What happens if----------????

[Bubbeh]

1 hour ago, lissie said:

I'm sorry but there is plenty of evidence that having that Xmas lunch was a very, very bad move.

Yeah, I know and I take the comment on board.  But, as the family matriarch, how could I let everybody down?  I just kept telling everyone that I was fine, as you do, I still haven't fessed up.  OMG, I was so panicked about not being negative for Xmas!  

 

Poor Mr Bubbeh, the man who has never been near a shopping centre from the 1st day of December until the last day of January, had to go out most days with a strict list of what to buy foodwise for Christmas lunch.  You should have seen the look on his face on Xmas Eve when I said that now he had to go and get the seafood, ham and other stuff and that he had to be at the shops by 8am or all the best of the produce would be gone.  Thanks for the COVID Mr B, payback is a B*^ch!  😆

[Bubbeh]

45 minutes ago, lissie said:

That's what happens on any coach trip where you get sick and can't continue. They are not holding up the whole group because one person has an issue.

A friend of my late mother-in-law's lost her husband (and by this I mean he died) at a comfort stop on a tour bus in Provence.  The tour operator took a show of hands poll to determine if the rest of the group wanted to interrupt the tour in order to wait with her until the authorities arrived.  Some did and some didn't.  While I take your point and understand the necessity to adhere to schedules, I did think that this was a tad heartless on behalf of the naysayers and the tour operator.

[lissie]

24 minutes ago, Bubbeh said:

Yeah, I know and I take the comment on board.  But, as the family matriarch, how could I let everybody down?  I just kept telling everyone that I was fine, as you do, I still haven't fessed up.  OMG, I was so panicked about not being negative for Xmas!  

 

Poor Mr Bubbeh, the man who has never been near a shopping centre from the 1st day of December until the last day of January, had to go out most days with a strict list of what to buy foodwise for Christmas lunch.  You should have seen the look on his face on Xmas Eve when I said that now he had to go and get the seafood, ham and other stuff and that he had to be at the shops by 8am or all the best of the produce would be gone.  Thanks for the COVID Mr B, payback is a B*^ch!  😆

LOL that's evil payback - but yes as  they say on the planes - put your own oxygen mask on before helping others 

[lissie]

18 minutes ago, Bubbeh said:

A friend of my late mother-in-law's lost her husband (and by this I mean he died) at a comfort stop on a tour bus in Provence.  The tour operator took a show of hands poll to determine if the rest of the group wanted to interrupt the tour in order to wait with her until the authorities arrived.  Some did and some didn't.  While I take your point and understand the necessity to adhere to schedules, I did think that this was a tad heartless on behalf of the naysayers and the tour operator.

Wow - that's pretty extreme. We had nothing but support from the strangers on the local bus with us. No one spoke English and  Idon't speak Chinese but several did "call a firend" and we had several translates on mobile plus some who were medically trained. I just really really hope if a Chinese person collapsed at a comfort stop (yes us too) they would get the same help from random strangers as we did.  The bus was diverted to the local very basic medical  centre - which appeared to be a  consensus between the passengers telling the driver what to do!  he wa then forced to wait about 30 min and then ordered (again by the other passengers) to take us into town! 

 

And later we realised it was even more surprising because the local medical centre thought he had TB - which is a highly infectious disease still common in older people in that part of China.  We knew he didn't have TB (vaccinated as a child as we all are) - but they didn't know that. 

[FeebeeH]

2 hours ago, lissie said:

There's just been an interesting breakthrough - from Australia no less ‘Crazy interesting’ findings by Australian researchers may reveal key to Covid immunity | Health | The Guardian

My family went through had Covid for the 2nd time in November '22. My 2 adult sons & myself were all very sick (same reaction as our 1st Astra Zenecca vaccine & 1st dose of Covid) .... my husband - nothing!  On the 1st day he partially isolated, but by the 2nd day he thought if he was going to get it, so be it and didn't mask up, isolate etc..  He had no symptoms, nothing ... RATs tested everyday, again nothing.  My symptoms lasted almost 2 weeks & my sons similar.  Funny how some people can get it and others luckily miss out?

[Ozwoody]

When Hil got it on the cruise she felt terrible, they gave her the antiviral tablets, she said they were almost worst than the covid, made everything taste metallic she said.

She was crook for the last six days, and for about a week later.

