Maybe it’s permanent. Grounding that is.

No official news from pathology today. I suspect the shutdown and other precautions Mayo is taking is slowing the labs down considerably. Talked to a man who’s here for the duration of the virus hoping for a liver transplant, and another couple who’s husband is being admitted. Feel bad for these folks.

As it is I hear I’m headed home to the nuthouse in CO, and a friend joked that I should smuggle TP home. Ha. Probably wear my post surgical mask they gave me, once in a while where they scraped my throat up a bit with the procedure it hurts a little and I cough. Don’t want to scare the hell out of everybody...

Mom says the doggies have been good pups. We discussed not seeing her at the house in case we dragged something home with us, but she’s refusing that plan of swapping the house with just a distant wave in the garage... but we offered. Looking forward to seeing her and the pups, not too concerned with bringing her something bad, but the thought is there.

See if FAA can get their **** together and learn from companies who rotated staff and such in Asia during SARS and keep the controllers from keeling over before we get there tomorrow. Diverting for a DEN Evac would be damned inconvenient.

Washy washy, happy happy as we say every year on our cruise.

Want to finish up this diagnosis, but this place has to protect the docs and stay up for the folks here for these much worse things and people certainly to come. Downtown Rochester was a ghost town today and Mayo was quiet.
 
denverpilot said:
No official news from pathology today. I suspect the shutdown and other precautions Mayo is taking is slowing the labs down considerably. Talked to a man who’s here for the duration of the virus hoping for a liver transplant, and another couple who’s husband is being admitted. Feel bad for these folks.
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Glad you got most of the testing done before the shutdowns hit.
 
Nate - glad to hear of all the progress ... ok, maybe not the right word ??? elimination of everything it isn't? Anyway, safe travels home and looks like the storms have moved east. Hope your trip from DEN to home goes ok.
 
gkainz said:
Nate - glad to hear of all the progress ... ok, maybe not the right word ??? elimination of everything it isn't? Anyway, safe travels home and looks like the storms have moved east. Hope your trip from DEN to home goes ok.
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Second flight cancelled. We give the airline one more shot and then drive.
 
denverpilot said:
Second flight cancelled. We give the airline one more shot and then drive.
Click to expand...


Hmmmmm......

I double-dog dare you to tell the Johns Hopkins docs about your airline problems and then ask them to sign a Basic Med exam form so you can fly yourself home!

:D
 
Great news out of Mayo, even if there are still some loose ends. Keep us all informed of your progress. And it sounds like there will be good progress.
 
Half Fast said:
Hmmmmm......

I double-dog dare you to tell the Johns Hopkins docs about your airline problems and then ask them to sign a Basic Med exam form so you can fly yourself home!

:D
Click to expand...

That’d be quite weird since I’ve never seen a JH doc (Baltimore, MD), only Mayo (Rochester, MN), and I would have to get there first. :)
 
Pilawt said:
As I always say, hold the Mayo.

o_O
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dc6d724eacad4c3dc4054c658ae96dd7.jpg
 
tspear said:
@denverpilot

Nate, curious. Why not drive, takes longer, but you can take your time. Also, likely a lot less exposure to anything.
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Meh about the same at the time unless you figured out how not to stop in the car at all. Plus my feet aren’t always great for driving, and hand always hurts... and making Karen do the whole thing, when she doesn’t like driving that much...

The flight kept getting cancelled for low loads so we knew we wouldn’t be packed like sardines. There wasn’t a single middle seat filled. And MN was only in the double digit number of known cases then. Way behind the population centers.

All in all it was a wash. If that flight cancelled we were going to drive.

Also an unexpected assist came from my airplane co owner. He popped up and said he’d come get us, if needed. But that would have meant another hotel night in MSP instead of Rochester.

In Rochester I was in a residence inn and could turn down maid service the last couple of days or just hand them the trash and towels and take a couple myself, if we were really paranoid.

Probably the highest exposure risk wasn’t the flight anyway. It was the hour and a half van shuttle ride from Rochester to MSP.
 
Weird update. The biopsy results haven’t come back yet, it’ll be a week on Monday afternoon.

I suspect another protocol change delayed or heck, maybe even destroyed pulmonary tissue from “unknown” patients, because I don’t think a week is normal.

Probably attempt to contact them Monday afternoon if I don’t see anything. It *could* be done and locked out from being sent to me because they “found something”, which we are expecting, but they always make the doc tell you in a follow up visit.

He might tell me via message or he might want a video call if that’s the case. He may not know it’s sitting there awaiting an appointment in the system that won’t happen.

Guess we will see on Monday.

Also realize part of the reason he didn’t start treatment is I’m already partially immune system suppressed and adding steroids makes the whole virus response thing worse.

