A Texas ICU nurse is hospitalized with Covid-19 after testing negative

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

An ICU nurse in Texas has found herself in the position of some of the very same patients she's spent the last few weeks treating -- hospitalized with Covid-19 even after testing negative for the virus.

Heather Valentine, 24, isn't exactly sure whom she may have picked it up from and told CNN on Tuesday that she was reluctant to even accept that she had symptoms.

Valentine was exhausted a week ago after her third daily hospital shift in a row in Houston, she said, but didn't think much of it until the body aches, a fever and a small cough surfaced.

On Wednesday, Valentine said she took a rapid antibody test, which came back negative. Antibody tests can help identify recent past infections, not current ones, though even when antibodies are present, the tests can be wrong up to half the time, the US Centers for Disease Control noted in May.

The next day, she took a viral test that also came back negative. Issues with samples, testing or timing of tests can all lead to false negatives. It's not clear whether she was tested again.

On Saturday, her doctor, Joseph Varon, called and asked Valentine to go in for a CT scan, she said. Between the CT scan results indicating the virus' effect on her lungs and other lab results, Valentine said Varon told her he was certain she had Covid-19, even though her swab test had come back negative.

"I could've required intubation if I would have waited a couple days more," Valentine said, "which is so crazy to hear as an ICU nurse."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-texas-icu-nurse-is-hospitalized-with-covid-19-after-testing-negative/ar-BB16Jcai?li=BBnb7Kz

[Nevilledog]

1. That makes me feel better. NOT. Just got neg. result and still feel icky.

[cayugafalls]

3. Oh my, How long have you been feeling icky?

I hope you are ok.

[Nevilledog]

6. Couple weeks. Took 13 days for results.

Mostly bad headache on left side and muscle aches. I have so little contact with outside people I've gotta be really low risk for infection. Think I'm just having a bad spell of migraines. I do check my oxygen concentration regularly and they're good.

[Lochloosa]

7. Testing your 02 is critical. Glad you're good.

[Nevilledog]

8. I'm a chronic migraine sufferer, so I can deal with the pain.

I think maybe I got an ineffective dosage of Aimovig. Get next one in a couple weeks.

Our Dr. is very cautious so I really don't think I even needed the test. Made me feel bad that there are so many people who need testing and can't get it.

[cayugafalls]

11. OK. That is good to hear.

I noticed a reply down from here where you suffer from chronic migraines. So do I.

I take topiramate and it has been a godsend for me. I used to have them daily and would occasionally go blind they would be so bad.

I hope you can get some relief Nevilledog.

[Nevilledog]

12. Aimovig is the only thing that has ever helped. It stops a migraine before it starts.

Been on it a couple years. One shot a month, delivered in a cooler to my door. $5.

Topiramate didn't help. Glad it helps you though!

[Blue_true]

13. Yeah. Her situation should scare people shitless.

Look like the only accurate check is a CT scan of the lungs.

[Nevilledog]

14. That reminds me. I read yesterday that the only testing they're doing on kids is the antibody test.

How does that make sense???

[Blue_true]

15. To answer you question, first look at who is driving the bus.

Then it becomes possible to then understand the ass-backwardness that is victimizing ALL of us daily.

[Nevilledog]

16. DeathSantis

[Blue_true]

17. Yes, unfortunately. nt

[Wounded Bear]

2. Testing is not 100% accurate...nt

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. The testing has been pretty unreliable, from what I hear.

Too many false negatives and too many false positives.

Plus, not getting enough sleep seriously compromises your immune system.

[Phoenix61]

5. The odds of a false positive on a PCR test are

basically zero. So, if you test positive you definitely have it. If you test negative, meh.

[raccoon]

9. I get the impression the tests aren't very reliable. Nt

[Aristus]

10. I've tested negative three times so far.

No guarantee that I won't test positive at some point.

I wear a mask and other personal protective equipment all day in clinic. It's helped.