KINDNESS MATTERS

 

WHAT YOU DO MATTERS

WHAT YOU (& WE)  DO MATTERS - Now more than ever, what you do, actually matters, especially when we are talking about our health and our future! What WE do matters!

While wearing a mask during this Covid-19 pandemic is important (so we don’t spread germs when we are in closed public spaces with others,) it is also VITAL to BOOST our IMMUNE SYSTEMS!! 🏻 

Just wearing a mask and then being unhealthy or un-safe, is counter-productive! 

“The mask” is not some super-power, like a superhero costume that magically makes us immune from illness. WE have to all work together to bring about WEllness to ourselves, our families and our society. The “I” in Illness is a selfish way of thinking - like what I do shouldn’t matter - well, guess, what it does! 

While I am a firm believer in questioning the status quo and not following the masses, just because "they" say so, common sense and SCIENCE must prevail in this discussion. 

In the same breath, I also think its crazy to wear a mask when you are outdoors, exercising or at the beach, but that is just my opinion. I truly believe that nature and the outdoors (ie: the beach) are therapeutic and have natural healing effects. This is where the common sense part has to come in for each person. So while, I am saying, we should wear a mask and be safe, I am also saying that we should make an effort to be healthier and question what we are told to do a little more often. Blind obedience is not my forté. However, COMMON SENSE is!!!

We must ALL have common sense!  Sure, "wear the mask" they say, but how in the world is that going to protect people when there are some out there doing crazy things!  Case in point, Florida, my home state!  Yea, roll your eyes (#becasueflorida is actually a hashtag!)

Florida is one of the states that began allowing re-opening early, in the beginning of May.  Florida's Department of Health says, "8,942 people tested positive for the Coronavirus!  This is the highest total yet (as of 6/26/2020.) The measures to stop the spread of the virus have fallen short in Florida. "Why," you ask?  Well, I will tell you what I think!  People have NO COMMON SENSE!! There are people in South Florida going to bars and clubs and congregating in South Beach like its the biggest party of the year.  I am the first one, to say life must go on," but I also believe that given the FACT that we are living through a global pandemic, there are certain precautions we must take, (ie: wearing a mask, getting healthy and practicing safety and common sense!)

There is a fine line between the safety measures being implemented and temporary rules that might become permanent.  Where do we draw the line in being safe and not wanting to give into fear?  As I write this article, I am torn with these same exact issue I just mentioned. Where do we draw the line?  

What I do know for sure is that: Facts matter. Actions matter. Science matters. Common sense matters. Safety matters. Balance matters.  All the little things matter.  

We must recognize that wearing a mask is simply a tool to TRY and not spread germs. We have a responsibility to ourselves and to our families to do what we can to stay or get healthy and also not become complacent!

My point is, don’t put all your faith into just wearing a mask and then do nothing to be healthy! You can do BOTH!! I ALWAYS tell my kids, "Be safe and be smart!"  And the same thing goes for all of us now!  You don't have to be a germ-a-phobe, a conspiracy theorist or  completely apathetic.  You can still be skeptical of the "new normal" and recent happenings, yet, still having sense enough to recognize that there are people dying from Covid-19.  Just be safe and be smart with what you do!  We have to learn to balance our opinions, safety and compassion for mankind

During these uncertain and scary times, our best DEFENSE and personal responsibility is to do everything in our POWER to eat clean, drink water, stay active, be healthy and boost our immune system, and do what we can to live as HEALTHY as possible! 

Health should be an investment, not an expense! And COMMON SENSE should always prevail!

Here are 10 Random Tips/Suggestions:

1. Wear a mask in public locations (grocery store, bank, restaurant etc...) to protect others, especially, if it is now the new regulation in your area.

2. Minimize your exposure to crowded places un-nececessarily.

3. Do what you can to eat healthy, and get on a journey to wellness! 

4. Boost your immune system now - don’t wait until you get sick or a cold etc...

5. You can be conscious of what’s happening and still have COMMON SENSE practices! (Like don’t wear a mask alone in your car! )

6. You cannot pick and choose safety. You can’t “sort of quarantine.”  If you decide to re-enter society as per usual, keep in mind, your risks. Yes, life must go on but at least, use some common sense. 