Me I finally got it two days later, felt a little lethargic, but that was about it.

It is strange how different it hits people. 

[bazzaw]

36 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

When Hil got it on the cruise she felt terrible, they gave her the antiviral tablets, she said they were almost worst than the covid, made everything taste metallic she said.

She was crook for the last six days, and for about a week later.

Me I finally got it two days later, felt a little lethargic, but that was about it.

It is strange how different it hits people. 

The Doctor on Cunard QE asked me all kinds of questions ( I am 76) and then told me that there were 2 different antivirals - BUT I did not qualify for the first kind and he did not recommend the second kind as they would make me sicker than I was. 🙂 This was on the second day and I wasn't feeling all that bad and agreed with him. Apart from the fatigue, after the initial bout of extreme vomiting, I was quite OK and agreed with him. 

[Pushka]

45 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

When Hil got it on the cruise she felt terrible, they gave her the antiviral tablets, she said they were almost worst than the covid, made everything taste metallic she said.

She was crook for the last six days, and for about a week later.

Me I finally got it two days later, felt a little lethargic, but that was about it.

It is strange how different it hits people. 

That's what Flagyl tastes like which is used to treat Giardia gut infection. 

[stki]

We did 55 day overseas in November/December . 

Flight to Athens via Dubai, 4 days in Athens, 38 day cruise from Athens to Capetown, then 11 day Gate 1 tour through South Africa and Victoria Falls, before our flight home to Sydney from Johannesburg.

 

We did wear masks in Athens before the cruise (no testing required to get on the ship), where we couldn't social distance

Not one mention of Covid, RATS, Masks or ISO the whole trip. 

We are fully jabbed (4) and had mild Covid back in July.

The rest of the world has moved on, and its time Australia did too.

 

Tanya

[lucymorgan]

5 hours ago, Pushka said:

 

I am on hydroxychloroquine for Lupus and have been for years. Which is what Trump always said was a preventive and treatment. Maybe he was right after all! 😱

 

No - not what the studies say. 

Despite being on quite a high dose of hcq, I got pretty sick with covid after my last cruise - needing the antivirals.   

   

When Trump said that, hydroxychloroquine became almost impossible to get.  I rushed straight out and filled my script (inflammatory arthritis).  I was dismayed to hear that some doctors (and dentists!!!) in Australia were prescribing it for their family members and friends.  This led to the TGA implementing new rules that meant that a initial script could only be written by specialists to stop this rorting of the system.  https://www.tga.gov.au/news/safety-alerts/new-restrictions-prescribing-hydroxychloroquine-covid-19     When I had to fill my script again some time later the pharmacist asked me how I managed to get some during this period.  

 

It is a bit like the current shortage of ozempic which is a vital diabetic drug which they have discovered is great for weight loss and now diabetics are struggling to find it. 

(The moral is to make sure you are stocked up on the medicines you need in this uncertain world)

 

Despite being pretty immunocompromised, I am still cruising and travelling overseas (with whatever precautions I can make) because it is a fair chance that within a few years I will no longer be able to get travel insurance  (so a now or maybe never situation).  

 

One mitigation in my bag of tricks is the nasal sprays that cannot yet be obtained in Australia (but can be obtained os, despite one of them being invented here!)  The one I have sourced is enovid.  

Edited February 15, 2023 by lucymorgan

[Pushka]

21 minutes ago, lucymorgan said:

No - not what the studies say. 

Despite being on quite a high dose of hcq, I got pretty sick with covid after my last cruise - needing the antivirals.   

 

 

I remember that rush. Getting Plaquenil was really hard. Shame on Trump and also Palmer who bought up so much as well. Interesting about enovid.  I'm also on a blood thinner and the one symptom I guess I did have was a blood nose. I never get blood noses. One day it will all be linked.  I'm on 400 mcg which I think is the dose, but now also steroids. We are going to Israel. Hmmm.  

Edited February 15, 2023 by Pushka

[Ozwoody]

2 hours ago, Pushka said:

That's what Flagyl tastes like which is used to treat Giardia gut infection. 

Yuk😖

My Dr said I should take it because of my age and the asthma, said nar, I'm all right.

No way after what Hil said was I going to take it.

Edited February 15, 2023 by Ozwoody

[lucymorgan]

16 hours ago, Pushka said:

 We are going to Israel. Hmmm.  

