for my family and I, a step we never did pre-COVID was carry around cleaning wipes. Why do you ask? Well not only shall I explain but you'll be able to see first hand as well, in the image below. So we would carry around these wipes to wipe down the table we would be sitting at; if the chairs didn't have cloth then we would wipe down all the areas of the chair that we typically grab or use in addition to the base of the chair where the seat part is. Sometimes chairs would have a seat cushion so we would only then wipe down the areas of the chair that we touched. If the table had salt and pepper shakers or if they had a little jelly holder, etc then those items would get wiped down for our use. I know, maybe drastic and to some of you crazy but considering that to this day (knock on wood) my two young kids have not had COVID (even when my entire family was infected at one time) I'm glad we did that and that we still tend to do that...you may just be singing a different tune after you keep reading and find out where the image I took was at-meaning in which restaurant/establishment I was in when I took it. 

The types of wipes we carry are the alcohol wipes (I know more costly but preferably as far as cleaning the surfaces of germs are) but when we forget or run out mid-putting then a set of baby wipes is better than nothing. Yes, I still carry baby wipes and no even if you don't have kids, it's still useful to carry a package in your vehicle. The reason why I say even singles should carry around the baby wipes is because they are awesome cleaners for when you get a stain on your clothing but also for dirt/spills in your vehicle; gentle and hygienic for your clothing material and the vehicle paneling/seats. Ok I digress on the wipes now. When an area I see is less desirable in the visual sense of how clean it can be, I will spray some alcohol on the baby wipe and use the baby wipe. Now for you shocked nay-sayers who maybe think "what about the restaurant or establishment tables and chairs, if you use the alcohol wipes won't you be messing up their equipment?" I can't speak for others BUT when my family and I clean areas it's because we know it's not solid wood or any of the valuable materials that could be tarnished/destroyed when wiped with alcohol. Guess my suggestion to any of you who begin using this technique after reading my post, please be considerate and conscientious of the areas you are cleaning off your use-perhaps only clean the objects on the table for your use and not the table/char surfaces.

Now we come to the image I've taken. I've actually taken images after a cleanup, at a total of six different places so far. This particular image was taken at a very popular city in a well known chain restaurant-Olive Garden. The other five images I took (of before and after wipes) was at Texas Roadhouse, Normas, Cracker Barrel, Waffle House, and Pappadeux Seafood. Sadly, the wiping only got worse no matter the city. Don't want to take my word for it, by all means try it yourself at the establishments you frequent and let me know what your findings are...doesn't mean I still won't eat out! Hell no! But leaves you to wonder how "clean" they really keep things (even after COVID is now just a whisper in the wind).

Stay clean, stay safe, and enjoy your outings! :) 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

COVID Tendencies - Health/General

The month of September is almost over and it's amazing to see the statistics of the COVID numbers. The social media and news aren't covering the health/COVID aspect anymore, it seems there are other fishes to fry and take notice of (politics, the Royal Family, President Biden, former President Trump and scandals, etc). However, if anyone actually would take the time to look they would see that COVID isn't gone and that it's still a current concern that people should still take precautions with. 

Yes I know we aren't seeing the death tolls high or seeing a drastic infection count from how contagious the interactions from an infected person is, thanks to the vaccinations and booster shots that were released. That doesn't mean though that the worst is over or that things can't revert back to a fearful time again. People aren't as conscientious anymore to using even hand sanitizer or wipes anymore. In case you're wondering I stated "even hand sanitizer" because I had already observed prior to COVID, how disgusting the women in today's world are; its awful to witness and know first hand how many even use the restroom but leave not even having washed their hands. So thinking how unconcerned the women are with their own hygiene, of course I can conclude or react in not trusting the world to be cautious in being COVID free. What makes me think that someone who could easily wash their hands for twenty seconds actually take care to not spread or be a host to a disease that has the ability to "cripple" (I use that term loosely) someone once they are diagnosed with COVID. 

Do I believe that the vaccinations and boosters have helped, yes of course, but that still doesn't rule out the responsibility that every citizen has in securing that COVID doesn't have another ugly outbreak as it did when the strand was first released...I have all my vaccinations and even my boosters thus far. Have you? Or are you one of those people who think that you and/or your family shouldn't be vaccinated at all? Either way, as wonderful as it is to have life back into some normalcy, it doesn't mean we throw complete caution to the wind. For example what I noticed was that many people began to travel for pleasure and leisure there was a spike in COVID numbers, then when the school year formerly commenced again another spike; with the lower counts registered as well with similar circumstances justifying the numbers. But don't take my word for it, take a look for yourself: covid numbers in texas

