Life Under Coronavirus

[_Jersey Girl]

So this just happened. I got a call to come in for routine blood labs and an office visit with my PCP. I asked if they had the antibody tests--yes. When I go in for the office visit I'm going to find out what the criteria is to take the antibody test and see how that goes. Reason: I was sick right after my birthday in early March. I am not convinced I was exposed to the virus but I did have odd symptoms come on during that period of time and I'd like to know. Not sure if that is a good reason to do it. I'll figure it out when I go for the office visit.

I also don't know what the controls are on the testing. How many times you can be tested.

I'll just report back after the appointment so folks can see what it might be like for testing if they're interested or have reason to think they might've been exposed. Whether or not I was tested and why/why not. Also outcome if I do get tested.

[_ajax18]

I wonder if cruises will ever happen again. I'm guessing not for another 3 years.

[_Res Ipsa]

I wonder if cruises will ever happen again. I'm guessing not for another 3 years.

Carnival is planning a restart this year.

[_Res Ipsa]

So this just happened. I got a call to come in for routine blood labs and an office visit with my PCP. I asked if they had the antibody tests--yes. When I go in for the office visit I'm going to find out what the criteria is to take the antibody test and see how that goes. Reason: I was sick right after my birthday in early March. I am not convinced I was exposed to the virus but I did have odd symptoms come on during that period of time and I'd like to know. Not sure if that is a good reason to do it. I'll figure it out when I go for the office visit.

I also don't know what the controls are on the testing. How many times you can be tested.

I'll just report back after the appointment so folks can see what it might be like for testing if they're interested or have reason to think they might've been exposed. Whether or not I was tested and why/why not. Also outcome if I do get tested.

Ask if it’s an ELISA test.

[_ajax18]

Carnival is planning a restart this year.

I loved cruises but now it scares me. Would anyyone else risk it this December?

[_Jersey Girl]

So this just happened. I got a call to come in for routine blood labs and an office visit with my PCP. I asked if they had the antibody tests--yes. When I go in for the office visit I'm going to find out what the criteria is to take the antibody test and see how that goes. Reason: I was sick right after my birthday in early March. I am not convinced I was exposed to the virus but I did have odd symptoms come on during that period of time and I'd like to know. Not sure if that is a good reason to do it. I'll figure it out when I go for the office visit.

I also don't know what the controls are on the testing. How many times you can be tested.

I'll just report back after the appointment so folks can see what it might be like for testing if they're interested or have reason to think they might've been exposed. Whether or not I was tested and why/why not. Also outcome if I do get tested.

Ask if it’s an ELISA test.

That's the one from Abbott labs isn't it? I don't know how it's doing. Help! Come back and tell me if I want ELISA.

[_ajax18]

Update from me: I'm 34+3 today. I've been diagnosed with preeclampsia, moved to x2/wk monitoring, and given steroid shots to strengthen the baby's lungs in anticipation of early delivery.

Outcomes for 34-37 week preemies are generally very good, so I'm not panicking, but this is new territory for me.

No sign of COVID in my household.

My wife had pre eclampsia with my son. It was hard on her but it went away after my son was born and he turned out perfectly healthy though 3 weeks early.

[_Gadianton]

Isn't a cruise ship pretty much a floating tent city?

[_Res Ipsa]

Jersey Girl, the ELISA tests are generally more accurate because they give you the level of antibodies in your blood. They do have to be processed in a lab. I believe Abbott’s is a rapid detection test, which will give a yes or no like a pregnancy test does. It does not need lab processing. The false positive rate is reported to be .4%, which is low. I haven’t tried to do the math on how the low base rate of infections affects that. Lemmie could probably do it in her sleep.

[_Jersey Girl]

Jersey Girl, the ELISA tests are generally more accurate because they give you the level of antibodies in your blood. They do have to be processed in a lab. I believe Abbott’s is a rapid detection test, which will give a yes or no like a pregnancy test does. It does not need lab processing. The false positive rate is reported to be .4%, which is low. I haven’t tried to do the math on how the low base rate of infections affects that. Lemmie could probably do it in her sleep.

You came back! :surprised: I don't know if I can just get a test on a request basis but I'm going to try to. I also don't know--are they free or how many times we're allowed to be tested? Does that make sense? I dropped the ball on following the testing because I got confused about them then the drug trials stole my attention.

Do you know which antibody tests,if any, are completely worthless? I suppose if they'll give me one, I can just take whatever it is and live with it. Then, I'll report back here what took place. I'll have the test names written down when I go in because like I said, I was sick just after my birthday with something weird.

I don't think I posted about it. I had a slight hot/chills fever and no thermometer at the time. Shooting pains on the right side of my head which I never get and something was going on in the area of the right side tonsil. Cough all night and spending lots of time in the restroom. It wasn't a common cold. I just rode it out for a week or so, took a decongestant and Tylenol. Slept when I could and had no energy. Anyway, it was something unusual and I always get flu shots so...who knows. I'll nail down the time frame for my PCP by when I ordered a new thermometer...by the time I got it I was okay. Sorry if all of that is TMI. It's good for me to write it out to remember all the symptoms.