"Anybody that wants a test can get a test"

"Dr_Watson" (dr_watson)
04/07/2020 at 18:33 • Filed to: None

I hope that’s the soundbite hill he dies on in November. Like ”read my lips, no new taxes”. Or the ACA favorite “if you like your plan you can keep it”.

Wife has been symptomatic since Thursday - 100 degree fever, aches, started a dry cough today. I started the same symptoms on Sunday. Neither of us are able to get a test. The kicker is that my wife is an RN getting ready to start on at a skilled nursing facility (they’re holding her job until her quarantine period is over thankfully). You’d think a medical professional about to be surrounded by the vulnerable elderly would be able to get tested... Nope.

So, Buffalo has 1,234 confirmed cases as of today. But that number is obviously a joke. About the only way to get tested here is to be in the ER on o2, be famous, or currently working in the ICU.

And now. Have a puppy to pallet cleanse.

DISCUSSION (36)

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 18:49

Definitely that way all over. Hospitals are soon going to declare bankruptcy. Surgeons are out of work because no elective procedures. Nurses are getting pay cuts because hospitals aren’t making money, since they can’t bill for the corona. There’s no benefit for them to test anyone more than they have to.

CB > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 18:52

Fuck dude, all the best to you and your wife. Stay safe and take care.

Svend > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 18:52

My step-father tested positive nearly two weeks ago, they discharged him (he’s asymptomatic) today after doing a second test, but his results don’t come back until tomorrow, so I’ve got to self isolate for two weeks now he’s home.

But ye’, getting tests and equipment for nurses is hard and it really shouldn’t be.

I hope your both okay, get well soon . A colleague rode it out with lots of paracetamol and plenty of fluids.

412GTI > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 18:53

Get well and hope you and your wife’s recovery isn’t too difficult. I’ve read a lot about how many people can’t get tested yet my brother (D.C) & Aunt (Pittsburgh) were both able to be tested with only mild symptoms. It’s just a massive clusterfuck.

wafflesnfalafel > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 18:54

N ow if only you’d planned ahead and joined the NBA... (seriously, positive thoughts in your direction sir)

WilliamsSW > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 18:55

Yikes. Take care of yourselves. Hope you recover quickly.

The line from Cheeto boy is utter bullshit — but I am surprised your wife couldn’t get tested. Around Chicago they have several sites doing walk up testing IF you’re a medical professional. Or I think elderly and showing symptoms. But that’s it.

Dr_Watson > CB
04/07/2020 at 18:56

Thanks, we seem lucky and young enough to have mild symptoms. Not the horror show where you go from fever to can't breathe in a day.

Dr_Watson > 412GTI
04/07/2020 at 18:57

Pretty sure we may be also getting shafted by being in the same state as NYC. All the resources are going downstate.

just-a-scratch > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 19:00

Take care and get well, both of you.

Dr_Watson > WilliamsSW
04/07/2020 at 19:00

I think the big roadblock is that NYC sucks all the air out of the room. The second largest city in NY rarely gets any love. Chicago however is the anchor for Illinois.

Under_Score > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/07/2020 at 19:01

This is gonna sound wrong, but why can’t hospitals bill for Corona? Never knew that.

Dr_Watson > wafflesnfalafel
04/07/2020 at 19:03

I bet the Sabres have all been tested and those losers aren't even going to the playoffs!

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 19:04

We’re having similar issues locally. Our Governor said something similar equally if not more dumb and as a result our hospitals were overrun on monday. We had to tell people that they still need to call ahead and turn hundreds away. Thats not how it works right now.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 19:11

Man, I hope you can get a test so you can get the care you need if need be....good luck and stay safe mate.

Also, Aussie Sheps are awesometacular puppers.

facw > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 19:16

Shit man, get well.

As for Trump, there are so many choices:

Manny05x > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 19:20

Cardi B was right for shaming the celebs on the testing. I hope you and your wife recover in good health after this.

jminer > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 19:25

I have a friend that ended up going to the ER and had fairly nasty pneumonia and all other symptoms. . He’s healthy mid-30s and no risk factors so they wouldn’t test him either. Pumped him full of antibiotics and sent him home.

Dr_Watson > jminer
04/07/2020 at 19:29

Fuck man. This thing is a shit show.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Under_Score
04/07/2020 at 19:33

I was a bit over dramatic. What I mean is that hospitals are at the mercy to the insurance companies if the patient is insured.

https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200330.353921/full/

This isn’t the most direct article, but the first few paragraphs help cover it. The Bill just passed basically says that insurance must cover Corona issues and not balance-bill patients. The missing part in that statement is that hospitals are receiving, as payment, whatever it is that the insurance companies want to pay them. Which is less than, or equal to, the finite costs of treatment and doesn’t cover overhead etc. Which makes it hard to keep the lights on.

If you’re uninsured, yeah you’re fucked, but you were anyway.

