how have you changed during the pandemic?

[pulmonarymd]

Dec 11, 2020 18:08:07 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 11, 2020 17:59:57 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I am having a BAD day. Had a lawyer threaten to sue me today. WTF.

I feel like I have majorly pissed off someone important. No idea who, but I wish to apologize profusely. I will get on my knees and beg to make it stop.

People who are lawyers love to sue and threaten to do so regularly in the SNF or ALF. Threats are threats. I've been where I am working for over a decade. And patients and family members love to threaten me with losing my job. People can be jerks especially the emotional ones who are unable to focus on reality while in the middle of an emotional meltdown. I have two writeups I did not deserve because of people like that. They want a target, and they think you look good. Many times though its just a threat that they think that will motivate you to better service. I am so past that. 

Lawyer patient, lawyer family member or other lawyer animal?

Lawyer POA. Family dynamics are a mess as you could probably guess. Just not in the mood. I am old enough to actually not give a shit anymore. He was just being antagonistic. But it is like "really?" Do you not recognize what we are going through. I am a pulmonary/critical care physician in the middle of a major pandemic. Do you think I care. You just show yourself as an asshole. Just didn't need it on top of all the crap we are dealing with

[Tennesseer]

Dec 11, 2020 18:05:06 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Dec 11, 2020 17:42:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I started yelling at imaginary school children to get off my lawn.

OMG.  I am having 2 paintings "restored"?  as an adventure and because I had time to work on it and money to do it.   I took the artworks to the Restoration Studio and I had a "OMG I'm old!" realization.  A very nice knowledgeable young man (I'm guessing he was like 18? ok it felt like he was 18 - probably was more like mid 30's but still - a 'child' I'm old!!!!!! )  was inspecting and checking the paintings and answering all my questions and showing me what he would be doing and how and giving me some  idea of what to expect the paintings would look like - once the grime and nicotine were removed....   and I was like "OMG. I"m OLD!!!" 

It all worked out.  I'm getting the paintings 'restored' - they are gonna be AWESOME.  But, "OMG, I"M OLD!!!!" ha ha ha! 

My great-great uncle was an art student in Paris around 1900. (My middle name is his family's last name as it was my father's middle name too.) He painted a study of a Da Vinci painting which has been passed down through the family. I am now in possession of it.

I did have to have the painting restored due to poor storaging of it by my parents after they majorly downsized. The restoration came out good. Soon I will have to check with my nieces and nephews as to who would like to keep it in the family.

Have you ever suddenly regressed in mental age to a five-year-old because you meet the brother of your childhood baby sitter of 50 years earlier (and who is only about five years older than me ) and you call him 'Mr.' upon being introduced to him? I did.

[Lizard Queen]

Dec 11, 2020 17:59:25 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Dec 11, 2020 17:09:02 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I'm pretty depressed, actually, but not in a down way. I just have little desire to do anything at all. I've found that I really need some feeling of hope in order to have motivation. I don't feel hopeless, per se, but I have nothing to look forward to. I've been going full dose with at John's wart lately, so that might explain my strange combination of feelings.

I, too, have found myself slipping into "wait" mode. As in having little desire to do anything at all - waiting for something to happen. I'm blue/melancholy more often than usual. It comes and goes.

and this is just commiserating with you on the "not being motivated" feeling. I hear you on that, too.
All the talk about "not having Christmas" and all the "we can't do what we use to do" from friends/relatives just makes me what to slap some of them. So, what... we can do something else! It's like people have forgotten how to entertain themselves when they have some free time. We've got lots of "free time" now. (or time that we aren't using to do the things we use to do.). Our ancestors must have been bored out of their skulls... so many hours/days/years with nothing to do...

I think some of my close friends are finally coming around to the idea of "making our own fun". We're doing some holiday things we've never done before - making gingerbread houses. The local arboretum has a "drive thru tour" year round - but for the holidays they have lights/light show. We're doing that next week (we're taking two cars - so the "family units" can stay together. We will be in contact via phone. I helped a friend figure out how to 'attend mass' at her local parish via their "zoom Mass'. She (and her mom) were missing going every Sunday (they were watching televised Masses on Sundays (not from her local parish). She and her mom are now planning to attend Midnight Mass at their local parish remotely from home.

