Mild Viral Infection

Open question: if coronavirus testing is at the discretion of your primary care provider, what do you do if you have not established care anywhere?

I'd love to hear advice on this, but I tentatively have some thoughts. Have insurance? Check online. Call them. Don't have insurance? Call federally qualified health centers. Also, now might be a good time to look into your potential Medicaid eligibility. In Oregon you can apply online. One thing I urge you, call before showing up to any healthcare facilities.

I established care on March 5th, which it turns out was just in time to have that connection in place for whatever happens next. That was sheer luck.

Because I had not seen a doctor in a long time, my DO suggested a comprehensive set of labs and I had blood drawn that same day. Everything came back normal, except for one thing. I quote my new doctor here: "The blood count came back and looks fine. There is a slight elevation in the lymphocytes which sometimes suggest a mild viral infection but nothing else concerning."

Hoo boy. It's not a great statement to mull over as this all unfolds. 

I've had a slight sore throat for the last few days (days in which I have strictly kept myself isolated, with the exception of my fiance who is trapped in here with me and our two pets). I also suffer from seasonal grass allergies this time of year, which in this environment adds gravity to every sniffle and sneeze.

There are a few moments of every day that I become convinced that I have COVID-19. And then I come to my senses and realize that I likely do not. The symptoms don't match up. I do not have a fever, or even a cough. But I don't fully understand the entire spectrum and perhaps it is wishful thinking that maybe this is it and this is as bad as it will get for me. It sounds delusional when put into words, I know. But I am trying to be honest here even when it's not flattering. The mind wanders into all sorts of places. 

Which is a roundabout way to say: I do not think I have it. But I am acting as if I do, out of an abundance of caution. I am considering all of my actions (and inaction) from a perspective that I could carry COVID-19 and that I could infect others if I do not act carefully. I am not distancing myself from my own household. That ship has sailed. But we are staying away from everyone else. 

Also, no - I am not pursuing testing or reaching out to my doctor at this time. I do not see the point and I strongly believe high priority and high risk people should take precedence. I only see this changing if my condition were to deteriorate rapidly.


So there's that.