Coronavirus

[bosk1]

Well, she got up the energy to sneak in a nice little political rant there, so looks like she is on the mend. 

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Does calling Trump a moron even qualify as a political rant at this point? Seems more like just making a factual observation. Rainy out today. Sports team isn't doing too good. Trump's an idiot.

I don't actually know enough about sports to know which teams can be counted on to be doing poorly.

[ErHaO]

Some of you may have seen posts like this on social media...accounts from individuals that have contracted this virus.  This is from the first person diagnosed in the county that I live in, a female.  I read another account that was just like this one, from a healthy, fit male and it was identical. 

As the days and weeks go on, I'm definitely understanding that this is not just "another flu" and am glad that my family is taking things seriously enough.  I have no desire to come down with this disease.  It's not something that you can just get over in a few days.  It is weeks of symptoms and weeks of isolation.

’d been vacillating on whether or not to make a social media post, but as I see pics of teenagers still partying on spring break or just hanging out with friends, I. AM. PISSED. And I am terrified. And I feel if I can convince even one parent to force their kids to practice strict social distancing, lives can be saved.

Some of you already know that on 3/17, I became a statistic as one of the first Lake County residents to be diagnosed Covid-19 positive. I received the official news by phone in my hospital room.

Let me first tell you this virus is an absolute monster. Anyone who thinks it feels like flu is sorely mistaken. Every day I have new symptoms on top of the old ones that just won’t go away. As a healthy, fit 45-yr-old, I can’t even imagine what this would been like if I was older or had a major underlying condition. After two weeks in, having phone conversations is still difficult for me as I just can’t find the air. Watching quarantine workout videos, I wonder if I’ll ever regain the lung capacity to workout again. I’ve read that lung and heart damage can be permanent. I pray that’s not the case for me.

I have had zero physical contact with my own family in 14 days and there seems to be no end in sight. Watching FB friends share their social distancing experiences is becoming increasingly depressing for me. I see house parties with cocktails, tiktok videos and strolls with families outside. Even just parents doing art projects with their kids makes me weepy.

And I will add that anyone who is growing weary of social distancing after one week needs to get over it. More than half of those hospitalized in NYC are under the age of 50. We need to listen to the scientific experts. Our complete moron of a POTUS is going to end up killing more people and adding more time to our economic recovery. There is no way this thing goes away in 14 days. It’s just not going to happen. As much as I’d love to see my kids back doing the things they love and eventually seeing family/friends, we cannot become complacent. I don’t want to catch this again (yes, having it does not guarantee immunity) and you don’t want to get this thing before treatments are available. IT IS HELL.

Many people have been texting/DM’ing me questions over the past week to wish me well and also to ask about my symptoms, so I’ll start at the beginning, but want to emphasize two symptoms I’ve read about that seem to be very consistent. 1. Loss of smell and taste. Apparently, many carriers experience this without having other symptoms. I noticed it around day #4. 2. A day of improved symptoms mid-illness. In nearly every personal account I’ve read, the person had a fever-free day with increased energy and reduced symptoms. This is usually the day before symptoms take a nosedive for the worst. So here it goes:

3/10
I was at the gym working out and mid-way through, my lungs started burning. The night before, I had accidentally poured too much eucalyptus oil into my humidifier and my lungs were irritated as I was falling asleep. Naturally, I assumed this was the cause of the burning sensation. I powered through my workout, but def. didn’t feel great. My instructor even came up to me after class and asked if I was ok because she noticed I wasn’t myself. As I was showering, nausea and fatigue started to set in. I had a busy day driving my daughter around and by 4pm, I called my husband and told him he needed to come home and drive our other daughter’s gymnastics carpool. I was miserable and had a 100.5 fever. We assumed it was the flu.

3/11
Went to Urgent Care for a flu swab. I wanted to get on Tamiflu as soon as possible. The rapid test and chest X-ray were negative, but the doctor still felt it was the flu and gave me Tamiflu. This was appox 2-3 days before we realized Covid-19 was really coming for us and how important it was to slow the spread. After all, our dear orange leader was telling us that cases would go down, not up. Urgent Care did not have Covid tests and even if they did, I wouldn’t qualify for one because I had no known exposure. At this point, I was a little short of breath but not coughing much.

3/12
I just felt crummy. Very nauseous, short of breath and fever ranging from 99.5-100.7. Not the huge spike fever I had been reading about nor the acute cough. I’m asthmatic so I used my inhalers and took Tylenol.

