Advice about walking outside while recovering from Covid

toomuchbaloney · Mar 4, 2023

Hopefulone said:

I wanna say that I was a good 6 feet when the lady was approaching and passed me. I said to her, "I'm getting over Covid, so wanted to get out of the way" and she said something cheerful and kept on truckin'. I think the point is that there seems to be a very small chance of any of my covid germs making their way from my system to theirs. Now, if we could just do something about my anxiety :). I thank everyone who shared encouragement.

The exercise should help with the anxiety. Good luck!

guest1200295 · Mar 4, 2023

toomuchbaloney said:

The exercise should help with the anxiety. Good luck!

Amen to that. I think I've gotten some great wisdom from all of you. Thank you, and blessings!

subee, MSN, CRNA · Mar 4, 2023

Hopefulone said:

I wanna say that I was a good 6 feet when the lady was approaching and passed me. I said to her, "I'm getting over Covid, so wanted to get out of the way" and she said something cheerful and kept on truckin'. I think the point is that there seems to be a very small chance of any of my covid germs making their way from my system to theirs. Now, if we could just do something about my anxiety :). I thank everyone who shared encouragement.

Anxiety definitely interferes with logic. When I am anxious, the brains go out the window:) But when you think about what is making you anxious, remember that the pandemic has brought about much free-floating anxiety that attached to many interactions that would never have bothered us before. But the fact is, people have to get a certain quantity of innoculum to get a respiratory disease. If we got measles, whooping cough or Covid from any tiny amount of innoculum floating in the open air, we'd all be dead:) My husband and I recently got Covid (together) at a 90th birthday party for a friend's father. We drove 4 1/2 hours to get there in ignorant bliss never thinking that so many toddlers would be invited. They spent the evening running around screaming at each other. As soon as I saw them I knew were in a super spreader, and we were! Fortunately, the birthday boy was no worst than a lot of muscle aches and a cough and is recovering at the beach away from his snowy home. Also, anxiety is very transferrable when you are around other anxious people so keep your boundaries firm. Their problems aren't yours.

guest1200295 · Mar 4, 2023

subee said:

Anxiety definitely interferes with logic. When I am anxious, the brains go out the window:) But when you think about what is making you anxious, remember that the pandemic has brought about much free-floating anxiety that attached to many interactions that would never have bothered us before. But the fact is, people have to get a certain quantity of innoculum to get a respiratory disease. If we got measles, whooping cough or Covid from any tiny amount of innoculum floating in the open air, we'd all be dead:) My husband and I recently got Covid (together) at a 90th birthday party for a friend's father. We drove 4 1/2 hours to get there in ignorant bliss never thinking that so many toddlers would be invited. They spent the evening running around screaming at each other. As soon as I saw them I knew were in a super spreader, and we were! Fortunately, the birthday boy was no worst than a lot of muscle aches and a cough and is recovering at the beach away from his snowy home. Also, anxiety is very transferrable when you are around other anxious people so keep your boundaries firm. Their problems aren't yours.

Thank you for sharing your experience! I really appreciate it, and it gives me consolation!

JKL33 · Mar 5, 2023

Here you go (emphasis added):

Quote

Regardless of when you end isolation

Until at least day 11:

Avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Remember to wear a high-quality mask when indoors around others at home and in public.

Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (see below).

For travel guidance, see CDC's Travel webpage.

https://www.CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.CDC.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fyour-health%2Fquarantine-isolation.html

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Mar 7, 2023

The world is so different here (Texas). I work indoors in a large clinic at a university. Almost nobody has been wearing masks for a very long time although a few do. We are exposed to everyone and whatever germs they have all the time and I haven't seen much illness beyond the usual. Anecdotal I know. Many have had Covid multiple times and many have never had it.

I guess my point is that what you described is beyond low risk and much less exposure than happens to many of us every single day. You needn't feel any anxiety at all in my personal opinion. Just recover and do not worry.

guest1200295 · Mar 8, 2023

Thank you so much for your encouragement! I feel greatly relieved the more folks their opinions/experience! I think all will be well :)!

