Getting tested for COVID -19 –  My experience

I’m just like the typical healthcare provider when it comes to receiving medically related care and procedures- we are the worst patients.

I hate shots, swabs, pills, incisions, you name it all.

I’m the one who takes days to get “in the mood” before  receiving my Influenza vaccine and still let out a little “welp” when I get the shot.

Yup!! I’m that bad.

But my experience with the COVID swab was no joke

Like pregnancy and dental pain, no matter how it’s described to you, you’ll probably never understand the pain or discomfort until you experience it. (I’ve experienced both multiple times).

After being on the frontline for 9 months, I knew I was always exposed to COVID-19 and it was a matter of time before I may get infected, (not that I wanted to). I only hoped & prayed my symptoms would be mild if I ever did.

When I started feeling really sick, I knew it was most likely COVID. Influenza and other viral infections hadn’t kicked in yet for the season. Also, I had received multiple calls within the week of more exposures.

I was scared of the severity of my symptoms but I was so scared of the testing. I had heard about it a lot from every patient I admitted at the behavioral pavilion. 

I wasn’t looking forward to it.

I could have easily told my hospital it was COVID but i guess protocol and documentation needed to be done before I could be placed on isolation.

My symptoms started just after an overnight shift. As our hospital and every other protocol, I called in and testing was recommended immediately.

Even though I got a few hours of sleep, I was so weak to drive so my husband drove me to the testing site. I thought about the expected torture all through the ride.