I've finished up some craft projects (that sat undone for years) and am looking at starting a new one (I might be able to get a friend to start one too...). I tried to get a 'book club' going but no one wanted to play along. I guess it's easier to complain about isolation rather than attempting to connect with other people.

It's hard to make your own fun... but I spent a lot of time alone as a child so I'm really good at keeping myself occupied/entertained. I'm having trouble getting my close friends to 'play along'.

I do think it's an overall feeling of "grief" at the loss of being able to some things (which will most likely return in the future.). It's also hard to step out of one's comfort zone. And to take up or try something new or different.

I get it. But isn't life suppose to be an "adventure"?

I was alone as a child a lot too, and I'm fine with that. I'm also always saying, lets figure out what we can do now. My DH always shoots down my ideas, though. Damn rationality!

Plus, I'm better at being alone when I'm actually alone. We're feeling cooped up with 4 of us in this modest house. Its a lot bigger than the one I grew up in, but feels too small for 4 in the wintertime with not much to do outside.

I really don't mind holidays. We don't do much anyway. I guess I didn't realize how much the routine of taking my kids everywhere kept me going and fed for my limited need for social interaction. It always felt like such a chore.

I also dislike my job more working from home, though I like not going to work, if that makes sense. I didn't work today, and haven't felt the urge to drink at all. Usually, I have 3 (small) drinks by now.

[chiver78]

Dec 11, 2020 18:09:08 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Dec 11, 2020 17:59:57 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I am having a BAD day. Had a lawyer threaten to sue me today. WTF.

I feel like I have majorly pissed off someone important. No idea who, but I wish to apologize profusely. I will get on my knees and beg to make it stop.

I'm sorry.

☝that. sending virtual hugs and raising my glass in saying slainte.

[ners]

Dec 11, 2020 17:59:57 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Dec 11, 2020 17:31:41 GMT -5 Tiny said:

That's a sucky feeling. I laughed when I read this. I first lost my "faith in humanity" back in my teenage years. It seems to get restored and then it's gone again.

As I've gotten older - I've found that maybe it's me who needs to "restore faith in humanity" by my actions. It's so confusing. And the anger/bizarreness of the last 5 to 4 years hasn't helped.

If you look around and watch carefully you will find something that will start to rebuild your faith in humanity.

I am having a BAD day. Had a lawyer threaten to sue me today. WTF.

I feel like I have majorly pissed off someone important. No idea who, but I wish to apologize profusely. I will get on my knees and beg to make it stop.

I am sorry.  Thank you for all you do to save people.

[ners]

I found out I do not like working from home.  Although if I am forced to work from home again I think I have a better set up. Well maybe it is just I do not like my job.  My mentor at work left in mid May.  Her replacement frustrates me beyond words.  

While my weight is about the same as 1/1/2020 any weight I have lost i have gained back.  

[pulmonarymd]

Thanks all. It is indescribable what this is like. The work conditions are just so much more difficult. Just trying to communicate clearly with each other is a challenge. Everyone masked, trying to make yourself understood across closed doors, stress. A recipe for making an error. Makes doing everything more difficult and time consuming. Whole work processes changed. And I have an asshole threatening to sue me? That doesn't even rank in my pressing issues. SUre buddy, you do that. We will do what you want. I have no interest in arguing. Just so you know, you are A wrong, and B making the care of your person worse. But be a tough guy.

[jerseygirl]

Dec 11, 2020 17:59:57 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Dec 11, 2020 17:31:41 GMT -5 Tiny said:

That's a sucky feeling. I laughed when I read this. I first lost my "faith in humanity" back in my teenage years. It seems to get restored and then it's gone again.

As I've gotten older - I've found that maybe it's me who needs to "restore faith in humanity" by my actions. It's so confusing. And the anger/bizarreness of the last 5 to 4 years hasn't helped.

If you look around and watch carefully you will find something that will start to rebuild your faith in humanity.

I am having a BAD day. Had a lawyer threaten to sue me today. WTF.

I feel like I have majorly pissed off someone important. No idea who, but I wish to apologize profusely. I will get on my knees and beg to make it stop.

