BSP14
Curious Nonproducer
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2013
- Messages
- 149
- Reaction score
- 170
The short version of my story is nobody should roll the dice with this crap, as each individual outcome is subject to so many variables and NOBODY has all the answers (probably never will).
I am still early in the recovery process as I just got released from the hospital after a 6 night stay at the Mayo Clinic in PHX, a story unto itself, and in my opinion, the most important factor in my survival, and a topic for a different thread.
I have a long term underlying respiratory disease that has been well managed for the last 5+ years thanks to some incredible medical care and diligent maintenance and follow up on my part (thankfully, I am pretty “healthy”, despite the issue). I knew that I didn’t want to experiment with this disease on top of my underlying issues, especially with limited resources here in town (on a good day).
My hospitalization started after a week of self isolation after I began to experience a significant headache/sinus pressure and 101 degree fever that lasted for 3 days. Eventually, I sought treatment at a local urgent care and was prescribed some antibiotics, including an injection to kick things off. No Covid test was available at that time, but logic dictated that we monitor my symptoms for further progression.
Sure enough, within the next 3 days, I began to experience a dry, barely productive cough that continued to worsen each day and experiencing SOB each night, with headaches and fever returning in a random fashion, eventually topping out over 102...After much debate and attempts to justify that I was improving, I eventually ended up at the Lake Havasu Regional Medical Center ED for my SOB.
The staff was attentive, and was obviously doing their best given the circumstances they are facing including limited space, PPE, and resources here. I tested positive, had a few additional procedures, and then got the best news possible- the hospital already was over capacity with 12 new Covid patients and no beds...
The ED Doc offered to attempt to broker my transfer and I immediately requested Mayo, with no other option. Reluctantly, he launched the effort and was successful in securing a bed. Following a 4 hour ambulance ride, I was rolled in and the professionals at Mayo dove in head first with an extremely aggressive treatment plan. Starting immediately, and continuing over the next 120+ hours, at regular intervals I received remdesivir, convalescent plasma, high dose antibiotics, steroids, a blood thinner, and other supportive meds. I was swarmed by dedicated professionals and through the confusion, a pulmonologist leaned in and warned me that I was within hours of needing mechanical ventilation if things didn’t change quickly. He warned me that the best thing I could do was to get prone in order to get the fluid in my lungs to spread out. For the next 96 hours, if I wasn’t trying to eat or drink, I was flat on my chest, just breathing...
The plan worked, and I was fortunate enough to turn the corner on day 4, and monitoring my progress became the priority.
Now that I am home, I will receive a support and monitoring kit from Mayo, that will continue to track my progress through my O2 saturation levels, temperature, weight regain (almost 20 lbs melted off over the hospital stay- much of it muscle), BP, and activity tolerance.
Still coughing up old debris, and probably will be for a while. After going back over my calendar, and considering the fact that I had attempted to be as careful as I could, I have not identified anyone that I came into contact with who has been sick...
Sorry for the long story, be careful out there, once you’re sick, your ability to control the outcome is limited.
I am still early in the recovery process as I just got released from the hospital after a 6 night stay at the Mayo Clinic in PHX, a story unto itself, and in my opinion, the most important factor in my survival, and a topic for a different thread.
I have a long term underlying respiratory disease that has been well managed for the last 5+ years thanks to some incredible medical care and diligent maintenance and follow up on my part (thankfully, I am pretty “healthy”, despite the issue). I knew that I didn’t want to experiment with this disease on top of my underlying issues, especially with limited resources here in town (on a good day).
My hospitalization started after a week of self isolation after I began to experience a significant headache/sinus pressure and 101 degree fever that lasted for 3 days. Eventually, I sought treatment at a local urgent care and was prescribed some antibiotics, including an injection to kick things off. No Covid test was available at that time, but logic dictated that we monitor my symptoms for further progression.
Sure enough, within the next 3 days, I began to experience a dry, barely productive cough that continued to worsen each day and experiencing SOB each night, with headaches and fever returning in a random fashion, eventually topping out over 102...After much debate and attempts to justify that I was improving, I eventually ended up at the Lake Havasu Regional Medical Center ED for my SOB.
The staff was attentive, and was obviously doing their best given the circumstances they are facing including limited space, PPE, and resources here. I tested positive, had a few additional procedures, and then got the best news possible- the hospital already was over capacity with 12 new Covid patients and no beds...
The ED Doc offered to attempt to broker my transfer and I immediately requested Mayo, with no other option. Reluctantly, he launched the effort and was successful in securing a bed. Following a 4 hour ambulance ride, I was rolled in and the professionals at Mayo dove in head first with an extremely aggressive treatment plan. Starting immediately, and continuing over the next 120+ hours, at regular intervals I received remdesivir, convalescent plasma, high dose antibiotics, steroids, a blood thinner, and other supportive meds. I was swarmed by dedicated professionals and through the confusion, a pulmonologist leaned in and warned me that I was within hours of needing mechanical ventilation if things didn’t change quickly. He warned me that the best thing I could do was to get prone in order to get the fluid in my lungs to spread out. For the next 96 hours, if I wasn’t trying to eat or drink, I was flat on my chest, just breathing...
The plan worked, and I was fortunate enough to turn the corner on day 4, and monitoring my progress became the priority.
Now that I am home, I will receive a support and monitoring kit from Mayo, that will continue to track my progress through my O2 saturation levels, temperature, weight regain (almost 20 lbs melted off over the hospital stay- much of it muscle), BP, and activity tolerance.
Still coughing up old debris, and probably will be for a while. After going back over my calendar, and considering the fact that I had attempted to be as careful as I could, I have not identified anyone that I came into contact with who has been sick...
Sorry for the long story, be careful out there, once you’re sick, your ability to control the outcome is limited.
Last edited:
Just kidding.
), so when I read about laying flat on his chest for 4 days, I thought, oh fuck, no way. 
