AVOIDING CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC COULD MEAN LIFE OR DEATH

[yuiyoshida]

By John M. Glionna

These days, Los Angeles acting teacher Deryn Warren balances her pain with her fear. She's a bladder cancer patient who broke her wrist in November. She still needs physical therapy for her wrist, and she's months late for a cancer follow-up.

But Warren won't go near a hospital, even though she says her wrist hurts every day.

"If I go back to the hospital, I'll get COVID. Hospitals are full of COVID people," says Warren, a former film director and author of the book "How to Make Your Audience Fall in Love With You."

"Doctors say, 'Come back for therapy,' and my answer is, 'No, thank you.''

Many, many patients like Warren are shunning hospitals and clinics. The coronavirus has so diminished trust in the U.S. medical system that even people with obstructed bowels, chest pain and stroke symptoms are ignoring danger signs and staying out of the emergency room, with potentially mortal consequences.

continues...

https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/clinical-care/avoiding-care-during-pandemic-could-mean-life-or-death

[helpisontheway]

1. I was sick from late March until late May

I still don’t know what was wrong with me. My dr just had me try different things to relieve my pain. She wanted me to go get a scan and I refused. I finally agreed to get a colonoscopy/endoscopy mid July. The rates dipped a bit in my area so I decided to go in. I was a nervous wreck but the hospital took precautions. This past Wed was the 14 day mark so looks like I avoided Covid. My dr wants me to do my overdue mammogram. I agreed and she put in the referral. Literally the next day Fauci and other experts were on a show. They did not recommend routine mammograms. So I think I will hold off on that. Especially since the numbers in our area are ticking back up.

[Delmette2.0]

2. Can your physical therapist send you exercises to do at home?

My elderly Mother got some instructions with pictures to help maintain legs and balance. I had some for warm up and cool down during respiratory therapy.

It might be worth asking.

[chriscan64]

3. My wife almost died because Texas emergency rooms kept sending her home.

She finally got to stay 2 nights before liver damage killed her. Once she had her procedure and a negative covid-19 test, they bum rushed her out the door again.