| by David Van Risseghem. Last Wednesday I unknowingly began an ordeal of firsthand experience with a pandemic risk. I was having an informal meeting with a longtime political contact. OKGOP Chair, David McLain asked to visit with me on Wednesday afternoon, at a Tulsa metro area restaurant. He was unaware of a sick family member and he'd just visited that person. On Thursday morning I got an early call & message to call David McLain. Within the hour I made contact and he recounted his own notification of the family member's illness and positive diagnosis. McLain said he'd been enroute to the OKGOP headquarters in the OKC metro area, but had immediately turned around, to get tested and return home to Skiatook. |  |
I immediately researched the testing options and was surprised at the confusion of info from our govt web resources. While several sites were listed on official State Health Dept websites, no pricing terms are detailed, nor are we informed whether the providers are operating as a private for-profit option, and which are govt. funded public health services. One site wanted $250 in cash, before they would take a sample for testing.
I decided to call the OU Schusterman campus and the School of Nursing at that Tulsa campus. they had an appointment set up for about an hour later. They took my patient info over the phone and instructed me on how to arrive for a very short process. They sent me an email while on the phone, to confirm my email address, so that test results would only go to a secure private mailbox.
I decided to call the OU Schusterman campus and the School of Nursing at that Tulsa campus. they had an appointment set up for about an hour later. They took my patient info over the phone and instructed me on how to arrive for a very short process. They sent me an email while on the phone, to confirm my email address, so that test results would only go to a secure private mailbox.
I can't tell you just how bizarre the thoughts were, when I was faced with the reality which I knew would come, even though I had months to prepare for it. I immediately informed my wife and we made prudent decisions to limit her risks. I had to cancel all my plans for the next several days and make sure I had everything available to treat onset symptoms immediately. I realized that my ability to responsibly come & go as I please was now gone. I even had to give up my use of the family car and just use my 'work car', so that my wife's exposure was limited even more effectively.
So I got over to the OU Nursing School and found the outdoor testing site on the ground floor of a parking garage. they had signs all over the campus to make it very easy. I pulled up and a medical worker came over to my car. I was told to stay in the car but give them an identification so they could confirm identity for the test.
Within a minute or so, a nurse came back to my vehicle and asked me to remove the clear face shield I use, and use a mask to cover just my mouth. I didn't have a mask so she provided one for me. she said the nasal swab sometimes causes a coughing or sneezing reflex. that's why the mouth covering is their protocol.
The nurse unwrapped a sterile tiny Q-tip on a long flexible plastic stem. she said it will easily slide to the back of my nasal cavity. That's where she will do a quick spin of the stick. She said it's quick and painless. She was right. But it is a sensation I've never felt before, and it was not enjoyable. She was really good at it and immediately put the Q-tip in a glass vial and covered the specimen with the screw-on cap. The vial had my personal medical data printed on a label.
She thanked me for cooperating and told me all negative results are emailed within 7 days, but usually quicker than that. She said positive results are communicated by phone call.
I felt like there was a bit of cotton still tickling my upper sinus cavity, but that went away within minutes when I blew my nose. Yes, my eyes watered from the reflex actions.
I was driving away from the campus just 5 minutes after I arrived.
Within a minute or so, a nurse came back to my vehicle and asked me to remove the clear face shield I use, and use a mask to cover just my mouth. I didn't have a mask so she provided one for me. she said the nasal swab sometimes causes a coughing or sneezing reflex. that's why the mouth covering is their protocol.
The nurse unwrapped a sterile tiny Q-tip on a long flexible plastic stem. she said it will easily slide to the back of my nasal cavity. That's where she will do a quick spin of the stick. She said it's quick and painless. She was right. But it is a sensation I've never felt before, and it was not enjoyable. She was really good at it and immediately put the Q-tip in a glass vial and covered the specimen with the screw-on cap. The vial had my personal medical data printed on a label.
She thanked me for cooperating and told me all negative results are emailed within 7 days, but usually quicker than that. She said positive results are communicated by phone call.
I felt like there was a bit of cotton still tickling my upper sinus cavity, but that went away within minutes when I blew my nose. Yes, my eyes watered from the reflex actions.
I was driving away from the campus just 5 minutes after I arrived.
This was the beginning of my self-imposed isolation. I wanted to stop at a convenience store to use the restroom, but that's no longer a responsible option. I had to 'hold it' until I got home.
I sent a text to David McLain, telling him my testing arrangement. I said I'd keep him posted when I hear anything. He said he was at the OSU medical campus getting the same thing done. he said he'd stay in touch with developments.
I called my friend, Dr. Jim Meehan's office. His office staffer said that since I only had exposure to a person who only had been exposed an hour or two earlier, It's highly unlikely that I would have breathed viral exhales coming from him. But I was counseled to add Quercetin supplements to my daily zinc/calcium/magnesium regimen. Amazon home delivery to the rescue!
I sent a text to David McLain, telling him my testing arrangement. I said I'd keep him posted when I hear anything. He said he was at the OSU medical campus getting the same thing done. he said he'd stay in touch with developments.
I called my friend, Dr. Jim Meehan's office. His office staffer said that since I only had exposure to a person who only had been exposed an hour or two earlier, It's highly unlikely that I would have breathed viral exhales coming from him. But I was counseled to add Quercetin supplements to my daily zinc/calcium/magnesium regimen. Amazon home delivery to the rescue!
Most of my behavior during the isolation was thought through months ago, but the feelings of helplessness were emotions I had not expected. I canceled my plans to attend the OKGOP convention in person. I arranged to participate in the State Committee meeting via online options.
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Sunday morning I got my first good news. Chairman McLain notified me that his OSU tests came back negative. That essentially cleared me! Yay! I'm out of my own house arrest!
On Monday morning I had an email from OU medical. They made me sign in to a secure server via an email link. That's when my negative test results were announced to me. If you're keeping score at home, OU beat the 7-day cap by 3 days. But OSU beat the same cap by 4 days. |
