SalmonTheMedic
115189
1814
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So after a year and 9 months working as a paramedic during all this shit, and seeing goodness knows how many COVID patients... for the first time, I've tested positive.
Just in time to stop me finally being able to go home to my family for Christmas (isolation will end midnight Boxing Day).
I live alone, and am lucky that I'm not feeling too bad yet, likely because I'm double vaxxed plus boostered. Thanks science! Get vaxxed if you havent already, for God's sake we're on our knees here.
Sorry for ranting you lovely lot, just feeling a little cheated and like I wanted to shout into the ether.
Be careful and look after each other.
TL:DR, got COVID, feel sad, get vaxxed.
Edit: Realising some of you havent seen Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) before? Might not be a thing outside UK, I dont know, but these are asymptomatic tests you do at home, which are good at picking up COVID before you have symptoms of it. Then you go get a lab test (PCR) to confirm it.
Edit 2: Thank you all so much for your kind comments, feeling the love right now! Look after yourselves and your health care workers
Baardseth815
Ah, beans
GarryrGarry
Hopes omicron really is weaker and this how the bs ends
LetMeinNow
Well normally it would be "congratulations!" But here, not so much... Fingers crossed you pull through gently, and thanks for your service..
SalmonTheMedic
Thank you kind stranger
KipperFillets
These are in short supply now, after the Omicron rush. Hope you barely notice any symptoms.
MedicBravo32
As a fellow paramedic on the frontlines I honestly hate this for you.
SalmonTheMedic
Cheers mate, stay safe! Hope dispatch are kind to you this Christmas
spritely88
I hope u have a good tv series and a good book and some good food. Take care. Im sure your family would rather see you once you are well
TikkaMasalaBaby
Ha we just got some LFT’s from a UK research centre as a token of appreciation in Italy. But here us in emergency care are still not
TikkaMasalaBaby
Qualified for boosters :(
SalmonTheMedic
Hope that changes for you soon mate, stay safe!
Andtheworldwentwhite
That sucks, thanks for all your hard work and hopefully you can have a cracking 2022 to make up for a disappointing Xmas.
SalmonTheMedic
Thank you, trying to count my blessings at the moment rather than being miserable. Hope 2022 is good to you too
YellowSparrow
In the States, we call that a home test and a lot of people haven't seen them because (1) shortages and (2) the "Rona ain't real" attitude.
YellowSparrow
Hope you're over it quickly!
StepRightUp
OMG YES! Here in N Oklahoma, NO ONE wears a mask in public anymore!!! (Except the employees are still required to my many stores). SCARY!
StepRightUp
I (mostly) never stopped wearing mine in public. And am tripple vax’d. Sadly, it was VERY easy to get ALL my vax here b/c so few do it! =(
Jt68686
Hang in there! my wife got it, I didn't & were both vaxxed. It happens. Just gotta take care of yourself and make sure you don't pass it on
catsandbeerandbeerandcats
Man, I've had it twice now and my fiance hasn't even had a sniffle. Still not back to 100 after delta in August.
Jt68686
Dude this virus is strange. I've had contact with it 3 times, never tested positive. I've had symptoms but never a positive test.
somecallmetimmmmkay
Thank you and sorry you got it, I’m right there with you (got positive result on Sunday) hope it doesn’t hit you to bad, best of luck
SalmonTheMedic
Thank you, sorry you got it too. Hope you feel okay, and that you have people looking out for you :) Merry Christmas
somecallmetimmmmkay
Merry Christmas
Twinklepot
That is really bad luck for you! Hope you have lots of treats stashed with you to spoil yourself. Happy Christmas anyway from Ireland ??
Imacatflushingthetoilet
my 75 year old mother in law double vaxxed got infected, just minor fever for a few days and she's fine after that. get vaxxed people.
freckledkink
I'm double vaxxed and had my booster. I had fever and head cold for 3 days. I owe it to being vaccinated.
hjf2011
get vaxxed and WEAR YOUR FUCKING MASK.
RandomTurd
I need to get my booster. Might do it when my mother in law comes in so i have an excuse to not be around
netutoring
Any port in a storm, eh?
IIikethecutofyourjib
It sucks that we can get boosted while a bunch of poor countries can't even get the first shot ?