I mean I've had COVID once already pretty badly (along with the residual symptoms that stayed with me for almost two years) and even though they say it's not likely you'll get as sick the second time around if you should catch it again...well needless to say I don't believe in that. Yes, your body has a chance to create antibodies after it's first battle with COVID but that doesn't mean that your body is always running at the same capacity or level of nutrients. Therefore, for example, my family and I will enjoy eating out (at restaurants) yet because of everyone's level in comfort from COVID we've been able to notice a decline in how thoroughly tables are cleaned; hence, why in turn we are still carrying our cleaning wipes and disinfecting our table where we sit at least. I have little ones and still make them wear their masks when entering into public restrooms and my family and I still wear masks when there are large groups or bodies of people in the same area that we will be in. What works in our favor to not always have to wear masks, is that we've managed to develop a routine to the establishments we frequent, that we know when there aren't so many people there. 

Do you have any special routines to help stay healthy or COVID free? I guess the moral of this post is!…can we at least still be courteous to those not wanting to have COVID and have some sense to hygiene! 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

COVID: It’s Real - General

Once upon a time, I had COVID-19…in 2020.

So I worked backwards some, because I took this selfie eleven days after having COVID. Yes, this smiling face wasn’t as smiley in the duration of COVID symptoms. So for those who haven't had it, I wouldn't wish it upon you and for those of you who doubt it's severity (even with the vaccinations and boosters out) - I suggest you get on the "stay healthy and keep COVID at bay train." 

I feel like the main reason for it's spread are people's complete disregard and carelessness; people's inability to use caution and simple clean protocols, in addition to the people being uneducated in what COVID and the repercussions of having COVID are I believe are the culprit to the severity of it's spread. I'm in no way saying that the news didn't attempt to educate, but let's face it, they shed more light on the negative and dark portions of COVID without providing a truly educational piece to the whole thing. I won't even get into the politics behind the move of COVID but the fact was the world waited until numbers were too high to truly mandate anything then proceeded to take caution...guess even though we humans have evolved perhaps our intelligence really hasn't since action wasn't taken sooner by society/the world so that we wouldn't be seeing high numbers of those affected. Anyone recall the Black Plague, Spanish FLU, or what about hay fever? Last I checked and read numbers are still all over the place those affected regardless of some mandates already having been lifted and vaccinations/boosters in place already past the beginner points of . Why doesn't anyone comprehend that even simple hygiene continues to play a huge role in how COVID (or any disease for that matter) can be controlled yet the world still doesn't take their precautions...Things as simple as covering you mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough, then making sure you're washing your hands after touching something that isn't yours or is foreign to you, blowing your nose into a napkin/tissue instead of your sleeve, etc. It's sad enough how many men (and women for that matter), don't even sustain or follow common hygiene. For example (especially pre-COVID), women now-a-days literally go to the restroom and will simply relieve themselves than walk out. I've seen it happen, frightfully so, many times. I've even waited to hear the water run once the female has passed my stall and nothing except the whoosh of the door to the women's restroom closing. How disgusting is that?! Alas, I shall digress because that's a post all on its own and it's taking me on a squirrel tangent :) 

Doctor's have said, that if you haven't gotten COVID, it's only a matter of time. I don't know how I feel about that statement since these same doctor's providing such statements, are also still giving warning to the vaccinations and boosters-side affects and long term affects still (that are also still being catalogued because of the unknowns)...well it definitely was only a matter of time because I had it and I had it bad. You can easily google or look at the CDC website to find out more information about COVID and also the symptoms to look out for, but this specific post is about how mine started and how it ended.

A coworker tested positive for COVID but wasn't showing any symptoms; their test was done before lunchtime so I went to get tested myself in the afternoon. I tested negative and had no symptoms the next day, however by the second day things began to feel interesting (to say the least). I woke up with a scratchy throat and the feeling of drainage in the back of my throat. I figured it was either allergies acting up, perhaps a small bout of the tonsillitis, or worse the start of a head cold because work days were getting pretty long because of the stupid project that was going on at the time...I mean it was a Saturday and we were working especially with wanting to make sure that nothing was going to thwart our Christmas holidays. Yes you read correctly, this was all literally the Saturday before the week of Christmas. I starting binge drinking on orange juice and Emerg-C in addition to just staying hydrated and making sure I had my allergy spray in as well as some Tylenol to prevent any fever surprises. By mid-afternoon I was blowing my nose at least every fifteen minutes and my overall body temperature was rising...then the worst part was when I started coughing! I coughed up blood at least four times with how bad the cough was. Did I tell anyone, obviously no because I wanted to just be done with work and get out! Saturday night I felt like the walking dead but thankfully still no fever. Since I was negative to COVID I only suspected that maybe I was coming down with the FLU. So the road trip to visit family for Christmas was still a go but I was literally dead on my feet. We all took our precautions with minimal to no time around others and always using face masks when we made a pitstop. I did downplay how dead on my feet I felt - when I say dead on my feet, I mean my entire body felt achy and awful and I didn't even want or feel like eating. I was literally forcing myself to stay hydrated...the drive to visit family I hardly remember the day portion of it because I was stuffed on Nyquil and tried to sleep to rest up, while my sister drove my vehicle. The night time though I wanted to drive because I wanted to make more time and just arrive! Well we didn't arrive to our destination until close to 3am but because of the hotel, I didn't tuck myself in for bed until close to 6am, thankfully after a very long and refreshing shower, having settled in my daughters ...so needless to say it wasn't the most restful of nights. We all didn't wake up until close to 1pm on December 23rd and it was a guaranteed feeling of extreme hunger. 

