My brother-in-law died in February of pneumonia after “flu.”. Today it occurred to me to wonder, how do we know it wasn’t Covid-19? I guess we’ll never know.
I’m sorry about your brother-in-law, @Singswimsew. If he was hospitalized for flu, they probably did a flu test on him. If he tested positive for flu, then got pneumonia, he probably died of the flu.
Well, plenty of people DO die of the flu. COVID has everyone’s attention, but other infectious diseases carry on as always.
Sorry for your loss. It hurts just as much no matter the cause.
Yes, my dad died in February. He did have pneumonia and other conditions. Because they did several xrays and did treat him for pneumonia and did multiple beskside imaging so I’m pretty sure he didn’t have COVID-19 or similar.
My husband had a doctors appointment yesterday. Retinologist (FYI he does not like going to this specialist). Never thought about not going. The office was very careful and other than the fact that they have to dilate his eyes, husband was very happy. He would not hesitate to go again. Not for the careful nature of the office due to COVID response at least.
I really need a new glasses prescription. I don’t know how they do this exam while social distancing. I’m not thrilled about it, but my eyeballs hurt every night from the strain of an inadequate prescription.
DH also needs an eye exam. I guess we’ll just have to suck it up, wear a mask, and hope for the best.
DH broke his glasses in late March. Still waiting for Costco Optical to re-open so he can get them fixed or replaced.
My regular dentist sent an email today saying they are not yet opening for routine care. Stay tuned.
My periodontist, OTOH is opening June 1, and that’s when my appointment there is scheduled.
@BunsenBurner our orthopedic offices in CT were open for emergency visits…and that would include a potential fracture or something of that nature. It’s a huge practice with multiple offices and I think only one had emergency hours. They are resuming some regular visits now, and elective surgery will resume in June. Did you make a choice not to be seen, or was there no option to be seen?
I have to add…I liked my telehealth visit with my PCP and really hope she continues these for these six month rechecks like I have. Blood work is sent to her, and there really isn’t a need for me to go in.
@thumper1. As long as the insurance companies will pay, then it will be an option. Once they stop. Hello doc ?.
If you are the first one there, then you have less to worry about other patients who may bring the virus in and leave it in the air or on surfaces. But you and the staff still need to be concerned about each other being asymptomatically contagious.
I’m an afternoon appointment. This is a very vigilant place even without CV 19. They are taking time between each patient to disinfect. And they say they have sufficient PPE for their staff.
I’ve got an eye appointment for next week! (IL)
Similar here: periodontist put me on the list for mid-June because I’m “not emergency but will become bad if we wait too long” or some similar phrasing. Eye doctor not open yet but my eyes really need a checkup. I’m willing to postpone my skin check and gyn exam … indefinitely, but apparently they don’t think that’s wise.
@thumper1 - you would not believe how bad it was here; even cancer patients could not get their scheduled treatments. It was A complete chaos- all because PPE was in very short supply. Forget about a stress fracture… no, I did not have an option to see a specialist, and a visit to the ER was out of question. So limping along until I can.
My best friend is an optometrist, recalled to work this week. There is no social distancing for an eye exam. Just masks for dr. and patient and lots of wiping down between patients.
D has eye appt tomorrow TX
We are in TN, our eye doctor never closed his office during the shut down. My college age daughter went last week for her eye appointment. Doctor wore a mask, she didn’t, everything was sanitized and she seemed to be the only patient taken back during her appointment.
We have relative who is dentist who is having difficulty acquiring N95 masks so he is hopping for help from his local, state and national dental assns. Really tough for folks to try to get their own masks at a fair price.
I watched a fascinating webinar yesterday on how Israel combatted covid from a look at what Hadassah hospital did. The link to watch the webinar seems to be mine only as it is registrant specific but if anyone wants to watch it let me know i can try to see how the public can access it.
Some things Hadassah hospital did was: having space and beds available for covid patients, mandatory testing of hospital staff every 5 days, wearing a badge displaying one’s result, childcare for workers, masked up music therapy, sodastream made oxygen delivery systems, patients wearing biometric sort of watches so staff can collect some info on a constant basis with telemedicine, plasma retrieval and donation, and trials with drugs blocking IL 6, and of course back in April there was a strict lockdown in Israel in which one wasnt even allowed to leave their home.
I forgot to watch it if it was the one from Technion…agh. I have been following what Israel has been doing for awhile now. It’s pretty cool the technology they have to combat this and just about anything. Their healthcare system is really amazing.