Coronavirus

[Catscankim]

rules keep changing. I thought I had it...prob flu or something (or not willing to shove my own swab far enough up my nose LOL). They kept me out even with a negative covid test. Now you can come back with a positive test and no symptoms...

 

[soapmaker]

Yep. Can come back if you are positive, and they won't test us. In the beginning of covid, we could come back after TWO negative tests. I was outside smoking with an OB nurse one day and I asked where she had been. She said she was coming back from COVID. Her wife was sick, and she (nurse) only had loss of taste and smell. Wife was still sick, but she was still told to come back to work because she wasn't SICK sick, even with a second positive test.

Honestly, I told my work partner to tell them that he was sick or had symptoms. A....we work in small quarters. B....he cannot work with his wife so sick. I don't understand this country.

Or maybe he should take FMLA (leave of absence covered for yourself, or a sick loved one). I know we are going to get killed with staffing but right is right. Take your time off. He hasn't called out a day in his life in 30 years...

So sad. I'm so sorry for all the suffering.

 

[linne1gi]

My partner/buddy at work tested positive for covid today. He is a little older...been at my hospital for 30 years. He is not sick, but his wife is. I am so sad, he is so lost. She is REALLY sick, and he is blaming himself for bringing it home.

I went over to their room in the ER to see him. He looks gray. Just so tired. He said he hadn't eaten or slept in 48 hours. I brought him a piece of chocolate cake that I bought from the cafeteria (i know, yumm LOL but it's all I had). I know they way to his heart...he likes his sweets. I always leave him cookies or something at change of shift.

I talked to the doc a little, and she said that his wife is super sick. O2 sats keep going down, and she has a total change in mental status. She isn't intubated yet, but its probably coming. I am so sad. She is the love of his life. Seriously loves her with a passion.

I gowned up and sat with him for a while while he ate his cake. He is so tired, he is not even making sense.

HR told him that he is cleared to come back to work on Monday because he has no symptoms. I told him that I would cover any shifts that he needs. We all are, not just me. I hope she is ok.

That is so sad. It’s heartening that you are so kind. I certainly don’t understand how he could come to work with a positive test, symptoms or not. Isn’t that how this is being spread? And that’s why we still wear a mask even though we are vaccinated. SMH. I’m sending positive thoughts your way.

 

[beckster51]

I hate to hear this, Kim. He is living my worst fear. My husband is very high risk, and although I am very careful and rarely leave the house, I always felt like I should take a shower in alcohol when I got back home. I would rather be sick than him. I know your friend must be terrified and so sad. I think he should take sick time since it sounds like his wife will end up in ICU. I took time off when my husband was in ICU. Who can work when their loved one may be dying?! I read an article this week that stated that it was a violation of "first do no harm" for any HCW to work with a positive test. Also, he should take time off just to take care of himself. Sending very positive thoughts his way, and like linne1gi, SMH. You are very kind to provide emotional support when he is so lost. My husband and I got our second shot of Pfizer this week, and I have been pretty sick, but still very glad to have received it.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I sat at my computer early this morning and was shocked that I was able to score an appt for the J&J vaccine at a CVS. It’s next to impossible to get an appt here in NJ but I kept at it refreshing and refreshing and I guess having fast fingers. I’m very nervous about getting it but I’ve decided I’m more anxious about getting the illness. I really wanted a two shot vaccines but you take what you can get here. But I’m concerned with the less efficacy of this vaccine that I can still get a mild case and pass it to my 83 yr old mother who refuses to get vaccinated. Ugh!

 

[rdc1978]

My partner/buddy at work tested positive for covid today. He is a little older...been at my hospital for 30 years. He is not sick, but his wife is. I am so sad, he is so lost. She is REALLY sick, and he is blaming himself for bringing it home.

I went over to their room in the ER to see him. He looks gray. Just so tired. He said he hadn't eaten or slept in 48 hours. I brought him a piece of chocolate cake that I bought from the cafeteria (i know, yumm LOL but it's all I had). I know they way to his heart...he likes his sweets. I always leave him cookies or something at change of shift.

I talked to the doc a little, and she said that his wife is super sick. O2 sats keep going down, and she has a total change in mental status. She isn't intubated yet, but its probably coming. I am so sad. She is the love of his life. Seriously loves her with a passion.

I gowned up and sat with him for a while while he ate his cake. He is so tired, he is not even making sense.