3/13
Still had all the symptoms, but then a terrible headache came on right above my eyes. It felt like sinus pain, but was so much more intense. I took some Advil and drank coffee. I realized I had no sense of smell or taste. Everything was dry…my eyes, my nose, my mouth. Water didn’t moisten my mouth. Lots of trouble sleeping at night from general discomfort and nausea.

3/14
Fever broke and I felt better overall. I did laundry, cooked dinner for the family and assumed I was on the mend. Symptoms were still present, but I felt my breathing was better.

3/15
Woke up and the shortness of breath was back. Fever also returned and I was back to only having the energy to go to the bathroom. The dry cough started picking up steam. I called IDPH and again was told that I didn’t qualify for a test, having no known exposure. This was the screening question holding up so many tests. How could I have a known exposure when no one was getting tested?!

3/16
Breathing is worse. My doctor sent me a for a second chest X-ray which was again negative. His note to me said if fever and breathing issues persist, I should go to the ER. I was going to hold off until the following day, but I had three angels, also known as my “nurse friends” in a group text urging to me to go straight to the ER while there were still hospital beds and PPE. It was 10pm, but I knew they were right.

Husband dropped me off and a screening question had been added at admissions. “Have you been to any large events or gatherings?” Yes, I had been to a fundraiser with several hundred people, many of whom travel for work. This answer satisfied the screening. I was whisked through to triage. After triage I was put in a makeshift waiting room with metal chairs. The nurse told me it would be about TWO HOURS before I would be seen. There was no one else in this room. I knew there was no way I could sit in a metal chair for two hours. I wanted to collapse on the floor. After about ½ hour in, my nurse friends told me I needed to demand a gurney. One friend called the hospital and spoke to the ER for me. I told the nurse that I was going to leave. My friends begged me to stick it out and wait. Eventually I was taken to a storage room with another metal chair. The room was vented out and was serving as the ER Covid room. They told me I was going to be tested for both flu and covid. The ER dr. also thankfully did a CT scan of my lungs, took bloodwork and started me on fluids. On the way to my CT scan, I passed at least a dozen unused gurneys. It was explained that they couldn’t let me lay in one because they hadn’t yet been briefed on how to decontaminate them.

The CT scan came back showing significant double viral pneumonia. The ER dr. was convinced I had Covid-19, and without waiting for results, had me taken by ambulance to a hospital with a dedicated Covid Unit. At this point it was 4am and I was alone and I was scared. The drive was absolutely brutal. Every bump exacerbated my nausea and I fought with everything I had not to vomit all over myself.

3/17
I was brought straight to a negative pressure room at the top floor of the hospital with an attached hazmat decontaminating room. It was SCARY!! The nurse immediately started intake and hooked up oxygen. I was not going to be allowed visitors. My lungs felt like I was breathing in ground glass. I was sweating like crazy the entire time. The infectious disease specialist and hospitalist came by a few hours later and explained my CT scan results. They said the issue with this virus is that patients have pneumonia, but can’t expel the mucous with a productive cough. Hence the dry cough and the “drowning.” And because it’s viral, antibiotics aren’t effective. The nurses would call me about ½ hour before coming in to see what I needed so they could consolidate trips in to save on PPE. Later that day, I got the call that I was confirmed Covid positive. Even though it had been suspected for days, to hear that news was surreal. How could I have it? I didn’t know anyone with it.

3/18
Breathing was no better. I would have some energy to text friends and watch the news, but then suddenly all of the energy would drain and I’d have to nap. This has been a constant throughout the ordeal. I developed another brutal headache. I couldn’t open my eyes so they gave me opioids. I hadn’t eaten in days from the nausea so they put me back on IV fluids. Doctors assure me I’m going to be ok and my oxygen levels are good. I was convinced they were sugar coating things because I was struggling to breathe.

Watched the news and heard the story of the first fatality in IL. I was absolutely panicked. Breathing was so difficult, I couldn’t have phone conversations and if I did have one, it used up my speaking bandwidth for the day.

3/19
I start having stomach cramps. I was discharged because they needed the room for other Covid patients and there was nothing they could give me that I couldn’t give myself at home. Inhalers, Zofran for nausea and Sudafed for headache. Symptoms were still rough. Lungs were burning and breathing in too deeply resulted in coughing fits.

3/20
I’m in strict isolation at home. Too sick to eat or shower. Cough is the worst it’s been. Stomach cramps persist.

3/21
My legs are killing me. Not sure if it’s from laying down too much. They ache so much I take tylenol and just pace around my room. Breathing still rough. In the evening fever comes back. My skin feels like it’s slathered in icy hot. I’m dizzy and sweats are back.

