Family member with COVID 19

Hi @amart22018 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sure we will be hearing from others soon who have family members or friends with the virus, or they themselves for that matter. I am sure the unknown period of the diagnosis and in-home symptom management of your family members is stressful. Many people have managed well at home. Hospitalization is usually only necessary for people with compromised immune systems or people over 70.

You mentioned that your sister is still able to work from home, so Ii hope she continues to feel well enough to work. Have been able to communicate with your family members during this time? How are they handling the in-home isolation and getting any supplies, like food, they need?

First, I hope everyone is doing well and getting over thus virus. At this point we have to assume that we are all exposed as some do not exhibit any symptoms. That's why social distancing is vital. I live only one mile from my son and I have not seen him in weeks, my daughter lives 50+ miles away. We started video chat and it was very good. My grandson is only 18 months and he waved and called out Nana! This makes me feel less isolated from my children. We agreed if I need anything, my son will get it and leave it at my door. This is a sacrifice we all have to make to get this country healthy again.

She continue to work as she is a pretty tough person. Very in shape and active. We are all connected via phone, text and email. Too early to know more about food supplies. We have enough to last a week or more. Don't know yet what next week will look like. Thankfully we all have friends.

Also hoping that your loved ones are taking good care and getting better. My children live in Boulder and I know Colorado is taking more precautions as are many other states. Hope we all continue to stay in touch with those we care about including elder friends and neighbors and cyber connect buddies.

Hello @amart22018. News and updates keep evolving as we all learn more about the COVID-19 virus. One day can feel like a week as far as how much news changes in that short time period. How are your family members doing? Has keeping in touch virtually helped ease some of the anxiety of the unknown? How are you doing?

Thank you for your concern. For the benefit of all (hopefully) I'm willing to share more about my family's situation as they deal with this illness. My sister is feeling better today, but it seems to be better then worse day by day. My brother in law is suffering more today. He's been staying in bed and is coughing more and more. No appetite, fever, body aches and now the cough. They are contacting the doctor today to talk about what is next. Unfortunately they live in the Vail valley where vacationers have been coming and going all winter, this has caused this to be a coronavirus hotspot. This concerns me that this 68 year old, in shape and healthy man is suffering to fight off this virus. If only our CDC had been empowered and funded to initiate testing and advance protocols a year ago.

Hello all -
I have a daughter who is an ER nurse in a major metropolitan hospital. After 4 12 hour shifts in as many days, exposed to dozens of people with coughs and suspected Covid-19, she began to feel very ill and went to their testing facility early Tuesday, where she tested negative for all other flus and respiratory illnesses. Her test for Covid-19 should offer results in about 3 more days.
She was sent home to self-quarantine, rest and drink a lot of fluids. Her symptoms are fever, sore throat and a cough different than her usual asthma cough. We were very worried as she is immuno-compromised as well, but as of 3:30am today (we are a 24/7 family) she was doing well enough to have done homework (she's also a FT on-line student) and bathed and was headed to bed. She is resting a lot, and reports her symptoms seem about the same as 48 hours ago, which according to her is a very good sign.
I am 1500 miles away, and high risk, so would not be able to go to her anyway, so I just keep praying and encouraging people take this seriously but not panic.
My repeated advice to friends, family & acquaintances are:
Take this seriously. Even if you are healthy and think you would weather the virus easily, it is HIGHLY contagious, and you can easily spread it to vulnerable people without knowing you have it.
If you are vulnerable, please stay home and stay safe.
Please get your information from the CDC and State Department of Health, not Facebook and Twitter.
If the 24/7 news cycle makes you anxious, TURN IT OFF. Check in once or twice a day for a short time for current news. If you are stuck at home, read a book, watch a movie, clean a cupboard, call a friend and talk about anything else.
Regardless of your politics, we're all in this together and fighting and sarcastic posts do not help.
Sue

@amart22018, and everyone who is part of a family. I want to remember your posts and how quickly the Covid-19 became a major issue for your family members. From the group of 15 that have symptoms and are yet to be tested, how many have tried and not been accepted for testing? The reason I am focusing on the testing is that two of my grandchildren had difficulty this week.

The first one, our sweet little 9 mos. old angel, started having symptoms last week. The pediatric physician thought that it might be allergies or it might not and perhaps she should be in the hospital where she would be more secure. No tests were performed.

Happy to report that as of yesterday she is much better.

How many grandparents are here with us and concerned about their grandchildren? Would you please share your experiences and knowledge.

And how about a picture that helps tell the story. We can put all of the pictures in an album to share. What should we call the album? Here is my entry. AMA "All Better"

May you be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris

@artscaping - This grandmother is worried too. Spoke to my daughter in Sweden today. Her children 8 & 5 seem to have the symptoms, but appear better. They are now with their father- shared custody. It is not easy to get tested there. Lack of tests I assume.

@astaingegerdm, Thanks for sharing. Do you know what level of exposure they may be facing? Can you have input such that decisions regarding how to handle this situation are family shared decisions? I have that only to the extent that I can give feedback, shout encouragement and give praise. I try not to extend my worries to them nor to see them extracting fear from my rhetoric.

Please let us how it goes and it would be nice to have a pic for our album.

Have a peaceful sleep.
Chris