OT corona testing

Submitted by bighouse1979 on March 15th, 2020 at 7:23 PM

Well my 18 yo son currently has all of the symptoms of corona virus and they told us not to bring him in for testing.  He was at a large event for his high school last weekend in the metro area of Detroit.  I guess we will never know!  I may send him to family Dr for influenza testing tomorrow. 

buddha

March 15th, 2020 at 7:52 PM ^

In what has transpired this week, I can only imagine what will occur by March 22 and March 29. With the scarcity of available, reliable tests, and the encouragement of state governors urging individuals to avoid hospitals altogether, this is gonna get real bad real fast.

Current estimates around incidence, etc are completely bogus.

pdgoblue25

March 15th, 2020 at 9:41 PM ^

Just curious what stupid comment you had when swine flu killed 1000 people before a national emergency was declared?  One was was declared here after 40 people died.  Stop playing fucking politics with this, we are all in it together.  I would instead question how long China was probably trying to cover this up before they were forced to come forward with it. 

blue in dc

March 15th, 2020 at 10:58 PM ^

if you really mean we should stop fucking playing politics, it works better when you don’t make political points.   
 

if you are going to make a political point then try to make one that is valid.   By almost every measure except for impact on young people, Coronavirus-19 is significantly worse.   It is significantly more lethal.   With regards to testing, Dr Fausi himself has acknowledged significant failure.    The president himself literally said “I don’t take responsibility at all“.

Contrast that to swine flu where the US was a world leader in ensuring there was adequate testing.

The CDC's summary report of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic outlines how tests were administered at the time. The virus was first detected in the US on April 15. The CDC informed the World Health Organization about initial cases April 18. A test to detect this strain of swine flu was developed by the CDC and cleared for use 10 days later, on April 28, and the CDC began shipping tests across the US and around the world on May 1.

with regards to the declaration of national emergency, Obama declared a public health emergency less than 2 weeks after the swine flu was first discovered in California.

 

blue in dc

March 16th, 2020 at 12:29 AM ^

Not sure what liberal propaganda you are referring to.    The fact that Trump has made multiple huge misstatements about this issue are a matter if public record.   Dr’s who work for him acknowledge the screwups in testing.   None of this is coming from liberal propaganda.  It is straight out of their mouths.

1VaBlue1

March 16th, 2020 at 1:02 PM ^

Refer to 'Blue in DC's' post regarding the swine flu outbreak.  It was handled very differently from this one - much more successfully.  I stated objective fact, backed up by the actual words out of the mouth's of Trump, Fauci, Azar, and Redfield.

But yeah, you keep blaming someone else.

Wolverine862

March 15th, 2020 at 7:59 PM ^

My wife got her wisdom teeth out thursday and the office had a sign on the door warning away anyone with signs of COVID-19.  If you think he has it, treat the symptoms and only take him in for a test once its wide spread or if the symptoms worsen

 

ann.arbor.lover

March 15th, 2020 at 8:28 PM ^

Take Tylenol for the fever, and Mucinex for the cough. For Tylenol, DO NOT EXCEED the maximal daily dosage. Drink plenty of water. Eat fresh fruits with lots of vitamin C (citrus, apples, berries).

Hope your son feel better soon. He will get through this, as he is young and has a strong immune system. 

Don

March 15th, 2020 at 9:34 PM ^

There is no clinically proven demonstration that oral vitamin C supplements will do anything to ward off coronavirus, or reduce the severity of its symptoms.

There are clinical trials currently examining IV dosing of vitamin C, but there are no results yet, and the concentrations of vitamin C involved in IV dosing are far greater than you'd be able to take orally.

MGOBLUEDO

March 15th, 2020 at 8:34 PM ^

All hospitals and offices will turn you away - if anyone has symptoms of COVID your supposed to stay home and treat like a cold and self quarantine. The ED is only for pts needing admission for shortness of breath, high respiratory at risk with pneumonia and ARDS. 
 

Beaumont is going to have drive thru testing soon also.

 

bronxblue

March 15th, 2020 at 8:43 PM ^

Yeah, echoing what others have said, there's no reason to go to the hospital unless you have to.  The tests, at best, confirm something you can't treat, and just expose your son and others to COVID-19 as well as other diseases.  

At this point just treat him locally and, hopefully, he'll recover quickly.

Harlick

March 15th, 2020 at 9:23 PM ^

Do not go to the doctors office!!!!  The doctors office and all of the staff will have to close and self quarenteen for 2 weeks.   Do not do that!

Jimmyisgod

March 15th, 2020 at 9:23 PM ^

Very limited number of tests available. So you’re going to have to exhibit fever, a few other symptoms, and have trouble breathing to get tested.  There’s only 75000 tests nationwide and no more coming for several weeks.  

pdxblue

March 15th, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^

I'll just put this out there.  I read the board but don't post a whole lot and I don't read them all the time.   For background, I am an ER doc who also does a little bit of public health work.  Here's my 2 cents.

-  This thing is a real problem and the mortality rate for patients over 60 is significant.  My friends in Seattle are getting crushed and we are about 2 weeks behind.  It is more than the flu, but it's not a Michael Crichton novel.