InHisImage, BSN · Mar 10, 2023

Hopefulone said:

I finally got (mild) Covid. My symptoms began on Feb 20, and today is day 10. I never had a fever, just fatigue/aches (which have been gone for days), and an occasional cough (also virtually gone now). To feel better, I've been going outside walking, and I haven't been wearing a mask, since there's usually no one else around. Yesterday something happened that really freaked me out. Normally, no other people are out on our streets or sidewalks. But I encountered 2 people yesterday coming toward me, and because I wasn't wearing a mask, I stepped off the sidewalk and was about 6 feet or more from them as they quickly passed and we exchanged very brief greetings, which was a matter of seconds. I thought to myself, self, if that happens on your next walk, you cross the street immediately so you are nowhere near other people. So today on my walk, the sidewalk was empty, when all of a sudden a group of school kids comes tearing out of their school building, right toward me! I immediately turn and walk away from them, onto the curb of the street, my back to them, prepared to cross, but there are too many cars, so I stand there while the kids (who are about 8-10 feet behind me) run past. I know that I probably should have been wearing a mask and I'm sorry I wasn't. Should I be concerned that the people I encountered yesterday or today may get some of my germs? Thanks everyone. By the way, I am not an RN, but work in a supportive role in a facility.

forgot to mention, if it matters, that I lost my sense of taste/smell, but that is coming back.

I have worked in occ health for a global corporation for the past 2.5 years where I fielded dozens of calls every week back when Covid was at its worst, and even then CDC guidelines would not have considered your experience to be a close contact. That was also when when quarantine and isolation lasted 10 days. Now, per CDC guidelines, there is no need to even quarantine at all for a close contact (which is less than 6 feet apart without a mask for at least 15 minutes), and employees are generally able to return to work after 5 days from the onset of symptoms. There are a few caveats but your situation should cause no concerns.

guest1200295 · Mar 10, 2023

Thank you so much for this - I feel greatly relieved as I understand more about the reality of it all :). Bless you for taking time to share your wisdom and experience!

2BS Nurse, BSN · Mar 10, 2023

Follow the guidance on the CDC website. "Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19: Interim Guidance". These guidelines will change over time. Passing by someone outside on a walk is very low risk for transmission. That being said, the virus is everywhere now. Anyone you pass will be continuously be exposed in a store, church, restaurant, movie theater, etc.

BeatsPerMinute, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2023

Hopefulone said:

I finally got (mild) Covid. My symptoms began on Feb 20, and today is day 10. I never had a fever, just fatigue/aches (which have been gone for days), and an occasional cough (also virtually gone now). To feel better, I've been going outside walking, and I haven't been wearing a mask, since there's usually no one else around. Yesterday something happened that really freaked me out. Normally, no other people are out on our streets or sidewalks. But I encountered 2 people yesterday coming toward me, and because I wasn't wearing a mask, I stepped off the sidewalk and was about 6 feet or more from them as they quickly passed and we exchanged very brief greetings, which was a matter of seconds. I thought to myself, self, if that happens on your next walk, you cross the street immediately so you are nowhere near other people. So today on my walk, the sidewalk was empty, when all of a sudden a group of school kids comes tearing out of their school building, right toward me! I immediately turn and walk away from them, onto the curb of the street, my back to them, prepared to cross, but there are too many cars, so I stand there while the kids (who are about 8-10 feet behind me) run past. I know that I probably should have been wearing a mask and I'm sorry I wasn't. Should I be concerned that the people I encountered yesterday or today may get some of my germs? Thanks everyone. By the way, I am not an RN, but work in a supportive role in a facility.

forgot to mention, if it matters, that I lost my sense of taste/smell, but that is coming back.

Im really curious about when coughing will become a normal thing again.

Jokes aside... I have never gotten COVID, despite working intra-op in cath lab or IR or EP where we didn't have time to test people during an emergent procedure + being a designated ICU RN for the last few years.

I will never probably know / understand why I never got it. My fam got it, my roommates got it, my friends got it, my bf got it, my bf's family got it, many co-workers got it... and I didn't.

All I know is that I got my 2 initial shots &1 booster. I also am young (early 30s), I exercise a lot, get some sunlight, and do whatever I need to do to keep my anxiety levels down... avoid alcohol and keep a healthy diet and routine (including sleep routine). The basics. So far, so good.

guest1200295 · Mar 21, 2023

I'm glad you never got it! Who knows ... IMHO, the virus seems very mysterious in some ways. As the Greeks say, many years to you, and enjoy the blessing of your health! ?