Most times Lawyers aren’t helpful to doctors
Sorry causing you agita
Have a glass of wine and try to think of pleasant days

[pulmonarymd]

Dec 11, 2020 18:59:06 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Dec 11, 2020 17:59:57 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I am having a BAD day. Had a lawyer threaten to sue me today. WTF.

I feel like I have majorly pissed off someone important. No idea who, but I wish to apologize profusely. I will get on my knees and beg to make it stop.

Most times Lawyers aren’t helpful to doctors
Sorry causing you agita
Have a glass of wine and try to think of pleasant days

Wish I could. On Call. Would not want to give them ammunition if I had alcohol on my breath. 

[jerseygirl]

Dec 11, 2020 19:00:19 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Dec 11, 2020 18:59:06 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Most times Lawyers aren’t helpful to doctors
Sorry causing you agita
Have a glass of wine and try to think of pleasant days

Wish I could. On Call. Would not want to give them ammunition if I had alcohol on my breath. 

Yeah, people don’t realize doctors give so much of their life
Take care of yourself!!

[cktc]

I'm becoming more selfish and introverted. DH and I have always been the ones driving all over to see everyone else. I am a people pleaser and always told myself it was worth it and the relationships were important but ahh it feels so good to say no and just focus on my own stuff. 

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2020 14:36:59 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

I'm still trying to puzzle this out. I am not the same person, but I can't put my finger on it.

Will I snap back? I don't think so. Something fundamental has shifted. 

Something fundamental has shifted in me too. The pandemic is part of the cause, but most of the changes in me are due to what I’ve learned and come to realize about my fellow Americans because of several things that have happened this year. I don’t want to derail the thread so I’ll stick to things caused by the pandemic.

For one, the pandemic has caused me to dislike my job even more than I always have, and that’s saying a lot because I’ve always felt some type of way about how my employer treats us worker bees. My posts back in the spring probably made it clear how I was freaking out about my workplace in regards to trying to help us protect ourselves from this new virus. I clearly remember almost having a meltdown one day because there wasn’t even any hand soap in the dispensers for us to wash our hands, never mind any other protective measures being available. 

I’ve also been taking notes, not even really consciously, but I do have a great memory for some things, of people I feel don’t take the risks of this virus seriously. Even when the world gets off punishment, I’ll be looking at those folks sideways, remembering how stupid and selfish I think they are.

For years now, when someone I know has died, it has always made me think about how short life can be, and how things can change in the blink of an eye. That’s been constantly on my mind since the pandemic started, and has made me be more mindful of showing the people I love that I do love them. I know enough people that have lost loved ones to COVID or been terribly sick themselves, to make me feel that way. At the same time, I have even less tolerance for bullshit, and it just so happens that some of the people I love the most..... are with the shit. So that presents a quandary for me, some of the people I love the most, are also with the bullshit.

To ME, a pandemic, which I’ve never before experienced, is a time for all of us to stick together to try to protect as many people as we can, and that’s not really what I’m seeing happen in our nation. And that’s one of a few reasons that I, like a prior poster said, have lost all faith in humanity. Well, not really in all humanity, but definitely in my fellow Americans and our so called “leaders”.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2020 18:49:09 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Thanks all. It is indescribable what this is like. The work conditions are just so much more difficult. Just trying to communicate clearly with each other is a challenge. Everyone masked, trying to make yourself understood across closed doors, stress. A recipe for making an error. Makes doing everything more difficult and time consuming. Whole work processes changed. And I have an asshole threatening to sue me? That doesn't even rank in my pressing issues. SUre buddy, you do that. We will do what you want. I have no interest in arguing. Just so you know, you are A wrong, and B making the care of your person worse. But be a tough guy.

I really feel for you and everyone in the medical field that’s trying to help us, even when you’re working so hard to save those of us that didn’t care enough to be sensible and try to protect ourselves.

I truly appreciate all of you. Seriously.

And then you come here, to share your knowledge with us too.

Thank you for all of that.

[Opti]

Dec 11, 2020 18:16:43 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Dec 11, 2020 18:08:07 GMT -5 Opti said:

People who are lawyers love to sue and threaten to do so regularly in the SNF or ALF. Threats are threats. I've been where I am working for over a decade. And patients and family members love to threaten me with losing my job. People can be jerks especially the emotional ones who are unable to focus on reality while in the middle of an emotional meltdown. I have two writeups I did not deserve because of people like that. They want a target, and they think you look good. Many times though its just a threat that they think that will motivate you to better service. I am so past that. 

