COVID, Day 1

Yep, it’s still here. You may have seen in the news that COVID-19 is still here and infecting us. I can now tell you that it’s true. I tested positive for COVID.

COVID, Day 1

What does a writer do when quarantined at home for a week? Well, I write about it, of course!

I will post daily blogs about my experience dealing with COVID. The past couple of days, I have been battling sneeze attacks. I checked the pollen count and, sure enough, Ragweed has been moderate, so I figured it was allergies. I’ve been susceptible to allergies before, so I just went to Walgreens and got some Musinex DM Honey. I have plenty of tissues so I decided to just ride the storm out.

As I do often, I posted my ordeal on Facebook, and several friends mentioned COVID. It didn’t cross my mind because I’ve been up on all the COVID vaccines and boosters since they became available. Until recently. I saw in the news that there is an updated vaccine available. I totally planned on getting it along with my flu shot, although I kept putting it off.

My sneezing turned to coughing, which I rarely do, so I started thinking , COVID? I still had home COVID tests from before. They were all expired, but I read somewhere that they can still be used. So I did. If you’ve never done a home test, it is very easy, and you get results in 15 minutes.

If a line below the “T” appears then it’s positive for COVID. So, either that or I’m pregnant:

Walmart +

Well, crap! So, now begins all the calls, texts and emails to everyone I had contact with over the last few days to let them know I have COVID and to watch for symptoms within themselves. Man, I felt embarrassed.

According to the World Health Organization, to date there have been 103 million confirmed COVID cases in the U.S. It’s a sneaky bastard, and as much as I love to shake hands and kiss babies, I’m surprised I never got it.

I had things planned with my Tulsa Rocks podcast this week that I had to scramble. My cohost, Jill Munroe, has been great at helping pick up my slack. And shoutout to Cox Media Group for covering all my radio shows without flinching. Again, I rarely call in sick, so it was hard to make that call, but all my bosses wished me well.

Who gets a D- rating? My doctor. I figured that, since I used an expired home test, I should probably get a legit test done.

I thought once the word COVID was said, there might be some urgency. According to the WHO, over 1 million people in the U.S. have died from COVID. But the first thing my doctor’s office told me was that I was no longer in network. So now began the super fun series of phone calls to my insurance company to figure out what happened. They sent me a humongous list of in-network providers, which always causes me stress. Male, female, near my home or work, etc.

“I don’t care, just someone who will take care of me,” I told her.

Scanning through the list I was surprised to see, wait for it, my doctor!

I brought that up to her and she said that, unless they have decided to drop my insurance but haven’t sent in their paperwork yet, they should still be in-network.

“Unless?” “Should?”

Don’t you love it when people that are supposed to know what they are talking use such words?

I said, “OK, what is your name and direct number, so I can have my doctor’s office call you?” “I’m sorry, I can’t give you that”.

Reluctantly, I hung up the phone with my insurance and called my doctor’s office back. Hours have gone by since I began this series of phone calls and, wouldn’t you know it, this time when I call my doctor’s office, somehow, miraculously, I am now in network!

I started the day by simply asking my doctor what I need to do next. I have never had COVID, but obviously, I know it can be a deadly virus, so I want to get this taken care of ASAP. The nurse on duty, my doctor, nobody had called me back with advice on what to do next. The poor receptionist in the front office could tell I was getting frustrated. She had to field my calls all day, including the one where she told me everybody was gone to lunch.

At least now since I was in network again, they were able to make an appointment for me to come in to get a COVID test. And then she said, “How about Monday?” I said: “You know I have COVID, right?”

She said “Oh yeah, right. I will leave the nurse and the doctor more messages and have them get back to you.” It was almost 5 o’clock. I wasn’t holding my breath.

Who gets an A+ in all of this? Walmart +!