For whatever reason, people seem to be willing to play COVID-19 lottery based on the relatively well known ~1% chance of death (but highly age-related, so younger people may be more willing to play COVID-19 lottery due to their much lower chance of death).
On the other hand, the risk of health problems after recovery from COVID-19 seems to be underreported, although scattered reports and studies suggest rates anywhere from 10% to 87% (probably depending on the kinds of health problems and their duration). If those effects and rates of occurrence were well publicized, perhaps fewer people would be willing to play COVID-19 lottery. How many people would be willing to play COVID-19 lottery if they knew the risk associated with infection were 10% to 87% of (for example) not being able to walk from your house to the street without being winded for months or perhaps forever afterward?
my 21 year old daughter with autoimmune issues, bad allergies, and other health issues, is 2+ weeks out. She said for her it was worse than Mono for tiredness. She is also having “joint pain”. Until she sees a doctor we wont know what else. She never had trouble breathing. she comes out of Isolation tomorrow. She had to stay an extra week since her BF got it a week later after caring for her (he though he had it at the same time, but delayed testing results and then it was a week later he had symptoms) in a remote location. Just glad she never had to be hospitalized, but until she sees a doctor wont know the “damage”. She got this working at an afterschool program.
My DH (who I believe would die or be hospitalized at this point) and I do stay home as much as possible, or wear masks when out. I have a sonovia mask he wears the KN95. He is over 60 with heart and other conditions. with cases rising we might have to SIP soon in our area.
I was on the phone with a friend who is a pediatric speech pathologist when she got word that one of the kids she saw last Weds. just tested Covid +. She headed out to get tested.
Heard the happy news today that my oldest signed up for health insurance using the exchange. He now totally agrees with us that going without isn’t a good idea. The exchange was able to keep it affordable for him - and we offered to cover his deductible if they ever need it.
My sister and brother-in-law are still sick. I guess their cases count as moderate; they report the fatigue is overwhelming but they don’t sound like they have alarming symptoms. Fortunately, their pulse oxygen has been fine but my sister reports that cats object to having pulse oximeters put on their paws.
Meanwhile another friend might be caught in the crossfire. She was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. Happily, her chemotherapy has succeeded in reducing her tumor’s size. In January, she is scheduled for a lumpectomy, but lumpectomies don’t count as emergency surgery, so if all non-emergency surgery is cancelled, she’ll have to wait.
I believe that the lumpectomy can still happen. Most cancer treatment is considered urgent and hospitals are still proceeding with them. I know one person who is waiting for breast reconstruction surgery (after recently having a mastectomy). that surgery is not urgent. Cancer treatment centers have tried to keep all treatment and detection procedures running throughout this entire time. In NYC one of them is running TV ads saying please come in for your procedures now.
Holding my breath here. My aunt and uncle in FL have been going out to eat daily - assuring me it’s safe because they do everything they need to in order to stay safe with masks and distance, etc. Then two weeks ago my uncle got coughed on by a maskless lady in Golden Corral. Yesterday I find out he has “a cold” and this is the second week of it. By the way he’s tired, so is heading to bed.
I hope it’s only a cold. I suspect he’s been dining out daily even with this “cold.”
I’m not sure when to call him today for an update.
He just had his 80th birthday earlier this month (went out with friends that day too - to CiCi’s). He also has significant heart issues.
Time will tell what happens. Colds are probably still circulating and most people - even in their 80s - survive.
I guess the best word to sum up my feelings right now is frustration - coupled with fear, both for him and whoever he’s spread it to if it’s not a cold.
DD working thousands of miles away at a US embassy, woke with fever and aches and tested positive. This in a country with very low rates of infection. Let the maternal worry begin in earnest!
10 friends & family now (4 unrelated households that do not cross paths). 2 hospitalized for over a week. All have been taking precautions (masks, distancing, hand washing, etc.). They have been out to groceries, errands, but no bars, restaurants, parties, etc. Fortunately all have come through. Don’t yet know about long term implications.