Lawyer patient, lawyer family member or other lawyer animal?

Lawyer POA. Family dynamics are a mess as you could probably guess. Just not in the mood. I am old enough to actually not give a shit anymore. He was just being antagonistic. But it is like "really?" Do you not recognize what we are going through. I am a pulmonary/critical care physician in the middle of a major pandemic. Do you think I care. You just show yourself as an asshole. Just didn't need it on top of all the crap we are dealing with

Ahhh, a POA. Those can be the worst especially if they aren't family. Being on the bottom of the food chain I probably get threatened way more than you do. After the Assisted Living opened there were certain families who also threatened me/the facility with calling the state on things such as lunch being served late , or a family member not being put to bed at some preferred time. 

[pulmonarymd]

Dec 11, 2020 19:37:30 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Dec 11, 2020 18:49:09 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Thanks all. It is indescribable what this is like. The work conditions are just so much more difficult. Just trying to communicate clearly with each other is a challenge. Everyone masked, trying to make yourself understood across closed doors, stress. A recipe for making an error. Makes doing everything more difficult and time consuming. Whole work processes changed. And I have an asshole threatening to sue me? That doesn't even rank in my pressing issues. SUre buddy, you do that. We will do what you want. I have no interest in arguing. Just so you know, you are A wrong, and B making the care of your person worse. But be a tough guy.

I really feel for you and everyone in the medical field that’s trying to help us, even when you’re working so hard to save those of us that didn’t care enough to be sensible and try to protect ourselves.

I truly appreciate all of you. Seriously.

And then you come here, to share your knowledge with us too.

Thank you for all of that.

Thanks. It is a diversion from work, so it’s hrr we lose we hen I need a break. This is as Lao a dissster, the situation and information can be overwhelming, and the intern can be a cesspool. Wading through all of the noise is difficult for someone who is knowledgeable about a subject. Being able to distill it down and trying to find the right balance between this is nothing and the world is ending so I can help people get a realistic picture of our situation is something I enjoy, and if it helps others, all the better. Medicine is complicated and scary, simplifying it is something we should do to help

[pulmonarymd]

In addition, it has been interesting to interact with many different people with different experience and expertise. As you can imagine, I interact with mostly medical people, so we frequently talk shop

[empress of self-improvement]

I admire the patience that pulmonologists have when dealing with people like my mother who had COPD and just WOULD. NOT. QUIT. SMOKING!!!!!!!!! If she could have had a butt hanging out of her mouth when she died, she would have. I'm just impressed her docs didn't kill her themselves.

[Artemis Windsong]

Wow. A lot changed. In March with all activities shut down. H. and I together. I soften more toward him. He seemed to soften somewhat toward me. The best I can describe is he talked to me more. He did the shopping out of concern for my health.

I ate a lot of potato chips and mini chocolate bars. I did put on weight. Ugh. I had a load of grief carrying over from 2019 and no support group. Then the covid scare. I cut out some toxic friends.

Slowly we returned to tennis. I didn't play pickleball because I didn't know the people. The gym I used to play at closed.

Zero gym time then they opened. I was on and off about going. Uneasy about the virus. I put my Afit membership on hold until May 2021. The gym had been sold. The manager told me I'd have to go on month to month with payment coming out of checking to keep my low fee. I'm off weight training since it's not a good program to start and stop then restart.

Even at family gatherings, I kept my distance.

Traveling was a dicey thing. Face masks and spray the room. Eat in the car.

I haven't done any art/crafts in over a year. Recently I bought some things to paint. I noticed I had doubled up on water color paper and water colors.

No movies at the theater. Now, tennis tournaments cancelled. I didn't join a league because they travel to different resorts. We seldom eat out. Renewing certificate of deposit rates are dismal.

The good, we visit, distanced, on the patio with our neighbors. I'm golfing. Regained concern about nutrition. I am sleeping at night. I've had insomnia issues for years. I don't feel pressed to have couples in for dinner. We are geocaching again. Since football season, that has slowed to nothing!

