MS Madness attendees: A Important Public Service Message for those who attended

[Rams]

Jerry (Bigwolf) contacted me this morning.  He is currently in the hospital with COVID-19.   He is currently being treated with three different ways to address the virus.   Sorry, I can't go into those details.
He believes he acquired the virus just prior to the Mississippi Madness event.

Jerry asked me to advise anyone who came into contact with him to be watchful of any symptoms and to take appropriate action should any occur.

Jerry currently has limited access to the internet but will respond to any requests for information as best he can.   That is about all I can tell you.   He's feeling well but, as with most folks our age, there are other factors to be considered.

Thanks for reading this and please feel free to pass this along to anyone with a need to know.
My hopes and prayers go out to Jerry and Murl. 

Rams

[..]

 

[Reb]

I pray Gerald makes it out of this, hate to hear that.

[Valkorado]

 

Oh, man.  Prayers out.

He's one tough dude, and it is assuring to hear he's doing good enough to keep you posted.

May God watch over Jerry and his caregivers, and keep his wife and all other brothers and sisters and their associates from contracting this awful virus.

[f6gal]

Prayers for Jerry.  We were also staying at Ron's house (along with Jerry and Murl).  We have no symptoms of having caught it.   

[hubcapsc]

Sending up prayers for Bigwolf...

-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

Get well soon Jerry. 

[Rams]

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.

Take a self-assessment with CDC

Most common symptoms include:

Fever
Dry cough
Tiredness
Less common symptoms:

Aches and pains
Sore throat
Diarrhea
Conjunctivitis
Headache
Loss of taste or smell
a rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes
Serious symptoms:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Chest pain or pressure
Loss of speech of movement
Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.

On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days

Learn more at WHO

CDC: Symptoms
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
Rams

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Hate to hear this my thoughts are with him 

[Bronxboy]

Stay Strong Jerry, sending prayers your way brother.

[trout dude]

Prayers coming your way Jerry  Hopefully a speedy recovery is in your future

[Bigwolf]

Thank you all for the prayers and good thoughts!

I called Ron this morning to let him know what was going on and have him give everyone a heads up quickly.  Right now I do not know when or where I contracted the virus.  I think that I caught it somewhere on the trip to or from Hattiesburg but there is no way to confirm that.

My health with this virus:
The good,......I am doing very well and will probably be home by Friday.  My O2 saturation remains in the mid nineties even without O2 supplement.  I can peg these blowing, sucking toys .... much to the amazement of the nurses and doctor.  We are hitting the virus with a 3 prong attack and it appears to be losing ground.
The bad,......my heart has not yet converted back to proper rhythm and very likely will not do so on it’s own.  It might do so by itself but there is some probability that it will have to be reset by some means of intervention after the COVID is gone.  Until then, I will be on blood thinners to head off other medical disasters like strokes.
The MOST WONDERFUL!:
Oh yes, even this battle with COVID brought me a VERY good morning.  Now I have been here in this hospital room for 2 days and this morning I am thinking I am going to wash up as much of my body as I can while not damaging these 3 main line drug induction portals. ........ but before I could even ask about the approval to do that my nurse for the day strolls in and abruptly asks if I would like to take a shower!  My response was a swift affirmative!  ....... she leaves,.....comes back with towels, bed linens, soap, shampoo, (yes, I know! .....), a fresh hospital gown, ..........and another mighty fine example of female beauty.  Both helped me out of my gown and one removed my telemetry while the other taped plastic bags over my IVs......they had to leave the one IV connected, it had to keep running.  Both of these very nice women helped me into the bathroom for my shower and one of them grabbed the shower hose and got the water temperature set just right ........ I was thinking....this tub is gonna be snuggly packed with the 3 of us in here but I’m willing!  ...............it was then that I realized they were just doing their jobs trying to take care of a sick old geezer and this was where they were going to step out and close the door behind them, leaving me to remove the very last article of my clothing and scrub myself.  I don’t know if they would have let me back out of the bathroom if I had not gone through with scrubbing the stink off myself!  Oh well, it was a nice dream for a few minutes anyway.