HR told him that he is cleared to come back to work on Monday because he has no symptoms. I told him that I would cover any shifts that he needs. We all are, not just me. I hope she is ok.

What an awful thing. Its one thing to hear the facts and figures, its another when you realize its an individual human being, and even when cases and hospitalizations drop, each number STILL represents a human being in pain. And now two.

I thought there was a drug that helped to counter the symptoms once a person got sick? Is she not a candidate? That poor man must be a basket case.

What a wonderful thing you and your team are doing in covering his shifts, I really hope she improves

 

[beckster51]

I sat at my computer early this morning and was shocked that I was able to score an appt for the J&J vaccine at a CVS. It’s next to impossible to get an appt here in NJ but I kept at it refreshing and refreshing and I guess having fast fingers. I’m very nervous about getting it but I’ve decided I’m more anxious about getting the illness. I really wanted a two shot vaccines but you take what you can get here. But I’m concerned with the less efficacy of this vaccine that I can still get a mild case and pass it to my 83 yr old mother who refuses to get vaccinated. Ugh!

Jersey girl, the best vaccine is the one you can get! And since you are concerned about passing this to your mother, and rightfully so, here is an article that may ease your mind.

Why the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Should Reduce COVID-19 Transmission

Data suggests that the newest COVID vaccine reduces asymptomatic infections by 74%. Learn how does this affect your chances of passing on the virus.

www.verywellhealth.com

As an aside, I feel better this morning. I got my second shot of Pfizer vaccine on Monday morning, felt fine all day Monday, but began feeling bad on Tuesday evening, which was a surprise. I had flu-like symptoms of aches and pains all over, being very low energy, and lots of GI symptoms, which have all improved, but the GI symptoms seem to be hanging on. I still feel lucky to have received the vaccine, and the side effects that I have had are much better than getting Covid. So there's that. I wish you could talk your mother into getting the shot. She is someone who would certainly benefit from having it, and the side effects in people her age seem to be greatly reduced since the elderly have a less robust immune system reaction. I am 70 (so elderly!), so I was a bit surprised at my side effects. I thought they would be less than they were. My 74 y.o. husband only had a sore arm. Good luck! I hope you don't have any side effects and a great experience.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

In case anyone is interested, if you test positive but are NOT in respiratory distress, stay home and IHRT:
Isolate
Hydrate
Rest
Treat it like you would a cold.

 

[rdc1978]

I just told me sister yesterday that I'm desperate for any shot. At this point they could probably inject me with saline and id be ecstatic!

 

[Jersey Girl]

Jersey girl, the best vaccine is the one you can get! And since you are concerned about passing this to your mother, and rightfully so, here is an article that may ease your mind.

Why the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Should Reduce COVID-19 Transmission

Data suggests that the newest COVID vaccine reduces asymptomatic infections by 74%. Learn how does this affect your chances of passing on the virus.

www.verywellhealth.com

As an aside, I feel better this morning. I got my second shot of Pfizer vaccine on Monday morning, felt fine all day Monday, but began feeling bad on Tuesday evening, which was a surprise. I had flu-like symptoms of aches and pains all over, being very low energy, and lots of GI symptoms, which have all improved, but the GI symptoms seem to be hanging on. I still feel lucky to have received the vaccine, and the side effects that I have had are much better than getting Covid. So there's that. I wish you could talk your mother into getting the shot. She is someone who would certainly benefit from having it, and the side effects in people her age seem to be greatly reduced since the elderly have a less robust immune system reaction. I am 70 (so elderly!), so I was a bit surprised at my side effects. I thought they would be less than they were. My 74 y.o. husband only had a sore arm. Good luck! I hope you don't have any side effects and a great experience.

Thank you. The article was encouraging. My mom is very high risk with congestive heart disease. I’m going to have to work hard to convince her though as she is very skeptical and afraid but I think the J&J one would be a good choice for her as the technology used to develop has been used for ages and I think that was a big fear of hers with the others.

 

[Jstheidi]

my son found out today that he is getting the Pfizer vaccination tomorrow. For those who have already been vaccinated, should he take tylenol or advil or anything prior to the shot or wait until after to see if he has any sort of reaction?

I’ve had both doses of the vaccine and I would suggest taking Tylenol at least 2 hours before getting the injection just to help with the sore in the arm and in case he spikes a little fever afterwards. I did fine with my first dose, but spiked fever of 101* and a very sore arm about 15 hours after the 2nd injection. Thank goodness it only lasted a day and then I was fine. i took the Moderna Vaccine.

