Coronavirus and other health concerns

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Coronavirus and other health concerns

By periwinklebee Mar 16, 2020

I'm sure there must be others on here who are worried about other health concerns in your family, whether it increases the risks of COVID or just about what will happen if you have another health emergency when our system may be in crisis and the ER quite a dangerous place...Anyone want to commiserate?

My 2yo has asthma. He currently has a cold, super drippy nose, and it seems to be giving him a really bad cough/wheezing. I don't think it's covid, as we've had the same thing happen with colds before (we're isolating regardless). He's already been to the ER twice for asthma this winter and I don't know what happens if we can't keep it under control, as I'm sure the odds of catching covid at the ER are quite high...

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27 comments

periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 16, 2020

p.s. I know there are health workers that put themselves at risk at hospitals everyday... not trying to take that lightly by worrying about a hypothetical scenario, but still worried about health concerns and what happens to health services that we would normally take for granted...
mrsbubbletea
nectarine / 2821 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@periwinklebee: can your doctor prescribe prednisone? He’s already on a controller right?
mrsbubbletea
nectarine / 2821 posts

Mar 16, 2020

I want to add that this is a totally valid concern and as a healthcare worker I am also concerned for you and your boy. We are worried about our regular patients who need to be seen as normal. I don’t want you going into the ER if at all possible.
mrsbubbletea
nectarine / 2821 posts

Mar 16, 2020

Feel free to wall me, I’ll send you my email or cell. I have lots of experience with kids with asthma since that’s one of the main type of patients we have on the floor I work on.
luckygirl
grape / 75 posts

Mar 16, 2020

I can commiserate! My 6-month-old has undiagnosed respiratory issues - fast breathing and retractions. The pulmonologist thinks it could just be due to reflux. She's had fairly extensive testing (she also had blood sugar issues as a newborn), so a lot has been ruled out... but when she gets more congested even from colds it makes her breathing much worse. We have some follow up appointments this month that I am not sure if we should take her or not, and during "normal times' we are on high alert about possibly needing to go to the ER.
bees_knees
persimmon / 1064 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@periwinklebee: me too. DS1 had his tonsil and adenoids out last Monday (which seems like sooo long ago) and has his post op visit next Monday. And he and our youngest have well checks 3/30. DS1 is almost 6 so I would be fine postponing his, but DD will be 4 months and needs vaccines.
nwm
clementine / 830 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@bees_knees: i was just about to postpone a well visit for my 20 month old and 4 month old--both are due (or, er, overdue in the case of the 20 month old) for vaccines too, but i just feel like they have to wait. i don't want to go anywhere near a doctor's office. but curious if you're thinking differently (or your doctor advises you differently).
bees_knees
persimmon / 1064 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@nwm: I will check in with them when the appt nears closer. So much can change between now and the 30th... I was thinking if nothing else, I could take her to the Health Dept for her vaccines. At least there wouldn't be any sick patients there.
JennyPenny
nectarine / 2460 posts

Mar 16, 2020

I’m pretty worried. I have asthma and am 35 weeks pregnant. I’m worried about quality of care whenever I deliver. I’m worried about quality of care should any complications arise later. I’m also worried about my own health as a higher risk category. At this point I really wish I had a crystal ball and could know if it would be better to deliver sooner or later. But there’s no right answer
bhbee
cantaloupe / 6086 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@periwinklebee: agree with @mrsbubbletea: that you should get all the meds you can filled and ready - we keep prednisolone in the fridge all the time, I can’t remember what you said you already have but nebulizer with a good stockpile of albuterol, as well as inhaler albuterol if you do both methods, and your daily meds of course. Don’t hesitate to be proactive and call early and often to discuss with your providers at even a cough. That was honestly my biggest learning from our first year or so - how early you need to get ahead of it. It’s a fear for us too
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@mrsbubbletea: Thank you sooo much! His cough was getting pretty bad so I called the nurse to ask about prednisone. She thinks it is croup and she thought he should be seen to rule out stridor, so DH is trying to get him to their office before they close at 6. It's in a big medical building, and it is making me really nervous to have them there in the middle of a pandemic that has completely shut down the city... I'm not sure he even needs to be seen for croup - last time they gave him a steroid and he just puked it all up - but the nurse said to come in so... If they don't make it before the ped's office closes, I'm not sure I have the nerves to have him go to the after hours urgent care place, which will be even more full of sick people.

@luckygirl: ugh, this sounds rough

@bees_knees: @nwm: My almost 3 month old has an extra weight check coming up because she is a bit on the small side. I bought a scale and am not concerned, so will cancel that. I guess we will see where we are at for the four month. I'm not too concerned about delaying vaccines if we are all self-isolating in our house, as there won't be anyone to catch measles or whatever from... But who knows how long this can last - NHS leaked a document that says it will go on through spring of 2021, which seems not unreasonable...

@JennyPenny: I am sorry, it must be such a rough time to be pregnant...
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@bhbee: thank you! I asked my husband to try to get it while he is there... I'd feel much better if we had it.