Theory89
Plus the fact that their lack of access to immunisation creates new strains that come here anyway, from a selfish point of view.
thomerow
Get vaxxed and boostered!
ztygs
Got vaxxed, can't get booster shot yet, too young for that here.
roughingupthesuspect
My kid got it last week (vaxed) and has only lost sense of taste/smell. No fever or other symptoms at all. Yay science.
SalmonTheMedic
Hope your kid gets well soon, please make sure they know they're awesome for getting the vaccine ?
GoodStuffMcGruff
I tested positive on Tuesday and I'm self-isolating till 23:59 on Christmas eve. SO LUCKY my parents live near enough to pick me up
Negasaurusrex
Exactly the same boat. Tested positive on Wednesday morning but symptoms started the day before. Didn't realise a runny nose and sneezing
Negasaurusrex
Was now a symptom. Hopefully you don't feel too bad. Look after yourself
StepRightUp
Eesh! Is it now!?! TIL! I’m having bad nasal allergies this (unseasonably warm) winter here in Oklahoma. Better start paying attention!!!
Negasaurusrex
I think it's got to a point where; if you're anything other than 'normal' take a test. Stay safe
StepRightUp
Problem is when I get a BAD mold exposure, next day I’ll have FULL “coming down w/ flu” symptoms EXCEPT fever, then gone in 24 hrs, phew!
SalmonTheMedic
Hope you dont get too ill, glad you're able to have some time with your family, enjoy and Merry Christmas!
GoodStuffMcGruff
No symptoms at all really - thanks, and to you!
diezl97
@salmonthemedic are you at least feeling okay?
SalmonTheMedic
Not as bad as I could be- headcold and achey so far. Thanks for asking ?
Kamica
You kind of did get cheated, by all the people who didn't do enough, and don't take this seriously enough, get well soon!
ExploringImpact
I don’t have such an honourable job but I’ve done my best to be careful and ended up in a very similar boat this Christmas. Sucks!
SalmonTheMedic
If you do it with kindness, it's honourable :) I hope you feel okay and get to celebrate with your loved ones when you're better
arumunus
Take care and well wishes! Sorry about your weird night fight Christmas club thing.
Hypnoticcow
What were your symptoms or how did you find out you'd been exposed?
SalmonTheMedic
I had a friend I work with test positive on Tuesday and we'd worked together on Sat, where we'd taken our masks off to eat only. So I 1/?
SalmonTheMedic
Was doing LFTs every day. I had a negative one on Tuesday, and then a positive one on Wednesday. Worth saying we had both had negative 2/?
SalmonTheMedic
LFTs on the Sat when we were working together, and are both fully vaxxed with boosters. A 3rd colleague we were with on the same day 3/?
SalmonTheMedic
Has also tested positive today, which makes it more likely this was the situation that caused it. One of those things ?♀️ feel 4/?
SalmonTheMedic
Pretty impressively lucky to have not caught it before now, considering. Just shows using PPE and correct measures works.
roach79
2x vax’d, tested positive a couple of months back. Felt like a sinus infection to me. Lasted 4 days. I quarantined from the family for 10.
roach79
Hopefully yours won’t be much worse than that. Sending good vibes — sorry you’ll miss the holidays w the fam. Def a bummer.
SalmonTheMedic
Glad you were vaxxed, yeah feeling like a sinus infection to me too at the moment. Trying to count my blessings atm
ltoka00
I think we’re all going to get some form of this virus as it mutates - like the common cold. Sorry about this Xmas- hope your NYE is better!
SalmonTheMedic
Thank you, but will be working nights on NYE! Couldn't write it!
ltoka00
Bugga. Oh well. Next year?
SalmonTheMedic
Fingers crossed!
TheHumanSeason
So sorry, that really is a bummer. Get well soon and thank you for all you do. x
anoldiebutagoodie
We even have LFT over the counter in Vietnam!
sheanar
I hope your family & friends leave bring by some good stuff for you even if you can only wave through the window
Chenbag
As a paramedic, i do get a lot of covid patients too, but thank God I am vaccinated and have not yes got sick myself, and DO NOT want to
SalmonTheMedic
Stay safe mate, hope the gods of dispatch are kind to you over the coming weeks
idrinkcheapbeer
Not you, but everyone still needs to mask the fuck up.
skankhunt51
No, they don’t. Covid is here forever. Get vaxxed or die.