 

[DKing]

I’ve had both doses of the vaccine and I would suggest taking Tylenol at least 2 hours before getting the injection just to help with the sore in the arm and in case he spikes a little fever afterwards. I did fine with my first dose, but spiked fever of 101* and a very sore arm about 15 hours after the 2nd injection. Thank goodness it only lasted a day and then I was fine. i took the Moderna Vaccine.

My son was supposed to get the second dose yesterday, but it was cancelled as they seem to be increasing the time between 1st and 2nd doses now so that more people can have a first. No clue when his appointment will be rescheduled but I have read of many others in the same situation as you, having no real problem with the first dose but reacting more to the second one. He knows to expect that he might not get away as easily with the second injection as he did the first.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I’ve had both doses of the vaccine and I would suggest taking Tylenol at least 2 hours before getting the injection just to help with the sore in the arm and in case he spikes a little fever afterwards. I did fine with my first dose, but spiked fever of 101* and a very sore arm about 15 hours after the 2nd injection. Thank goodness it only lasted a day and then I was fine. i took the Moderna Vaccine.

I just looked this up because I had read or heard that it wasn’t recommended to take Tylenol or Advil before the shot. After is ok, but before they say not to. Here is an article.

Yes, you can take OTC pain meds after getting the Covid vaccine, says CDC — plus other tips for dealing with side effects

What you can do, and what you shouldn't do, when it comes to OTC medications and the Covid-19 vaccine.

www.cnbc.com

 

[soapmaker]

In case anyone is interested, if you test positive but are NOT in respiratory distress, stay home and IHRT:
Isolate
Hydrate
Rest
Treat it like you would a cold.

Of course, we're all interested

 

[Catscankim]

That is so sad. It’s heartening that you are so kind. I certainly don’t understand how he could come to work with a positive test, symptoms or not. Isn’t that how this is being spread? And that’s why we still wear a mask even though we are vaccinated. SMH. I’m sending positive thoughts your way.

He came back to work tonight. Me and my partner were sitting in the department eating ice cream and he walked in early because he went up to see his wife prior to his shift and they wouldn't let him in..badge or no badge.

So here we were with no masks on eating ice cream, and he walks in 45 min early LOL. He had a mask on, but it was still like OMG HE IS COVID lol.

And I felt so bad. He just looks lost. I asked if he has eaten (casually putting my mask on), he said no. And I had no cake or cookies for him, which I usually do. All I had was a nutrigrain bar and he at least took that.

They are very old fashioned...he worked and she cooked and such. Spanish couple. I guess it is cultural I dunno. Or just their age.

After a short conversation, I am finally like ... you don't mind if I go right?

And I love that guy. I just don't love all his covidness lol. And it's not his fault. HR (who has no clue) told him to come back. They only tested positive on Thursday. I told him the other day to tell them that he has symptoms and I will work most if not all of his shifts so he doesn't feel like he is screwing the department, but he doesn't want to lie. This is a guy that hasn't called out in 30 years. We are a 6-person department. I would rather be exhausted from working too much, than for all of us to be sick. And even with a mask on...here he is touching all the computers and talking on the phone etc.

And now I am sitting home letting my inner hypochondriac kick in LOL.

edit....And our HR and employee health department...we cannot even go into their office since covid started. You talk to them through the newly installed microphone outside the door. They are so petrified of anybody clinical, it's ridiculous. But it is ok for a clinical coworker to come back to work positive. Our area is literally the size of a medium sized bathroom. So we are really close together all the time. One girl went to get some medical records and she had to slide the forms under the door and was told to come back...then they slid her requested documents back under the door. Plus they stopped TB testing us because "it is not necessary at our facility". This has been a yearly test for the 25 years that I have been a tech...suddenly we don't need to be tested anymore.

 

[Jersey Girl]

He came back to work tonight. Me and my partner were sitting in the department eating ice cream and he walked in early because he went up to see his wife prior to his shift and they wouldn't let him in..badge or no badge.

So here we were with no masks on eating ice cream, and he walks in 45 min early LOL. He had a mask on, but it was still like OMG HE IS COVID lol.

And I felt so bad. He just looks lost. I asked if he has eaten (casually putting my mask on), he said no. And I had no cake or cookies for him, which I usually do. All I had was a nutrigrain bar and he at least took that.

They are very old fashioned...he worked and she cooked and such. Spanish couple. I guess it is cultural I dunno. Or just their age.

