IMHO.............

[Ralph Damren]

IMHO, we Earthlings are all flying by the seat of our pants (some Mainers call 'em britches) on this. We are all operating in unchartered territory on the cure/containment/results of this pandemic. A couple of recent cases have opened my eyes :

(1) An old school buddy of mine in CA had the virus, recovered, and then began to develop severe neurological conditions. He was in great shape ,running the beaches 5 miles a day, but was told by doctors that this was the after effects of the virus and had been seen often.

(2) The Red Sox ace pitcher from last year contacted the virus and was said to have fully recovered from it BUT had developed a severe heart condition. It, too, was said to be an after effect.

There is a lot that we have learned but much that we haven't. Opinions, please 

[JasonTX]

Welcome to life on Earth.  Enjoy your stay but beware.  You never know what lurks around each corner.  You have to decide if you stop and turn away or do you take each corner one step at a time.  Those that have been to Afghanistan or any other country where bombings, IED's, are a constant danger.  It amazes me that those citizens in those countries don't stay locked up.  Instead they continue going to the markets not knowing if there is an IED around the corner.  In most of those countries this has been a part of their life since the day the were born.  They have adapted to the new danger.  For coronavirus, we are not guaranteed a cure.  This could be a permanent disease that is here forever and I hope our adaptation is to not be locked up forever.  At some point we'll need to go to "market".

[ETXZebra]

You can't believe everything you read, but I recently read that people diagnosed with COVID-19 had cardiac abnormalities when their heart was imaged on average 10 weeks later, most often inflammation in heart muscle.

[ElvisLives]

I have no facts or proof, but I truly believe a lot of 'conditions' are being attributed to COVID simply because a) either no one can explain the condition, or b) it is convenient to attribute it to COVID, and not dig into what the real culprit may be.

Like you say, we are in uncharted territory. So was Columbus. So were all of the astronauts in the Apollo program. But Columbus didn't stop dead in the water because he didn't know what was over the horizon. The astronauts didn't stay in the LEM because they weren't positive what it would be like on the moon's surface. They moved forward, with reasonable, but not stifling, caution. They met with challenges - some of them disastrous (Apollo 1 fire, for example). But they grew from their challenges and pressed on, for the good of all.
Let's have the courage to continue to move forward, with reasonable, but not stifling, caution, and return to life more like it was one year ago. Those that choose to exercise an over-abundance of caution should be permitted to do so without ridicule. That is their choice to make, and no one should be criticized for their personal decision. Likewise, those that choose to carry on with life more like it was a year ago should be allowed to make that decision for themselves without criticism or interference. NASCAR has shown that folks can assemble at venues with positive (or 'negative', as it were) results. If the Big XII wants to have football, then let those that choose to attend do so. If your personal sense of caution tells you to stay away from such gatherings, by all means, stay away. No one will think the less of you.

In the first place, COVID 19 is not a death sentence.  Yes, people have, and are, dying from it, or other conditions exacerbated by COVID. And those are tragedies, no doubt. So are the number of people dying from tobacco related diseases, illegal drug use, automobile accidents, murders, etc. But we don't stop life altogether for any of those.

We move forward and live free or die.

[Etref]

Interestingly, I read the other day that Alberta, Canada has their rates of Covid in rapid decline. But the rates for syphylllis is on the rise!!

Must not be social distancing.

[HLinNC]

But the rates for syphylllis is on the rise!!

One of my coaching friends was a little shocked yesterday when we read that an area HC had just announced the birth of his 4th child.
I said "what else is there to do but eat, drink and  ?"

[TxSkyBolt]

That's the part of this disease that is a complete unknown...after effects. I was one of the fortunate ones to have very mild symptoms and recovered nicely. Since then I have had other health issues pop up. I have no idea if they are related to the disease or just coincidental but I guess we'll know when more post disease studies are completed. I'm currently enrolled in one though the VA and they are very thorough in their testing and follow up.

[ElvisLives]

That's the part of this disease that is a complete unknown...after effects. I was one of the fortunate ones to have very mild symptoms and recovered nicely. Since then I have had other health issues pop up. I have no idea if they are related to the disease or just coincidental but I guess we'll know when more post disease studies are completed. I'm currently enrolled in one though the VA and they are very thorough in their testing and follow up.