3/22
Wake up DRY. My eyes hurt from the dryness. Breathing seems a little better but I don’t get excited because I’ve been down that road before. Stomach cramps are really intense. I then have diarrhea, like the rotavirus kind. How is it possible to have new and worsening symptoms on day 13??? Still insane nausea.

3/23
Woke up with tight chest and cough. Better midway throughout the day. Struggling to find foods that I can get down, but sense of taste is coming back. I’ve lost 9 lbs and am basically a bag of bones. Arms have the icy hot feeling pretty intensely today. The question when I go to sleep tonight is what crazy-ass symptom will tomorrow bring?

So, it turns out there were several people at a fundraiser benefit I attended on 3/7 who also tested Covid positive. Many of the guests travel for work. IDPH believes this is where I contracted the virus through community spread.

I’ve been told I need to quarantine 7 days from when I’m no longer symptomatic. At this rate, I’ll be in my room…well forever. I MISS MY FAMILY. I miss being able to breathe easily. I am not having the same quarantine experience as the rest of you.

Yeah, I know a couple of doctors personally that are working in the hospitals right now. And there are young and healthy people that cannot breathe on their own for several weeks. Keep in mind that there are always severe flu cases every season, but the fact that the corona virus brought some of the best healthcare systems of the world to their knees in a matter of weeks, with only a small fraction of the populations infected, should tell everybody this ain't another flu.

[hunnus2000]

Well, she got up the energy to sneak in a nice little political rant there, so looks like she is on the mend. 

It could be her last breath but if that's the case then I am reminded Kahn's last breath - "For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee"

[Stadler]

I am not having the same quarantine experience as the rest of you.

I know it's not funny in the absolute sense, but I read that and my first thought was Kate McKinnon in that SNL skit where she has a different experience with aliens than the other two.

[Podaar]

Well, she got up the energy to sneak in a nice little political rant there, so looks like she is on the mend. 

It could be her last breath but if that's the case then I am reminded Kahn's last breath - "For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee"

Kahn, for his part, was quoting a line from the book Moby Dick.

[Indiscipline]

And Herman Melville, via Moby Dick, was quoting Led Zeppelin, so there.

[lordxizor]

That account certainly sounds awful, but that's not a normal case, that's a bad case. A bad case of the flu feels like death too (and can lead to death for otherwise healthy people). Not necessarily saying this is no worse than the flu. It certainly likely is. Just pointing out that only a small minority have a case as bad as that.

[The Walrus]

Also I've heard numerous reports that Tamiflu actually makes the virus effects worse, which she took.

[lordxizor]

I am officially tired of the term "social distancing."

[Stadler]

And Herman Melville, via Moby Dick, was quoting Led Zeppelin, so there.

 

[Stadler]

I am officially tired of the term "social distancing."

We're getting close to being able to play "Corona Virus Bingo!"   

- "Social distancing"
- "An abundance of caution"
- the ol' standby, "terrified"
- "the cure can't be worse than the cause"

I'm sure there'll be more before this is all over.

[The Walrus]

Fortunately those terms are out there to help all people so maybe we can suck it up and be annoyed by words for a few more weeks while people are dying cause they can't breathe.

[Adami]

I am officially tired of the term "social distancing."

We're getting close to being able to play "Corona Virus Bingo!"   

- "Social distancing"
- "An abundance of caution"
- the ol' standby, "terrified"
- "the cure can't be worse than the cause"

I'm sure there'll be more before this is all over.

Shelter in place.

[Adami]

Fortunately those terms are out there to help all people so maybe we can suck it up and be annoyed by words for a few more weeks while people are dying cause they can't breathe.

I remember being in supervision Monday talking about not knowing if jobs will be available for guys like me come August/September. My supervisor said it's in the future and not to focus too much on it. My response to him is similar to my response to you.


Right now, we have a LOT of time to think about and focus on very unimportant things.

[vtgrad]

That's a horrible account and I hope she's on the mend sooner rather than later.  Let's not overlook that she stated she's asthmatic.

The New England Journal of Med article is eye opening... the recommendations are put forward if medical supply scarcity reaches a point of no return/no escape.  Physicians aren't yet using the recommendations based on how the article reads because we haven't yet reached that level of scarcity.  I have hope that we (the world) will pull together and help one another with scarcity of medical supplies.  I was heartened last night before bed when I read an article that stated that China is working 24/7 to produce ventilators for NY and I am greatly encouraged by companies willingly shifting production models to produce med supplies (Tesla, Ford, GM, Honeywell, etc).  The NEJ recommendations are preparing medical staff for the possibility of an over-run, triage based healthcare system response.  Hopefully we won't get to that point and Social Distancing will help keep us from getting there I believe.

