The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

greenbee

@3secondmemory - I've found the same. 21 weeks of Covid/post-covid and the pre-prepared stuff in the freezers is long gone. While getting deliveries is now easier, I still need to make sure I have stuff that's low effort when I have a relapse - it was the last one that started a month ago that made me realise I'd worked through my supplies (probably what kept me reasonably healthy until then!) and it was a real struggle to start eating properly again. So any day with energy will involve making something freezable for at least one of the day's meals and making as large a batch as I can. Today needs to involve tidying the freezers in readiness!

3secondmemory

greenbee said:

@3secondmemory - I've found the same. 21 weeks of Covid/post-covid and the pre-prepared stuff in the freezers is long gone. While getting deliveries is now easier, I still need to make sure I have stuff that's low effort when I have a relapse - it was the last one that started a month ago that made me realise I'd worked through my supplies (probably what kept me reasonably healthy until then!) and it was a real struggle to start eating properly again. So any day with energy will involve making something freezable for at least one of the day's meals and making as large a batch as I can. Today needs to involve tidying the freezers in readiness!

Absorbing iron requires a lot of vitamin C- i’m a whole grain rainbow diet fan and I don’t generally eat a lot of meat but I have spent the afternoon googling the best sources of dietary iron. i’ve already had a big jar of Bovril delivered -  i’m now filling my basket with cocoa, apricots nuts and dark chocolate 😃 any suggestions welcome  
i’m continuing to shield on the advice of the rheumatology department - My only necessary but very high risk trips out are to hospitals and for bloodtests. Ideally I need to avoid these if possible. I think I’m safer going to the Grape Tree in town and stocking up on nuts than going to a Hospital Outpatients Dept.🤪



 I need to book another blood test for two weeks time – so that is two weeks of rest, recuperation and optimum nutrition. That gives me something to focus on 😃

greenbee

I had iron deficiency anaemia for years and for a long time was on a massive dose that was calculated based on body weight (and I was under strict instructions to let them know immediately if I lost weight). Chickpeas are good for iron (and anything made with chickpea flour, which I seem to remember includes poppadums). Vit C supplements are worthwhile if you're a poor absorber rather than having a reason for iron depletion (e.g. coeliac disease). Lots of broccoli is good. As is a LOT of fibre. I took psyllium husk tablets 3x a day plus put a dessertspoon of ground flaxseed in everything I ate (high doses of iron dull your tastebuds and appetite, so it really doesn't matter...), added olive oil to soup, and was a massive fan of Slimming World's 'Dyno Rod' soup . It's highly nutritious as well as being high in fibre. 

I've actually just been told to knock off the iron (I only take a 20mg dose at the moment) which my GP admitted she never thought she'd tell me to do, so obviously being home and eating properly is paying dividends. I have, however, been told to up the calcium - apparently chocolate is the answer to that, as well as to iron. Although for calcium it's milk rather than dark that you need. 

3secondmemory

I’m a big fan of chickpeas in all forms – I’ve got a lovely recipe for fritters. It comes from a book called 101 chickpea recipes that aren’t Hummus 😂

Floss

3secondmemory said:

greenbee said:

@3secondmemory - I've found the same. 21 weeks of Covid/post-covid and the pre-prepared stuff in the freezers is long gone. While getting deliveries is now easier, I still need to make sure I have stuff that's low effort when I have a relapse - it was the last one that started a month ago that made me realise I'd worked through my supplies (probably what kept me reasonably healthy until then!) and it was a real struggle to start eating properly again. So any day with energy will involve making something freezable for at least one of the day's meals and making as large a batch as I can. Today needs to involve tidying the freezers in readiness!

i’m continuing to shield on the advice of the rheumatology department - My only necessary but very high risk trips out are to hospitals and for bloodtests. Ideally I need to avoid these if possible. I think I’m safer going to the Grape Tree in town and stocking up on nuts than going to a Hospital Outpatients Dept...

As someone who works in an extremely busy hospital and knowing that ALL staff and visitors are wearing masks & that there are a lot of environmental changes to allow social distancing, I think you are probably more likely to pick up any bug / infection from generally being out & about / popping into your favourite shops than in an outpatients department.

Check your hospital's website for assurance that they are safely open for business, and that you can continue to have your blood tests and  appointments, and maybe contact the rheumatology department for their views on attending the hospital - if they are saying "make necessary trips to hospital & for blood tests" then you should assume that the department is working safely and attend.

Greenglockenspiel

Just to add re. iron that calcium blocks its absorption. So have iron rich foods with vitamin c and avoid having them with calcium if possible! I’ve been meat-free since I was 18 and have been on prescription iron myself at various points. To avoid the side effects of iron tablets my dr suggested spa tone which is iron rich water, mixed with a glass of juice in the morning. It isn’t as strong though so obviously everyone speak to their doctor about your specific needs. 

I think the food that is highest in calcium is actually sesame seeds, broccoli is good as well. 

3secondmemory

Floss said:

3secondmemory said:

greenbee said:

@3secondmemory - I've found the same. 21 weeks of Covid/post-covid and the pre-prepared stuff in the freezers is long gone. While getting deliveries is now easier, I still need to make sure I have stuff that's low effort when I have a relapse - it was the last one that started a month ago that made me realise I'd worked through my supplies (probably what kept me reasonably healthy until then!) and it was a real struggle to start eating properly again. So any day with energy will involve making something freezable for at least one of the day's meals and making as large a batch as I can. Today needs to involve tidying the freezers in readiness!

i’m continuing to shield on the advice of the rheumatology department - My only necessary but very high risk trips out are to hospitals and for bloodtests. Ideally I need to avoid these if possible. I think I’m safer going to the Grape Tree in town and stocking up on nuts than going to a Hospital Outpatients Dept...