Thanks for reading. I'm sure there is more to be written on this story.

[Miss Tequila]

I retired a month after turning 49 and 3 1/2 months later I am climbing the damn walls. Part of it is that we are stuck home and have been pretty much since March. The summer was awesome because we spent most of the time in the pool or outside. I feel like the walls are closing in on me. Plus I have way too much time on my hands to read up on how bad things are. I belong to a facebook group that was originally created to thank and honor healthcare workers. It’s turned into devastating stories all day long about people really suffering with Covid. I should probably remove myself from that group because it isn’t helping my mental health

I’ve also gotten lazy. I used to start work at 6am. I just made an appt for my daughter at 8am Monday. I don’t usually get up until 7:30-8 now!

I think I retired too early. Or maybe just at the worst possible time. But I’m not comfortable having anyone come into the home so for the time being I will remain retired. Who knows after that

ETA: I’ve also lost faith in my fellow Americans. I can’t believe there are still people that think Covid is nothing more than the flu. The bars are packed locally right not because they close at midnight until Jan 4. Of course, they are only supposed to have table service and have tables socially distanced. Based on the number of cars in the parking lot, that just isn’t possible. I feel like a Karen because i want to report them...

[pulmonarymd]

Dec 11, 2020 20:30:01 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I admire the patience that pulmonologists have when dealing with people like my mother who had COPD and just WOULD. NOT. QUIT. SMOKING!!!!!!!!! If she could have had a butt hanging out of her mouth when she died, she would have. I'm just impressed her docs didn't kill her themselves.

You have be to able to leave it at work. Also remember the patient is the one with the disease. Finally, no one is perfect. Trying to be better is all we can ask. It also helps if people are nice, even if they are not doing what you recommend. But, when they are smoking and complaining of being short of breath, you do have a discussion about why that is not smart

[Opti]

Dec 11, 2020 19:06:31 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Dec 11, 2020 19:00:19 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Wish I could. On Call. Would not want to give them ammunition if I had alcohol on my breath. 

Yeah, people don’t realize doctors give so much of their life
Take care of yourself!!

I wish people would realize how much the peons, the underclass of facilities give in these 24x7x365 facilities whether they are hospitals, nursing homes, assisted livings, govt run group homes, etc. PMD probably gets far less grief than I do if I call out. Also, most hospitals are bigger than your average nursing home and group homes often have staffing rivaling our front desk. I am an essential employee. As a receptionist. Yup. We answer all calls. for roughly 200 extensions, we are the gatekeeper, and during a snowstorm there are more calls generally not less. 

The peons like myself drive old cars that are not fully maintained because we do not make enough money to do so. Yet we are expected to be in no matter what the weather is or get/pay for a ride in. (Yes I'm whining. I'd love to live towards the top of the food chain like PMD.) Since we are not a hospital, and smaller, people including myself are often asked to stay over, sleep over during snowstorms, nor-easters, etc. I have escaped that so far mostly by luck and the fact I live less than 5 miles away. Some people have lived at the facility for days into a week during things like Sandy. 

Whine off for now. I wish people would thank those who keep the building running, not just the nursing positions that are in the news. I regularly have to figure out how to get stuff people brought in to Covid positive patients. Since they are in what we call a red zone, it means whoever goes in has to use the full PPE that is available and toss it as they exit the room. Not many recreation peons or peons like myself volunteer to do this. Pre pandemic, I often delivered stuff off the clock just to get it out of the lobby and done. 

Right now CNAs and probably CHHAs where I work aren't doing two jobs because its just too exhausting during the pandemic. Because of low census because of how we have to use our rooms for patients, we can not support a full nursing staff nor dietary staff. Essential workers are losing hours or being cut altogether during this pandemic. Demand is down for transport services just as ambulances and the like. More job losses. I'd be shocked if anyone on this board thanked me for my service, so I hope that in whining and hopefully educating some posters to life on the essential down low, that in your own lives you remember to thank more than just the nurse or aides to your loved one. Thank people in food service, the person that cleans your loved ones room (especially if they are Covid+), recreation aides, front desk folks and maintenance. 

[andi9899]

Dec 11, 2020 15:15:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

I'm fat 

Same!