[The Walrus]

- the ol' standby, "terrified"

Stadler, I know you probably didn't intend this, but this actually rubs me the wrong way. The gall to mock people saying they're terrified by a new disease sweeping the entire planet, combined with a dire shortage of medical supplies and mixed messages from the POTUS... what the hell, dude? People have every right to be terrified especially if they live in, say, New York City. I have a friend living there who is scared out of her mind because of the situation in the city.

[Dublagent66]

I am officially tired of the term "social distancing."

We're getting close to being able to play "Corona Virus Bingo!"   

- "Social distancing"
- "An abundance of caution"
- the ol' standby, "terrified"
- "the cure can't be worse than the cause"

I'm sure there'll be more before this is all over.

Shelter in place.

What was that Megadeth song from 30 years ago?  "Poison was the Cure" - Rust in Peace

[contest_sanity]

I am officially tired of the term "social distancing."

We're getting close to being able to play "Corona Virus Bingo!"   

- "Social distancing"
- "An abundance of caution"
- the ol' standby, "terrified"
- "the cure can't be worse than the cause"

I'm sure there'll be more before this is all over.

Shelter in place.

Stadler in place.

[lordxizor]

Fortunately those terms are out there to help all people so maybe we can suck it up and be annoyed by words for a few more weeks while people are dying cause they can't breathe.

Sure they're meant to help. But when they're said a million times they lose meaning. "Stay six feet away from others" is much more meaningful than "practice social distancing".

[ErHaO]

That account certainly sounds awful, but that's not a normal case, that's a bad case. A bad case of the flu feels like death too (and can lead to death for otherwise healthy people). Not necessarily saying this is no worse than the flu. It certainly likely is. Just pointing out that only a small minority have a case as bad as that.

This is true. But the amount of cases similar to this is significant enough that in Europe many hospitals are being overrun quickly. And as I said before, a good portion of our (and Belgiums) intensive care cases seem to be people under their 50s with no major prior health complications, so in that regard what she describes is not a one in a million case study, it is something that will happen to a subset of people everywhere if this virus keeps spreading.

It is a fact that the almost yearly flu season does not flood our hospitals with intensive care cases. This virus does, with only a small portion of the population infected.

 (And actually, this years flu is pretty bad and is still going on, which obviously does not help).

[The Walrus]

Fortunately those terms are out there to help all people so maybe we can suck it up and be annoyed by words for a few more weeks while people are dying cause they can't breathe.

Sure they're meant to help. But when they're said a million times they lose meaning. "Stay six feet away from others" is much more meaningful than "practice social distancing".

So, we repeat phrases to instill them into people's heads and make people pay attention. But apparently repeating phrases makes them lose their meaning. Honestly, I think people are just looking for things to complain about. I've heard "Stay six feet away from others" about as often as I've heard "practice social distancing." I don't get the logic in criticizing repeating good advice when the worst of the storm hasn't even washed over us yet.

I know the people who can't breathe because they have no respirators sure don't think it's annoying, or the people who have lost family members.

[Lethean]

Great post Kattelox.

Some people still need to hear that advice.

[Harmony]

Good advice here on how to keep your groceries from infecting you and your home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k348fKTTpEI&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1-klITAYkhsMIf53yvTjlbyq0TKNSbGCdMLCnf3pECrJwx-ooH6vuVDz8

[TAC]

Goddamn, after watching that, I don't want to go to work tomorrow!


https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/grocery-stores-are-the-coronavirus-tipping-point/ar-BB11DZiC?ocid=spartanntp

[lordxizor]

Fortunately those terms are out there to help all people so maybe we can suck it up and be annoyed by words for a few more weeks while people are dying cause they can't breathe.

Sure they're meant to help. But when they're said a million times they lose meaning. "Stay six feet away from others" is much more meaningful than "practice social distancing".

So, we repeat phrases to instill them into people's heads and make people pay attention. But apparently repeating phrases makes them lose their meaning. Honestly, I think people are just looking for things to complain about. I've heard "Stay six feet away from others" about as often as I've heard "practice social distancing." I don't get the logic in criticizing repeating good advice when the worst of the storm hasn't even washed over us yet.

I know the people who can't breathe because they have no respirators sure don't think it's annoying, or the people who have lost family members.