And that is a big part of the total process. You are to be thanked for your service, militarily then, and humanitarianly now.
I am seriously considering giving blood soon, because they will perform a complimentary antibodies test on your blood. It is entirely possible I contracted COVID back in late December, before anybody had heard of COVID 19. I had symptoms then that would raise every possible red flag, now. I went to a doctor, who couldn’t quite figure out what I had. “Some kind of virus, maybe.” He prescribed antibiotics, to ward off any bacterial infections, and an incredibly expensive inhaler. Whatever this malady was stuck with me through March before I stopped coughing. But, I kept my mouth covered, and don’t believe I transmitted it to anyone else - not even my wife. By then, we knew about COVID, and I began to wonder if I was the first person in the southern US to get it - although I can’t imagine how. This may sound dumb, but, we buy a lot of stuff online, and, if you haven’t yet figured it out, dang near everything we buy these days is made in China. So, were any of those things we got from China back in December - including the air in the bubble wrap - contaminated? Can’t say for sure, but it can’t be discounted.
So, I would like to be tested for antibodies, to see. But, no one knows how long antibodies last, so a negative test won’t necessarily mean I didn’t have it. But, if I am positive, I will be pleased to give additional blood, if it can help someone else.
Honestly, I hope I have the antibodies. I would love to be an example of an old guy that survived it.

[stevegarbs]

Let's have the courage to continue to move forward, with reasonable, but not stifling, caution, and return to life more like it was one year ago. Those that choose to exercise an over-abundance of caution should be permitted to do so without ridicule. That is their choice to make, and no one should be criticized for their personal decision. Likewise, those that choose to carry on with life more like it was a year ago should be allowed to make that decision for themselves without criticism or interference. NASCAR has shown that folks can assemble at venues with positive (or 'negative', as it were) results. If the Big XII wants to have football, then let those that choose to attend do so. If your personal sense of caution tells you to stay away from such gatherings, by all means, stay away. No one will think the less of you.

The fundamental flaw in this argument of "do your own thing" is that the consequences of individual actions do not bear solely on the individual performing that action. Pandemics require system-wide, societal behaviors to be expressed by a vast majority of the members of the impacted population. We cannot leave this to the whims of the individual to decide what is best for them, regardless of how we wrap that sentiment in a willingness to accept the choices of others without judgement.


We aren't allowed to drive as fast and recklessly as we want because we might hurt other people through that behavior, and we now have laws against it. We aren't allowed to throw our garbage anyplace we want to as an expression of our individual liberty and freedom, as that garbage may cause others to become ill, and we have laws against it. I do not accept that public health precautions that need to be applied to all members of a society are somehow an unexpected and unreasonable burden now, when they have been an integral part of how we function and thrive for a long time.


All that being said, the simplicity of wearing a mask and practicing social distancing can get us to the state where we can function with almost all aspects of life prior to this pandemic restored. I saw a funny take on this the other day- God gave us a problem where all we had to do is stay home and watch TV to solve it, and we aren't even able to do that. Obviously we need to get people back to work, but if we would just think twice, maybe a third time, about putting dozens of players on a football field and thousands in the stands right now, and try and hold off a few more months, we can get ahead of this issue. I believe it is possible, but not by putting it in the hands of individuals to make decisions that are counter to the greater good.

[Grant - AR]

That's the part of this disease that is a complete unknown...after effects. I was one of the fortunate ones to have very mild symptoms and recovered nicely. Since then I have had other health issues pop up. I have no idea if they are related to the disease or just coincidental but I guess we'll know when more post disease studies are completed. I'm currently enrolled in one though the VA and they are very thorough in their testing and follow up.

Whether your other health issues are related or not, here's to hoping everything comes out all right.   