Again, thank you all for the well wishes!
Jerry (Bigwolf)

[Valkorado]

 

You got yer humor, and that's the best thing!  Had me going for a while there, was thinking, hey, I just might want to get this stuff.   

Sounds like you're in good hands, Jerry.  Do what they tell you and get well soon.

[Farside]

First, thanks for the heads up. All good here.  Well it sounds like you are doing pretty well Jerry considering. Sure hope you are on the path to a quick recovery. Oh, dreaming is allowed  

[Oss]

wishing you a full recovery

and I am glad I dont have to send you the nurse  (stan  probly wore her out)

[The emperor has no clothes]

That’s GREAT news Jerry ! Better luck with the ménage a trois tomorrow  

[Jess from VA]

Good news Jerry. 

And good story.

I once had a nurse treat me so well as her (hospital) patient, I went back later and married her.

Don't get carried away like I did.   

[scooperhsd]

Jerry keep it up !!    Best wishes that you are able to, indeed, leave on Friday.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I should have asked before, but does anyone know how Murl is doing ?

[Rams]

I should have asked before, but does anyone know how Murl is doing ?

I asked when I spoke with Jerry.   While I haven't seen her since they left, Jerry said she was "Her Normal Self" but being tested for COVID.   If you have any idea how to interpret that, go for it.  That's all I can tell anyone, I don't' know anything else.

Rams

[The emperor has no clothes]

I should have asked before, but does anyone know how Murl is doing ?

I asked when I spoke with Jerry.   While I haven't seen her since they left, Jerry said she was "Her Normal Self" but being tested for COVID.   If you have any idea how to interpret that, go for it.  That's all I can tell anyone, I don't' know anything else.

Rams

I interpret that as good news. Thanks 

[..]

Thank you all for the prayers and good thoughts!

I called Ron this morning to let him know what was going on and have him give everyone a heads up quickly.  Right now I do not know when or where I contracted the virus.  I think that I caught it somewhere on the trip to or from Hattiesburg but there is no way to confirm that.

My health with this virus:
The good,......I am doing very well and will probably be home by Friday.  My O2 saturation remains in the mid nineties even without O2 supplement.  I can peg these blowing, sucking toys .... much to the amazement of the nurses and doctor.  We are hitting the virus with a 3 prong attack and it appears to be losing ground.
The bad,......my heart has not yet converted back to proper rhythm and very likely will not do so on it’s own.  It might do so by itself but there is some probability that it will have to be reset by some means of intervention after the COVID is gone.  Until then, I will be on blood thinners to head off other medical disasters like strokes.
The MOST WONDERFUL!:
Oh yes, even this battle with COVID brought me a VERY good morning.  Now I have been here in this hospital room for 2 days and this morning I am thinking I am going to wash up as much of my body as I can while not damaging these 3 main line drug induction portals. ........ but before I could even ask about the approval to do that my nurse for the day strolls in and abruptly asks if I would like to take a shower!  My response was a swift affirmative!  ....... she leaves,.....comes back with towels, bed linens, soap, shampoo, (yes, I know! .....), a fresh hospital gown, ..........and another mighty fine example of female beauty.  Both helped me out of my gown and one removed my telemetry while the other taped plastic bags over my IVs......they had to leave the one IV connected, it had to keep running.  Both of these very nice women helped me into the bathroom for my shower and one of them grabbed the shower hose and got the water temperature set just right ........ I was thinking....this tub is gonna be snuggly packed with the 3 of us in here but I’m willing!  ...............it was then that I realized they were just doing their jobs trying to take care of a sick old geezer and this was where they were going to step out and close the door behind them, leaving me to remove the very last article of my clothing and scrub myself.  I don’t know if they would have let me back out of the bathroom if I had not gone through with scrubbing the stink off myself!  Oh well, it was a nice dream for a few minutes anyway.

Again, thank you all for the well wishes!
Jerry (Bigwolf)

 

[Rams]

While I (and I'm sure Jerry & Murl) appreciate the prayers and well wishes being posted, please remember why this message was posted to begin with.  

