I know several people who’ve had Covid who were quite exhausted. An exhausted 80 year old would be more likely to fall, too.
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The right thing to do is to get tested as soon as there are any symptoms, even if it is just a cold, and the person should be quarantined until the result comes back.
A colleague’s young daughter had Covid, the whole family got tested right away, then 5 days later. They are all staying in for 14 days after they first found out about the daughter. Luckily no one else got the Covid.
I can’t believe your aunt and uncle continued to see people when they are not feeling well.
In NYC one could stand in line to get tested (2-4 hours) or get a prescription from a doctor and get an appointment.
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I’m puzzled by their behavior as well. The only way I can plausibly understand it is pure denial on their part - just like they insisted all of their eating out (dining in) was safe. They were doing it at least once per day - just as they did before Covid.
I have suggested getting tested. It lands on deaf ears. “It’s not Covid - this happens every year at some point.”
They may be right. They may be wrong.
I shudder and wonder what the next phone call will bring.
If you test less, you have less cases. That is what people were told and many millions believe.
It may be easy to be tested in NYC, I am certain that it is less so in many places. I believe that Florida is one of those places.
There may be independent places to pay for a coronavirus test. My mom in her 80’s can’t figure this out. She keeps asking for a test and now an antibody test. Her doctor will not order one. She’s in Tennessee.
My online workout group leader (50 y.o.) is the same way. She doesn’t party, but I wouldn’t say she was super careful. She is a social person. She got a cold and dismissed it as “Oh I always get a cold this time of year.” Maybe so, but when you are living with your parents (late 70s give or take) you really ought to be more careful. Several days later, no sense of smell so she finally got tested - yup. Positive. She had a solid case with a cough, but felt good for a few days. Unfortunately, she took a turn for the worse. It’s now been over 2 weeks and I don’t see her being back to normal any time soon.
Meanwhile, for the last week, both of her parents have an awful cough and sick in bed. They are in total denial. They would not get tested or see a doctor. The group leader begged and begged and they got angry. She eventually called the rescue squad to look at them. They decided they weren’t sick enough to go to the hospital. The mom’s oxygen level is around 92. It will drop to mid-upper 80s during a coughing spell. But she’s been instructed to take them to the hospital if the level drops below 90 for an extended period of time.
So yeah - I think denial is huge.
And there’s nothing we can do except be a listening ear I suppose.
The word, frustration, still tops my list to describe how I feel.
I’ll be honest, I could not be a listening ear if the other end is not listening at all. I would get online and try and figure out where they can get tested, share that info with them and tell them if they don’t they are risking the health of anyone they get close to outside or in a room with - no matter how big. And I would say that I cannot continue to have a conversation with them if they are going to deny the opportunity to know for sure they don’t have the virus.
It’s harsh, but it’s also life and death or extended health problems.
And yet another denial story. Co-worker down the hall’s boyfriend came down sick/positive on Sunday. They do not live together, but saw him on Wednesday and Saturday. She is in quarantine, but said she would not get tested unless she showed symptoms. She now has lots of congestion and a cough. But yet, another co-worker agrees with her and thinks that it’s probably just a cold. REALLY?
And a county supervisor publicly said in a governmental meeting that he would not abide by our governor’s mandate to keep private social gatherings < 10. He said he would have Christmas with an many people in his house as he could tolerate and they would not wear masks. Our newly elected US Rep is saying the same thing at rallies - opposing tyranny and all that.
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The hospice chaplain who visited my in laws yesterday mentioned that his brother lives in our state and is angry with our Governor’s restrictions. Limiting liberty and all, you know. I told him that H & I consider it our civic responsibility to protect others, and we support our Governor’s efforts. I can’t believe a minister could be so clueless.
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What I have trouble with is that people who won’t wear masks aren’t protecting themselves. If you don’t give a hoot about the next person or if you think their lack of concern is their problem, at least protect yourself.
Sorry, @creekland, about your dilemna.
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I got tested this morning. I asked my doctor to order one for me through the hospital he is affiliated with. He asked me if I had any symptoms, so I said maybe because I was afraid he wouldn’t let me get tested if I said no. He said if I had symptoms then I would need to see an internist because he was my gynecologist. I said no, I just wanted a test so I could get to see my kids and mom. He ordered one for me right away and 5 minutes later I was able to book an appt online for today. I waited for 5 min for the test. I was a bit apprehensive about the test (PCR). It was actually quite painless. The nurse couldn’t have been nicer. She gave me a lot of tips on what to do and not to do. She said I should get my result in 24 hours. I asked them if anyone could come in to get a test. They said they only gave tests to their own patients.
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Lots of the anti-mask people are those who say that COVID-19 is “just a cold” or “just a flu” (along with underestimating the flu), so they may not think that they need to protect themselves (much less others) from it.
So far, no one has been able to reach my aunt or uncle today. Med school lad is going to try again after he eats lunch. He was interviewing this morning and tried right afterward, but no answer.
FWIW, denial isn’t all red vs blue. Both my aunt and uncle despise the current Head Honcho. They just insisted they were “safe” because they were doing everything “right” even though by the other things they told me, they really weren’t. They met with friends often, some of whom didn’t wear masks, etc.
Med school lad - if he gets through to them - will have more “backing” to what he says. He, indeed, knows more than the rest of us and has already gotten that level of trust/respect among my family and friends that good doctors have.
I don’t know if they are busy, sleeping, phones aren’t charged, or what TBH. Could be they’ve just gotten tired of answering too, though we’ve tried not to overload them with calls - at least - I’ve tried. Not sure about sis.
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I saw a tweet today from a physician. It said that most of the positive cases that she sees from people being “careful” are from people who have eaten in restaurants.
.
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My (favorite) Uncle is dead. My guess is Covid. My Aunt never got him help, nor did whoever that blasted “EMT” is. If it wasn’t Covid, he might have been able to be saved, but no one got him real medical help. My Aunt just detailed his last two days to me - all screaming, “GET HELP” to me, but she didn’t - just palliative care.
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Oh @Creekland I am so sorry! So very, very, sorry
Oh no! @Creekland I am so incredibly sorry. How frustrating and gut wrenching. My thoughts are with you
I’m so sorry @Creekland that just stinks.
Hugs to you. Take comfort in your memories.