[empress of self-improvement]

Dec 11, 2020 20:40:26 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Dec 11, 2020 20:30:01 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

I admire the patience that pulmonologists have when dealing with people like my mother who had COPD and just WOULD. NOT. QUIT. SMOKING!!!!!!!!! If she could have had a butt hanging out of her mouth when she died, she would have. I'm just impressed her docs didn't kill her themselves.

You have be to able to leave it at work. Also remember the patient is the one with the disease. Finally, no one is perfect. Trying to be better is all we can ask. It also helps if people are nice, even if they are not doing what you recommend. But, when they are smoking and complaining of being short of breath, you do have a discussion about why that is not smart

And it goes in one ear and right out the other.

[Opti]

I will just say for now, that as an underfunded person who lives alone, the pandemic has made me even more isolated. No in person church, no twice a year holiday meals with a friend's family, no walks in the woods or anything except working, grocery shopping and trying to stay well.

It sucks. I am 60, and this would have been much easier on me if it had been back in my Pharma days when I probably would be doing Zoom meetings, working for home, and not angsting about paying for things. I do feel lucky in that I do have a job and I am not enduring what many restaurant and retail workers are dealing with ... going from low pay to no pay. Because of HIPAA I actually have no realistic idea of how many of my coworkers actually had Covid and how bad. That scares me less now than it did April into June. Now I am looking into the long haul of Jan to April of 2022, when things might possibly start returning to pre-pandemic ways.

When I get older, keeping my hair, a couple years from now...
will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 62.

[andi9899]

Dec 11, 2020 15:19:27 GMT -5 plugginaway22 said:

Biggest change for me is now being perfectly content to stay home and not be running around doing what I now realize are unnecessary things. We do miss traveling but can wait for that to return. Also watched my father die of cancer this fall so that puts everything into perspective. He lived a long happy life.

This too! Before I lived at the gym. I also went to work every day and frequented the bars. I haven't been to any of those since March.

[Deleted]

This is a great question.  I'm not who I was but I don't know if the new me is better or worse.  I've discovered that some things I thought were essential are not, some things I believed valuable were junk.  Also, some folks I thought I could maintain a relationship with, I can't.  In some ways my relationship with DH is better; in other ways, worse.  

I will not go back to the old habits of shopping to escape the house.  Online is the only way I'll go from now on.  I will save my face-to-face experiences for museums and other things that matter.  I will not go back to my former eating habits; DH is free to choose his path on that issue but I suspect he won't either.

As some said, the drive time to meetings was a total waste-Zoom it and get it done!

I miss travel but think we'll resume that this coming fall, vaccine or not.  

I think the political activity and climate had a greater impact on me/us than Covid.  But Covid has also shaped the political climate so it's sort of a chicken/egg thing.

[pulmonarymd]

Dec 11, 2020 20:49:51 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Dec 11, 2020 20:40:26 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

You have be to able to leave it at work. Also remember the patient is the one with the disease. Finally, no one is perfect. Trying to be better is all we can ask. It also helps if people are nice, even if they are not doing what you recommend. But, when they are smoking and complaining of being short of breath, you do have a discussion about why that is not smart

And it goes in one ear and right out the other.

That’s why you remember the patient is the one with the disease. And leave it at work. Medicine is a great field in that it is so varied. So people gravitate to the specialty that you can deal with the easiest

[pulmonarymd]

Dec 11, 2020 20:42:14 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 11, 2020 19:06:31 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Yeah, people don’t realize doctors give so much of their life
Take care of yourself!!

I wish people would realize how much the peons, the underclass of facilities give in these 24x7x365 facilities whether they are hospitals, nursing homes, assisted livings, govt run group homes, etc. PMD probably gets far less grief than I do if I call out. Also, most hospitals are bigger than your average nursing home and group homes often have staffing rivaling our front desk. I am an essential employee. As a receptionist. Yup. We answer all calls. for roughly 200 extensions, we are the gatekeeper, and during a snowstorm there are more calls generally not less. 

