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A coronavirus swab test. |
So last Friday at the end of my session, the charge nurse came over and rather nervously informed me that I must go immediately that evening and find someplace to get a test for the coronavirus.
Further that next week (this week) I was not to report to the Plainfield center for dialysis but would be advised what to do.
Why all this? It turns out that an x-ray I had on Thursday revealed a small amount of fluid in my lungs. That, plus a persistent dry cough I have had since mid-November (well before the coronavirus) set off the protocol.
These are two of the three warning signs. The third, a fever, did not appear. I am a low average body temp person -- usually clocking in around 97.7° Fahrenheit.
I will be treated at another center designated by DaVita to handle questionable cases in isolation from the general dialysis population.
Once my test results come back (7 to 10 days), I will return to the Plainfield center if I'm not infected with the coronavirus.
I joked with the Plainfield center's director that if I were infected, I would probably already be dead since I am one of those "high risk" individuals of which they speak.
Given all the talk in the media about how comparatively little testing is being done, I was surprised when the Medemerge in Green Brook told me they did the swab testing on a walk-in basis.
"Walk-in" was something of a misnomer as they were conducting business outdoors under triage tents . An intake person took my ID papers plus a description of my vehicle and I was told to go wait in the vehicle.
In a few minutes, a tech came to the car, returned my ID stuff, and told me to follow them to an outdoor location where another tech would take the swab. After that I was told I could leave and that the results would be available in 7 to 10 days.
The large parking lot was full of maybe 60-70 vehicles, many of whom were getting the same test.
So my treatment schedule this week shifts to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I will try to post on my regular schedule but I hope you will understand if I'm just too pooped.
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