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I have so my relatives this virus will either kill or come close to it, my daughter being one of them. I’m breathing, trying to be mindful of the moment in order to keep my anxiety under wraps, but it’s starting to wear thin. Tell me I’m not alone, please.
This just scared the bejeesus out of me.
Too much of the “not much worse than flu” misinformation floating around.
Now I understand the drastic measures and will be glad to be home and safe.
This is some deeply scary shit. I’m an asthmatic, my asthma is very well controlled and I’m in good shape for 72. But I have a history of repeated childhood bronchitis and grew up breathing second hand smoke from a chain-smoking dad and have been exposed to valley fever; I have a couple of pulmonary cysts to prove it. I’m being honest with myself. If I contract Covid-19, I’m starting not to like my chances. The daughters and Mrs Von Holst will be okay, I hope. They are all very healthy, and have no history of lung ailments.
This is the first description of what happens in severe cases that I have read and OMG, absolutely horrifying. If more people knew this, they would sit up and pay attention.
You’re not alone. Nobody can afford to run this risk, we see that. Nobody’s sure to be immune from the worst. And the worst is very, very bad. All you can do is try to avoid it and be lucky if you do get it.
Ever heard of “lies, damn lies and statistics”?
Statistically, this is not far off.
However, dying of lung failure is always dramatic.
At the same time, it’s one thing being knocked out by a virus (flu, corona or any other) and a very different thing dying because simply there were not enough equipment or hospital capacity to treat you.
Statistics are fine until you’re one of the numbers!
Please, please stay home.
I am, for the most part. Only 6 cases in Pima Co. so far. I still go out for walks and take care to wash my hands after coming back inside, the whole personal hygiene bit. But other than that and occasionally going out to pick up prescriptions and food, I’m just hanging around the house.
This is what makes it hard, it’s Spring, the weather is getting nicer, people want to be outside-but together.
I was thinking this morning about on one hand we’re lucky to have the conveniences galore to stay indoors, but then there’s Mother Nature trying to get us outside.
It sounds like the worst case of pneumonia times 100, with blood. Your body, in trying to kill the virus, ends up killing or nearly killing you. Terrifying, and so much for the myth that it mainly kills the very old and infirm. And with the lack of sufficient supplies, ventilators and staff, we’re rapidly approaching catastrophe. All the while the monster occupying the WH whistles and plays his fiddle and whines about how ungrateful we all are. I literally–LITERALLY–hope he gets it. What a fitting end it would be.
Meantime, I received word that my 83 year old father, not generally in he best of health these days, was just admitted to the hospital for unrelated reasons, a kidney infection that’s gone septic. He lives abroad half a world away, and for various reasons I can’t visit him right now, nor will the doctors tell me much for legal reasons, and what friends and relatives he has locally can’t visit him either, for obvious reasons. He recently tested negative for the virus, but a hospital is the best place to catch it, so of course I’m worried. He’s also sedated so I can’t speak to him. It feels like the world is ending, but I guess it depends on your personal situation.
Wishing all and their loved ones well. Stay home. Stay safe. This is a nightmare.
Sounds good. I’m working in the yard and just went for a short walk on a beach with winds approaching gale force. Not quite gale force but a bit much. Really going to limit going even grocery shopping. May do as much as possible online.
Glad to hear Pima has so few cases, but we never know.
This is scary as all hell, and should be posted on every RW site out there. But I am forced to point out that in extremis stories are ALWAYS scary and dramatic. It would help a lot with placing this in context if it were known what percentage of patients were severe.
This is the problem with the lack of testing - we have no way of knowing whether or not these horror cases are one in a thousand, ten in a thousand . . . or more. But this is starting to sound more and more like the '18 virus, which would overwhelm and kill you in a matter of hours.
Yes. Those are confirmed cases, so the actual number is probably higher. I came across this story yesterday which is so tragic in its scope. Gotta get Trump under lock and key and away from those pressers where he spews his misiformation.
(Real) thoughts and (real) prayers go out to you. Keep on being careful.
Jerry
ralph
My friend we have so much in common on the health front with your description,I to have COPD so I can relate to you opinion should you contract this,I was just saying similar things this morning after reading this article.The way it invades the lungs and the degree which is described for the ventilator setting high as possible.SCAREY, TOUCHE !
I wonder if this would have been easier to handle in the dead of winter, when you tend to stay indoors more often, at least in colder climates, and walk outside less. Perhaps it’s rapidly spreading because it’s been getting warmer, but not hot enough yet to kill the virus.
Makes me so very proud of our health care professionals, who are truly the first responders AND the front line in the Trump Pandemic.
Unlike the cowardly craven GOP.
And we have tests Trump assures us…
In strategic shift, doctors in America’s two largest cities are told to skip some coronavirus testing
From CNN’s Wes Bruer, Evan Simko-Bednarski, Arman Azad and Matthew Hilk
Health officials in New York City and Los Angeles County are signaling a change in local strategy when it comes to coronavirus testing, recommending that doctors avoid testing patients except in cases where a test result would significantly change the course of treatment.
A news release from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health this week advised doctors not to test those experiencing only mild respiratory symptoms unless “a diagnostic result will change clinical management or inform public health response.”
The recommendation reflects a “shifting from a strategy of case containment to slowing disease transmission and averting excess morbidity and mortality,” according to the statement.
The guidance said coronavirus testing at L.A. County public health labs will prioritized those with symptoms, health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, paramedics and other high-risk situations. Others are encouraged to simply stay at home.
At about the same time, the New York City Department of Health directed all healthcare facilities to immediately stop testing non-hospitalized patients for Covid-19.
“At this point in the pandemic, demand for unnecessary testing is contributing to the rapidly diminishing supply of PPE and leading to a decreasing supply of swabs and viral transport media used to collect diagnostic specimens for Covid-19 testing,” a statement read. “Testing may play a more significant role after the pandemic has peaked.”
Some context: The strategy shift essentially codifies the reality health departments have been living with for weeks; a shortage of tests and protective equipment amid rising demand and case numbers.
It also puts into practice advice from many of America’s top medical experts, including CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, that a positive test result is not required to treat the symptoms.
Naturally, limiting testing in America’s two largest population centers would also likely lead to widespread under-counting of total cases.
I’ve been thinking about all the dude bros whooping it up down in FL on spring break. When they get back home to the midwest and east coast, I’m hoping they don’t create a rash of new Covid-19 cases.