Under_Score > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/07/2020 at 19:51

If hospitals want a pessimistic yet financially positive outlook, a lot of poorer (likely uninsured) people are getting more severe coronavirus cases than wealthier people.

dumpsterfire! > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 20:03

Sorry you guys are feeling ill and I hope it passes uneventfully. The rules for testing (currently) at my Colorado hospital are still based on the state public health guidelines based on your exposure and risk factors. I literally can't offer testing to generally healthy adults who are symptomatic unless they meet one of 7 criteria. The treatment is still the same- go home, rest, hydrate, and come back if you are short of breath. Feel better.

WilliamsSW > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 20:12

I’m sure you’re right about that.

Last week I saw there were 4 open drive through test facilities in the country, and 3 are within a 25 minute drive of me.

The test is unpleasant (through the nose and down your throat) but necessary.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to both of you!

jminer > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 20:20

It definitely is.

In response to your post about this sticking with the pres I’m not hopeful. This administration has operated on like 17 lies a week since the campaign and like 35% of the country still blindly supports him.

I had a co-worker today tell me Fox news said we’ve crested the hill and it’ll all get better soon. I do live in a state that 68% voted for him but still...

Dr_Watson > dumpsterfire!
04/07/2020 at 20:22

It's crazy how bad our dataset for this is due to our testing regimen. The models and projections must have giant assumptions built into them. I read the death numbers aren't even accurate because we aren't testing people that die at home.

Textured Soy Protein > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 20:42

My 96 year old grandma is in a nursing home outside Chicago. She’s got pneumonia, no fever, and there are confirmed covid cases in the facility so they’re on outbreak protocol. She’s confined to her room and gets checked on 3x daily by employees in full PPE. But, she hasnt been tested. My mom has power of attorney over her, and seems to think that she might be able to get one if she specifically asked the doctor for it. But she hasn’t because either way they’re treating grandma the same way and only going to bring her to a hospital if she gets worse. Fucking hell man.

Thomas Donohue > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 20:44

Sorry to hear. Same deal here in NJ.

My nephew works for a pharma-type company that does the pickup/delivery (and some in-house lab testing) of clinical test specimens for all kinds of medical work, and now including COVID-19 samples . He’s a supervisor but when his drivers call in sick or when they get busy, he does pickups as well. They basically hit 20+ hospitals, Doctors offices , medical centers each day. So sure enough some of the drivers got sick and then h e got sick about 10 days ago. He couldn’t get a test. Stayed home for seven days, finally felt a lot better. They then called him into work because they were so busy.....insanity....he said something to his boss and the next day they had two nurses out front, anyone with 99 degrees or higher is not allowed in t he building or allowed to drive the routes. But still none of them tested , and they work for ( and pickup samples for) an affiliate of one of the testing companies. You’d think they have an inside line to a test, but no.

Insanity. But hey..... “ anyone who wants one can get one. We have the best test. Humongous amounts of tests, tests unlike anyone has ever seen.* ”

(* that’s the true part....hardly anyone has seen one!!!)

AkursedX > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 20:46

Buffalo huh? I’ll have to keep an eye out for a red TT! But yeah, even ‘essential’ people are running into issues getting tested. I work as a first responder and we have people sick out of work and for everyone who has been confirmed positive, there is about 4-5 who more than likely have it and are out sick and having no luck getting a test.

Chariotoflove > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 20:57

Great pupper. Here’s hoping his owners recover quickly.

Dr_Watson > Thomas Donohue
04/07/2020 at 20:59

“ clinical test specimens for all kinds of medical work”

Reminds me... I bet we're still wasting lab space on cannabis testing.

Dr_Watson > AkursedX
04/07/2020 at 21:06

Eesh... I saw Polencarz say the other day that even if we did have tests the Erie county lab only as the bandwidth to do 100/day. The data from this pandemic is going to be so flawed.

On the other note I'm easy to spot. I ran a VIN search on the DMV when I got the car (shipped in from CA) in August and there's only one other mk3 TT RS in the county. Unfortunately it adds confusion because it is also red. However it lives in east Aurora so I've never seen it around.

DipodomysDeserti > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 21:17

Good luck to you. Watching my nieces tomorrow while my sister takes virtual practicals for her DNP. When not in school she’s working in a Covid unit. I’m assuming we’ll all be or get exposed on account of her having to reuse her N95 every shift.

Dr_Watson > DipodomysDeserti
04/07/2020 at 21:36

Shit. Here's to everyone getting through this.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 21:36

My friends wife is nurse manager in RI and the testing is com plet ly a joke. One day the hospital gets a whole bunch of test kits, the next day none, so do they use them, ration them?

do you use them on marginal folks, or dead 80 year old that was hacking a lung, so your area looks worse (and you can get more kits) , since the government doesn’t give a shit about getting around to the general population.

XJDano > facw
04/07/2020 at 21:52

I don’t talk much politics.....

So I’ll just say, NO. Just, NO.

DipodomysDeserti > Dr_Watson
04/07/2020 at 22:29

Salud!

Thomas Donohue > Dr_Watson
04/08/2020 at 11:09

So many other ways to test it!