Back in September 2020 I had a patient come in to the clinic with a sore in his mouth. He obviously had to pull down his mask for me to look inside his mouth. The next day the patient decompensated and ended up in the hospital – positive for covid.
About 5 days later I developed a severe headache and extreme fatigue. I decided to get tested for covid but my results came back negative. Although I was sick, since my covid test was negative, I was still expected to work. I remember being so tired after work that I would just collapse in bed and sleep until the following morning.
I ended up being sick for 2 weeks and the last week developing no taste and no smell. Obviously these are classic covid symptoms, and I have never been sick for an entire 2 weeks in my life.
I shared this experience with my family and friends to let them know that there is such a thing as getting a false negative when it comes to covid testing. So even if they have a false negative test but were exposed to someone with covid, they should continue to quarantine. Unfortunately, as an essential worker I didn’t have that luxury. My clinic and I are lucky that I didn’t infect anyone else.
This experience infuriated me a bit. I was frustrated that I was doing my part in social distancing, but my patients weren’t. Some of those patients told me how they would still go to restaurants, even though they were 70 years old or older. And as a result they were putting me and others at risk.
I was also frustrated that even though I was sick I still had to work. Of course, the timing of me getting sick was inconvenient. Three out of the four other PCPs were already out for FMLA or PTO reasons.
On the bright side, I had such a mild symptoms and no breathing issues. I am grateful I was able to recover and that I didn’t infect anyone else. I am also grateful that I was able to get the covid vaccine during my second day of work in San Diego. My only reaction was that I had arm soreness for a few days, similar to the tetanus shot.
Have any of you gotten covid from work?
I sure did. From one of our employees. Me and the doc were both sick, so they closed for 2 weeks to ‘clean the office’. BS. Nothing was cleaned. Currently, no air flow in exam rooms. I’m constantly complaining about it, but the building is so old and the owner ‘doesn’t want to invest’. Since I just bought a house in FL, and they are working with me to take time off around my monthly 4 day weekend, I’m putting up with their nonsense.
I ended up with COVID PNA. Was sick for 2 mo. 3 or 4 rounds of steroids, abx, inhaled steroids, Albuterol nebs q12h.
Stupid me took the 1st shot before I went back to work. Had a hellacious reaction! I guess my immune system was revved up, then I kicked it in the butt for a second reaction! Second Moderna was not as bad, it still more than my husband or kids had.
I’ve had pts lie when asked the COVID questions on the phone, then when they get past being asked again on arrival, the MAs ask them,, with S/S being denied all times, until I come in – then they give me the truth. I’m usually professionally ticked, and let them know they are putting a lot of people at risk. I usually hear ‘I thought kids don’t get s/s’, then why are u hear asking for a COVID test?! Of course none of them plan on taking the vaccine, which is now available to everyone over 16 in GA.
Idk what the answer is. But I am glad I’ve gotten the shots, so I can continue to care for selfish people.
I’m looking at doing short term LTs in East FL or GA, then I can go to our new beach house. Maybe a new clinic will have air handlers that actually move air – and germs!
Wow sorry you were sick for so long! Glad you are better now.
That’s so true about patients lying about covid symptoms until the see the provider.
It’s frustrating that we are lucky to have the vaccines now compared to first world countries and a lot of morons don’t even want it.
I am sorry for what you experienced, but somewhat puzzled.
When you became aware of the patient’s Covid status, why wasn’t prophylactic treatment started? Many health professionals do that.
If the first test was negative, but persistent symptoms, why didn’t you retest?
If the patient was wearing a mask except to look at his mouth sore, weren’t you wearing a mask also, and perhaps a face shield? Empirically that would show that masks don’t work.
Keep on posting in your wonderful blog and stay healthy!
I did get retested and was still negative but a lot of people need like 5 tests to be finally positive. I was wearing a mask and face shield of course.