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After suffering from an infected tooth for four days, I eventually managed to get through to a Dentist this morning on the phone. Relieved, I thought I would finally be able to get some antibiotics to help calm the infection down. Sadly that wasn't to be the case, from the Dentist at least. The Coronavirus has shut down every aspect of British life, and the NHS is only geared up for the influx of COVID-19 patients, not someone like me who has a major toothache. They advised me to contact my GP surgery and hopefully due to the crisis engulfing the country, they would be able to prescribe something to help ease the horrendous pain I am in, against normal practice.
Eventually I spoke to my Doctor, who was amazing as usual. He understood what was happening and prescribed a course of antibiotics. This isn't usual of course, only a Dentist can write a prescription for tooth infections, but because of the emergency situation in the country he agreed to do so and thank God he did. Britain's concentration on fighting COVID-19 is admirable, but should other peoples medical needs really be put at risk in the short term? How many lives will be lost because of the Governments current strategy?
I was also able to ask him about me lack of taste and smell. Once again he told me it was likely to be Coronavirus, but I should carry on as normal, since it was not one of the more usual symptoms. He told me to keep a close eye on my condition and contact if anything changes. He ended by saying it was unlikely to get any worse, since it would have done so by now and described the symptoms as asymptomatic. Personally I am not so sure and know this illness can change suddenly at any time!
The Doctor sent my script to Boots the Chemist in the city and I took a five-minute stroll, across the dual carriageway and into the centre and what a walk it was!
The roads were silent, a rather dystopian view greeted me along the way. There wasn't a soul or car in sight, people were finally listening to Government advice and staying at home during this pandemic. The usually bustling city of Portsmouth was at a standstill. Closed shops, cordoned off roads and shuttered up windows and doors were everywhere, like nothing I have ever seen before; not even on Christmas Day. There wasn't the familiar sound of traffic, children playing in the street or smells from the normally polluted air. All I could hear was birdsong in the distance and the rumble of an empty bus drive past; this was a disturbing picture of life in Britain in 2020, a year none of us will forget!
Collecting my medication was a bit of an annoyance with most entrances to the pharmacy blocked off and a queuing procedure in place, encouraging strict social distancing measures. All the staff were wearing masks and eager to quickly filter you through the shop and out the other side as fast as possible. Luckily there were very few people about, and I was glad to hurry home, away from the great outdoors.
It will take many months if not years for Britain to return to normal and our usual ways of conducting ourselves in public will likely change forever. The saddest part of this dreadful pandemic is all the faces I no longer see, waving and passing the time of day. My hope for the future is just survival during this awful time and the ability to finally rebuild our lives in a better, happier more altruistic way, caring for those who need it most and looking after the vulnerable in a way we always should have done. We are all victims today but tomorrow the sun will shine again!
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It's been six days since I lost my sense of taste and smell and things have got no better at all. My nose feels extremely sore to touch and although there is a feeling of congestion, it isn't blocked at all; I can breathe through it just fine. Sometimes on occasion, I will get a fleeting whiff of food or something else I have come into contact with, like body spray or perfume, but most of the time, I just can't taste or smell anything. This isn't something I have ever experienced before, and I am feeling quite anxious about if I am honest!
Anosmia (Loss of smell) and dysgeusia (Loss of taste) are both symptoms of Coronavirus, but because they are not the main features, they are not a reason to self-isolate in themselves. I have Indeed been going about my normal daily routine, without much hindrance and these relatively mild symptoms haven't been giving me too much bother. I have however been doing what I can to try to find out more about my current state and speaking to whomever I can, to try to discover if I really do have COVID-19.
Lots of forums and facebook pages have sprung up over the last few weeks, specifically dealing with the subject of anosmia and dysgeusia and those who take part are all suffering from the same symptoms, over the now familiar fourteen-day period. For most, this seems to be the main indication they have Coronavirus and others have a few other minor symptoms, but nothing severe. Everyone like me is confused with Government policy, regarding isolation, because these are not usual COVID-19 symptoms. Public Health England doesn't seem to want to include the loss of senses in their recommendation for isolation, and this could be a major factor in the rapid spread of the disease.
Several friends have also told me they have similar loss of taste and smell and I have been in contact with them on a regular basis. This has helped with my anxiety and stress levels, which are extremely high at the moment and it has given me a firm belief that we are all dealing with the spectre of COVID-19, but without a test none of us can be sure. The Government is rolling out a testing programme from this weekend, but it won't be available to people like me for a while yet, until then we just have to wait and hope that our symptoms don't get too bad. Today I have started to get chest pains, and I am feeling particularly fatigued, so I will continue to monitor my progress as I continue to wrestle, along with everyone else, the difficulties that surround COVID-19!
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For the past three days I have been without my sense of taste and smell, which for me is highly unusual; it has never happened in my life, and I am of course worried about it, especially with Coronavirus ravaging the country. After doing a little research on the subject I discovered that it can be a symptom of Coronavirus. This isn't a typical indicator of the disease and so far remains relatively rare.