-  "Flattening the curve" will reduce peak load on the healthcare system but may not reduce the total number of people infected.  There is actually debate if closing schools helps or hurts but overall social distancing does seem to help.  We should plan on continued social distancing for a while (at least 8 weeks).

-  Testing is really important for public health monitoring purposes.  My public health side wants to know where it is, how easy it is transmitted, and the true case fatality rate.

-  Testing doesn't help me take care of patients.  There is no specific treatment for COVID19 and management is basically supportive. Patients with any resp virus can get sick quickly, especially the elderly.  If you test positive and have a viral respiratory infection, you should stay home and isolate yourself and practice safe hygiene.   If you test negative and have a viral respiratory infection, you should stay home and isolate yourself and practice safe hygiene.  

-  You should go to the emergency dept if you have difficulty breathing or have chest pain - always.  You should not go to (or call) the ED just because you are worried that you have COVID-19.

-  BTW, flu season has picked back up.  There are lots of resp illnesses going around.

-  This is all going to pass and we'll all come up for air.  Don't panic and don't hoard.

Go Blue
 

bighouse1979

March 15th, 2020 at 10:48 PM ^

I totally agree with the testing aspect, I feel that as citizens we should really know what’s out there.  All these numbers floating around are simply guessing, as an educated individual I’m not sure how anyone can make these serious decisions based on guesses and what if’s.  I’m sure my family will be fine, my wife is an amazing nurse and can care for her son.  

BlueMarrow

March 15th, 2020 at 10:44 PM ^

That's what they are suggesting in Vancouver, too. Gateway from the Far East. The reality is that this bug has a huge penetrance to everyone, VERY low threat to the otherwise healthy, and high threat to the compromised. It's that simple. Bank on it. 

Cruzcontrol75

March 15th, 2020 at 11:26 PM ^

BEAUMONT CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE

Beaumont created a COVID-19 hotline248-551-7000, staffed by Beaumont nurses and staff seven days a week. The hotline is a community resource for timely, accurate information about COVID-19 symptoms and virtual screening for people who are experiencing symptoms. The line is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Beaumont nurses and staff will answer questions about the virus and direct patients to the appropriate level of care including:

  • Treating symptoms at home.
  • Following up with a primary doctor.
  • Seeking treatment at an urgent care or emergency center.

Please do not call the hotline unless you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, please call 911.

Durham Blue

March 16th, 2020 at 12:42 AM ^

I believe I may have had CoV-19 but I will never know because I wasn't tested for it.  I live in Durham, NC and took my 2.5 year old daughter to an indoor playground on Feb. 28 where I think I picked it up.

On March 4 and 5 I had what felt like a fairly typical sore throat which went away by March 6.  I felt fine pretty much all day on March 6 and then Sat. March 7 is when the fever hit me, along with a cough.  That night my temperature was a touch above 102F.  Same on Sunday.  I felt very physically fatigued.  This was the worst part of the illness.  I went to the doctor on Monday, March 9 and he tested for flu -- negative.  His opinion was that I didn't have CoV because my cough had been productive (different colors of yellow, green and brown).  Sinuses were very dry with thick mucous accumulated each morning that I had to work out with various methods.

Long story short, I am just about 100% now.  Not so cool story, bro, but I thought I'd share it because it falls in line with the medical system not testing me.  I guess they would if I was put on a breathing machine in the hospital.

JDeanAuthor

March 16th, 2020 at 6:49 AM ^

First, prayers for your son and your family.

Second, the good news is that, for your son, he’s pretty low risk, so take care of him per the other advice and he should be fine. 

Cruzcontrol75

March 16th, 2020 at 8:21 AM ^

MDHHS has launched a statewide hotline (1-888-535-6136) to respond to health-related questions about coronavirus disease. The hotline is now open. Public health and other experts will answer health-related questions about COVID-19.

parkjam

March 16th, 2020 at 9:56 AM ^

If you, or anyone else thinks they need to see a doctor, you can always use a virtual visit. Ascension is offering a discount right now through March to keep people out of doctor's offices and urgent care centers and away from sick people.

 

Take Advantage of Ascension Online Care Visits in March

  • Ascension is offering access to virtual care visits through Ascension Online Care at a discounted rate.
  • Throughout the month of March, use of Ascension Online Care will be provided at a $20 cost with the use of coupon code: HOME via the app.
  • Please share this discount code with your friends and neighbors as we work to expand the ability for people to receive care in the convenience and comfort of their own home.

Jimmyisgod

March 16th, 2020 at 1:25 PM ^

Bottom line, showing symptoms?  You aren't getting tested unless you are in 1 of 3 groups:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/clinical-criteria.html

  1. Hospitalized patients who have signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in order to inform decisions related to infection control.
  2. Other symptomatic individuals such as, older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions and/or an immunocompromised state that may put them at higher risk for poor outcomes (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, receiving immunosuppressive medications, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease).
  3. Any persons including healthcare personnel2, who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact3 with a suspect or laboratory-confirmed4 COVID-19 patient, or who have a history of travel from affected geographic areas5 (see below) within 14 days of their symptom onset.

Good luck.