Community Stories

Stories from the Front Lines (✨COVID-19 Healthcare Workers only: posting rules imposed)

larryganz
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MD, Pediatrician, ret.
It's interesting because in the NICU we would prone premature infants on the ventilator because it increased chest wall compliance and ventilation. We could use lower and less damaging vent settings and oxygen levels, and reduce the risk of intra-ventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
 
sah
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larryganz larryganz
MD, Pediatrician, ret.
It's interesting because in the NICU we would prone premature infants on the ventilator because it increased chest wall compliance and ventilation. We could use lower and less damaging vent settings and oxygen levels, and reduce the risk of intra-ventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

MD Internal Medicine. retired, rehired

I have been out of working the ICU for about 10 years, but I don’t think I ever had a prone patient. Then I saw the videos from Italy with many patients in a large open ward with about half the patients in prone positions. Extreme odd to see.

But this illness causes so many different pathophysiologic changes. Thankfully, the health care staff are figuring things out. I wish it could be sooner. We have lost so many already.
 
Wetworks
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RN, ER

Just an update from NYC for all of you; I am seeing a small increase in positive cases, no way the amount or acuity that I saw back in say April. I've discharged more patients with positive results who would've been slam-dunks for admission 7 months ago, so that's a good thing.

As testing capability has increased (we were limited by ability as well as DOH mandates early on) naturally we were expected to see the increase positivity. Also, as the virus has mutated, thereby becoming less deadly and more(?) infectious, aka better at being a persistent virus, more cases would also seem to be an expected outcome.

I am bolstered by the ever-increasing positive news coming from the virology/immunology field regarding expectations for longer-term immunity, something that the general public is ill-informed of due to the over-reliance on epidemiology by the MSM/social media outlets.

Just figured I'd offer an update for those of you feeling apprehensive. Feel free to hit me up with any questions you may have.
 
sah
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I feel we are still early in our understanding of this virus. It has shown us our limited knowledge, limited resources, and for many, how little common sense we have.
I do appreciate the many who have selflessly thrown themselves into this work. There has never been a time in my 40+ years of practice that I have felt more needed as now.
 
JPE.88305
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In comparison, the midwest is fairly robust...
our hospital (900 beds) is at 150% ICU capacity; several units transitioned to COVID units; other large hospital in town is same; patients waiting in ED for bed space, often being transferred from small rural critical access hospitals that aren't equipped to manage; unfortunately too many people in their 40s/50s seriously ill. It's not so much bed space and ventilators, it's staffing...when a pulmonologist/ICU doc goes down it's bad but manageable; nursing is the bottleneck...shortage of traveling nurses obviously as they're in need everywhere.

People predicted this back in the spring/summer, that the midwest would be hit later...which is challenging because we've been expected to behave the same as the coasts since the beginning, but the midwest really was only minimally affected until the late summer.

All that aside, I feel safest in the hospital: everyone wears a mask, the slightest sign of symptoms prompts quarantine by employee health until test-proven + or -...felt more nervous going to Costco last weekend to get TP, papertowels, beer, other essentials.
 
Archer
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Wetworks Wetworks
I am bolstered by the ever-increasing positive news coming from the virology/immunology field regarding expectations for longer-term immunity, something that the general public is ill-informed of due to the over-reliance on epidemiology by the MSM/social media outlets.

Can you please provide sources for this thanks.
 
STANDY
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WHO announces someone dies every 17 seconds from Covid in Europe
 
Wetworks
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Archer Archer
Can you please provide sources for this thanks.

The first, extremely encouraging bit was the article published in Cell which described T-cell immunity to COVID, most interestingly in people who were exposed to SARS-Cov1 and not SARS-Cov2. Here is a BBC article that outlines it.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200716-the-people-with-hidden-protection-from-covid-19

There is also this past week's NYT article which references a few other studies (so it is finally starting to hit MSM, hopefully), all which speak to a person's ability to experience immunity (or an improved immune-mediated response) to COVID after having been infected, even after antibodies have disappeared:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/...M9UppQqfJshEBJ6Qj9-PmlUqEkS8A7xUfr3h90DUBBLNQ

Nature
CSH
 
Wetworks
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1,863
JPE.88305 JPE.88305
In comparison, the midwest is fairly robust...
our hospital (900 beds) is at 150% ICU capacity; several units transitioned to COVID units; other large hospital in town is same; patients waiting in ED for bed space, often being transferred from small rural critical access hospitals that aren't equipped to manage; unfortunately too many people in their 40s/50s seriously ill. It's not so much bed space and ventilators, it's staffing...when a pulmonologist/ICU doc goes down it's bad but manageable; nursing is the bottleneck...shortage of traveling nurses obviously as they're in need everywhere.

People predicted this back in the spring/summer, that the midwest would be hit later...which is challenging because we've been expected to behave the same as the coasts since the beginning, but the midwest really was only minimally affected until the late summer.

All that aside, I feel safest in the hospital: everyone wears a mask, the slightest sign of symptoms prompts quarantine by employee health until test-proven + or -...felt more nervous going to Costco last weekend to get TP, papertowels, beer, other essentials.

