Good Thoughts/Prayers For Sam Of Practical Solutions
- Thread starter A&S Conversions
- Start date
rybread
UZI Talk Life Member,
Yahoo! He replied to a PS email yesterday intended for Tina so he was well enough to try to work! That’s great news, tell him to rest up- got a few more to pitch in and will send them another gift card on Wednesday.
Thank you so much to everyone for your prayers, good thoughts, positive energies, gift cards, etc. They are more appreciated than you know. Sam has read everyone’s kinds words and well wishes and he is humbled and thankful for the support of the UziTalk community. Sam loves what he does and he genuinely enjoys supporting you guys by helping to keep your guns running, outfitted with parts and accessories and answering questions.
I have a lot to write, but I’m kind of at a loss for words. I’ve never been in this situation before and therefore I am unsure how to appropriately respond. I feel like no matter what I write, it will not be enough to convey how truly grateful we are to all of you. It’s at a time like this that you realize just how big of a support system you have. These times are crazy. People appear to be hateful and divided, but this circumstance proves otherwise. People do care for and want to help their fellow man.
Again, and a million times, thank you all.
t
Covid details and back story below:
Sam contracted Covid from my daughter and her husband when they came down to visit from Maryland. They unknowingly brought Covid with them. Sam was sick in bed 11 days before we finally took him to the ER. He had every “classic” Covid symptom with shortness of breath being the last and final symptom that prompted the ER visit. We had done a tele-visit with a physician about ½ way thru and taken him to a Covid clinic the day before the ER visit. The Covid clinic tested him, looked at his resting blood O2 level and listened to his lungs, then sent us home after saying he’d get better. So when he was even worse the next day, I took him to the ER whereby they admitted him for “Covid induced viral pneumonia.” He was there 3.5 days before they sent him home feeling much better and with a steroid for his lungs as the only remaining treatment. This morning he came into the shop for about an hour because there were 2 things he “had” to do and he is resting at home now.
There is a lot of mystery surrounding Covid and I want to offer some things I’ve learned. I am going to try not to be political or offer personal opinions that might be controversial. I just want to maybe help someone that might one day be dealing with Covid in their own personal lives.
1. The tests are only about 67% reliable. Sam took a total of 3 Covid tests. The hospital did 2 Covid tests. Both of which were negative. The test done at the clinic came back positive. So Sam had 2 false negative tests.
2. General doctors (PCP’s) and nurse practitioners do not necessarily know what they are doing when it comes to Covid. Sam was prescribed a Zpak (which seemed to help) by an on-call doctor who was genuinely trying to help. Three days later, Sam then saw a nurse practitioner that tested him and listened to his lungs which sounded clear. What she did not do was even mention a chest x-ray (at which point we would have agreed to) and she didn’t monitor his blood O2 while he was moving around. If she had, she would have seen right away that something was wrong.
3. Because Covid and its treatments are so new, different hospitals and medical systems have their own procedures and guidelines for how they are proceeding/escalating with treating Covid. For example in our area (East Tennessee) they are not prescribing HCQ or any of the Covid treatments at the PCP/clinic level, only the hospitals are doing such. Sam was at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. There, they are only prescribing HCQ to those that are not very sick. Sam was beyond what they believed HCQ could help, additionally, they are finding that HCQ can cause heart problems in Covid patients. Convalescent plasma and Remdesivir were also discussed, but Sam wasn’t sick enough for either of these and each of them had their own side effects, Remdesivir, for example, can be damaging to the liver. So in the end they took a conservative approach to his treatment and only gave him supplemental O2 and steroids.
4. A total of 4 people got sick out of the 7 people that were together all weekend. My daughter and her husband (both 27 and healthy) both got very sick for several days. Her husband is now fully recovered, but my daughter is still overcoming a few of her symptoms. I also developed mild symptoms which are almost entirely gone. The last was Sam and we know how that turned out.
5. Covid symptoms can last for days and days and days with no improvement. For example, Sam and my daughter both had fevers for probably 7-8 days. I know there are stories of people only feeling bad for 1-2 days with Covid, but in our experience the symptoms can last for a really long time.
6. The last thing I want to say is if you or someone you know comes down with Covid symptoms, please take it seriously. I’m not saying to rush out and get tested, I don’t care about that part. But, what I do care about is that the scary part of Covid – the potential lung issues – can creep up on you, even if you are paying attention. My advice is to go to the local drug store and buy a pulse oximeter and monitor your blood O2 level. If it drops below 94, there is a problem and you need to see a doctor and have a chest x-ray done to see if pneumonia is present.
That’s my 2 cents worth, take it or leave. Again thanks to everyone and I hope you and yours stay safe and healthy.
t
I have a lot to write, but I’m kind of at a loss for words. I’ve never been in this situation before and therefore I am unsure how to appropriately respond. I feel like no matter what I write, it will not be enough to convey how truly grateful we are to all of you. It’s at a time like this that you realize just how big of a support system you have. These times are crazy. People appear to be hateful and divided, but this circumstance proves otherwise. People do care for and want to help their fellow man.
