Sick
Monday I could feel it coming on. Suddenly the house wasn’t warm enough and I couldn’t get comfortable on the couch. I grabbed my thermometer and went to bed, took my temperature and it was 100 F, so I knew something was up. The next day went by in a haze from the bedroom. My son didn’t notice much from the comfort of his X-box, except that Dad wasn’t telling him not to.
Call
Better on Wednesday, no fever and less fatigue, but I needed to know if that was my brush with our historical moment because I am a member of your Roberts Creek Volunteer Fire Department (fodder for another column) and being out of action for 10 days to let it pass is 10 days too long.
I call for an appointment for a phone consultation with my doc (we are on first-name terms, as you should be) and after getting him up to speed, he recommends I get the test – the deep nasal swab test. Oh. I look it up. I shouldn’t have looked it up. Some things should be a surprise.
Now with my referral I was given a phone number for the test facility, make the appointment, get a call back with another number to make the appointment with HR from the Regional District, make that appointment, call the first number to cancel the first appointment and I am good to go. I think.
Test
Thursday. I am instructed to call when I get there and need to wait until they are ready. Two minutes later I get the OK to come in. The door is opened for me and there is a surgical mask and hand sanitizer laid out. Carol, in her full PPE, should know that the spring yellow of the Tyvek coveralls brings out the kindness in her eyes. She is trying to prepare me for what she is about to do but I have long steeled myself for the moment. Led to the booth and instructed to sit with my back to the corner column of the clinic building, she begins to explain the procedure.
I throw my hands up. “Oh, I know what you are going to do!” I say. With the back of my head planted against the post and my gaze skyward, Carol proceeds to swirl the swab and tickle the undercarriage of my brain-pan for a long 10 seconds, and just like that, it’s done. Post swab papers, some with words and some to blow my nose on, are proffered and I am on my merry way. I sleep better already.
Result
Friday. First an email from myehealth, then a call from my doctor’s office then another call from HR and the results are negative. Back to the new normal.
A big virtual hug to Niki for shopping while I was down, to John for dinner and to all my other friends with offers to help, proving once again I live in the best place on earth. kelly
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