SalmonTheMedic
Masks and vaccines are the way forward here. Also common sense, which in my country doesn't seem to be common... mostly in government tbh
Goldenteckel
"Force et courage"! Drop me a word if ever you'd like to receive a supportive overseas snail-mail card (it still should get there on time).
SalmonTheMedic
Thank you so much kind stranger! This means a huge amount but I won't be able to get down to our shared postbox, thank you though. 1/2
SalmonTheMedic
2/2 I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that your kindness comes back to you :)
Goldenteckel
Thank you ! Don't worry about the postbox : next week, I'll handwrite something, scan it, and upload the picture in order to attach it 1/2
Goldenteckel
to a message. Just leave me a reminder around dec 22nd-23rd if it's ok with you. 2/2
SalmonTheMedic
What an absolutely lovely thing to do, thank you so much
nekuth
Work in a hospital too. Managed to get it sharing a holiday house with my sister in Sept. Be careful when returning to work, covid messes --
nekuth
Your body up for a few weeks after. Mostly exhaustion, but a mind fog was a kicker for driving, just not being able to concentrate
Reinette
Yep- I spent a good two weeks after the symptoms stopped falling asleep as soon as I sat down. Was kinda scary how wiped I was!
SalmonTheMedic
Thanks for your advice, not a great idea being mind foggy when driving big flashy taxis ? Once I'm better I'll make sure I'm being careful.
duktayp
so, do you pee on those sticks? guessing swab it with the q - tip
catsandbeerandbeerandcats
Shove it way up there.
ekstrax
You swab the back of your nose, put the swab in a tube with some liquid in it, mix it up, and drop the liquid on the stick :p
Chasmann
1. Lay test stick on toilet seat. 2. Piss all over it. 3. Pick up test and shake it all around. 4. Tell roommates/spouse what you did.
nekuth
....well, you can pee on them.... whether it's helpful is another question
DecorativeCacti
You can use orange juice or soda to get a false positive. Peeing might do the same.
nekuth
I have heard that too, but heard no other ones that trigger it. Wonder if having an orange drink before a PCR test might trigger it?
OnoMichiosCharmingHassakuFace
I pee on most things, just to be sure.
Invalidusernameformat1
It's a swab you stick in the back of the throat and also up your nose then stick it in some liquid and then squeeze drops of the mixed 1/2
Invalidusernameformat1
Liquid onto a small device as in the picture then wait up to 30 minutes similar to a pregnancy test in that regard. One line is negative 2/2
Invalidusernameformat1
Two is positive. None is a duff test so redo it. We have them here in the UK. You can order packs of them for free to test yourself with.
yellowdove
We have them in the US you just have to pay like $30 for a pack off 2. And no throat swab, just nose.
PleasePassTheSalt
3/2 .. sorry, not sorry.
SalmonTheMedic
No pee, its a swab you put up your nose for asymptomatic testing
TuckerTheGuy
So sorry about that. Just bad luck.
AngurProne
Ok gotta ask. How far does the swab go? I'm a nose picker but...
nekuth
The LFT is a bit further than a good pick. The PCR one goes back further, but the throat stick is enough for a gag reflex
AngurProne
Well ok then. Thanks for the info :)
AngurProne
I love that you called the one "a good pick". I envisioned my pinky nail that I never trim fully. BC yknow. Picking.
nekuth
Hmmm,my nails have never been that long, but I'd still say a bit further as it needs to rub the back wall so to speak ☺️
AngurProne
Do you other fuckers just have boogers fucking up your nostril? As a kid I was a known picker. Did I just not hide it??
SalmonTheMedic
Haha, depends on the batch. These ones are 2cm ish into the nostril, most of the ones before this are from the nasopharynx, so a fair way up
MrNardtastic
Mine said to go 3/4 of an inch im not god at converting to cm but maybe 3cm? Either way put it in till it was uncomfortable. Neg thankfully
AngurProne
2cm doesn't seem to explain the "brain scrapes" ppl have described
CerisCinderwolf
The first tests (before the home kit ones) have the swabs done in your nasal cavity (what op meant by "the before" tests).
AncientSeraph
It's a self test, different in many ways from the PCP test.Ours also tell you to swab your brain, but it's less invasive when done yourself.