Hi....I've had a bird's eye view of what's going on, both at home (Dallas, Tx.) and a hospital about 4 miles n. of where we live.
I was taken to the hospital, by ambulance, b/c I simply couldn't breathe. Yes, I'd had breathing problems for a few days prior to that but figure it was my usual bout of bronchitis & rib problems (I have 3 rather severe neurological illnesses in addition to ME). Wrong! That afternoon I was finding it harder to breathe by the hour, until a whistling sound was the only thing that could be heard. I've been through the bronchitis and rib problems so many times that I'm not anxious about them. The ambulance arrived immediately and I was taken (after a great deal of chatter) to the local hosp. (My 6th admission in 8 mos., perhaps that's what the chatter was all about.)
I was give two COVID-19 tests over 3 days and on the 4th day I was moved to my room. Each and every person, for whatever purpose, who entered my room came in, stood a great distance away from me and let me see that they were putting on clean plastic clothes. (Imagine how they felt; eyeglasses were fogging up everywhere.) These folks were clothed and had plastic shields over their faces, over their masks, clean gloves on and were just as kind to another person as it was possible to be.
I did have trouble breathing and had not just a mask, but a cage like you could picture Hannibel Lecter (?) in and I couldn't remove it at all. Thus, I was able to breathe quite easily. The next day, after receiving their 2nd negative response, I was moved to another floor. The next a.m. I had 2 stents inserted, for a total of 5. I was in the throes of congestive heart failure and didn't recognize it! For heaven's sake, I was a nurse for over 4 years, and I missed it. (Granted, it was a very long time ago.) I was discharged late on the day after the procedure. Every Dr. I've seen (and there have been plenty) wants to see me in their office ASAP. Well, that's not going to happen as I deal with plenty of doctors who know me well, know my case history and I'm just not willing to change too much at this point in my life. I really, really need people who understand what it's like to live with so many chronic conditions and severe pain on top of them all. The only new one is my heart surgeon...all of our doctors are retiring and while I'm impressed with the new ones (very computer savvy, quick to answer questions, etc.,) they don't know me or my body. Most of my doctors have sold their practices but have kept a few select (meaning we'll probably die before they do) patients on. My neurologist is the one I'm most interested in keeping. We were basically kids when we met, have gone through many storm, his and mine, and he knows exactly how I respond to meds and the important things. We're both at retirement age now, but at least I'll be staying in Dallas. To date those are also his plans.
Why did I tell you the above? Because your Dr. is the most important person you're going to have in your corner as you go through this thing called life. Be good to each other....if the person isn't right for you, find someone else. Yes, it's work, but it sure beats doing it at a time of life when your body is completely warped. The neurologist and internist (unless there are more important ones that I don't know about) count the most. The neurologist should know anything new in your body and the internist is the only doctor who can put the entire body together.
So, as of this moment, I'm quite pleased with the medical service I was given. Not so happy back in January, so perhaps it depends more on the staff than anything. Or a patient who isn't crazed from steroids (me!). As far as our local government goes, I've been very happy with Clay Jenkins, although I sense that our governor is putting a lot of pressure on him to open more stores, restaurants, etc. Personally, I feel that we've gone this far, why not wait another two weeks. I'm sure the small businessman is hurting, and I'm truly sorry about that.
I continue to pay my cleaning lady without her showing up....and everyone I know is the same. I heard (b/c I asked) that in the hospital there were no cases of coronavirus among the staff....I have no reason not to believe them.
Let us at least have a 15 min. quick test to determine if someone has the virus. And not one that costs a fortune, but that everyone can afford.......and then open the country.
One thing I would like to tell you is this: I had to go into another building for surgery, one I'd been to before. It was actually two buildings joined in v-shape. Lining both sides of the buildings were beds, obviously set up for emergency use. I'm talking probably 150 beds if not more. This wasn't Parkland Hosp. (now torn down and brand new, with total computer access), but a suburban hosp. Outside was a large white tent for overlow patients. Lots of doctors were around...., I can assure you of that. So this was what was happening in my little part of the world. Things seem to change so much each day. I agree that your country (and my husband's...he's American, now but from Bath originally) was a bit late in stopping the public outings. I wondered about that, I'll be honest.