I bought Enovid online at Israel Pharmacy.  Expensive but I like the reassurance of being able to use it after being in crowded places.  Another option is Viraleze which was invented here but has still not been approved for use here 🙄- that is available in the UK. 

 

The good thing about these products is they protect against all sorts of viruses. I've used Vicks First Defence successfully for years for long distance flying (until they changed their formula), then the latest one available in Australia is Flo Travel spray.  These are sprays containing carageenan which is made from seaweed.  They are less effective than enovid but still worthwhile.  Unfortunately Flo Travel spray can be hard to find.  People in the know (including me) buy them as soon as they are stocked.  

 

 

Edited February 15, 2023 by lucymorgan

[cheznandy]

58 minutes ago, lucymorgan said:

I bought Enovid online at Israel Pharmacy.  Expensive but I like the reassurance of being able to use it after being in crowded places.  Another option is Viraleze which was invented here but has still not been approved for use here 🙄- that is available in the UK. 

 

The good thing about these products is they protect against all sorts of viruses. I've used Vicks First Defence successfully for years for long distance flying (until they changed their formula), then the latest one available in Australia is Flo Travel spray.  These are sprays containing carageenan which is made from seaweed.  They are less effective than enovid but still worthwhile.  Unfortunately Flo Travel spray can be hard to find.  People in the know (including me) buy them as soon as they are stocked.  

 

 

Flo Travel is what we use as well, yes hard to get but we stocked up recently as well combined with Iodine throat gargle as preventative to lessen the viral load.

We travel with our supply of Quercetin, Zinc, Vit C, Magnesium, D3 and K2 in case we come down with anything.

 

 

[Normanville]

51 minutes ago, cheznandy said:

Flo Travel is what we use as well, yes hard to get but we stocked up recently as well combined with Iodine throat gargle as preventative to lessen the viral load.

We travel with our supply of Quercetin, Zinc, Vit C, Magnesium, D3 and K2 in case we come down with anything.

 

 

There was plenty at Chemist Wharehouse when we purchased last week in Adelaide. Also take Immunedeffence, a probiotic to boost immunity. Have booked 5th jab for Monday as cruising 8th March, so hope we have done enough as have not had that dreaded C word yet.

Juls

[cheznandy]

52 minutes ago, Normanville said:

There was plenty at Chemist Wharehouse when we purchased last week in Adelaide. Also take Immunedeffence, a probiotic to boost immunity. Have booked 5th jab for Monday as cruising 8th March, so hope we have done enough as have not had that dreaded C word yet.

Juls

Yes, gut health is the most important, we changed the way we eat a couple of years ago, cutting out grain, seed oils, sugar and preservatives. The results are amazing, no statins, blood pressure meds or high blood sugars in this house!! Healed eczema, psoriasis, gut issues etc, now working on my bad knee so I don't have to have a knee op haha!

 

For those that are trying Flo travel nasal spray, test first at home to make sure you dont have a reaction to Carageenan, it is something used to thicken milk products and something I avoid in cream/milk products, but if it kills a virus getting into my nasal passage or lessens the severity , I use it for planes and crowded places

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by cheznandy

[Pushka]

I just looked up Flo Travel and can't take it as im on anticoagulants. Oh well. 

[LittleFish1976]

On 2/15/2023 at 1:26 AM, SilvertoGold said:

In my planning I am finding NZ and Australia have some very strict rules, much different from any cruise are we have sailed pre-and post pandemic.  It is difficult to get it all straight, but at least they are trying to keep everyone safe. That is appreciated!

All you have to do is take a RAT before you get on the ship and take a photo of the result!

Is that the very strict rules you're referring to?

[SilvertoGold]

7 hours ago, LittleFish1976 said:

All you have to do is take a RAT before you get on the ship and take a photo of the result!

Is that the very strict rules you're referring to?

No, I refer to the long list of questions I have about what I can bring into the country.  For example and consistent with this thread, cough candies.  The best ones I buy have honey in them.  These are individually wrapped, with menthol and eucalyptus as the medicinal ingredients. Honey for taste.  Not sure these will pass, although as "boiled candies", they might.

Edited February 17, 2023 by SilvertoGold

[MicCanberra]

If you take them then declare them, they are most likely fine but if they get taken you can buy more here.