H and I traveled to another state to be with his parents because his father was put on hospice. They are in an assisted living facility that is closed to outsiders, but we are allowed in because of hospice. The facility is extremely careful and has had a very low incidence of COVID. We stayed in a hotel the first few nights, and we never encountered any guests or staff (we were hardly there) once checked in. I brought cleaning supplies and thoroughly cleaned when we arrived. We extended our stay and are going to be in an Airbnb has an enhanced cleaning protocol for the next couple nights. We have stayed there in the past and feel comfortable with the cleanliness. We get drive through and curbside pickup when we need to get food.
No matter how careful we are, I am worried about getting COVID. And we can’t get tested at home unless we have symptoms. My stomach is in knots from FIL’s situation and COVID worry.
Got off the phone with my aunt and it certainly doesn’t sound good. She says she had the “cold” first and gave it to my uncle. Last night he fell twice - lost control of his legs and more and was freezing/shivering cold. She couldn’t get him up so got blankets and he slept on the floor. She talked about calling an EMT and the person supposedly looked at him, couldn’t find anything wrong, and told them he was safer staying at their condo than going to the hospital. He helped her get him to the couch at least.
I’m having a tough time believing an EMT would find an 80 year old man on the ground unable to get up or move his legs and with a “cold” plus a couple of other things and say such a thing, so I’m honestly doubting that part of the story - wondering if she’s covering up for him. I don’t know.
She said my uncle was much better this morning - walked to the kitchen by himself, ate a bowl of cereal, and then went to bed exhausted. They both are - due to being up all of last night. I called at noon.
I don’t know what to believe. I just know I don’t like the sound of it. I offered to try to find a way to go down there to help them out, but she was adamant about saying, “no, this isn’t a good time.” Is it because she knows he’s quite sick or due to something as simple as the house not being clean enough for guests?
Getting to FL isn’t easy, obviously, and if it is Covid, I don’t particularly want to take the risk of staying with them.
You don’t need to decide what to believe from them - you need to do whatever possible for them to NOT see other people - even if they start feeling better - and to get a COVID test PRONTO - and remain quarantine until they know the results.
Seriously, be blunt. Tell them they may be putting other lives at danger unless they can prove they don’t have COVID.
creekland, my 79 yr old dad was feeling crummy. He had a doc apt to get out some stitches on his hand and told doc about his runny nose, sore throat and headache. Doc said to get some rest; no need to get tested.
when I heard this on a Tuesday eve (election night) I immediately found a place to test him the next morning. And he was positive. I couldnt believe the doc said that. He’s 79!
He’s fine now; never did have a fever, but it was very important to us to keep him away from my mom. Right. denial is the word. My mom was very proud of herself for sitting across from him at breakfasts with a cheerio box between them as protection. SMH. luckily she never tested positive; my dad was crummy for about 2 weeks. I hope your relatives are OK.
@kelsmom hugs. Sounds like a hard time. I had my hair cut a couple of weeks ago and had anxiety that I had somehow contracted the coronavirus.
@creekland I don’t care what anyone says, cases are being severely undercounted. My mom was sick, went to the doctor, they found blood clots in her leg, did not test for coronavirus. Instead they are sending her to the hematologist, maybe she has cancer! Mom asked for a antibody test, nope on that also.
It’s all so frustrating. Especially when you keep hearing that tests are plentiful. Not apparently for the people I talk to. Maybe in certain states.
The number of deaths above the normal rate in the US is higher than the number known to have died from COVID-19, although some of these excess deaths were from other medical causes, possibly indirectly due to COVID-19-related disruptions in the medical care system (e.g. no ICU space, not wanting to go the hospital because of fear of COVID-19, etc.).
My sister called my aunt to get another perspective.
The EMT was a friend - not an official call. Who knows if the friend is or was an EMT or not?
My aunt told most of the same details to my sister (falls, chills, better this morning, sleeping throughout today), but has convinced her it’s all just stress related. According to her (sis) my uncle is on bedrest until he’s better.
My aunt also said they had several people stopping by to help. If that part is true, I sure hope they don’t have Covid. I could see her saying that to stop my sister from driving down there though. Sis is extremely impulsive - that wouldn’t be out of character for her.
I wish I knew what is true vs not. Even if it’s not Covid, it definitely doesn’t sound good for my uncle. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Only time will tell.
By the time a pulse oximeter reached them I think this would be resolved one way or another.