Not going to argue with you. If you think coming up with a new term "social distancing" is helpful, then throw it out all you want. I personally think being more explicit: "stay home" or "stay 6 feet away" is more powerful, but I'm not opposed to anything that works.

[cramx3]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/california-coronavirus-cases-surge-2-141504592.html

First person under the age of 18 in CA has died.

[The Walrus]

Fortunately those terms are out there to help all people so maybe we can suck it up and be annoyed by words for a few more weeks while people are dying cause they can't breathe.

Sure they're meant to help. But when they're said a million times they lose meaning. "Stay six feet away from others" is much more meaningful than "practice social distancing".

So, we repeat phrases to instill them into people's heads and make people pay attention. But apparently repeating phrases makes them lose their meaning. Honestly, I think people are just looking for things to complain about. I've heard "Stay six feet away from others" about as often as I've heard "practice social distancing." I don't get the logic in criticizing repeating good advice when the worst of the storm hasn't even washed over us yet.

I know the people who can't breathe because they have no respirators sure don't think it's annoying, or the people who have lost family members.

Not going to argue with you. If you think coming up with a new term "social distancing" is helpful, then throw it out all you want. I personally think being more explicit: "stay home" or "stay 6 feet away" is more powerful, but I'm not opposed to anything that works.

But, by using your own logic, saying THAT a million times makes it lose its meaning. And the message remains the same, so all you're doing is changing the presentation; using your own logic should result in the same conclusion. Do you see what I'm saying? The message remains the same regardless, and your complaint would apply either way. That's my point - what is the point? It accomplishes nothing, my dude.

[mike099]

The governor of Tennessee has set a return date for state workers on temporary AWS to April 27th.  My wife noted the begin and return date on the calendar.  If she starts marking off the
days...

The governor also suggested the counties not open schools until at least April 27th.

A parent on Facebook is whining that this is ruining her daughters senior year.  Really!

[TAC]

A parent on Facebook is whining that this is ruining her daughters senior year.  Really!

Generally speaking, I understand that. Unless this person is a selfish whiner anyway.

[King Postwhore]

A parent on Facebook is whining that this is ruining her daughters senior year.  Really!

Generally speaking, I understand that. Unless this person is a selfish whiner anyway.

I agree.  Imagine being s senior in college on a basketball team going to the 64 only to have it canceled because of the virus.

I understand their pain.

[TAC]

A parent on Facebook is whining that this is ruining her daughters senior year.  Really!

Generally speaking, I understand that. Unless this person is a selfish whiner anyway.

I agree.  Imagine being s senior in college on a basketball team going to the 64 only to have it canceled because of the virus.

I understand their pain.

A parent's dream is to see their child walk across the stage and receive their diploma. I totally understand that. It's possible Mike was reacting to a whiner, but while these are fucked up times, it's easy to see why a parent would lament this.

My oldest son is a senior. He's also a special needs kid who has worked his ass of to not just graduate with a certificate, but he has earned his diploma. His high school graduation is a major achievement in his life.
Not to mention our trip to Italy this summer which was his graduation present.    All he wanted to do was see the Coliseum.

[King Postwhore]

U feel your pain Tim.

[TAC]

U feel your pain Tim.

I sure do!

[DragonAttack]

A DT fan came to a preshow I was hosting in Baltimore a couple of years ago.  He ended up helping me big time, we became friends, and together hosted the recent preshows in DC in April (over 80 attendees) and Baltimore in October (over 50 attendees).  If anyone here attended, he was the bearded guy with the skulls.

Last night, him and his wife took their two year old daughter to the E.R., because she had a 104.7 temperature.  From his Fbook

Coronavirus screening was in being done at Carroll County Hospital, before we even walked in the door. We were asked questions about travel and symptoms. Also, w visitation/escort procedures had been altered- my wife had to go back with her alone while I waited in the car.  My daughter's fever was brought down with Motrin and Tylenol, and she is currently OK.

She tested negative for the Flu and RSV.

Since fever is a symptom of COVID-19, it is a possibility. But my daughter could not be tested for it because the doctor said they are only testing critical patients, because there aren't enough test kits yet. He recommended we self quarantine for 14 days, and we will.

Downright scary, as most people who get COVID-19 will not be critical. We should be doing more testing. The quarantine is just a recommendation. I am sure some people won't follow if they have the same experience.

Quoting my own post from a few days back.  Well, my friend's daughter became worse yesterday, they took her back to the hospital, they finally tested her, but won't know the results for days.  And yet again, the friend and his wife didn't get tested, because there are not enough kits.

https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/03/24/coronavirus-test-shortage-latest/