"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
03/17/2020 at 01:39 • Filed to: None
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"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
03/17/2020 at 01:39 • Filed to: None | 0
| 10 |
I found my digital thermometer and I’m running a 100 degree fever; normally I’m below 98. I’ve got a little headache, a slight sore throat and a bit of a runny nose. I’m wheezing and a little short of breath right now, but I’m hoping to explain that away as being out of shape and having just hauled a bunch of laundry up from the basement; I’m still on blood thinners so I don’t think it’s another pulmonary embolism. I dunno - maybe I’m panicking and reading more into my symptoms that what are actually there because this illness is all I’ve been hearing about for the last few weeks.
My big concern right now is where to get tested. I’m on unemployment and make $80/mo too much to qualify for a low-income medical plan. Sure, the president said that he would push for insurers to cover the cost of testing, which is all great and wonderful, but what about those of us without insurance? I guess in the eyes of some I should just die because I am poor and out of work and should not be given the opportunity to return to being a productive member of society.
I don’t want to go running to the hospital or a clinic without being 100% certain I need to go for fear of catching this disease, assuming that I don’t already have it. I am prepared to camp out at home as necessary, like I’ve been doing for the last month and a half. I’m actually quite content to stay home and do, well, whatever, just as long as I have a solid Internet connection. I probably won’t have to worry about going out on job interviews since I suspect that even if I’m a perfect fit for a job most employers are not going to be doing interviews for the foreseeable future.
I hope my parents will be OK when they return from vacation. They went down to Palau for a diving trip just as all hell started to break loose. They’re in their mid-70s but are in better shape than me, so I suspect that they’ll be fine if they can avoid catching this disease whilst zipping around the world. They were in a hotel for the first few days, and then are going to be on a boat for the next week and a half. With any luck the hygiene conditions will be better on that boat will be better than on cruise ships. Considering where they are, they obviously don’t have any Internet access, so I can’t keep in touch.
I survived cancer and multiple pulmonary embolisms last year and was ready to make a fresh start after being canned for using too much PTO time treating those ailments. Having been through all of that it would be ridiculous if COVID-19 takes me out...
And now, a musical interlude:
BeaterGT
> Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/17/2020 at 02:27 |
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https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
Future Heap Owner
> Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/17/2020 at 02:27 |
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It’s awful that you’re in this situation. I’m sorry for the stress you must be feeling on top of all the stress from the news and stuff.
Based on age, you’re probably gonna be okay even if you’ve got covid-19. Not much to do right now but h unker down and monitor/treat symptoms, and go look for some information on local health authorities or help lines or hospitals where you could call tomorrow to ask about getting tested if you still have that fever (and especially if the shortness of breath keeps up).
Keep us posted! Hope you start feeling better soon.
DipodomysDeserti
> Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/17/2020 at 02:34 |
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If there is Covid 19 in your AO I’d get your ass to a hospital ASAP. You’re already immunocompromised. Depending on your state there are plenty of ways to hustle a hospital out of the bullshit they may try to charge you for. Worry about that later.
The whole reason the rest of us are staying home and tanking our economy is so the most vulnerable among us don’t die.
We all want you to heal up.
Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
> DipodomysDeserti
03/17/2020 at 03:59 |
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I agree with this. Get the medical attention, then once you're in a better position you can recalibrate and gather opinions on the money part.
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DipodomysDeserti
> Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/17/2020 at 04:18 |
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Hospitals are gonna collect whether they save you or not. Might as well make them work for it.
-I do hold a health sciences degree from a major American university with a medical school, and aren’t just some yokel from Arizona.
facw
> Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/17/2020 at 07:20 |
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Don’t have any good answers for you. If you have a primary care doc you can call them and ask for advice, but obviously that doesn’t help you if you need expensive care or testing.
This article seems good, but mainly it indicates that the uninsured are in a terrible place. It does say free testing for the uninsured is included in bill the Democrats have negotiated (Trump has accepted it, but Republican Senators are currently blocking, hopefully it becomes law soon ).
You can call your elected officials and ask for advice or implore them to pass laws that will help as well.
IIRC, a fever of 100 .4 is considered the baseline for stuff being bad, so if you are below that, a wait and see approach might be ok. Some places are recommending Tylenol over NSAIDs for fever, as their are concerns that Advil/Ale vw/etc. might speed infection.
If you are seeing a higher fever I would definitely see a doctor somewhere. Ruinously high medical bills are bad, but probably better than being dead, and there’s a good chance you can get things knocked down later.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/17/2020 at 09:21 |
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At the very least, get tested. A lot of places are setting up drive-through testing facilities. See if you can find one of those. If you can’t, call a physician and discuss your medical history and symptoms. In my opinion, you are at high risk and need the medical care.
Good luck and stay with us.
ST80MND
> Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/17/2020 at 09:53 |
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Jeez bud, thats a hard place to be in. I am pulling for you though, as we gear heads need to stick together. There arent enough of us left to be losing members to Covid because some greedy fuck thinks they arent making enough money (insurance, gov, ect.). I don’t know what I can do from here, but you have my support.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/17/2020 at 10:16 |
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I can’t offer much in the way of medical advice other than saying there are some great suggestions here. I can offer to pray for you in this difficult time . Get well, my friend.
RacinBob
> Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/17/2020 at 14:05 |
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You are cockroach tough, you will make it. Ps My bet is it is not Covid, just a cold or flue. I note for the state of Wisconsin the results are for 551 tests given 504 were negative, 47 positive.
So of all who were tested due to presented symptoms and exposure, 90% had something else or nothing at all, My bet is you will too.
Go take a drive, nobody else is and the gas is cheap!