Minimal movement that day for sure due to our being road-trip exhausted. My body aches were horrible but kept a smile on my face and let's face it, motherhood doesn't stop because you feel sick or bad. My cough became worse though and made me hack up some unpleasant colored mucus. I was already on Tylenol Night and Day for the Cold/Flu and already on the second bedtime of the Nyquil syrup for restful sleep. Thankfully my girls had no symptoms and were like usual. Christmas Eve and Day went by what felt like a breeze. The day after Christmas though I went to the hospital ER because my cough was horrible and I was as weak as could possibly be, with the hardest time of not losing my breath and having my cough make the days more miserable. Thankfully got answers but they weren't what I was needing or wanting at that time. The ER doctor diagnosed me after getting an x-ray and some swabbing. Negative of the FLU and strep throat but was positive to COVID and the x-ray confirmed the "smoky lungs" as one of the visible signs the medical field had seen related to positive COVID members. During my discharge from ER, I was told to always wear the mask around my daughters even though they didn't seem affected at all by anything! They were (thank God) lively, themselves, and without any concern of COVID or anything else for that matter; healthy daughters for sure as they have been since birth. In addition, they mentioned for me to stay hydrated, with lots of Vitamin C, and lots of rest to have my body recover with the help of a Z-pack and a cough suppressant. Yet, they couldn't provide me with a steroid shot as I was "too far gone" into having COVID. They briefly mentioned about some breathing exercises but I knew who to contact for that. Went back to the hotel, let my family know because I was feeling even more dead on my feet and got myself situated while my sister went to the pharmacy for the prescriptions I was having filled and the other vitamins a fellow family member mentioned for me to use. This specific family member is my uncle and he's in the medical field, was (and still is) dealing first hand with respiratory therapy for COVID patients both during and post COVID; he provided me with the breathing exercises as well that would benefit my recovery. My intake was of cran-apple juice diluated with water when I was able to (because nausea would strike and I couldn't just have water by itself or water in the juice, so straight Cran-Apple Juice it was), then the vitamins that consisted of C, B-12, Magnesium, Calcium, and Zinc. The times I did eat, I recall having some delicious Thai soup that provided me a spice kick to help on the nausea aspect of how I was feeling. My loss of appetite was already diminishing since Christmas Eve so it wasn't a surprise to me to not be hungry pre and post the ER, but I was very thirsty. My sister and folks stalked up the hotel room with what I needed and with what the girls needed. 

Yup that's right the rest of my Christmas Vacation was spent inside a hotel and miserable. I actually don't remember much of that week (even to this day) they are hazy recollections even now. I vaguely remember the times anyone was in my room or what was going on around me. I do remember the nighttime moments of bathroom breaks because I would catch a glimpse of my girls peacefully asleep, I would be praying in thanks and in need that my girls would continue to not be affected by COVID period...I didn't anything or much of anything. It was a long six days later I was finally alert and wanting to move. So there I go to a nearby clinic to have myself checked and tested again, to my biggest surprise, even without working out of any kind, I ended up losing thirteen pounds in the six days alone. Thankfully though the results at the clinic showed I was COVID free and they sent me off with another Z-pack for clearing up my congestion and to continue the regimen I was already on. A goodnights rest led me to waking up normally, well around 8am because my body woke me up to use the bathroom and I couldn't go back to sleep. 

The picture of feeling like myself again was the day after having gone to the clinic. The girls and I went walking to the FRISCO Star area to get some deliciousness and have a little outing. Considering that we would be back on the road again soon to travel back home, I wanted to make the most of the time, since I was sick for most of it and couldn't do what I wanted with my daughters as I had planned...

So to you nay-sayers and unbelievers. COVID is real and if it hits you it may not be serious or may just very well be deathly. So why take a chance and just do you part in the not spreading and take precautions, not only before having it but even more so after having it!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman