So I had an appointment today with a medical professional in a medical setting, I’m severely immunocompromised and I wear a mask, by the way no lie I’ve seen 2 people this whole winter wear one, so anyways I go into a small room with her, I proceed to say oh yeah was very sick with a viral laryngitis thing over the whole of Xmas and a nasty cough that needed antibiotics etc and I’m still hoarse. She talks and I say “oh you sound hoarse”. She then proceeds to tell me I’ve been very sick too, I can’t clear it, then no lie every 1 minute she starts coughing a lung up but uses her actual hands to cough into like straight onto the palm, , I literally just said oh I’ll head away as you are smothered. Seriously though? Why is noone taking the flu, Covid or a cold serious anymore? The amount of posts moaning on here the last few days saying how sick they were then and I’m like there’s your answer!!
I work in Healthcare in a hospital. I wear a mask during my shift. If I have to cough, I cough into my upper arm. I’ve had the Flu vaccine. Healthcare staff don’t know what infections new patients have, I can’t understand why everyone isn’t masked up.
Yes, I cough into my elbow. I thought that was standard practice. I'm immunocompromised, I wear a mask most places I go because even if people aren't talking about it, Covid is still around-- as are dozens of horrible gross things that I do not want to take home with me.
Is the new way to cough and sneeze not down into your own jumper? Like pull out the neck and cough down under it? The doctor told my grandad that the other week and I thought that can't be right?
That's how I like to sneeze, beats sneezing into your hand, anyway. Or if you're wearing a jacket, open out one side and sneeze into that.
I haven't tried it but I think I'd rather sneeze into my arm than my baps
Yes, me too. It's baffling. Masks should be mandatory for all healthcare staff. I loved when they were.
I have a feeling COVID made a large chunk of the population shitter. Driving, simple social graces, seemingly trying to cough and snot your way as powerful as possible in public. It's really bizarre. They say our kids suffered some loss, and yes they did. But fucking hell. It allowed adults to be themselves in their underpants for 2.5 years, regress to an uncertain state and now they are outside. kids are adaptable at best. But fucking adults got so much worse. (Obviously not everyone and not all......let's be real here. But I am seeing way more asocial behavior than I have in years and it really stands out).
Frontal lobe damage on a mass scale will do that to a population.
I read an interesting article that goes over it briefly (the studies it cites as sources are the really interesting bit).
Pretty shitty article for a -what? Is that supposed to be a reputable publication? Looks more like an opinion piece in a disreputable publication. One with an impressive title for the CV, but actually publishes any shite for a fee.
It's openly an opinion piece, it says so at the top. As I said, the sources cited are the more interesting part.
I agree completely, well said.
I propose fixing the housing crisis by deporting anyone who sneezes in an indoor public space without covering their mouths.
Where am I going?
Gulags in the Siberia
In my work / when I've been out shopping, some of the morons don't even bother covering their mouths and just splutter all over the show.
It's not hard to cover your mouth when coughing/sneezing , winds me up.
People are just fucking idiots. Coughing straight into their open fecking hands on a packed bus. Makes me want to scream at them
I'm a coach driver.
I've given up telling people to cover their coughs properly when sitting in the stalker seat (the one diagonal to the driver at the front) and have started to just remove the seat bases.
I'm sick and tired of being coughed and sneezed on by inconsiderate fucks.
People are just fucking idiots. I think they’re getting idioter by the day.
Like I’m going to Poland Sunday and I will be wearing a mask bringing alcohol gel and wipes for the plane coz fuck me im not getting sick. And im on the raw ginger and lemon juice by the gallons
I might be biased since Poland is my home country but I feel like it's way more common for Irish people to cough with their mouth wide open and uncovered, than it is in Poland. Also less people coughing right into their hands. But again, I might be simply biased and was just lucky to mostly be around people who cough "properly" into their elbow.
I’m going there Sunday I’ll report back
Not the same but I had a doctor touch my hands without gloves to see if I had dermatitis or scabies as scabies was doing the rounds. I thought it was pretty odd that she thought I might have a bug spread through touch and yet touched me ungloved. Wondering how much she’s spreading it herself if this is standard for her. I didn’t have it or catch it but still, had it as a child and it was horrid
Nah yuk! I gad a doctor a few weeks ago point at my mask and say what’s this about
That’s absolutely bonkers
I hate when parents dont tell their kids to cover their mouths. Often see children hacking it out open mouth in public, and nothing from parents, like seriously.
The pandemic is memory-holed for a lot of people because they can't recognise or even begin to unpack the trauma, as they led fairly easy lives prior. Doctors especially are weird about this, almost like they've received little to no psychological help, and so they default to incredibly bad practices.
People are fucking filthy anyway, the Jervis street bathrooms are a microcosm of this situation, so many don't wash their hands even after they put on an audio performance for the ages in the cubicles.
I also still mask due to health issues, I've seen people just cough into other peoples faces and no one seems to care!
Same, both the masking and the people seemingly coughing directly into each others mouthes.
God help them if another pandemic hits, I think history would probably describe it as a massive suicide-by-stupidty event.
I have this type of cough at the moment. Almost apoplectic. Coughing up a lung type. I have been wearing an FFP2 mask in the GP and pharmacy and keeping away from people. But I think its the type of cough. It's paroxysmal bronchospasm cough. Post viral. Hard to know when it's coming. I've been vomiting with it also. So I think a bit of compassion wouldn't go astray. Hope you feel better soon.
Oh I had it, thought I was going to pass out at the til in dunnes with water streaming under my mask I was in bits
She should mask up and not cough onto the palms of her hands. I can’t show compassion to someone who knows I’m immunocompromised but still carries on like that
How about saying excuse me can you cover your face with a face mask? That would be the right thing to do but do it with compassion instead of disgust. Which is what it sounds like your saying..
I think when you have a serious health issue and the person who is sick knows you have it, it gets very emotionally charged.
Because the person who is sick that knows you getting sick can become very serious and/or lead to further disability but does nothing to protect you, feels very insulting.
That's where the anger comes from. I've got Long Covid nearly 4 years and I get it.
One cough for someone is years of disability for me.
Oh the long Covid. I ended up with pots FML
Yeah I have ME/CFS, completely debilitating and put a screeching halt to any form of having a life.
I hate it.
...you do realise that a lot of people will actively take that as an insult and will probably punch you if you said that to them, right? Or they'd start a whole dramatic performance? Compassion is all well and good, but it goes both ways. It's not anyone else's job to remind someone of basic hygiene, that's a personal job.
People seemingly have a massive phobia of masks because they never dealt with all the COVID trauma, but depending on the type of person, and how often they've caught the brain damaging kind of infection, they're way more likely to physically assault you, because a lot of people have short fuses now.
Sounds like you have a short fuse yourself bud. My sister died of covid, so I think I know a bit about Covid Trauma. Ended up on a Ventilator for 10 days, needing a liver transplant after all her organs failed. So, asking someone to wear a mask and not spread a disease, whether it be flu, covid or pneumonia, is not unreasonable when it's life or death. For some, it was death.
...I don't think you really understand the situation here, and you seem to have misunderstood the entire situation because you'd rather be defensive than read what anyone is writing. My sister in law's mother died from COVID, it ruined her lungs, my sister and her partner were both nurses in the middle of the pandemic, they watched boatloads of people die.
I literally wear a mask, to this day, and I am fully, completely aware that people's unresolved trauma has led them to avoid masks entirely, and react poorly to them, to the point where they're likely to commit acts of violence when asked to wear one. The OP doesn't have any sympathy for these people because we all went through this, and only a few of us want to remember, and know full well that we'd be talking to a fucking wall if we asked anyone to wear a mask. People simply won't.
You do know that even my own kids get Insulted at this. They think I’m being dramatic, or covid is gone etc so imagine saying this to a stranger. When I walk around Aldi and Lidl and I don’t see one other single person wearing a mask over the Busiest times of Xmas then I know we are fucked and me asking is gonna get a nasty answer. Also I literally get stared at all the time as if I am the sick one.
Most people would laugh at that request and rightly so
Because alot of people are selfish gobshites who only care about themselves.
That's how people have coughed for my entire life, except for a brief exception in the middle of a pandemic when they started taking it more seriously. I thought this was the correct way to cough before covid because it's what I was taught as a kid and I'd never been told otherwise.
It's not really a matter of forgetting, just returning to normal habits after life got back to normal (not that those habits are correct)
FWIW a lingering cough after the initial illness has passed will almost certainly not be contagious or harmful.
I couldn’t care I really don’t want someone’s spit on my hands cos I had to open a door. She was hacking up a lung
6 out of the 9 staff at my job yesterday came in obviously sick. Two of them have had what looks like flu for about two weeks. One has a hideous cough that sounds like it needs steroids. Another has strep. The other two coughing and sneezing.
I've managed to escape it so far by never taking off my FFP2 around any of them.
Disgusting that a medical professional was seeing an immunocompromised patient and not even wearing a mask? Wtf! I'm sorry and I hope she didn't infect you.
I think not cos I had the same thing but my son who was there to see her didn’t so I’m hoping she didn’t infect him
Same in my job and I keep getting sick but I'll stay home, where as the rest are just openly coughing everywhere. Small team as well with only 7 of us and I've been sick the last 6 weeks more or less, two courses of antibiotics, the second batch destroyed my stomach. Miserable craic altogether.
I have absolutely noticed this too! People coughing in to their hands and going about their business. Gross!
People are actually either totally unaware of themselves or don't give a shit about anyone else. I think its the latter.
