I recently entered the hospital with a fever of 104 degrees. I was immediately treated as though I had Covid 19. My children could not come in with me. I was semi-conscious. The Dr. ordered Covid and flu tests, x-rays of my chest and left leg, (which I had cut on glass), bloodwork and an EKG. I had a tetanus shot, was receiving iv antibiotics when a doctor protectively peeked in and said they were preparing a room for me upstairs. About six hours later, I was taken upstairs to that room.
The room had about a 2-inch vertical slit in the window to see the outside.
There was an eight-inch, accordion style, metal reinforced plastic exhaust pipe drawing air out of the room as fast as it came in from the air conditioner, making it very warm. There was one bed by that window. After a while I realized that there was a computer on a roll-around cart (battery operated, of course it died!), a 2 drawer stand with phone and a stand that could go across the bed. On the other side of the room was a laundry bin, stand and a phone. Both nurses had PPE on. They think I’m a Covid patient, I thought.
I was told by the other nurse that I was being labeled a POI and marked independent. I asked what these meant. First, I was a person of interest (suspected of having Covid). She told me independent meant that I could get out of bed myself and use the toilet. I think they were trying to reduce their exposure. I have to tell you the first time I did get out of bed, not being totally “with it” I nearly pulled the iv unit out of the wall! Realizing it was plugged in, I staggered over to the outlet and unplugged it. I made it to the bathroom on wobbly legs as I still had a fever. This was about 2:30 am.
The shift nurses who came in donned PPE and took it off when they left, placing it in the laundry bin. That laundry bin never left the room. Usually a nurse came in donned with the PPE, only when the iv antibiotic bag ran out. They took my temperature, blood pressure, pulse, answered questions and went over by the door, took off their PPE and left. Sometimes I had to ring for them because the door was shut and they could not hear the alarm when the antibiotics ran out. They definitely restricted their time spent in my room.
A doctor came once a day and explained what they were doing for me and why.
A full day after I was admitted, an infection manifested in my right leg. This could have been an answer for my high fever, but my test results had not come back. But now medicine could be used to target this infection so my fever finally, slowly diminished.
The curtain was drawn that separated me from the other side of the room. I have many allergies so dietary called me to try to accommodate these. They called the phone on the other side of the room so it had to be brought to me. Now that was going to have to be sanitized along with everything else in the room. The room was never swept or mopped for the entire time I was there (3 days), nor were the bed sheets or pad changed. I began to realize that these people were only trying to help me the best they could and keep themselves safe at the same time. It’s a lonely spot to be in, for all of us.
I had a tv to watch, but didn’t do much watching.
I found it was too dark and wanted to adjust the color but didn’t have the strength. I was glad to have my cell phone and called by family.
In the bathroom, someone had placed a sealed plastic package that had a toothbrush, toothpaste, lip and mouth lubricant, and mouth wash. There was also a comb and two packages of disposable washcloths already soaped! There was toilet paper on the dispenser. I had everything I needed. Fortunately, I could take care of myself after the first 12 hours. I remember one kind nurse fluffed my pillows, another brought me a battery- operated personal fan. She said I could take it home with me. Oh, another disposable.
I was told I could go home once my fever was down but I had to quarantine because my test results had not yet come back. I told everyone that if I had Covid, I’d be in very bad shape as I am what you would call a compromised patient.
The morning I was leaving, the nurse told me to ring for her when the antibiotics ran out, so I did. Another woman, in a mask, opened the door and told me the nurse would be there soon. She closed the door and I heard her remark, “Oh, she’s cute” (meaning me.) It made me think. What kind of ogre or troll did they think had been isolated in the room? Laughter, they say is the best medicine.
When I left the hospital, security was called so no one tried to use the elevator. Visitors had just been allowed into the hospital, two to a patient. Security put up signs that the elevators were being cleaned and could not be used for a time.
Why am I telling you this?
This is the way I was treated as a presumed Covid patient. Some of that was by accident, some by necessity. I found laughter where I could, but truly, it was a despairing situation. I did not like the waste of resources, because I knew I did not have Covid. The medical people did the best they could and followed protocol as best as they could. I am so glad they took good care of me while protecting themselves. The results of my tests came back, the day after I left the hospital, all negative! That’s good news for me and the staff of the hospital. How fortunate we all were, this time.