[Etref]

And that is a big part of the total process. You are to be thanked for your service, militarily then, and humanitarianly now.
I am seriously considering giving blood soon, because they will perform a complimentary antibodies test on your blood. It is entirely possible I contracted COVID back in late December, before anybody had heard of COVID 19. I had symptoms then that would raise every possible red flag, now. I went to a doctor, who couldn’t quite figure out what I had. “Some kind of virus, maybe.” He prescribed antibiotics, to ward off any bacterial infections, and an incredibly expensive inhaler. Whatever this malady was stuck with me through March before I stopped coughing. But, I kept my mouth covered, and don’t believe I transmitted it to anyone else - not even my wife. By then, we knew about COVID, and I began to wonder if I was the first person in the southern US to get it - although I can’t imagine how. This may sound dumb, but, we buy a lot of stuff online, and, if you haven’t yet figured it out, dang near everything we buy these days is made in China. So, were any of those things we got from China back in December - including the air in the bubble wrap - contaminated? Can’t say for sure, but it can’t be discounted.
So, I would like to be tested for antibodies, to see. But, no one knows how long antibodies last, so a negative test won’t necessarily mean I didn’t have it. But, if I am positive, I will be pleased to give additional blood, if it can help someone else.
Honestly, I hope I have the antibodies. I would love to be an example of an old guy that survived it.

My brother was tested a few weeks ago and shown to have the antibodies. His doctor pinned it to early January of this year as he had a fever, cough, malaise during that time. They treated with antibiotics, etc same as your doc.

[Ralph Damren]

I suppose that it is only human nature to turn unknowns, such as we have with this,into facts/fables/whatever. I recall those days back in the 50's, when polio was rampart. Most mothers were cautioning : "Don't go into cold water or you'll get polio !" All ocean water in Maine is always cold year around, so we didn't go to the coast. Along came Dr. Jona Slauk (sp?), along came polio shots, and back to coastal Maine we went.  I found out many years later that fable came from FDR vacationing on an island off the coast of Maine. After swimming in the ocean, he reported that he was so cold that he could hardly feel his legs. A few days later he was diagnosed with polio. The fear then began : COLD WATER CAUSES POLIO  !This pandemic already has created several fables, let's try to proceed BUT proceed WITH CAUTION 

FDR also said once :"YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF."

[ElvisLives]

I suppose that it is only human nature to turn unknowns, such as we have with this,into facts/fables/whatever. I recall those days back in the 50's, when polio was rampart. Most mothers were cautioning : "Don't go into cold water or you'll get polio !" All ocean water in Maine is always cold year around, so we didn't go to the coast. Along came Dr. Jona Slauk (sp?), along came polio shots, and back to coastal Maine we went.  I found out many years later that fable came from FDR vacationing on an island off the coast of Maine. After swimming in the ocean, he reported that he was so cold that he could hardly feel his legs. A few days later he was diagnosed with polio. The fear then began : COLD WATER CAUSES POLIO  !This pandemic already has created several fables, let's try to proceed BUT proceed WITH CAUTION 

FDR also said once :"YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF."

That was Dr. Jonas Salk, but you were close.

I was always warned about something that would cause you to go blind, but I can't remember what it was. I wrote it down somewhere, but I can't find my glasses to find the piece of paper. Oh, well, must not have been anything impotent - uh, important.

Ralph - with you all the way on proceeding with caution, and in not being afraid.

7 days to scrimmages, and 14 days to first game. Oh, yeah.

[TxSkyBolt]

And that is a big part of the total process. You are to be thanked for your service, militarily then, and humanitarianly now.
I am seriously considering giving blood soon, because they will perform a complimentary antibodies test on your blood. It is entirely possible I contracted COVID back in late December, before anybody had heard of COVID 19. I had symptoms then that would raise every possible red flag, now. I went to a doctor, who couldn’t quite figure out what I had. “Some kind of virus, maybe.” He prescribed antibiotics, to ward off any bacterial infections, and an incredibly expensive inhaler. Whatever this malady was stuck with me through March before I stopped coughing. But, I kept my mouth covered, and don’t believe I transmitted it to anyone else - not even my wife. By then, we knew about COVID, and I began to wonder if I was the first person in the southern US to get it - although I can’t imagine how. This may sound dumb, but, we buy a lot of stuff online, and, if you haven’t yet figured it out, dang near everything we buy these days is made in China. So, were any of those things we got from China back in December - including the air in the bubble wrap - contaminated? Can’t say for sure, but it can’t be discounted.
So, I would like to be tested for antibodies, to see. But, no one knows how long antibodies last, so a negative test won’t necessarily mean I didn’t have it. But, if I am positive, I will be pleased to give additional blood, if it can help someone else.
Honestly, I hope I have the antibodies. I would love to be an example of an old guy that survived it.

