I have stocked up Mum's freezer with readymeals for one. As she says, where she lives, they have always had at least a weeks supply of food in as they are a bus ride from the shops. I think we have persuaded her that she can stay at home while the shopping is brought to her, instead of her going out to do a shop with my sister every Thursday night. I think our planned visit to Cirque du Soleil in April is in doubt. Mum has always enjoyed it before, but last time we went she couldn't actually see much because of her cataracts, now one is sorted we were looking forward to a summer of outings. Convincing Aunty Maureen is going to be harder. At 89, she has always been independent. Best case is if we can get the two of them in to Mums Bungalow, instead of them living 5 miles apart, each on their own. I know that they will both be very low on any triage list and I doubt either of them will survive the virus. Any normal cold goes straight on to Mum's chest and she starts wheezing as it is. So that I am fit to do the shopping runs I am keeping social interaction to a minimum. I have the garden to play with to keep me occupied, plenty of books to read and my painting to do.
With Vitamin D, don't exceed 800iu a day. Taking more is not better. There is a prescription product that is higher dose for those that are proven by testing to be deficient, when levels return to normal, the dose should be dropped. Ask at your pharmacy for a one a day tablet, although the old fashioned Seven Seas cod liver oil caps are sufficient if you don't mind the fishy burps they tend to cause. If you take them before your main meal that is less likely.Again, do not exceed the stated dose on the packet. If you are eating a restricted diet with less fresh fruit and veg, Centrum multivitamin for over 50's is a good multivitamin. I tend to only take them if I am ill and subsisting on chicken soup.
I am assuming that in an emergency situation, all elective operations will be stopped, all available hospital beds can be then used as they all have piped oxygen. Could all private hospitals be commandeered for use likewise? Never having been in one, do they have the facilities to cope with people with poor respiratory function or are they just glorified hotels with an operating theatre? I think we will come to regret the cost saving measure whereby cylinders of oxygen are no longer supplied by Pharmacies, and those deemed to need it long term have a concentrator supplied instead.
I am not sure why, in this day and age, schools and Universities could not be live streaming lessons and lectures over the internet. I understand many schools are planning for children learning at home, and I understand that not every child has access to a computer and broadband, but an emergency syllabus streamed from the educational department should surely be possible. Otherwise I can see that many of these children not at school will be roaming the streets with nothing to do instead.
When I asked for Vitamin D at the pharmacy in France they only had a one dose that lasted for 3 months, no daily tablet. He said that is how they do it in France.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Going off track for a moment, I have been taking vit D this winter for the first time and I can feel the difference, I was sceptical, but my mood has been lighter and I did feel more energetic.
I do wonder if President Macron has over reacted by closing all the schools. Children are more resistant to this virus and are unlikely to die from it. There is the danger of them passing it to elderly people. I would have thought being in school would be the best place to keep them. Also I can see that self isolation is sensible for the vulnerable but wouldn't it be best for the young and strong to catch the virus and build up a resistance to it for the future? Eventually I expect a vaccination will be found but if everyone goes into hiding then no one will have any resistance if it strikes again in the future.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I take a vitamin d from November to march as recommended by most doctors now in the uk.then I'm on the garden so should be able to get it from the sun.! Hope the weather warms up soon so when we do have to stay at home we can get on our gardens.how on earth did they get thru the war??!!
I do wonder if President Macron has over reacted by closing all the schools. Children are more resistant to this virus and are unlikely to die from it. There is the danger of them passing it to elderly people. I would have thought being in school would be the best place to keep them. Also I can see that self isolation is sensible for the vulnerable but wouldn't it be best for the young and strong to catch the virus and build up a resistance to it for the future? Eventually I expect a vaccination will be found but if everyone goes into hiding then no one will have any resistance if it strikes again in the future.
It's a really hard decision with multiple aspects to consider and I doubt Macron took any part in making it (like Boris, he'd following guidance from scientific advisers, in our case Prof. Vallance):
Can the virus still be contained? If so, the closure of schools is a highly effective measure to prevent transmission.
Looks like the UK have conceded defeat and know that the virus can't be contained, so shutting the schools is counter productive. I'm not sure what the scene is like in France at the moment.
As we've entered delay phase, all the actions we take form this point forth is to slow the rate of transmission to give the NHS a fighting chance. Looks like large gatherings and routine GP appointments will be the first thing to stop. If the transmission is still too fast - schools may close later.
Death's are inevitable now, government worst case estimates are staggering, this is about protecting the economy and NHS for the future. I'm sure that the worlds awfully slow response to the crisis will be reviewed once the dust has settled - but it's hard to hold it against them, when I myself was a skeptic when reports started to come from China.
@Rik56 I know someone who smoked 100 a day, never got flu and lived to be 110. All the things I mentioned do have an evidence base, backed up by comments on this thread. @purplerallim, what you say about Vit. D is interesting. I first took it after advice from my psychiatrist, who showed some reasonable evidence that it helped in the prevention / treatment of sad. I don't think you need zinc in order to absorb Vit. D.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
My Grandpa was similar @punkdoc, although not quite getting to that age.
I've never taken vitamins in my life. Another 'con'. If you have a good diet, you shouldn't need them. There has to be a definite reason for people to take them IMO, but they certainly prove how successful strong marketing is.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Can the virus still be contained? If so, the closure of schools is a highly effective measure to prevent transmission.
Looks like the UK have conceded defeat and know that the virus can't be contained, so shutting the schools is counter productive. I'm not sure what the scene is like in France at the moment.
As we've entered delay phase, all the actions we take form this point forth is to slow the rate of transmission to give the NHS a fighting chance. Looks like large gatherings and routine GP appointments will be the first thing to stop. If the transmission is still too fast - schools may close later.
Death's are inevitable now, government worst case estimates are staggering, this is about protecting the economy and NHS for the future. I'm sure that the worlds awfully slow response to the crisis will be reviewed once the dust has settled - but it's hard to hold it against them, when I myself was a skeptic when reports started to come from China.
All the things I mentioned do have an evidence base, backed up by comments on this thread.
@purplerallim, what you say about Vit. D is interesting. I first took it after advice from my psychiatrist, who showed some reasonable evidence that it helped in the prevention / treatment of sad.
I don't think you need zinc in order to absorb Vit. D.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I've never taken vitamins in my life. Another 'con'.
If you have a good diet, you shouldn't need them. There has to be a definite reason for people to take them IMO, but they certainly prove how successful strong marketing is.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...