A Healthcare Quandry

I find myself in no man’s land this weekend, and I am not alone. Two days ago, I was “under the weather,” had a low grade fever, cough, and was just exhausted. I have had all my shots but we just returned from a trip to the mountains with the grandkids (and their parents), gone to restaurants, and figured it may be time to give up my banner as “Covid Unscathed.” I took a test, it was negative and went to bed. My fever inched itself up towards 102, and stayed there. (I am of the belief that you treat the symptoms, not the fever). Next day, it was the same thing, but worse, more coughing, fatigue, and the fever. Oh and when I swallow it feels like a knife sticking in my throat. But, what to do? I took another Covid test and it was negative again. Go to the ER where I will be exposed to more illness, and I am not an emergency. So I will sit for hours, and feel guilty because people are really there and deserve to go ahead of me. Go to a free standing health center, whereby I can at least get tested for flu, strep and be sure I don’t have pneumonia? But despite the fact that insurance does pay, it is ridiculously expensive. Or ride it out in the comfort of my home.

I started writing this three days ago, and never finished as I felt too lousy, and I didn’t have an ending. If only I was a child, and could go to the pediatrician. They have rapid strep tests in the office, Covid and flu tests.

Internists don’t usually have them in their office, because they don’t use them enough and they are probably cash- strapped to spend all the money waiting for them to be used and finally get reimbursed. My illness has morphed into a horrible cough, and the fever has come back, so I am waiting to talk with my physician and go see him (then the lab, radiology and pharmacy.)

Our health care system is broken, and I don’t know how we fix it, if we can. I am fortunate to have a warm home, with adequate food and drink, support, and a great physician. And I can stay home and take care of myself. But how many people are so lucky? There are too many people lining the emergency rooms, with non-life threatening emergencies and going to the urgent care facilities.

Maybe we take it one day at a time, one illness at a time. Let’s put our heads together. I welcome any suggestions.