At least we know this going into the virus crap. I’m pretty likely to do poorly. Yay. And Karen will probably bring it home from work eventually since she’s a nurse.

If I survive this utter ****show of bad timing, it’ll be nice to either go back or get started on the treatment.

Snow mostly melted. I’ll go for a nice walk in the mud tomorrow. LOL.
 
denverpilot said:
Weird update. The biopsy results haven’t come back yet, it’ll be a week on Monday afternoon.

I suspect another protocol change delayed or heck, maybe even destroyed pulmonary tissue from “unknown” patients, because I don’t think a week is normal.

Probably attempt to contact them Monday afternoon if I don’t see anything. It *could* be done and locked out from being sent to me because they “found something”, which we are expecting, but they always make the doc tell you in a follow up visit.

He might tell me via message or he might want a video call if that’s the case. He may not know it’s sitting there awaiting an appointment in the system that won’t happen.

Guess we will see on Monday.

Also realize part of the reason he didn’t start treatment is I’m already partially immune system suppressed and adding steroids makes the whole virus response thing worse.

At least we know this going into the virus crap. I’m pretty likely to do poorly. Yay. And Karen will probably bring it home from work eventually since she’s a nurse.

If I survive this utter ****show of bad timing, it’ll be nice to either go back or get started on the treatment.

Snow mostly melted. I’ll go for a nice walk in the mud tomorrow. LOL.
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You should start working on your country song! :D
 
denverpilot said:
We made it home. Know a bunch of folks are watching FB but just putting it here...

And now we wait on this storyline for a bit and deal with a slightly crazier one.

7e33ca312e225d9c65fb1a881543366e.jpg
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I still can't respond or "like" on your FB page. Bummer.
 
Talked to my main pulmonary Doc at Mayo.

We have a treatment plan but since it requires my immune system be suppressed massively, and since Karen is considered critical medical staff, we agreed that unless my neurological symptoms change, it makes sense to hold off on starting treatment for two months — or however long necessary.

Depending on his imagery and symptoms respond, the treatment gets even more aggressive with even adding more immune suppressors every three months to assist the initial mass oral steroids, which will already hit the immune system hard.

So... hit the fix and turn outbound... holding pattern entry, direct, completed. Two month legs. Expect further clearance in two months.

...


And this may be changing. Neurology has come back with a strong opinion that since I have seen nothing but a continued slow progression of symptoms that they’ll continue without starting treatment. Current guidelines for the virus from all sources aren’t different for immunosuppressed vs not patients today, so we have a dilemma. In the end, it’s patient choice, since neurological damage will continue.
 
denverpilot said:
Talked to my main pulmonary Doc at Mayo.

We have a treatment plan but since it requires my immune system be suppressed massively, and since Karen is considered critical medical staff, we agreed that unless my neurological symptoms change, it makes sense to hold off on starting treatment for two months — or however long necessary.

Depending on his imagery and symptoms respond, the treatment gets even more aggressive with even adding more immune suppressors every three months to assist the initial mass oral steroids, which will already hit the immune system hard.

So... hit the fix and turn outbound... holding pattern entry, direct, completed. Two month legs. Expect further clearance in two months.

...


And this may be changing. Neurology has come back with a strong opinion that since I have seen nothing but a continued slow progression of symptoms that they’ll continue without starting treatment. Current guidelines for the virus from all sources aren’t different for immunosuppressed vs not patients today, so we have a dilemma. In the end, it’s patient choice, since neurological damage will continue.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, tough one Nate. Short term isolation from your wife versus life long neuro degradation. Absence makes the heart grow fonder??? But WTF do I know, take a day or two to ponder it, then make a decision is the only advice I have.
 
denverpilot said:
And this may be changing. Neurology has come back with a strong opinion that since I have seen nothing but a continued slow progression of symptoms that they’ll continue without starting treatment. Current guidelines for the virus from all sources aren’t different for immunosuppressed vs not patients today, so we have a dilemma. In the end, it’s patient choice, since neurological damage will continue.
Click to expand...
That's quite a dilemma Nate. I'd hate to be immunosuppressed at a time like this, but if it doesn't matter as far as COVID-19 is concerned, then... Sounds like something you want to think long and hard about.

It sounds like the biopsy came back confirming the dx? Maybe I missed that post...
 
azure said:
That's quite a dilemma Nate. I'd hate to be immunosuppressed at a time like this, but if it doesn't matter as far as COVID-19 is concerned, then... Sounds like something you want to think long and hard about.

It sounds like the biopsy came back confirming the dx? Maybe I missed that post...
Click to expand...

Yep.

So we decided to be a pilot. We had an already in progress emergency and went to Mayo for it. It will continue to get worse without treatment from all indicators so far.