As someone who works in an extremely busy hospital and knowing that ALL staff and visitors are wearing masks & that there are a lot of environmental changes to allow social distancing, I think you are probably more likely to pick up any bug / infection from generally being out & about / popping into your favourite shops than in an outpatients department.

Check your hospital's website for assurance that they are safely open for business, and that you can continue to have your blood tests and  appointments, and maybe contact the rheumatology department for their views on attending the hospital - if they are saying "make necessary trips to hospital & for blood tests" then you should assume that the department is working safely and attend.

I don’t agree – I was stuck in a patient ambulance for 2 hourS with two people who spend most of the day with sick people,  and all the people who see me  at the hospital are in contact with sick people. I am not allowed to visit with my son who is a nurse because the risk is too high. 

Personally I think an empty bus and a near empty shops are a safer bet for me right now but we each have to calculate our risk.  I Don’t want to catch Covid but neither do I want to be a Covid collateral statistic

 

euronorris

I've made sure that foil is on my delivery today, and a big box of dishwashwr tablets. Got a huge box right before lockdown, which has only just started to run low, so worthwhile doing as it clearly lasts.

Sorting out a few more masks today for a friend, and will try and squeeze in another. Also want to go over all of the handles in the house, the bannister and give the bathroom a deep clean. Plumber coming at 9am tomorrow to do boiler check. Was supposed to happen right at lockdown time, and letting agency now chasing to get it done. So want things as clean as possible for his sake. Will put handgel, masks, and gloves to use if he wishes.

Have woken up with conjunctivitis in right eye. Sigh. Wasn't even itchy last night. Not much itchy now, but bright red and gunky. Gross. 

Dark chocolate recipe. I am a big fan of something called mint choc bubble crunch. 100g dark choc, melted with 2 tbsp of coconut oil, 2 tbsp of honey and a teaspoon of peppermint oil. Mix 2.5 cups of puffed rice, with 1/3 cup of dessicated coconut. Pour melted chocolate mixture over and combine well. Put into a cake tine or similar, smooth down with back of spoon and then into fridge for an hour. Cut into 14 portions. Delicious!!

3secondmemory

euronorris said:

I've made sure that foil is on my delivery today, and a big box of dishwashwr tablets. Got a huge box right before lockdown, which has only just started to run low, so worthwhile doing as it clearly lasts.

Sorting out a few more masks today for a friend, and will try and squeeze in another. Also want to go over all of the handles in the house, the bannister and give the bathroom a deep clean. Plumber coming at 9am tomorrow to do boiler check. Was supposed to happen right at lockdown time, and letting agency now chasing to get it done. So want things as clean as possible for his sake. Will put handgel, masks, and gloves to use if he wishes.

Have woken up with conjunctivitis in right eye. Sigh. Wasn't even itchy last night. Not much itchy now, but bright red and gunky. Gross. 

Dark chocolate recipe. I am a big fan of something called mint choc bubble crunch. 100g dark choc, melted with 2 tbsp of coconut oil, 2 tbsp of honey and a teaspoon of peppermint oil. Mix 2.5 cups of puffed rice, with 1/3 cup of dessicated coconut. Pour melted chocolate mixture over and combine well. Put into a cake tine or similar, smooth down with back of spoon and then into fridge for an hour. Cut into 14 portions. Delicious!!

I could try this and substitute golden syrup for the honey - thank you

Floss

3secondmemory said:

Floss said:

3secondmemory said:

greenbee said:

@3secondmemory - I've found the same. 21 weeks of Covid/post-covid and the pre-prepared stuff in the freezers is long gone. While getting deliveries is now easier, I still need to make sure I have stuff that's low effort when I have a relapse - it was the last one that started a month ago that made me realise I'd worked through my supplies (probably what kept me reasonably healthy until then!) and it was a real struggle to start eating properly again. So any day with energy will involve making something freezable for at least one of the day's meals and making as large a batch as I can. Today needs to involve tidying the freezers in readiness!

i’m continuing to shield on the advice of the rheumatology department - My only necessary but very high risk trips out are to hospitals and for bloodtests. Ideally I need to avoid these if possible. I think I’m safer going to the Grape Tree in town and stocking up on nuts than going to a Hospital Outpatients Dept...

As someone who works in an extremely busy hospital and knowing that ALL staff and visitors are wearing masks & that there are a lot of environmental changes to allow social distancing, I think you are probably more likely to pick up any bug / infection from generally being out & about / popping into your favourite shops than in an outpatients department.

Check your hospital's website for assurance that they are safely open for business, and that you can continue to have your blood tests and  appointments, and maybe contact the rheumatology department for their views on attending the hospital - if they are saying "make necessary trips to hospital & for blood tests" then you should assume that the department is working safely and attend.

I don’t agree – I was stuck in a patient ambulance for 2 hourS with two people who spend most of the day with sick people,  and all the people who see me  at the hospital are in contact with sick people. I am not allowed to visit with my son who is a nurse because the risk is too high. 

Personally I think an empty bus and a near empty shops are a safer bet for me right now but we each have to calculate our risk.  I Don’t want to catch Covid but neither do I want to be a Covid collateral statistic

But were those "people" (I presume Ambulance service staff) wearing masks?  If so then the risk is lowered.

And if you were to visit your son would YOU & HE be wearing masks? I guess not, but if you did, then again the risk is lowered.

Please remember that if your Drs are saying you should be going to hospital appointments & for blood tests then that is for your particular health situation and they have made a clinical decision. To then avoid going may well affect you clinically, and you are denying yourself the treatment your clinical team believe that you need.