7. Do not let fear take space in your mind.

8. Stay informed but do not obsess over the news. The media will make you never want to leave your house or have human interaction again.

9. We have to build up our immunity system, so therefore, no, we cannot live in a “bubble,” or a 100% germ-free environment. It is okay if you catch a cold or flu, the key is making sure our bodies are strong enough to withstand it. (If you are immune-compromised, common sense should prevail even more so!) We cannot hide every time a pandemic rolls around - so we must build up our immune system NOW!

10. Be kind to others and RESPECT them! Just because they think differently than you or have differently beliefs, doesn’t give you the right to judge them or treat them poorly. Sure, you may completely disagree with their opinions, but that is what makes the world go around, and what makes our Country a "melting pot." Just move on, or distance yourself if necessary, but always remember that Fear and Hate are destroyers, so be respectful and be kind and don't let negativity consume you.   

Choose Kindness. Choose Better Days! 

And above all, always express gratitude for your life and health. What we focus on becomes our reality.

Life is all about BALANCE.

STAY HEALTHY WARRIORS!!!

DID I ACTUALLY HAVE THE CORONAVIRUS?

After looking back and hearing all about the symptoms, it makes me wonder if I had Covid-19 or some mild version of it? I guess I will never really know, but what I do know, is that I felt the worst I have ever felt in my entire life.  Not even after brain surgery or kidney surgery did I feel this bad. 

Ever since I had my surgeries, I developed auto-immune disease and seem to be more susceptible to getting a cold, which I have had almost every year. However, this was different! It happened to me before there was any public conversation of Corona virus, tests or talk of quarantine.

It was in January 2020 and I had recently been visiting my Abuela (grandmother,) who was in the hospital. I was visiting her every day, until on the 4th day of her stay, I could not show up to visit her anymore, as I suddenly began to feel terrible.

I remember that I started to feel symptoms rather suddenly. I felt achy and felt weird, like I was definitely coming down with something. I had to call my Abuela and let her know I could not make it and I felt so bad because she was alone.  I tried to downplay what I was feeling, as to not worry her too much but she had her own issues to deal with at the time. 

I was home alone for the long weekend, (well, except for my teenage daughter, but if you have a teenager, you know they are barely ever around.) I was actually kinda psyched because I was going to have quiet/alone time for five days, but boy, did I get more than I bargained for! Sometimes, you really have to be careful what you wish for!

I do remember it started on a Thursday because my son and husband had gone out of town for a hockey tournament, as it was MLK weekend.

I recall having a headache, which I thought was odd since I hadn't had one in a long time, since I was taking CBD almost daily. By Friday, I already felt like I needed to be in bed.  I had a weak stomach too. I wondered what I had eaten that gave me the "runs." I thought maybe it could have been the cafeteria food I ate all week at the hospital, visiting my grandmother. Then all of sudden I felt like I had a full blown cold, my nose was stuffy and I couldn't breathe right.  I am usually very prepared with all my homeopathic tools when I get a cold, so immediately I grabbed by Vick's Vapor Rub to rub it on my chest and inhale it, but I could not smell a thing, even when I literally had it up my nose. Nothing.

I was not hungry at all but I knew better and forced myself to have some saltine crackers, which of course did not sit well because of my weak stomach.  I also knew I had to take care of myself because I certainly couldn't ask anyone to come over to help me, nor was I about to call my husband and have him cut my son's hockey tournament trip short. It was the end of the season and they were working towards the State Championship, but I digress. 

Anyway, I also made myself drink plenty of water and intermittently sipped on Gatorade. I have to say I felt persistent pain and aches all over my body, which made me want to just be in bed.

My daughter, who had been in and out of the house Thursday and Friday, stopping in to check on me, realized, I wasn't just resting.  I could tell she was concerned.  So much so, she actually called her father, and reported to him that I did not feel well and I didn't look well either. I remember telling her to stay away from me, so she would not get my germs.  However, as the weekend went on and I felt worse, her dad gave her instructions to come in sporadically and check on me and feel my head for temperature. (Note: I never, ever get a fever.)