The risks of the virus and infections are possible future emergencies in this cockpit, but not happening.

Deal with the emergency. Mitigate the other risks as best as possible. Fly the plane.

Treatment started. 40 mg oral prednisone daily for a month tapering to 20 in the third month. An antibiotic to attempt to keep a common lung infection from happening on the steroids. And an acid inhibitor to keep from getting ulcers from the steroid. And Calcium with Vitamin D to keep steroid from dissolving bone mass. Calcium and D blood test in a month if possible — virus might make that difficult — and MRI and neuro assessment in three months.

All drugs were filled for 90 days and pharmacy is overriding insurance limits for dispensation size with insurance approval. No need to go back there.

With Karen working as a nurse we are essentially setting up an in house isolation. Upstairs is mine, downstairs is hers, kitchen has to be shared so full wipe down and only one cook at a time.

We both have a bedroom and a bathroom and we will be just fine.

Other shared area is mudroom entrance and door knob, there’s wipes on both sides and gloves in the garage if needed for any future illness or quarantine.

We tested this out tonight and doesn’t look like we forgot much. Some interaction is inevitable and we aren’t doing protocols as heavy as say, someone prepping for a transplant, but just knocking down contact inside the house just as extra precaution.

Highly unlikely I’ll go anywhere public. Lots of walking room outside being rural and such. Driveway is 900’ long.

We’ll wait and assess and get a feel for how wild and wooly Colorado gets. If it’s looking like Karen will definitely get it, we’ll isolate more and I’ll have to figure out how to care for her very carefully.

We joked she will have to crawl to her bedroom door at least because I’ll be long gone after dropping her food plate. LOL.

If it goes the other way we probably end up with me in trouble fairly rapidly. Timing of status of local hospitals will affect the outcome of that rain dance.

We joked that it’s too bad we sold the fifth wheel. I could WiFi bridge it and move in. Oh well.

This’ll work or it won’t. Engine fire hasn’t gone out with the first fire bottle. Blowing number two. We are near terrain and descending so manage that and maybe we can climb out later.
 
Nate, glad to hear that you have a diagnosis and treatment plan, and that it's getting going. It has its risks but seems like the right decision for you. Keep us posted - hopefully you start to see improvements!
 
Pulling for you Nate. A couple of suggestions....Keep your cell phone in your pocket all the time, and spend the $ and get an electronic lock on one exterior door, The lock makes it easy if you are home and go down, to let help in without destroying a door or window.
 
Everskyward said:
Is FMLA not an option for Karen?
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No idea. She’s out keeping people out of the hospital across the street from her, so her risk is lower. Still considered essential though... wound care. If people had to sit home with bad wounds, they just end up helping clog the ERs later.

Craig said:
Pulling for you Nate. A couple of suggestions....Keep your cell phone in your pocket all the time, and spend the $ and get an electronic lock on one exterior door, The lock makes it easy if you are home and go down, to let help in without destroying a door or window.
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You people lock your doors?

I mean if it gets weird, I’ll lock it just to slow them down enough to yank the charging handle, since the larger firepower would be out by then. ;)

I suspect leaving the garage door open with a roll of TP on the floor is considered illegal poaching, though. :)
 
murphey said:
And what about the dogs?
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My co-workers alternate from going outside to communicate loudly with everything, including passing horses, the neighbor donkeys, humans walking by, and other canines... to sleeping on the job.

As usual, they’re freeloaders and demand food and attention a few times per day. They spent part of their economic stimulus package in extra dog food and treats.

One of them keeps trying to bury treats outside like they know a zombie apocalypse is on, or something. :)

For my efforts as manservant, they allow me to watch their daily WWE show for free without pay per view.

:)

How’s yours?
 
denverpilot said:
My co-workers alternate from going outside to communicate loudly with everything, including passing horses, the neighbor donkeys, humans walking by, and other canines... to sleeping on the job.

As usual, they’re freeloaders and demand food and attention a few times per day. They spent part of their economic stimulus package in extra dog food and treats.

One of them keeps trying to bury treats outside like they know a zombie apocalypse is on, or something. :)

For my efforts as manservant, they allow me to watch their daily WWE show for free without pay per view.

:)

How’s yours?
Click to expand...

I think he meant do you need to be isolated from the dogs also?
 
PaulS said:
I think he meant do you need to be isolated from the dogs also?
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Oh. We talked about it. Difficult to do but if one of us gets ill we would lock them away from that person.

They’re going to follow whoever around and want pets. Karen just won’t pet before hand washing.

Kinda the same thing as fridge and cupboards and such. We’ll wipe them down but can’t really go insane over it.
 
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