[Pushka]

6 hours ago, SilvertoGold said:

No, I refer to the long list of questions I have about what I can bring into the country.  For example and consistent with this thread, cough candies.  The best ones I buy have honey in them.  These are individually wrapped, with menthol and eucalyptus as the medicinal ingredients. Honey for taste.  Not sure these will pass, although as "boiled candies", they might.

The honey might be the issue in NZ. Our latte powders were taken as they had honey particles listed as ingredients.  Even though dry. If you were coming to Kangaroo Island in South Australia the same issue applies as KI has a pure colony of Ligurian bees. No honey anything allowed. Need to declare everything like this especially in NZ. 

[lissie]

7 hours ago, SilvertoGold said:

No, I refer to the long list of questions I have about what I can bring into the country.  For example and consistent with this thread, cough candies.  The best ones I buy have honey in them.  These are individually wrapped, with menthol and eucalyptus as the medicinal ingredients. Honey for taste.  Not sure these will pass, although as "boiled candies", they might.

When you are buying chocolate biscuits in the supermarket - buy some Kurols - best cough drop EVER - dirt cheap - like $3/bag - we travel with them because nothing else comes close Buy Kurols Lozenges Original Mentholated online at countdown.co.nz  

[arxcards]

On 2/15/2023 at 11:06 AM, Bubbeh said:

Until the 15th of December I was as fit as a mallee bull, then I caught COVID from my husband.  He got anti-virals coz he's soooooooooo old but I, being the child bride, was not eligible.  Mr Bubbeh felt a little off for one or two days and then he was fine. I on the other hand, was most unwell for at least 10 days, I woke every morning wishing I'd died in my sleep.  I had 14 people for lunch at Christmas and to this day I don't know how I managed.  It's now two months on and about six weeks (24th December) since I tested negative and I'm still suffering.  I have ongoing issues which I fear very much will be with me for a long time if not the rest of my life.  While this may just be like the 'flu for some people, they are the lucky ones because it's certainly not like that for everyone.

Take care of yourself. I hope you can recover back to your pre-covid health.

 

We both came home with covid from Majestic at the end of October. My wife had a bit of a lingering cough, but otherwise has recovered OK. I have been a bit worse for wear with ongoing fatigue. I have no pre-existing illnesses but have been needing 2 nanna naps every afternoon & evening in order to function. Over the past couple of weeks, I have started to notice some of my energy returning which is encouraging. I don't feel sick, but it has been frustrating.

[arxcards]

On 2/14/2023 at 3:44 PM, bazzaw said:

I know quite a few people who have travelled overseas lately - long trips to Europe, USA, Asia and even South America. Quite convoluted trips including cruises, bus tours, river cruises, flights all over the place - and have had no problems at all. I on the other hand go away on an 8 day cruise from Sydney and get isolated for half the cruise 😞 I have heard of people doing those very expensive train/cruise/coach trips in British Columbia being abandoned at one of the overnight hotels, left to fend for themselves and told to "take it up with your Travel Insurer"  because they tested positive to Covid. Right now I feel confident to drive and book hotels/motels in Australia and not fall foul of any "administrative" effects of Covid - but I have to apply my "what if" question to many other things. Even flying to London and booking into the Ritz is OK and the "what if" question has no impact. BUT - going on a cruise anywhere in the World - and things like coach trips fail the question completely. So that will be it for me from now on until these last Administrative requirements (isolation, masking, testing, vaccinating) are shelved.  This doesn't mean of course that I wont test , isolate, mask up and vaccinate  - but will avoid the necessity of having to do it. 

My main "what if" is what do we do if we get sick overseas? Cancellations and being bumped from a paid itinerary would also be a pain in the R's, but it is more of the health angle that has led to us booking lower risk travel over the past year. We are starting to plan some more adventurous trips though and will weigh-up our own risks when it becomes time to book.

 

If every decision we make is based on "what if", we wouldn't travel at all. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

9 hours ago, SilvertoGold said:

No, I refer to the long list of questions I have about what I can bring into the country.  For example and consistent with this thread, cough candies.  The best ones I buy have honey in them.  These are individually wrapped, with menthol and eucalyptus as the medicinal ingredients. Honey for taste.  Not sure these will pass, although as "boiled candies", they might.

What brand of cough candies? They may be available in NZ if they are one of the international brands.