The peons like myself drive old cars that are not fully maintained because we do not make enough money to do so. Yet we are expected to be in no matter what the weather is or get/pay for a ride in. (Yes I'm whining. I'd love to live towards the top of the food chain like PMD.) Since we are not a hospital, and smaller, people including myself are often asked to stay over, sleep over during snowstorms, nor-easters, etc. I have escaped that so far mostly by luck and the fact I live less than 5 miles away. Some people have lived at the facility for days into a week during things like Sandy. 

Whine off for now. I wish people would thank those who keep the building running, not just the nursing positions that are in the news. I regularly have to figure out how to get stuff people brought in to Covid positive patients. Since they are in what we call a red zone, it means whoever goes in has to use the full PPE that is available and toss it as they exit the room. Not many recreation peons or peons like myself volunteer to do this. Pre pandemic, I often delivered stuff off the clock just to get it out of the lobby and done. 

Right now CNAs and probably CHHAs where I work aren't doing two jobs because its just too exhausting during the pandemic. Because of low census because of how we have to use our rooms for patients, we can not support a full nursing staff nor dietary staff. Essential workers are losing hours or being cut altogether during this pandemic. Demand is down for transport services just as ambulances and the like. More job losses. I'd be shocked if anyone on this board thanked me for my service, so I hope that in whining and hopefully educating some posters to life on the essential down low, that in your own lives you remember to thank more than just the nurse or aides to your loved one. Thank people in food service, the person that cleans your loved ones room (especially if they are Covid+), recreation aides, front desk folks and maintenance. 

What’s a sick day?

I recognize that I am quite fortunate and am well compensated. But I also gave up my 20s to do this. Others my age were working, making money, and having a good time. I worked 100 hours a week, spent years exhausted and sleep deprived, and if you divided my salary by the real number of hours worked, in 1986 I made $4 an hour. It wasn’t until 1992 that I had a bump of more than 3% a year in my s as part. We are far behind others at our level of education and accomplishment, have to play catch up, and have significant loans to pay. Fast forward to today. I am on cdd as lol every third to fourth weekend. I worked Christmas last year. Will work New Years this year. Not only that, I deal with the sickest of the sick, and get blamed by families when their loved one dies. I think I have paid my dues

[Deleted]

And I think we are all at the end of our wit's end, in a place that no prior experience prepared us for, either singularly or as a nation.  

There are very few things I call truths, that I declare to be absolute fact.  But, the one sure thing I can declare, is that I can't and shouldn't judge your place or your pain.  Whatever you are experiencing is real and valid.  I probably can't experience or feel it because my place in life is different.  I don't think placing our individual sufferings on a scale and weighing them against another's suffering weight gets us anywhere.  

I think we need to find a space where we can stand together, hold one another, and acknowledge the pain we are all feeling in different ways, without judgement. 

[Opti]

Dec 11, 2020 21:14:51 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Dec 11, 2020 20:42:14 GMT -5 Opti said:

I wish people would realize how much the peons, the underclass of facilities give in these 24x7x365 facilities whether they are hospitals, nursing homes, assisted livings, govt run group homes, etc. PMD probably gets far less grief than I do if I call out. Also, most hospitals are bigger than your average nursing home and group homes often have staffing rivaling our front desk. I am an essential employee. As a receptionist. Yup. We answer all calls. for roughly 200 extensions, we are the gatekeeper, and during a snowstorm there are more calls generally not less. 

The peons like myself drive old cars that are not fully maintained because we do not make enough money to do so. Yet we are expected to be in no matter what the weather is or get/pay for a ride in. (Yes I'm whining. I'd love to live towards the top of the food chain like PMD.) Since we are not a hospital, and smaller, people including myself are often asked to stay over, sleep over during snowstorms, nor-easters, etc. I have escaped that so far mostly by luck and the fact I live less than 5 miles away. Some people have lived at the facility for days into a week during things like Sandy. 

Whine off for now. I wish people would thank those who keep the building running, not just the nursing positions that are in the news. I regularly have to figure out how to get stuff people brought in to Covid positive patients. Since they are in what we call a red zone, it means whoever goes in has to use the full PPE that is available and toss it as they exit the room. Not many recreation peons or peons like myself volunteer to do this. Pre pandemic, I often delivered stuff off the clock just to get it out of the lobby and done. 