After a short conversation, I am finally like ... you don't mind if I go right?

And I love that guy. I just don't love all his covidness lol. And it's not his fault. HR (who has no clue) told him to come back. They only tested positive on Thursday. I told him the other day to tell them that he has symptoms and I will work most if not all of his shifts so he doesn't feel like he is screwing the department, but he doesn't want to lie. This is a guy that hasn't called out in 30 years. We are a 6-person department. I would rather be exhausted from working too much, than for all of us to be sick. And even with a mask on...here he is touching all the computers and talking on the phone etc.

And now I am sitting home letting my inner hypochondriac kick in LOL.

edit....And our HR and employee health department...we cannot even go into their office since covid started. You talk to them through the newly installed microphone outside the door. They are so petrified of anybody clinical, it's ridiculous. But it is ok for a clinical coworker to come back to work positive. Our area is literally the size of a medium sized bathroom. So we are really close together all the time. One girl went to get some medical records and she had to slide the forms under the door and was told to come back...then they slid her requested documents back under the door. Plus they stopped TB testing us because "it is not necessary at our facility". This has been a yearly test for the 25 years that I have been a tech...suddenly we don't need to be tested anymore.

I thought you were vaccinated?

 

[earlene]

I sat at my computer early this morning and was shocked that I was able to score an appt for the J&J vaccine at a CVS. It’s next to impossible to get an appt here in NJ but I kept at it refreshing and refreshing and I guess having fast fingers. I’m very nervous about getting it but I’ve decided I’m more anxious about getting the illness. I really wanted a two shot vaccines but you take what you can get here. But I’m concerned with the less efficacy of this vaccine that I can still get a mild case and pass it to my 83 yr old mother who refuses to get vaccinated. Ugh!

Congratulations! My disabled son (my eldest) really wants the Janssen vaccine because he really hates the whole process of a injections and would really like to not have to go back for the booster. It's totally understandable and having spent so much time in hospitals with him over the years (multiple hospitalizations, surgeries and uncountable numbers of injections), he really doesn't enjoy anything medical related.

The Janssen (by Johnson & Johnson) vaccine has very good results, particularly for preventing severe disease and hospitalizations and death. I would fully support my son getting that one if it were available here.

But I spent days and countless hours trying to find an open appointment for him to get it and finally scheduled him for the Moderna as the closest location for Janssen was 345 miles away. For a round trip, that would cost him about $100.00 in gasoline plus an overnight stay in a hotel somewhere along the way! And he can't manage a long drive like that due to his disability and his other medical issues.

So he gets his first Moderna dose on Friday and he's over-the-moon about that.

Hubby & I get our second Moderna doses tomorrow.

I thought you were vaccinated?

Vaccination does not mean everyone who is vaccinated will never contract or spread the virus or contract newer variants that have arisen and/or may arise in the future. The clinical trials show that some vaccinated individuals, do both those things, although to a lesser degree. So far, the approved vaccines do remain extremely protective, but remember, this is a rolling target, and new variants keep popping up, so we must continue to protect ourselves and everyone else by maintaining protective infection-prevention measures (masks, shields, distancing, hygiene, etc.)

PLEASE don't think once you are vaccinated you can safely stop the important infection prevention measures that have been working so well to reduce deaths and infection. They are still needed a while longer.

 

[Obsidian]

Work places just aren't doing enough to protect their employees and families.

My hubbies work won't let infected employees work but they will let them come in if any of their family test positive.
When I got sick and had to be tested, they told hubby, just wear a mask. He should have been sent home until my test came back (it was negative)
Now covid is making the rounds through hubbies work and only a few people have gotten vaccinated and those people are no longer required to to wear masks.

Luckily, I was able to schedule a vaccination for today, along with my mom and 92 yr old grandmother. Now to get one in my hubby as he has some risk factors, as do I.
He is skeptical of the newer vaccines but seems more willing to get the j&j, which is the one I'm getting.

 

[Catscankim]

I thought you were vaccinated?

Yeah, well so was he and his wife

 

[Jersey Girl]

Yeah, well so was he and his wife

That’s disturbing to hear. How long ago did she get vaccinated? Everything I read says that these vaccines are supposed to protect you from severe disease at the very least. J & J a bit less effective but that’s only been given for a couple weeks at most so I’m assuming they got the two shot vacc. There is that 5% I guess. Yikes...kind of makes me not want to bother getting one!