Supermarkets are the worst, people are disgusting.
This couldn’t is full of filthy pigs who are fucking rude idiots
I'm currently in a pub , I'm encouraging a chap to get steroids because he is absolutely deep coughing rancid spreading everywhere and not shy, because he has darts tomorrow night to practice for... And not one fuck to give for the rest of the clientele 😞
I'm exhausted by this flu surge. And the never ending covid surges, it just never stops.
Living with the Long Covid from of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis means every viral infection has the potential of really screwing me over further.
And with these constant waves of infections, there's never a mental break.
And I'm housebound! But just knowing a family member wanted to study in the library this week means I have to calculate risks and mask even in bed.
It's exhausting and I hate it.
Oh I feel you. I have long covid , pots and in severe anorexia relapse so I stay home as much as I can. It’s so tough
Sorry to hear that, hope you remain safe!
May I ask a personal question? Were you born with an autoimmune disorder, or did your AN cause it?
Up in mid-ulster here and the droplets they do be flying. Chemists, Tescoes, buses... nowhere is safe.
I was at a hospital for an appointment recently. I sat opposite someone who just kept coughing everywhere. I wouldn't mind but there was a hand sanitizer beside her head on the wall. Same appointment the hospital staff weren't any better coughing into their hands no hand washing after no sanitising. Seen no mask wearing with anyone. Is it any wonder everyone is so sick.
i was in 2nd year in 2009 when swine flu broke out, and we were taught to cough into our elbows and i have never ever forgotten, and still to this day cough into my elbow… idk what’s wrong with some ppl in todays world how we can’t respect our fellow humans
It's so wild to see so many of these posts recently because I predicted it but it's still crazy to see it come true
I've been totally disabled and chronically ill by covid since 2022 so this has been a constant problem in my life since.
Maybe people will start caring again and not wanting to infect others?
I really do hope so because my reinfection in 2024 took away all the little recovery I made and I'm back to being mostly bedbound again.
I have long Covid too and to be honest people have gotten so much worse. Now it’s like a badge of honour not wearing a mask, they look at me like I’ve got the plague and they are correct
I'm sorry to hear that.
I've only left the house for medical appointments since 2022 so I've no idea what the vibes are like re masking etc.
Sad to hear it's so bad
I had an appointment with my GP on Monday. Wore a mask because you're obviously surrounded by sick people in the waiting room. Didn't see another person wear one. But my doctor thought I was great for doing it 😁
Masks should be mandatory for healthcare and pharmacy facilties if you have any respiratory symptoms. Cough, Cold End of
*cough*
I was having an internal examination recently, legs akimbo and the doctor had a coughing fit and just kept on working! Covid positive 5 days later.
I would fucking lose it cos no lie Covid mentally scarred me
Sounds like she knows exactly how to cough.
I feel your pain OP. I'm also immunocompromised, and when at the doctor a few months back with pneumonia he dead ass asked 'Oh but it's not COVID, why are you masked up?'
T_T
Fucking idiots. I’m masked up cos you’re a fucking idiot would be my answer.
He was a locum doing a rotation there rather than the actual GP I'm under, but I did pass some feedback on him the practice's nurse on my recent visit with her.
He was made the right call sending me for that chest xray that lead to the pneumonia diagnosis, but apparently all other info on respiratory infections fell out his ears between appointments?
Covid would have been a brilliant opportunity for change. We all got used to masking up, hand washing and staying at home when sick. Those good habits should have become the norm.
Finally! A group of people who share my despair at trying to navigate society this winter. Can we all just be friends and do an ICE job in self-defense on those cough anywhere near us!
In all seriousness I’m so sick of it. I’m sick now for the third or fourth time in the last 3 months thanks to people not giving a flying feck around me.
It’s actually better to cough into your hands then wash them. Coughing into your elbow is still live virus spreading airborne as you move
She was nowhere near anywhere to wash them no alcohol gel anywhere. :she got up opened the doors, then had my son in there for about 20 mins no hand washing and I asked him and he said she was coughing the whole time.,so in this situation I think the elbow would have been better
Most doctors have a sink and sterile wipes
Wasn’t a doctor in that way
The key to a proper cough is to tilt your head back at just the right angle and use your entire body to snap your head forward as you cough; this adds force to the phlegm ejection to get the greatest distance and widest possible dispersal. Timing is everything; too late and you'll just end up spattering your own shoes, too early and you might get smacked in the face with your own loogie. Get it perfect and you can drench half a busload of people with a single wet hack, greatly increasing the odds of sharing your infectious disease with as many other people as possible (and sharing is caring, after all!). /s
Since moving here I’ve realised a lot of people cough and sneeze with their mouths wide open
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Fair enough about coughing into your hands, a child would know better than that.