Right now CNAs and probably CHHAs where I work aren't doing two jobs because its just too exhausting during the pandemic. Because of low census because of how we have to use our rooms for patients, we can not support a full nursing staff nor dietary staff. Essential workers are losing hours or being cut altogether during this pandemic. Demand is down for transport services just as ambulances and the like. More job losses. I'd be shocked if anyone on this board thanked me for my service, so I hope that in whining and hopefully educating some posters to life on the essential down low, that in your own lives you remember to thank more than just the nurse or aides to your loved one. Thank people in food service, the person that cleans your loved ones room (especially if they are Covid+), recreation aides, front desk folks and maintenance. 

What’s a sick day?

I recognize that I am quite fortunate and am well compensated. But I also gave up my 20s to do this. Others my age were working, making money, and having a good time. I worked 100 hours a week, spent years exhausted and sleep deprived, and if you divided my salary by the real number of hours worked, in 1986 I made $4 an hour. It wasn’t until 1992 that I had a bump of more than 3% a year in my s as part. We are far behind others at our level of education and accomplishment, have to play catch up, and have significant loans to pay. Fast forward to today. I am on cdd as lol every third to fourth weekend. I worked Christmas last year. Will work New Years this year. Not only that, I deal with the sickest of the sick, and get blamed by families when their loved one dies. I think I have paid my dues

Me too. As you know I have two degrees, BS and MS in engineering. Thankfully I have not worked 100 hours a week, but I have worked 26 hours in a row twice. The last time, just before the Pharma co. offed my job due to a merger and the fact I did not win the kept as employee sweepstakes. I worked very hard for my master's degree taking classes and working as a TA to pay for it. From what I can tell, medicine, especially doctors, have had far less upheavals than parts of IT aka information technology. In my case I was many things once I graduated from C programmer to UNIX administrator, project analyst and what not. You won't get laid off when Covid is defeated. I and others got laid off once Y2K was considered done (includes my first 26 hour stint as I did an upgrade on a dual machine that the two senior men did not want to touch. A mistake, literally would have had the ear of the top of the telecom co as it was the lead dual machine of three pairs in the country for its financials. )  The pharma that cut me? Pfizer. I stopped wearing my data center jacket from the early 2000s because I was sick of being stopped in grocery stores and quizzed about a company who laid me off in large part for being female and single. Not being quizzed about the Pfizer vaccine? Priceless, although I have met a few women locally with my career trajectory.

Yes I'm bitter. I was sold the idea that being a degreed engineer from a top 20 college was a lifetime meal ticket. I know lots of people from that college and others who discovered that was not true and probably will never be true unless you are lucky. Very, very lucky.

I deal with the sickest of the sick too. Just not in the way you do. I was the first one who had to call code blue in my facility when we got out first crash cart and like the nurses and others, prayed when the person made it out the door to the hospital still alive. I've found a convulsing staff member on the floor and rounded up any nurse I could find to assist. I've dealt with unhappy and distressed family members who lost their loved one to Covid. Some so angry they had newspaper articles written, some so depressed they barely said anything as their belongings were brought out to them in our lobby or even to their cars. The people who died of Covid, were mostly people I had known for years, not days, not months. I knew their families and their friends as well. I've rescued residents from their stupidity, sometimes by myself and sometimes with nursing. I doubt you've ever run outside in the snow on a major highway to get one or more people back. And for less than $12/hr and the priviledge of keeping my job and not getting written up or fired. (Heck, we timed one escapee with cameras. Two seconds. Two. Yet I and the desk folks get berated if we miss that in doing our job of answering phones, dealing with doctors, family members, nurses, vendors, etc. plus online docs, etc. Every single Covid+ patient comes in by me. Every one. Now it is better since we know about what is dangerous exposure, but in the beginning I was not even guaranteed a blue mask yet had to take temps of *everyone* entering the facility except Covid patients, but I stood next to them all the time getting temps off transport personnel.

FWIW, the first half of my 20s involved getting my degrees and not getting into more student loan debt. The latter half of my twenties had me join a large Telecom company, marry, and leave that company from burnout as I chose between leaving the strenous job or the marriage that wasn't working. My XH BTW did work some stints of 100hr weeks for the TV digital standard. I could have done that too in my twenties but being top rated wasn't worth it to me.