I was in urgent care 2 weeks ago for pink eye, and I told the nurse in the back that the receptionist was not requiring masks in the waiting room. She made one couple wait outside when they wouldn't comply. I'm in SC, worst flu rates!
My daughter is immunocompromised, and when we ask doctors and nurses if they will wear a mask, they do. Often when they see us walk in with masks, they ask us if we'd like them to put masks on. But people in the PNW tend to be more thoughtful that way.
That’s wonderful. In my region, it’s the opposite. I have politely asked doctors to wear a mask for me, and even brought in my ADA accommodation letter, but have been denied and told to cancel my appointment instead. It’s really sickening that even doctors won’t wear a mask for a severely immunocompromised patient.
I still consider masking, with a snugly-fitting N95 or equivalent, when I'm in indoor public spaces to be my first line of defense against all respiratory infections. Next, is not touching my face if I have touched public surfaces, and have not yet washed my hands.
For increased comfort, II now use an N95 with an exhaust valve. Since nobody else is bothering to mask up, why should I be concerned about protecting anyone but myself? However, if I do spot that rare individual with a mask, I politely give them a wide berth.
Thank you for debunking this. My mom always had me swab polysporin ointment in my nose before flying on a plane. Her theory was that it kept the nasal mucosa from drying out and gave you a little antibacterial action. Your thoughts?
Quite hard to reduce stress right now in the US when our government is being dismantled and some of our rights and lives are in danger. Has there been any research on modulating your stress responses when you're actually in danger?
I'm wondering if the recent surge in flu cases is because we lost some herd immunity because of masks during Covid. I'm immunocompromised so masks literally can save my life.
I’m surprised by your attitude towards Vitamin D. You need to do more research - most adults are deficient in Vitamin D, and there are many studies about this. Go watch the MedCram videos on this topic.
As a person that is deficient without supplementation please be careful telling people to take supplements without being monitored by a physician. Loads of vitamins interact with others and it can hinder the absorption of other nutrients. Different medications can influence the way you absorb vitamins too so it can be really complex.
Stunned to hear folks are using hydrogen peroxide. That just sounds painful!! What are your thoughts on some nose sprays folks are using as layered protections such as Nasitrol with iota-carrageenan or XClear with xylitol? There does seem to be some studies, but not many.
There are follow on studies for this. Other sources have found decent data on prep for covid in high risk settings like doctors and nurses working in the ED setting
Can you please explain how total joint asthroplasty surgical site infections are relevant to the post we’re discussing things on? I don’t have access to the full article- feel free to share that if it is actually relevant or useful here.
Oh I was just reacting to that prior post on hydrogen peroxide, which sounded awful also peroxides are generally damaging to mucosa, and that prompted me to think of iodine s a reaction to that post. Iodine is cheap and known to decolonize MRSA in the nose, (the body's largest colony site in most cases, absent severe eczema etc). Like I said others have also done some work looking at pre exposure prophylaxis for covid by swabbing nose of HC workers prior to their shifts. Promising research and interesting that a low cost alternative with virtually no side effects is as effective as it is
This is an RCT published in JAMA but I had some reservations. N=24 very small, Control group was considerably older: "Median (IQR) age of patients in the control group was 57 (45-68) years and in the intervention group was 33 (23-46) years." Gargle as well as nasal spray was included. Though they didn't find any changes in thyroid hormones T3 or T4 and creatine. However, thyroids conditions were excluded. There wasn't sufficient evidence for conclusion other than MAYBE. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2775984
So many doctors and nurses have refused to wear a mask for me, a severely immunocompromised patient. I’m expendable to society.
I was in urgent care 2 weeks ago for pink eye, and I told the nurse in the back that the receptionist was not requiring masks in the waiting room. She made one couple wait outside when they wouldn't comply. I'm in SC, worst flu rates!
My daughter is immunocompromised, and when we ask doctors and nurses if they will wear a mask, they do. Often when they see us walk in with masks, they ask us if we'd like them to put masks on. But people in the PNW tend to be more thoughtful that way.
That’s wonderful. In my region, it’s the opposite. I have politely asked doctors to wear a mask for me, and even brought in my ADA accommodation letter, but have been denied and told to cancel my appointment instead. It’s really sickening that even doctors won’t wear a mask for a severely immunocompromised patient.
