CORONAVIRUS! I keep hearing the voice of some random woman on TIKTOK saying this. While her voice is enough to make you laugh, COVID-19 is no laughing matter. It has single-handedly changed our lives. The kids are not in school and are now doing remote learning. I’ve bought more Hand Sanitiser in the past 2 months than at any other time in my life. Social distancing has become both the reality and the norm (though a few of my neighbors seem not to have gotten the memo) and relationships have been affected no end (see the article on Lovegasm.co to see how). The practice of medicine has been drastically altered. I haven’t been in the OR for anything other than a c-section in weeks! I’m seeing patients via telemedicine, and those that I see in person I can no longer greet with a hug, handshake, fist bump…..GEEZ!
So how are things in your realm? For those of you that don’t subscribe to my blogpost, you really should, click here to make that happen….Anyway, after a long hiatus, it’s good to be back. Life does certainly go on. I just had no idea it would be like this…..I miss seeing my parents who are all the way in Ohio. I never thought I’d miss a hug so much! I miss my siblings, though one of them tries to pretend I don’t exist……Long story and he’ll get over it!
I hate that so many of my patients’ lives are in limbo and they have to wait for surgeries that are considered elective. I mean, having periods that are so heavy that a transfusion is required, or pain so bad that you have no life…..These things aren’t possibly important, right? And then there is the other realm of my practice; obstetrics, where partners are not allowed back for cesarean deliveries, elective c-sections are no longer being allowed…..The list goes on and on. These are interesting times to say the least.
We are living in historic times. Ever want to be a part of history? Well, you are now. I would LOVE to hear how you are faring in this time of Covid-19. Click here to share the good. The bad. The indifferent. Here are my
Top 5 Things I think YOU Should Know In The Time of Coronavirus:
We’re in this thing together. I couldn’t be MORE proud of my colleagues, partners, and communities on the whole for the way something so deadly has brought us all together. Being on the front lines of this, as a physician, I am proud to be a part of the teams that are helping to battle this. Together we can. Together we will get through this.
Hand washing saves lives. And I thought I already washed my hands a lot. Well, I’ve taken it to a whole new level! Between wiping down stethoscopes, dopplers, etc., after every patient encounter; I’m washing my hands before entering patient rooms, upon exiting patient rooms, when entering and exiting my office. If I so much as see hand sanitizer, whether it be on a desk, or hanging on a wall; I’m pumping it! Hand Sanitizer is perfect for keeping in your bag if you have to go outside of your house for anything. After being in public places, it’s always best to use some sanitizer, especially if soap and water are unavailable. This should kill the majority of bacteria that you may have picked up, helping you to keep yourself, and others, safe from the virus. I wash for you to decrease my chances of passing anything along to you, my patients. I wash for me, to decrease the risk of my bringing something home to my family or infecting my co-workers. How are you all doing not touching your faces? That’s hard, right? Such a natural act……Done without even thinking about it. Try not to do it.
Fear. Let it be motivating, not crippling. None of us wants to get the Coronavirus. My daughter seems to think I’m immune to it as she says, and this is a direct quote, “mommy, you never get sick.” She is partly correct; I don’t get sick very often. If I were to contract this I’d probably be an asymptomatic carrier. And while I have the same fears as most do; i.e., not wanting to get THIS, not wanting to get sick, not wanting to bring this home to my family(hence the new norm for me which is wearing scrubs to work and stripping down in the garage prior to entering my house and proceeding immediately to the shower), I will continue to do what I do; provide best practice medicine to my patients and community at large. I will do this by following the guidelines. Taking every measure possible to protect myself as well as others. This involves wearing the proper protective gear when rounding, and during the time of delivery, whether that be vaginal or cesarean. It involves keeping you, as well as myself, informed. I will do my part; please do yours and follow the social distancing mandates in your community. “Be a part of the solution, not the problem.” This was a direct quote to a patient of mine who was entertaining trying to get her hair done on the sly….Meanwhile, my hair is JACKED! My roots are growing out, my nails are a hot mess….I and we completely get it. In due time! In due time. What we need to be posting on social media are before and after Covid-19 pics(LOL!)
Adversity does not build character. It reveals it. In other words, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. We’ve seen examples of this in living color and on a daily basis. We’ve seen some show up, and others show out. Not sure I need to say anymore about this one.
Shift your focus. My father says this to me ALL THE TIME! Today, I’m sharing this with you. Whenever I’m going through a tough situation, I shift my focus to the positive. There is, after all, some good in every situation. Even with my favorite Star War’s character, Darth Vader; there was still some good left in him.
In the time of Covid-19 it has been a pleasure seeing parents more involved with their children, whether that be via finding new and innovative ways to have fun, becoming stay at home teachers(most of us didn’t know we had it in us), to just finding ways to make a way out of no way…..Every single moms anthem. My message to you is to keep on keeping on. We’ve got this.
In all that I have been through, that we are collectively going through, I challenge you to be safe. I hope that this blog post has been informative as well as entertaining.
Until next time.
Choose Happiness.
Dr. Angela