But in all fairness when you say why arent we taking the flu serious anymore, I honestly don't give a fuck about the flu. I've had it, we've all had it and the world isn't going to stop because of it. If you have an illness you need to wear a good mask and use sanitizer wherever you go because you need to look after your own health.
My mum had a horrific cold when I came to stay for Christmas. In spite of being a very sensible woman, I kept seeing her cough into her hands.
I went into Covid-level hand-washing mode, and somehow managed not to catch it, but jesus christ
That's really great!
But just to let you know covid and flu are both airborne so clean air strategies are very important - washing hands isn't enough.
Think ventilation, HEPA filters, N95 masks
Like if I see my kids I’m running at them saying into your elbow ffs
My mother's friend is immunocompromised and her doctor was wearing a face mask BECAUSE HE HAD COVID. I begged her to report him. (This was in Tipperary)
Nope. I would have walked out and reported him and I love my gp but no fucking way
It boggles my mind how some people won't get the flu vaccine and then have the gall to complain about getting a bad bout of flu. Huh, so odd, I wonder if there's something you can do proactively to help prevent you getting so sick.
I walked into a restaurant the other day. I asked the waitress if they had some paella as she was making sandwiches. She coughed rotten into her hands and went back to making the food 🤢
Nope. I would get the gawk. Since I got severe covid and long covid I can’t help but watch and listen for any signs someone is sick. If I hear a cough in a plane im moving further away if I can or double masking. I also always carry alcohol gel cos people are just gross. My dog is cleaner
100%, i wouldn’t dare ask anyone
I've noticed this too, I'm currently recovering from the Flu so masked up if I go outside. But go the amount of people who don't bother to even cover their mouths and cough onto strangers or food in shops is crazy.
I think we should continue wearing masks in healthcare settings it's kinda nuts that we aren't
I've been coughed on the neck and coughed straight into my face by strangers in supermarkets. I got the flu not long after the cough on my neck too.
Nope I’m usually a dirty look resting bitch face but for that I would actually have full on said something
I said something to the cough in my face, he did not give a fuck and didn't seem to be sober :) The woman I didn't cause I was stuck in a long queue and already stressed asf about Christmas shopping.
Nah it’s the weird looks I still get when they see me wearing a mask. Then they avoid me as if I’m sick
I'm also immunocompromised. I don't understand why you expect others to wear a mask. Cool that you are happy too but you can't expect anyone else to understand our position.
I don’t but when I You are sick you just should. Simple as that, i wear one when I’m not sick and I wear one when I am sick. I gave up a long time ago expecting others to understand anything I’m going through so it’s just basically common decency
Its not common decency. They can do what ever they like. We have to protect our selfs like you've been doing.
We cant expect others to change their behaviour for us. We are gona get sick. It sucks but thats reality.
Please dont feel like Im preaching. Currently have a head cold since October. Its a ball ache.
Sorry but we dont have the right to demand general people to change their behaviour.
Again I’m not demanding it from others. I’m expecting it from health professionals when I have to visit them. Because I remember having severe Covid and my Doctor in the height of the cold in January would only see me in a tent that was more of a gazebo outside her surgery and take my temperature and my blood oxygen so the least health professionals can do is wearing a mask when they are sick
This thinking is core to most of our individualist based societal issues. We should expect better from HCW and our fellow humans we share a community with.
And you didn't call her out on it then and there. What are you doing you manky so and so? No wonder we're all riddled when you're coughing into your hand and then opening doors.
Because she wasn’t for me and it felt wrong.
So instead you came to reddit to denounce her?
No I came to Reddit to ask do people know how to fucking cough anymore as you can see in the question I asked
I dont find masks to be sanitary, and I work in the health service. When my father was dying in hospital, the nurses took me out to have a chat with me and I couldnt stop crying. The contents of my nose were all over my mask, and yes, I changed it and sanitizied etc, but I remeber during covid people pulling their masks down to talk and constantly touching their masks and then touching surfaces around them. Gross. Unless you are sneezing and there is the issue of atomization in an enclosed setting, then I do not see the point of masks. Didnt stop my father of dying with, not of covid, and the hospitals, despite mandatory mask wearing, were rampant with it.
She was coughing and spitting cos I had it and I was half peeing myself it was such a horrible cough. But I bloody wore a mask and coughed into my arm or down my top. Sorry about your dad
Ok, common sense, basic hygiene and manners were lacking in that nurse/doctor; I hope she washed and sanitized her hands straight afterwards. I can understand why you want to wear a mask, and maybe in a hospital and clinical setting during covid and flu season, it should be mandatory. BTW, unless your infection was a bacterial one, antibiotics should not be prescribed.
I had a very bad viral infection and because I get silent pneumonia asymptomatic and I am severely immuno compromised and severe anorexia relapse. The antibiotic was necessary and he and not being disgusting but chunks of brown and green phlegm were coming up.