Jerry wanted those who attended Mississippi Madness to be aware of the potential exposure to his friends.

I honestly admire his public statement and hope all our friends continue to monitor their own situations.  In no way am I knocking the get well wishes, please continue to keep Jerry and Murl in your thoughts and prayers.

Defeating this virus is ultimately important.   I have posted the same message to Face Book and MeWE to ensure all our friends that came know of the potential exposure.  Watch yer Six and ride safe.

Just to reiterate:

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.

Take a self-assessment with CDC

Most common symptoms include:

Fever
Dry cough
Tiredness
Less common symptoms:

Aches and pains
Sore throat
Diarrhea
Conjunctivitis
Headache
Loss of taste or smell
a rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes
Serious symptoms:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Chest pain or pressure
Loss of speech of movement
Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.

On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days

Learn more at WHO

CDC: Symptoms
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html

BUMP

Rams

[Bigwolf]

Quoting Ron:  “ Jerry wanted those who attended Mississippi Madness to be aware of the potential exposure to his friends.”

Yes!  That is exactly why this entire post is up here!  This disease can easily sneak up on you with mild symptoms until it has created enough damage that you cannot stop it.  Do not let that happen!  Do not trust even the mildest allergy, cough, or ache.  Get checked immediately if you have any of the symptoms no matter how mild.  This is the key to survival!  Early detection and intervention is critical!

[Valkorado]

This is the key to survival!  Early detection and intervention is critical!

Vaccination can play a huge role in not detecting it at all!  Just sayin'.

[Bigwolf]

This is the key to survival!  Early detection and intervention is critical!

Vaccination can play a huge role in not detecting it at all!  Just sayin'.

That too!

[DIGGER]

Prayers for him and his family and friends......all who have been exposed.   Prayers that the doctors
Make all the right moves and help all who are exposed to make it through safely.

[Bigwolf]

I am back home now.  They kicked me out of the hospital today with a bag full of meds and a page of instructions.  I am to quarantine at home for another 10 days.  Then there will be a couple of Dr appointments to follow up on the Afib issue.

From my first few hours in the hospital throughout my stay there, the doctors and nurses continued to be amazed at my lung function not being involved.  This morning when the doctor watched as I, once again, pegged that suction gizmo they give you to keep your lungs clear, she declared that I did not need to be there and immediately cut the papers to send me home.  I was out that door by 1pm.  The healing is not over though.  There is more to be addressed and this will not be over for me for a few months at the very least and several months are likely.  I have no emotion about this!  To me it is just life. 

I was asked about my choices regarding Covid-19 and if I regretted my decisions.  The only regret I have is that I might have passed it on to someone else.  For the most part, I am a recluse so that is a small window unless I happened to be contagious at Hattiesburg.  My symptoms began Thursday after leaving Hattiesburg Sunday morning so most things I read say I could have been contagious while there.  It gives me hope that I stayed in the car most of Friday evening and I wore a mask most of Saturday.  Even so, there was definitely some exposure to others while I was there.  For that, I am feeling very bad.  I hope that no other person in attendance there gets COVID-19 from that exposure.

Bigwolf

[Valkorado]

Glad you're home Jerry and you'll be in our prayers for full recovery.

As far as regret, that's no way to live.  It sounds like you were being cautious and reasonable at the MS gig.  Focus on yourself and get well, fellow recluse!   

[scooperhsd]

Jerry  - you did the best you could, AND you did the responsible thing when you found out you had it and may have spread it to others. Now follow your instructions from the Dr. and Get fully well ASAP.

[Rams]

I'm also glad you're home and hope the best for both you and Murl and all that attended MS Madness.

It was a good event over all.

Rams

[The emperor has no clothes]

Glad you are out Jerry   hopefully those nurses made good on the bath before they kicked you out.

Sounds to me like there is just as good a chance you might have got it on the way home from Mississippi.

[Fazer]

Good wishes Jerry.  We are all thinking about you.

[RNFWP]

We only spoke in passing in Mississippi but it was good to see you there. Hated to hear about the COVID. Hope you’re 100% again real soon. I’m sure it’s better to finish recovering at home.