Lockdowns too late on the coasts, too early elsewhere, IMO. Been saying it for months, unfortunately it's starting to play out. Be safe.
 
sah
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Wetworks Wetworks
The first, extremely encouraging bit was the article published in Cell which described T-cell immunity to COVID, most interestingly in people who were exposed to SARS-Cov1 and not SARS-Cov2. Here is a BBC article that outlines it.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200716-the-people-with-hidden-protection-from-covid-19

There is also this past week's NYT article which references a few other studies (so it is finally starting to hit MSM, hopefully), all which speak to a person's ability to experience immunity (or an improved immune-mediated response) to COVID after having been infected, even after antibodies have disappeared:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/...M9UppQqfJshEBJ6Qj9-PmlUqEkS8A7xUfr3h90DUBBLNQ

Nature
CSH
While those articles are correct, the optimism needs to be tempered. We do not know how long with T cell or B cell protective immunity lasts. And while rare, second COVID infections with the second being more severe is concerning. Odds seem unlikely COVID will have the second infection “enhancement” effect like Dengue, but it is still a possibility.

I am hoping the immunity is protective and at worst may need yearly COVID shots like the influenza immunizations.
 
M'Bob
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I was wondering if those who wear an N95 with patients have experienced facial compression pain as I do after a number of hours use, and if there are brands/models you find more comfortable in use than others. Thanks.
 
Wetworks
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M'Bob M'Bob
I was wondering if those who wear an N95 with patients have experienced facial compression pain as I do after a number of hours use, and if there are brands/models you find more comfortable in use than others. Thanks.

I only use a surgical mask for the time being as 1) the N95 I am fit tested for (duckbill) has been hard to come by and 2) I'm confident that my immune system will protect me through this current cycle. That said, I went ahead and ordered the Envo mask, seems very comfortable, and you're not muffled when speaking with patients.

https://envomask.com/
 
M'Bob
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Wetworks Wetworks
I only use a surgical mask for the time being as 1) the N95 I am fit tested for (duckbill) has been hard to come by and 2) I'm confident that my immune system will protect me through this current cycle. That said, I went ahead and ordered the Envo mask, seems very comfortable, and you're not muffled when speaking with patients.

https://envomask.com/

Thanks much for this.
 
Walrus
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Hello, I’m not a doctor or anything but in my state I have been labeled a “front line healthcare worker” therefore I am getting the covid vaccine 4January figure it’s okay if I post here since the state and cdc consider me frontline and I’ve been working in hospitals, group homes and rehabs all this covid time. So yeah I just wanted to check and see how people made out with the vaccine. I am a little nervous, I’m not an anti vaxer dude but I’m not real hip on new medications of any kind. A lot of unknowns here. We have no idea how long the antibodies are gonna last. Of course that’s not my main concern at the moment. I’m just wondering how the after effects were. Is there a good chance I’ll be Sick for a couple days. I’m assuming it’s IM so ya the arm pain probably. I’m going to guess I’m getting the Pfizer one. Even though there was no mention of signing up for the second dose I don’t know if the Moderna one has made it around yet. So anyway just looking to see how people who got the covid vax felt after. I know everyone’s system can do different things but I’d like to have some direct knowledge from someone who got a dose. Thanks.
 
Yak1
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1,993
Walrus Walrus
Hello, I’m not a doctor or anything but in my state I have been labeled a “front line healthcare worker” therefore I am getting the covid vaccine 4January figure it’s okay if I post here since the state and cdc consider me frontline and I’ve been working in hospitals, group homes and rehabs all this covid time. So yeah I just wanted to check and see how people made out with the vaccine. I am a little nervous, I’m not an anti vaxer dude but I’m not real hip on new medications of any kind. A lot of unknowns here. We have no idea how long the antibodies are gonna last. Of course that’s not my main concern at the moment. I’m just wondering how the after effects were. Is there a good chance I’ll be Sick for a couple days. I’m assuming it’s IM so ya the arm pain probably. I’m going to guess I’m getting the Pfizer one. Even though there was no mention of signing up for the second dose I don’t know if the Moderna one has made it around yet. So anyway just looking to see how people who got the covid vax felt after. I know everyone’s system can do different things but I’d like to have some direct knowledge from someone who got a dose. Thanks.
Got it. About a week ago. No problems. Easier than the flu shot.
 
Yak1
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Yak1 Yak1
Got it. About a week ago. No problems. Easier than the flu shot.
Now...just to be clear—the second dose is apparently the one that is more likely to give you 12-24 hours of feeling like crap. I get that after the flu vaccine.
 
JPE.88305
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Got dose 1 of the Pfizer vaccine this past Monday; IM, the actual injection hurt way less than the annual flu shot, though within about 5 hours my arm was pretty sore, more so than the flu shot. Soreness continued all the next day, gone day 3. No other symptoms.
I personally know dozens of people that have had it, no one with anything more than sore arm for 1-2 days.
I have questions as anyone should RE mRNA vaccine tech as this is the first widespread use beyond early clinical trials, but all the research I’ve done has put my mind at ease and I’m fine with it. Obviously no super long term studies but the only thing I imagine might play a role is rare potential immune problems, which can happen with other kinds of vaccines as well (eg. Antibody dependent enhancement).
 
JPE.88305
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Yak1 Yak1
Now...just to be clear—the second dose is apparently the one that is more likely to give you 12-24 hours of feeling like crap. I get that after the flu vaccine.
Have heard that as wellx
 
Walrus
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Yak1 Yak1
Got it. About a week ago. No problems. Easier than the flu shot.
Ah thanks. Did you get Moderna or Pfizer. When I signed up and made my appointment there was no mention of a second injection but I figure that will probably be addressed when I go to the hospital for the initial one. Good to hear you found it easier than the flu shot I got that early (work mandated) and did feel a little crappy for two days, not bad, I worked and everything just got real sweaty elevated temp.
 
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