Preparation, Stress and Silver Linings

I am very sorry you are having to go through this.

I hope you feel up to going to any site for testing, should testing be indicated, I do not know how some very ill people are making it in for testing.
We have a very large fairgrounds site. All testing is drive through there.

Since the virus is all around in the ER, it's not likely that you are responsible for infecting everyone around you there.

My sister is also very ill with the same symptoms. She has been away on vacation. Just home 12 hours before becoming very ill.

What a relief to have a friend willing to help out!
Yes, do leave all bags outside.

Please do keep us updated as you feel up to it, or as long as you find it helpful?

We are here for you.

I'm sorry Gaby. I hope the testing process turns out to be easier than expected. You're in my thoughts.

I am so sorry you are sick Does your hospital have confirmed cases ?

I hope you can get directions on how best to find testing. What a wonderful friend

I hope you quickly recover

So I saw my doctor via video today and she said that since I have all the symptoms and am a health care provider, I am high risk and definitely need the test. She told me to call the state dept of public health coronavirus hotline to find out where I can get tested in my county.

Turns out just today, my hospital is providing testing until 2pm, as long as you have a script from your doctor, which I did.

So I went and got tested. I'll get the results in 3-5 days.

Meanwhile, my doctor said she was going to 'flood my system' with meds to see what sticks. Antibiotic for if it's strep, antiviral for if it's coronavirus, and an immune system booster, though I can't take that one because it interacts with the Methadone I take.

Although I felt like hell runover this morning, my symptoms have since improved. With extra strength Tylenol my fever has gone down, so I don't have that awful body ache. I later took a severe cold med which helped with congestion. Now that it's evening again, my temp is trending upwards, but it's not so bad.

My hope is that, whether it's coronavirus or not, I will only have mild symptoms.

Thanks so much for your support, it means so much to me!!

I'm so glad that you could get tested and your receiving medications to cover all bases n case it is something else. Get lots of rest. You are in my thoughts

I spent two weeks visiting the ICU with my daughter 4 weeks ago. My ex-husband was on life support for pneumonia that they couldn't diagnose. The ICU physician told my daughter today they are testing him for COVID19. No kits existed 4 weeks ago. I also went to his apartment with my daughter searching for essential legal documents like his living will, power of attorney, and will. Since my daughter is blind, I had to go with her. We are both waiting on the test results. Although completely healthy, and we were completely protected with protective gear when visiting him, we are self-quarantining. Both of us praying for a negative result. We should know Sunday.

Silver lining 1: My daughter is working from home these days and her husband has been great. She chose her husband well.

Silver lining 2: I've been keeping in touch with the elderly members of my shul by phone. They are shut in at home and some of them are quite lonely and scared. There is a concept in my faith of bringing light into dark places. I'm grateful for phones and the internet to support people without risking infecting them with anything.

Silver lining number 3: I love isolation. This is natural territory for me. I told my psychiatrist when he phoned me that I'm one patient he doesn't have to worry about right now. He gave me a sweet response. It made my day. I chose a great psychiatrist 25 years ago and counting.

I’m anxious about the virus and am worried about flu symptoms that are probably nothing. I’m also worried about an outbreak occurring at the psych hospital I work on. If it gets in there, it will spread like wildfire. I’m getting fit-tested for the N95 mask on Monday so I will be safe. My sleep is a little short right now too.

The silver lining is that I am getting a puppy soon and will be able to work on training and our bond while social distancing or in isolation.