I gave my first Covid Convalescent Plasma this week. They said I could give every 4 days but that seems extreme. I'll shoot for once a week. I Really feel blessed God put me in this situation where I can do some good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bama_stripes]

Thanks for your contribution, TxSkyBolt.  One of my friends, the mother of two teenaged girls, has had her life saved by infusions of CCP.  She still has a long way to go, but it appears that she’s out of mortal danger for now.

Bless you!

[eprov]

Tested positive twice once in April & again in May. Lost my taste & smell, mid back pain it all lasted for 10-12 days. It made sleeping difficult, couldn’t get comfortable, thinking is it going to get worse. Not being able to see the grand babies. I was lucky I could work from home and did for 14 weeks but back in there now. I’ve given Covid Convalescent Plasma on Aug 3rd and will again on the 31st. I hope it helps someone out there.

[ElvisLives]

You guys are heroes.    

[Grant - AR]

Thank you, TxSkyBolt and eprov (and anyone else who hasn't spoken up yet).  Thank you for changing lives with your plasma donations.
      

[TxSkyBolt]

You guys are heroes.    

Elvis, I do thank you but there is absolutely nothing heroic dontating plasma (or blood for that matter). Everyone who is able ought to be regular blood doners IMO. Takes very little time or effort and they have great snacks. I think it's the Otis Spunkmier cookies that bring me back.

[JasonTX]

Elvis, I do thank you but there is absolutely nothing heroic dontating plasma (or blood for that matter). Everyone who is able ought to be regular blood doners IMO. Takes very little time or effort and they have great snacks. I think it's the Otis Spunkmier cookies that bring me back.

The snacks are good but I literally pass out with needles.  True story, when my wife was getting the epidural with one of our kids, I took one look at the needle and the doctors had to lift me up off the floor and put me into a bed.  Donated blood a couple years ago thinking I could do it without passing out.  I gave them fair warning so they wouldn't be surprised.  Made it through the donation and was eating the snacks and felt fine.  A nurse came up to me and told me I needed to follow her.  She saw something I didn't feel.  I stood up and next thing I know they are flashing lights in my eyes and trying to get me up off the floor.  I had a rough time in the military getting shots.  They were prepared as the room we were getting shots was built at an angle and they announced that if anyone passes out with shots to go stand next to the wall.  Pretty genius design as I just slid right down the wall to the floor.

[TxSkyBolt]

Good on ya for trying.

[AlUpstateNY]

I had a rough time in the military getting shots.  They were prepared as the room we were getting shots was built at an angle and they announced that if anyone passes out with shots to go stand next to the wall.  Pretty genius design as I just slid right down the wall to the floor.

Although quite a while ago, during an induction physical, blood was taken at one position, placed in a test tube and given to the donor to hold while waiting in a line to proceed to giving the sample to another position.  We were given the warning, " if you feel dizzy, give your blood vial to the person next to you in line.  If you fall, pass out and spill the contents, we're going to have to take MORE blood.

Clear, concise instructions, with easy to understand consequences. Don't remember anyone falling, but there were a number of people temporarily holding more than one blood vial. Seems when instructions, and consequences are clear and direct, people tend to listen and follow.

[Ralph Damren]

The latest from the CDC  regarding PE classes is :
(1) If outdoors, 14' must separate students without mask;
(2) "      "           6'   "          "            "        with        "   ;
(3) If indoors, 6' must separate students who MUST have masks.

With those guidelines, it will become a challenge for any state association to allow fall sports excluding golf.

  (5 man crew)

[Grant - AR]

The latest from the CDC  regarding PE classes is :
(1) If outdoors, 14' must separate students without mask;
(2) "      "           6'   "          "            "        with        "   ;
(3) If indoors, 6' must separate students who MUST have masks.

With those guidelines, it will become a challenge for any state association to allow fall sports excluding golf.

  (5 man crew)

So, based on those standards, you are saying we can officiate, but their might not be any players on the field? 

[JasonTX]

The latest from the CDC  regarding PE classes is :
(1) If outdoors, 14' must separate students without mask;
(2) "      "           6'   "          "            "        with        "   ;
(3) If indoors, 6' must separate students who MUST have masks.

With those guidelines, it will become a challenge for any state association to allow fall sports excluding golf.

  (5 man crew)

Football isn't PE.