IF YOU HAVE ALLERGIES YOU MAY HAVE COVID SYMPTOMS, DON'T GET WORRIED BUT DO GET TESTED. Ok, so last Wed, afternoon or evening, I've had "pinkeye" for about a week, now I'm getting nasal drip, all over body itching, sore throat, painful and burning shortness of breath, Yep, since there hasn't been any reports of colds or flu since Covid appeared, and I haven't suffered allergies since I was a young early teen teenager, it had to be Covid I thought.
1/2 dozen of my friends got it, all recovered, even an aging mid 70's friend who has numerous medical problems. I'm also tired suddenly beyond what I normally am, I go to bed about 8 pm. I get up the next morning, same symptoms, but lungs burning like they are on fire, and a very frightening shortness of breath (I never knew allergies can do this). I have a minor medical training background and know lung problems can be much worse sleeping and the first hour or so after awakening, so if I feel this bad still at noon, I decided I will go to the ER, but I want to test how I feel walking around a couple hours.
Sure enough, to my surprise, I feel dramatically better. Some of my friends had Covid and felt nothing or minor cold symptoms for a day or so, could this be my case? I decide I should get tested, and if test positive, then decide ER or doctor visit.
If you live in Costa Rica, two thumbs down on Labin Lab, two thumbs up on Medismart. Labin lab is 100 yards or so from my home, they have a $50 test, ok for travelers', I go there hoping I can get one. The receptionist asks me about flight schedule, I inform her no flights, I had symptoms and want to see if I had or have it. She seems perplexed, sends a managing doctor a text message.
Now she's all smiles, once again in Costa Rica, a dilemma is posed, and a "solution" is found. The "doctor" replied "You must wait 48 hours" he states. Now I'm a basically patient tolerant person, I've made many mistakes in life and I generally have empathy for other's who do the same, but I'm thinking a medical professional in the face of a death delivering pandemic needs to be a bit more responsible, I ask her for his number, I'm going to just text him a few questions directly, she obliges.
Now I'm no longer nice likable me, I've morphed into Tony Soprano...I deliver this message to the "doctor". "Attention doctor, I'm a 66 y/o man with Covid symptoms, my health, even my life could possibly be at risk here, I'm at your lab which does Covid tests, you advise me to wait 48 hours. Wait for WHAT, doctor? 48 hours from now? 48 hours from the onslaught of symptoms? It's been 36 hours, is that close enough? and then what, doctor, can I get a test then? or are you saying the test results can take up to 48 hours? I mean, I could be dead in 48 hours, doctor. Now pay attention, doctor, you ignored my original question and gave an answer only an imbecile would give, so pay attention, and answer my question. Can I get a Covid test here?
He replies, "you must have a doctor's order". Ok, maybe that's true, so I say hey doc, the girl gave you my symptoms I described, can you order the test? Nope, I must SEE a doctor.
Ok, might be true, I thank her, she's got a beautiful smile, she could tell me to wash out a public toilet with my hair bent over it and the bacteria will kill Covid and I might go for it, but she offers no solution, just a gorgeous smile. In any event, I'm in this medical discount group here in Costa Rica, "Medismart", so I call them.
They arrange a test at a local hospital, have a young lady who speaks English waiting for me to ask questions and give answers, no doctor needed. It's $30 more and the superior test, well worth the money, if you're dead, your estate isn't much use to you, so I agree, go, 24 hours late I get a negative test results response.
Later a doctor from Medismart calls, tells me many people have been hit with hard allergies in the last week, rainy season started and pollen is exploding all over, she recommends I take antihistamine like Allegra and a chewable tab that kills germs and has local anesthetic properties for the pain of sore throat for a week, and if not cured, then see a doctor in their group.
She asks me if I've been outside much and maybe exposed to pollen? Well, it just might have been my missive garden on my porch with planters right under my window, I have my bed jutted up against and normally enjoy the 65 degree mountain air, lol.
Like so many things I'm searching to blame on someone, once again, it's my own fault, lol...
In any event, if you suffer allergies, and are now getting Covid symptoms, get a test, but it's probably the allergies...
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