Waking up this morning, I was troubled that I was still unable to use these senses, but went into work as usual, hoping that by the end of my short shift things would start to improve; no such luck. Perturbed I contacted 111, which was surprisingly quick and painless. I didn't have to wait on the phone and was put through to an operator straight away. The service is very different to what it was and everything is geared towards Coronavirus now, which is understandable and the truth is, I was just glad to talk to someone. My Doctors surgery isn't even contactable any more, they have also moved towards tackling COVID-19; Britain feels strange, alien and like nothing I have ever known, frightening in many respects. This is an emergency like no other, and we are only at the beginning of this crisis!
I explained my symptoms to the operator, who then went and spoke to a colleague. They can be related to Coronavirus, but with the absence of any other signs, I was told to monitor my situation over the next five days, by which time I could experience more usual manifestations and as long as they are mild I should isolate at home. At the moment however, I have been told to go about my normal daily routine. This is of course a little disconcerting and I feel constantly on edge waiting for COVID-19 to hit; not great for a health anxiety sufferer like me, but then all of us are in the same boat at present.
Work also feels weird and the changes introduced to accommodate the Governments emergency measures are stark. There are barriers and barricades protecting staff from the public and colleagues have been moved into more strategic roles in order to help feed the nation. Tesco was also far quieter today than it has been, with people finally listening to the Government and staying at home. Walking to work this morning in the spring sunshine I was struck by how silent the streets were finally. This is every ones last chance to do the right thing and stay at home and let the Government to its job, protecting the NHS and saving lives, that's all we have to do!
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We are certainly living in strange times at the moment. Today is my last day off before returning to work and despite my anxieties, I am looking forward to going back tomorrow. Spending five days off, sat at home on my own has been challenging and one I haven't enjoyed. Chances are however I will be spending other significant periods on my own, as Coronavirus takes hold in the UK. Every day we are bombarded with news indicating a further rise in deaths in Britain. Yesterday another 54 people died, and we look like following the same course as Italy, heading towards an abyss that many other countries are now in the middle of.
As social distancing continues, I have taken matters into my own hands today and cut my hair off. My usual barber is closed and I really don't want to go out if I don't need to. At least this way I am doing the right thing and not mixing with the population, which is important for all of us right now. To be perfectly honest I was going bald anyway and it was only a matter of time before I took the plunge and removed my mop and of course it saved me a few quid at a time when all of us are feeling the pinch.
Today I have continued my rampage through Netflix watching various shows I have never seen before, as well as keeping in touch with friends and colleagues both here and abroad. Rarely coming out of my room I am gradually getting myself used to the difficult circumstances we are all facing. I have never been afraid of my own company, so despite climbing the walls on occasion, I am finding this time quite productive and therapeutic. Reading and writing is on my list of priorities, but I am also doing what I can to research and learn about new and interesting topics; things I am interested in but have never got round to exploring. So far so good as they say, but these are early days yet!
Beginning yesterday and today, I have lost all sense of smell and taste. This has never happened to me before and is a very strange feeling. After looking up the symptoms, it is clear it could be a sign I have Coronavirus although more probably an asymptomatic version of it. Of course, you can lose these senses for any number of reasons and this isn't necessarily anything to do with COVID-19. So far I don't have any other issues to report, and I am continuing life as normal after taking advice. Coronavirus is scary, because we have never experienced it before and until this wave runs its course we are very much learning off the cuff. It is natural for most people to become paranoid about symptoms and for everyone we are playing a waiting game, because all of us will get this virus eventually, until then we have to minimise contact with others, and Hope the NHS doesn't become overwhelmed. Stay safe and well, keep in contact, I look forward to hearing from you!
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This is the first Mother's Day since I lost my Mum last year, and what a difficult time it is to celebrate for everyone else. We have all been told to socially distance from family and friends and especially avoid going to visit our Mothers at this time. The process of spending even a few moments with anyone close has been banned and frowned upon and as much as we would love to see our parents, we all know it could be the catalyst that brings about their untimely death.
Once again I have been following Government guidelines today and spending time alone at home, with just the television, internet and cats to keep me company. I have had a lot of time to think and remember Mum today, which has been the only upside to this ghastly virus and it makes me realise just how lucky I was to have been brought up by such an inspirational lady. Had Mum been alive today she would have been stoical in the face of adversity and wouldn't have let Coronavirus get her down. I most certainly have a lot to learn from my Mother and am already finding the social distancing hard. As a person, I am social in every respect, so not being able to physically touch or talk to someone is a real burden I am trying to overcome.
Today I have spoken to many people I haven't seen in months and that is helping me to adjust to this new normal. I spoke to Darrell on the phone earlier as well, rather briefly I have to say. I told him to give up smoking, which could be a factor in just how bad one gets this virus. That is a conversation that didn't end well. Darell has never given up cigarettes, even after suffering two lung collapses, so it is doubtful he will now. I can only try to push him into doing the right thing, I can't force him, especially as he lives over ten thousand miles away in Australia.
Usually after the loss of a loved one on celebratory occasions, you can feel very much alone, unable to see your Mother in the flesh, but however, this year I am just one of millions of others around the country who can't see their Mum, and we are all in the same boat. Despite the threat that hangs over us, there are signs of a more United Kingdom on the horizon as we all work together to defeat COVID-19. If there is one thing I learned from Mum over the years, it's to continue to fight in the most extreme circumstances. None of us know where this fight will take us personally, but following advice, doing the right thing, staying at home and thinking of one's Mother from the safety of our four walls, is a great place to begin. Happy Mother's Day to all!