LIFE IN "L.A. L.A." LAND -- FAMILY HEALTH TALK

Let's see what's been going on with me here in SoCal.   Our town in northeast L.A. County has seen an increase of 59 corona virus infections.  Data was unclear whether there has also been one new death.  

I felt kinda funky toward the end of the previous week, eventually pondering what I was experiencing.  Some of my symptoms I associated with occurring earlier in the season, possibly allergies, but not usually this late in the summer.   Reviewing Delta+ symptoms I was reminded that for those like me who had received one of the 2-shot vaccinations, we could contract the virus, that the symptoms are often quite mild and similar to those with allergies.

I recalled my daughter's recent frustration that a team member where she's employed who exposed co-workers for two weeks when she felt ill because she didn't think she could have the virus and hadn't gotten tested.  My daughter has kept wearing her mask those days when she"s had to go into the office from working remotely so, fortunately, seems to have been protected from becoming infected.  

I finally checked the internet which revealed nearby, 10-15 minutes away, L.A. County Fairplex -- fairgrounds where immigrating children bused in from Texas after illegally crossing the Mexico/U.S. border are being temporarily held and processed -- was offering drive through Covid testing with or without an appointment.   So, I decided to take my first test that Friday afternoon.

There was no long line of cars in any queue allowing me almost immediate access to taking the long Q-tip-type self-administered nasal test.  A young lady handed me the items in a plastic bag as she gave me verbal how-to instructions, then observed my actions.   I carefully removed the Q-tip from its packaging, then inserted the Q-tip in each nostril.  I only coughed slightly at the end of each nostril's insertion.  After readily completing the process, I followed her direction to place the Q-tip in the bag and deposit in the container there.  This whole experience took only a few painless minutes.

This UCLA video shows what the nasal insertion was like at my L.A. County drive through.

I was told I would receive the results in 24 hours which might have occurred had I tested positive.  Others who have taken Covid tests said they were told results reporting would take longer, so I didn't fret.

I did call a County phone line Tuesday of the following week.  They returned my call that day stating my Covid test results were negative, indicating I did not have the viral infection just as I had tended to believe.  I was glad to know for sure though -- if I hadn't taken the test, why subject myself to periodic wondering thoughts, and I could ease the minds of my children who live miles away across the country. 

I had told my children of my symptoms and plans to take the test so didn't want them to worry.  As I've aged, my children have requested I keep them informed of my various health symptoms and actions before the fact when possible, rather than wait until after the fact reporting, lest matters might not go as well as I expected.  

My ability to communicate to them could be hampered in some scenarios, so there's less possibility of unexpected surprises for them which they don't want -- such as years ago when I finally called 911 a couple times since living alone and spent a long night in the E.R. one time and overnight in the hospital another time but didn't tell them until after I was home again.

This time my symptoms continuing and even worsening, but with no temperature, convinced me that maybe I better start an antihistamine treatment.  I was outside some these past days, but not for long periods of time.  I had noted in TV weather reports smoke from Northern California's massive forest fire that had been going east across the country as far as NYC had finally spread south our way.  Perhaps, this is what had aggravated my head, sinuses and more though I hadn't noticed smoke in the sky.

This Saturday as I write this, I looked north out my kitchen window at the front of my house toward the mountains.  Where are those peaks, I wondered?  Only the closest immediate line of peaks are visible now with the horizon behind them a grubby-white looking solid blanket of thickened smoke as far as my eyes could see, completely hiding the rest of the mountains.  I'll certainly be staying indoors as much as possible in the days ahead.   I may need to change my AC blower filter sooner than usual.  

Are any of you subjected to smoke from this fire or other fires where you live, though some may be coping with other environmental challenges like floods, mud slides, tropical storms, sink holes, earthquakes?

Do you have access to drive through Covid testing, especially if walk-ins are more challenging for you?

I wonder about the experience others may have had with Covid testing, or if any have been tested to see if antibodies in their blood which indicate they've been infected, maybe didn't even know they'd had the virus?

I also wonder about the communication arrangements others have about their health symptoms and activities with their adult children, especially if they don't live nearby?