Incidentally, staying stocked on medicine is another frustrating thing. Everything I see is recommending that people, especially the elderly, get a 90 day supply of their medicine so they won't have to venture out. But my parents cannot get more than a 30 day supply of blood pressure and asthma medication because insurance won't let them, and have no mail order option, so will have to venture out potentially when things are peaking.
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 16, 2020

ugh, and I was sufficiently worried about them going to the doctor's office in the midst of our local covid outbreak, which has been substantial enough to shut everything down, that I temporarily forgot to worry that he has already coughed a lot around our twelve week old. Not sure how much more serious it is if she gets croup, I guess we may be going back to the doctor's office for her...
bhbee
cantaloupe / 6086 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@periwinklebee: I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Any telemedicine option available, could be worth asking? I wonder if you could use one not associated with your pedi if after hours? When my oldest had bad stridor they could hear it in the background when I called the after-hours line and I would think the retractions would be visible on video? I know it’s not the same as them listening to lungs but could be an interim step perhaps.
mrsbubbletea
nectarine / 2821 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@periwinklebee: for some reason little babies usually don’t get croup, if that eases your concern at all. Sounds like a steroid will help you boy either if it’s croup or asthma related. Hope he feels better soon
mrs.kiwi
kiwi / 635 posts

Mar 16, 2020

Pregnant ladies- how are you doing?

I really really wanted assurance that my baby is ok but today I chose not to go into my 13 week appt to check the heartbeat. My ob said I was welcome to come alone for peace of mind but I chose to stay home.
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@mrsbubbletea: thank you so much!!! Definitely makes me feel better.

@bhbee: I need to look into this. I know dh and I have a telemedicine option but my insurance is a bit weird, ped is a different medical group than our care, but I really should know this now...

@mrs.kiwi: Congrats!!! And sorry it is such a lousy time to be pregnant, I would have been nervous to go in too
mrs.kiwi
kiwi / 635 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@periwinklebee: I feel so bad for mommas about to deliver soon
mrsbubbletea
nectarine / 2821 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@mrs.kiwi: I am really scared. I think I might cancel my appt next week (11wks) but I would like to see baby is ok, and I am supposed to get the state genetic screening labs drawn. I am also scared because CDC suggests pregnant health care providers don’t care for covid patients if possible and now a huge percentage of the patients on my floor are being swabbed. None positive yet but it’s just a matter of time I figure... I don’t know if I should be making a fuss about changing my assignment or just accepting it as inevitable.
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@mrsbubbletea: ugh this is rough. But they should follow cdc recommendations and give you an assignment that is safe for you and baby

@mrs.kiwi: I feel so lucky to have delivered when I did. I feel really bad for those due when it may be peaking...

They gave ds a steroid shot for croup. Nurse will call later tonight and she’d like to hear that it has helped some or may send him to the er, which really scares me. I’ve sequestered myself with the baby and of course he’s wailing for mama.
Miss Ariel
nectarine / 2210 posts

Mar 16, 2020

Our Dr office just sent an email out saying they are only do well checks in the morning. In the afternoon, they’ll schedule visits for anyone who is sick/has a fever. I’m not sure how many other places will be switching to this, but it makes lots of sense to me.
petitenoisette
pear / 1521 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@Miss Ariel: @nwm: @bees_knees: regarding well visits, my dr is doing the same as Miss Ariel’s. My kids have theirs next week in the am (first appointment too I believe) and though it’s tempting to postpone I figure this is going to be months long and I’d rather get them seen now because we aren’t anywhere near the peak. Im canceling other stuff like my own PT appointments.

Also for what it’s worth, my ped has a v specific protocol that anyone with suspected CoVid is not to enter the building, they will get you the care you need but not at the drs office.
The fact that many people are walking around with it unknowingly means this doesn’t help but it’s something.
bees_knees
persimmon / 1064 posts

Mar 16, 2020

@Miss Ariel: @petitenoisette: that’s very smart!
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 17, 2020

LO seems to be doing better and no er necessary, so relieved for now....
mrsbubbletea
nectarine / 2821 posts

Mar 17, 2020

@periwinklebee: so glad to hear that, just came to check on you guys!
bhbee
cantaloupe / 6086 posts

Mar 17, 2020

@periwinklebee: yay!! Fx for continued good progress!
periwinklebee
grapefruit / 4466 posts

Mar 17, 2020

@mrsbubbletea: @bhbee: thank you all so much, you guys are the best!!!

In the spirit of this thread I also got a call today that my dermatologists office is closing for at least a month, probably longer, to encourage social distancing and protect staff. Had a follow up appointment this week about something that came up at my last appointment that was not concerning enough to biopsy during pregnancy but they wanted to follow up on since I’m high risk for melanoma. I’m not concerned about it. Sad though more generally that the downstream effects on preventative health care, perhaps necessarily, are yet another casualty.....

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