Again, and a million times, thank you all.
t
Covid details and back story below:
Sam contracted Covid from my daughter and her husband when they came down to visit from Maryland. They unknowingly brought Covid with them. Sam was sick in bed 11 days before we finally took him to the ER. He had every “classic” Covid symptom with shortness of breath being the last and final symptom that prompted the ER visit. We had done a tele-visit with a physician about ½ way thru and taken him to a Covid clinic the day before the ER visit. The Covid clinic tested him, looked at his resting blood O2 level and listened to his lungs, then sent us home after saying he’d get better. So when he was even worse the next day, I took him to the ER whereby they admitted him for “Covid induced viral pneumonia.” He was there 3.5 days before they sent him home feeling much better and with a steroid for his lungs as the only remaining treatment. This morning he came into the shop for about an hour because there were 2 things he “had” to do and he is resting at home now.
There is a lot of mystery surrounding Covid and I want to offer some things I’ve learned. I am going to try not to be political or offer personal opinions that might be controversial. I just want to maybe help someone that might one day be dealing with Covid in their own personal lives.
1. The tests are only about 67% reliable. Sam took a total of 3 Covid tests. The hospital did 2 Covid tests. Both of which were negative. The test done at the clinic came back positive. So Sam had 2 false negative tests.
2. General doctors (PCP’s) and nurse practitioners do not necessarily know what they are doing when it comes to Covid. Sam was prescribed a Zpak (which seemed to help) by an on-call doctor who was genuinely trying to help. Three days later, Sam then saw a nurse practitioner that tested him and listened to his lungs which sounded clear. What she did not do was even mention a chest x-ray (at which point we would have agreed to) and she didn’t monitor his blood O2 while he was moving around. If she had, she would have seen right away that something was wrong.
3. Because Covid and its treatments are so new, different hospitals and medical systems have their own procedures and guidelines for how they are proceeding/escalating with treating Covid. For example in our area (East Tennessee) they are not prescribing HCQ or any of the Covid treatments at the PCP/clinic level, only the hospitals are doing such. Sam was at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. There, they are only prescribing HCQ to those that are not very sick. Sam was beyond what they believed HCQ could help, additionally, they are finding that HCQ can cause heart problems in Covid patients. Convalescent plasma and Remdesivir were also discussed, but Sam wasn’t sick enough for either of these and each of them had their own side effects, Remdesivir, for example, can be damaging to the liver. So in the end they took a conservative approach to his treatment and only gave him supplemental O2 and steroids.
4. A total of 4 people got sick out of the 7 people that were together all weekend. My daughter and her husband (both 27 and healthy) both got very sick for several days. Her husband is now fully recovered, but my daughter is still overcoming a few of her symptoms. I also developed mild symptoms which are almost entirely gone. The last was Sam and we know how that turned out.
5. Covid symptoms can last for days and days and days with no improvement. For example, Sam and my daughter both had fevers for probably 7-8 days. I know there are stories of people only feeling bad for 1-2 days with Covid, but in our experience the symptoms can last for a really long time.
6. The last thing I want to say is if you or someone you know comes down with Covid symptoms, please take it seriously. I’m not saying to rush out and get tested, I don’t care about that part. But, what I do care about is that the scary part of Covid – the potential lung issues – can creep up on you, even if you are paying attention. My advice is to go to the local drug store and buy a pulse oximeter and monitor your blood O2 level. If it drops below 94, there is a problem and you need to see a doctor and have a chest x-ray done to see if pneumonia is present.
That’s my 2 cents worth, take it or leave. Again thanks to everyone and I hope you and yours stay safe and healthy.
t
Thank you Tina for that update. That is really good insight. You both are a real asset and great friends to us here. Godspeed on the recovery.
This C19 is weird stuff. I've had more than a few friends and neighbors get it. It's real. My sister in law's family got it. It ravaged her husband and 1 daughter while she and her 2nd daughter were unaffected. In almost every case, it's like a tornado. It levels some houses and doesn't touch others.
I hope all of our friends here keep healthy and safe.
This C19 is weird stuff. I've had more than a few friends and neighbors get it. It's real. My sister in law's family got it. It ravaged her husband and 1 daughter while she and her 2nd daughter were unaffected. In almost every case, it's like a tornado. It levels some houses and doesn't touch others.
I hope all of our friends here keep healthy and safe.
OldBesty
Well-known member
Thank you for taking time to share your family's recent events. It is informative and helpful.
From your descriptions, it sounds that Sam is on the proper therapies, and he should be in good very hands at UTMC Knoxville. The systemic steroids help to ameliorate the inflammatory process caused by the viral infection in the lungs and other organs.
Wishing you, Sam, and your family strength in your recovery and quick return to normalcy.
From your descriptions, it sounds that Sam is on the proper therapies, and he should be in good very hands at UTMC Knoxville. The systemic steroids help to ameliorate the inflammatory process caused by the viral infection in the lungs and other organs.
Wishing you, Sam, and your family strength in your recovery and quick return to normalcy.
JohnFreeman
UZI Talk Supporter
Thank you for taking the time to write and share your experience with C19. It sounds like things are slowly getting better . I had pneumonia when I was in my mid 20's. It was no treat then and it took weeks to get through.
We're pulling for Sam and the rest of your family
We're pulling for Sam and the rest of your family
- Status
Please Visit our Sister Sites Below
Please consider becoming an UZI Talk Supporter