I have had one computer-linked doctor visit (totally facilitated by my daughter. I haven't a clue.) It felt very Twilight Zone, but we did accomplish what we needed to.

I have a long-standing appointment to see the guy who did my shoulder surgery back in February, scheduled for tomorrow. I just now called to be sure it was still on. They assured me that they had sent notices to me about that (we have NOT received a notice) and that we will have a video conference tomorrow morning.

My daughter assures me that she has the "patient portal" thing all hooked up and ready to go.

I have not felt this stupid or incapable since I took my last required math class, more than half-a century ago, and I don't like it one bit.

How are you all faring in this department?

How do they do temp/weight/blood pressure?
More importantly, how do they, you know? check? cough...

We have been self-reporting blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen saturation levels because we have monitors for all of those things. The doctors seem to appreciate this contribution.

DH was hospitalized for three days with pneumonia back in February, before coronavirus was "a thing," and we wonder now whether that's what he actually had. He was very sick and very weak. Whatever it was, he didn't give it to me.

Catnip, I hope you are both able to get antibody tests. I think it is important you know if your Hubby had it.

Sus, DH reminded me that I was sick for a few days after he got home. (My memory is getting spotty sometimes.) I don't remember this at all, but he said that I had a fever and was achy for two to three days right after he got home from the hospital.

Once the pandemic is over and the general need for testing is over, it would be a good idea for us to be tested for antibodies.

Maybe we have had it already and just aren't sure. Staggering idea.

catnip Wrote:
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> Maybe we have had it already and just aren't sure.
> Staggering idea.

But OTOH, good in that you will then likely have antibodies and you both made it through.

Here in Canada there is a self-assessment tool so we can check out any symptoms we may have and get general instructions on how to proceed depending on the most current information and medical advice. It's just an online tool, not connected to medical personnel and not meant as specific individual medical advice.

Maybe you have something similar that would be informative.

I was surprised that they include sore throat as a potential symptom of CV9 - I hadn't heard that one. I've had a raging sore throat all week, worst sore throat I've ever had, but I kept saying "it's not a symptom of the virus". On this assessment tool in the intro it is indeed listed as a possible indicator.

It would be ideal if each of us knew our status. It would be interesting and useful to know if we may have antibodies. Also, our level of concern for our own safety could rachet down a bit if we know we've had it.

I think mine is just a bad cold that is lingering. I should likely take some vitamins. But it can be tricky to differentiate common symptoms of a regular upper respiratory tract infection (cold) from Covid-19. Up til recently I've been going by level of severity. However, as we now know, people with CV can have mild symptoms that require no specific medical care or can even be asymptomatic and not know they've got it (but they would still be contagious to others).

The self-assessment survey gave me the instructions to stay home. Yeah, I knew that! It's hard to be 100% unselfish when it's so inconvenient to not be able to pop out to the shops for oneself. But if you ask yourself how many people, and who, would I want to cause to fall ill that makes it clear what you should choose to do.

Looks like I am going to have an exceptionally quiet Easter weekend.

That's OK. I don't mind that. In fact, it would ordinarily be one of my greatest wishes, to have days on end of clear space to just chill. But when it's mandated, suddenly it loses its appeal.

Humans are ever destined to be contrarians I guess.

Meanwhile, take it easy everybody. And Happy Easter. Wah, maybe no chocolate for me unless the Bunny drops by.

That is the kicker with this is that so many are asymptomatic or have mild or less common symptoms. Many don't have GI problems, some do. Some have sore throats, others don't. Hubby and I both had colds with sore throats, he kicked it in 7-10 days, I took 5 weeks. Now I am having what I think are seasonal allergies. None of us are going to know what we had until we get decent testing. And even if we have had it, no one is sure how long that will help. Is it for life? Will we need some kind of booster? If so, how often? I think it is the unknown that is so scary about this thing. We are postponing Easter all together. We will wait till our friend in assisted living can come :)

Mine have been routine follow up mostly with PAs. One ne hand, the visits are mostly useless, but they allow billing of insurance (and may actually keep some folks with jobs). Best wishes for health, Catnip!

My doctor asked me strip down for my yearly physical on my facetime visit, which I thought was odd. She said it was necessary even though I only had a in-grown toe nail.

Yes, they seem pretty useless if you ask my opinion. They always say that they'll take care of whatever it is when they see them again in a few months. Oh, okay. There are actually home visits in Montana in the county I type in where they have had no cases of the virus. But they take precautions of course.

My specialist doesn't want to see me at all, and my internal medicine practice is only doing video visits and phone calls. It feels really weird when your physicians don't want to see you. I'm not going to bother unless I need antibiotics for something.

Haven't done the video appointment...yet. Saw my doc a couple weeks ago to discuss xray results and get a pain shot in my shoulder. Won't need to see him for another 3 months.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/2020 06:56PM by Lethbridge Reprobate.

But is it necessary to play music in the back ground when the doctor asks you to disrobe?

My first video visit took 1 1/2 hours of waiting for the Doctor to tune in, and he never did. The techs had a neglected to guide me into the "virtual waiting room."

I had already spent a few hours logging into the program, making an account, and setting things up, the week before. I was told someone would call on my iphone AND e-mail me with a link, 15 minutes prior to my appointment, but no one called or e-mailed me--nada--so I called and the PA, and he said I was ready to go. After patiently waiting 1 hour, I called the office again, got put on hold and disconnected, called again, got disconnected again, called a third time, and the receptionist said, "You appointment was over an hour ago." Argh. The assistant said he "wasn't technically trained", He said they had tried to call my cell phone 8 times, and couldn't get through. My phone didn't even register any calls. He said he could arrange a phone appointment from the doctor later, and I said, "You weren't able to reach my i-phone, so that won't work". I breathed into a paper bag for a few seconds, then said, "Please book another virtual appointment for me, and let's try again." They booked me for 2 hours later. I remembered how, and on my own, re-connected on the third try. An hour later, the program allowed me to enter the "virtual waiting room," and soon the doctor called in. Well, except the doctor and I couldn't see each other, so it was no different from a phone visit.

I had made a complete list of questions and information for the doctor, beforehand, which was a good idea. It was a good thing we were not face-to-face, because he and his wife were both recovering from the coronavirus.

If you expect a lot of nonsense, ahead of time, maybe it won't upset you as much as it upset me. I guess we have to adapt to a world of chaos.

I had measured my blood pressure with a machine at home, and I stronger blood pressure medicine. Also, getting the facts from the doctor eased my anxiety a bit, and now I know what to do to take care of myself and my family. My doctor wouldn't prescribe any tranquilizers or sleep aids, or anything that really helps anxiety, though. Maybe I need to stay alert, anyway.

Oh, well, it wasn't like I had anyplace else I had to be, or anything else I had to do, right? I did learn some new software, and it took my mind off of other horrors.

I guess I'll go wander around the house, like an insomniac, at 2:00 am, and let the cat jump out at me and startle me, several times. That cat jangles my nerves.