However, by that Saturday, that statement was no longer true. I had been sleeping with a hoodie on and the covers up to my neck bathed in Vick's.  I was cold, very cold but then I started to feel flushed and really, really hot.  I managed to get up and make it to the bathroom closet to look for a thermometer but unfortunately, it was broken. (It just goes to show how often we must have used it!) But I just knew I had a fever. I could feel it. I will never be able to say exactly how high it went, but based on experience of many years passed, I would venture to say it was probably like 101 or 102, not exactly very high, but for me it was a very BIG deal because I hadn't had a fever in many years. I just figured my throat would start hurting soon or maybe my ear but those pains never happened. It was just a fever. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I could see my cheeks were flushed. I felt a weakness that I had no explanation for.  

What I recall is sleeping a lot and feeling sheer and utter exhaustion, like I could not get up. There were moments though, where I forced myself to and dragged myself out to actually walk our golden doodle (dog.) Actually, I kind of didn't have a choice because there were times when my daughter was not home. I dressed like an Eskimo when I went outside, as it was a little chilly outside (chilly by South Florida standards) but I had developed such a horrible cough, that I zipped up my hoodie like I was going out in the snow. I was so afraid of getting bronchitis or something because I sounded so bad when I coughed.

By Saturday late afternoon, my headache was gone but my cough was worse. I was also taking cough medicines and Mucinex, thinking it was a severe cold or maybe even the flu, and needed an expectorant, but nothing was helping.  Thankfully, I never took Advil (even before I heard the rumors that it is no good for Covd-19.)  I didn't take it because I only have one kidney and I am not really suppose to take any NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for pain. 

What really made me nervous was when I felt something weird in my breathing, like my chest was tightening. I didn't hesitate and went to get my son's nebulizer from the bathroom closet. (I visited that closet often that weekend!) Thankfully, there was a full un-opened package of Albuterol vials.  I don't know if it was the right thing to do or not but it helped me breathe! The most annoying symptom was that - the constant coughing without it being a productive cough. 

I would say that my worst days were Friday night through Sunday late afternoon. I felt like I could barely move and I was in a constant state of sleepiness. When I was awake, it was incessant coughing and choking feeling. Also, during the moments I was awake, I texted my aunt and my dad to let them know what I was going through (just in case!) 

I remember by Sunday afternoon, my daughter coming into my room again and telling me that I should go see a doctor.  I agreed and told her as soon as I could get the energy to get up and dressed I would.  I thought to myself that I would try to drive to the local urgent care by the next day.  

As Monday rolled around, I felt like I had "turned the corner" somewhat. I still had a bad cough but I didn't really have that feeling where I couldn't breathe. I was also feeling up to taking selfies with Snapchat filters and sending them to my family! LOL!

My cough lasted for weeks and I guess I will never really know if I had the flu or a mild case of Coronavirus.  What I do know, is that as I stated at the beginning of this article, I have never felt that bad over a cold or flu!  

I am well aware that Covid-19 is a serious virus and people are dying from this. My story is in no way diminishing the real and serious symptoms that people are going through and sadly, dying of. It is simply my experience of what I felt before the quarantine craziness started.

Now that we know more and unfortunately have seen on the news how this virus is spreading, it would be wise to heed the warnings and just stay home!!

If you or someone you know suspects they have Covid-19, go on this website to check for symptoms and/or contact your healthcare practitioner.

Remember that you can protect yourself and help prevent spreading the virus to others if you:

• Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
• Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze
• Avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell
• Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell

And remember: Do NOT touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean.

(UPDATE:  I just want to re-iterate that I cannot confirm if I actually had Covid-19.  This is only an account of my experience and what I went through early in the year with similar symptoms to the Corona virus.  This article in no way is meant to lessen the seriousness of this deadly virus.  My heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones to this.  PLEASE, PLEASE listen to the scientists and doctors and do your best to boost your own immune system to make yourself strong enough to withstand it, should you be plagued by the virus.  Be well!  Lissette