I'm so sorry. That would be incredibly disheartening. 😭 You deserve better.
I still consider masking, with a snugly-fitting N95 or equivalent, when I'm in indoor public spaces to be my first line of defense against all respiratory infections. Next, is not touching my face if I have touched public surfaces, and have not yet washed my hands.
For increased comfort, II now use an N95 with an exhaust valve. Since nobody else is bothering to mask up, why should I be concerned about protecting anyone but myself? However, if I do spot that rare individual with a mask, I politely give them a wide berth.
Thanks for addressing this. I saw it on social media and it seemed like a bad idea.
I’m a retired primary care PA-C, and appreciate your posts.
Thank you for debunking this. My mom always had me swab polysporin ointment in my nose before flying on a plane. Her theory was that it kept the nasal mucosa from drying out and gave you a little antibacterial action. Your thoughts?
We do this with Vicks Vaporub in winter. Really helps prevent dryness/ cracking and nosebleeds from cold air.
Quite hard to reduce stress right now in the US when our government is being dismantled and some of our rights and lives are in danger. Has there been any research on modulating your stress responses when you're actually in danger?
Can I boil water for a Nasal rinse?
Have you looked at the Profi nasal spray as a possible support for virus prevention?
https://open.substack.com/pub/mathissweet/p/there-is-no-convincing-evidence-that
Insufficient evidence to backup profis effectiveness unfortunately
I'm wondering if the recent surge in flu cases is because we lost some herd immunity because of masks during Covid. I'm immunocompromised so masks literally can save my life.
I’m surprised by your attitude towards Vitamin D. You need to do more research - most adults are deficient in Vitamin D, and there are many studies about this. Go watch the MedCram videos on this topic.
you’re suggesting that a doctor go watch a youtube video to learn medicine…?
As a person that is deficient without supplementation please be careful telling people to take supplements without being monitored by a physician. Loads of vitamins interact with others and it can hinder the absorption of other nutrients. Different medications can influence the way you absorb vitamins too so it can be really complex.
Exactly. This is why I can’t universally recommending supplements on the internet
Stunned to hear folks are using hydrogen peroxide. That just sounds painful!! What are your thoughts on some nose sprays folks are using as layered protections such as Nasitrol with iota-carrageenan or XClear with xylitol? There does seem to be some studies, but not many.
https://open.substack.com/pub/mathissweet/p/there-is-no-convincing-evidence-that full breakdown of nasal sprays here.
Are there any concerns with using nasal sprays?
https://open.substack.com/pub/mathissweet/p/there-is-no-convincing-evidence-that
Use saline only
Thank you. Peroxide can burn nasal tissue..am I right?
Use saline only
Nasal povidone iodine swabs for 10s each nostril does help decolonize MRSA
what source do you have to justify this claim?
Here's one for e.g.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26521129/
There are follow on studies for this. Other sources have found decent data on prep for covid in high risk settings like doctors and nurses working in the ED setting
recent literature is obviously more valuable than something published 9 years ago as well.
Can you please explain how total joint asthroplasty surgical site infections are relevant to the post we’re discussing things on? I don’t have access to the full article- feel free to share that if it is actually relevant or useful here.
Here's another article --
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29506927/
Oh I was just reacting to that prior post on hydrogen peroxide, which sounded awful also peroxides are generally damaging to mucosa, and that prompted me to think of iodine s a reaction to that post. Iodine is cheap and known to decolonize MRSA in the nose, (the body's largest colony site in most cases, absent severe eczema etc). Like I said others have also done some work looking at pre exposure prophylaxis for covid by swabbing nose of HC workers prior to their shifts. Promising research and interesting that a low cost alternative with virtually no side effects is as effective as it is
This is an RCT published in JAMA but I had some reservations. N=24 very small, Control group was considerably older: "Median (IQR) age of patients in the control group was 57 (45-68) years and in the intervention group was 33 (23-46) years." Gargle as well as nasal spray was included. Though they didn't find any changes in thyroid hormones T3 or T4 and creatine. However, thyroids conditions were excluded. There wasn't sufficient evidence for conclusion other than MAYBE. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2775984