QUICK REFERRAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 -- PLEASE!!

ExpatRusher

Active member

Member since 26 February 2022

ExpatRusher

02 February 2024 03:36:43

ExpatRusher

02 February 2024 03:36:43

Dear fellow expats:

My wife and I landed on 21 Feb for our normal winter snowbirding sojourn. THINGS HAVE NOT GONE AS PLANNED.

We apparently were exposed to COVID-19 somewhere along the trip to Santo Domingo.

Wife tested positive on Tuesday, Feb 23; I was showing symptoms by Thursday 25th and tested positive on Friday, Feb 26th, confirmed in an emergency room COVID test on Saturday, Feb 27th. I received a bunch of drugs in the ER to take home, and have completed the course.

My wife has apparently recovered, and I seemed to be on the way to recovery...but relapsed today (Thursday, Feb 2nd).

Per a home COVID test (brought from the USA), I am again testing positive.

More importantly, my symptoms are definitely trending toward the worse again. The coughing is returning and my bronchial tubes are feeling raw, getting rawer as the day progresses.

I REALLY don't want to go to another ER in the DR again...it was a horrible experience, to be blunt...and I was left with zero confidence in the course of treatment...which seems to have been borne out by my relapse.

HERE'S MY QUESTION: can anyone recommend any excellent doctors in santo domingo????

We're staying in Piantini, but will travel anywhere in the capital for a good referral -- that can evaluate me, obviously confirm the test results, and prescribe a good course of treatment?
If you could please provide any recommendations ASAP, it would be appreciated.
I'd like to be seen tomorrow mid-day (Friday, 3 Feb), but obviously I will adapt my schedule as required for the situation.

I should note that I do have multiple "additional risk factors" for COVID-19, including age, diabetes, (a mild) cancer and a few other sundry problems. So, given that I am relapsing, I think it is time to take this seriously. I've had several friends die from COVID (legitimately died from COVID, not other causes), so obviously I'm inclined to take it seriously.

Any advice you can offer would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Jim

ExpatRusher

Currently at an Airbnb in Piantini

ddmcghee

Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 15 May 2017

Las Terrenas, SamanÃ&#161

ddmcghee

02 February 2024 12:16:11

1614

ddmcghee

02 February 2024 12:16:11

1614

Las Terrenas, SamanÃ&#161

Jim - i hate to hear you're unwell. Hopefully some of the folks from SD can chime in once they are up and read this. Maybe Lishali might know of someone?

Sending good vibes for a quick resolution and return to health.

planner

Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 28 December 2010

Santo Domingo

Dominican Republic Expert

planner

02 February 2024 12:28:29

16657

planner

02 February 2024 12:28:29

16657

Santo Domingo

Sorry to hear this. Go to a clinic called IDA. It's an American owned clinic / hospital. You are near them as they are behind Bravo on Churchill. Here is their # +1 809-297-7779

carolmarchena

Active member

Member since 17 April 2021

carolmarchena

02 February 2024 13:17:22

carolmarchena

02 February 2024 13:17:22

Dr Yunen in Santo Domingo is a highly reputable doctor, also an infectious disease specialist. Find ARS Yunen Medical Group online to get the number where they may direct you.

CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Contributor

Member since 16 March 2023

Santo Domingo, Nacional

CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

02 February 2024 13:25:09

193

CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

02 February 2024 13:25:09

193

Santo Domingo, Nacional

@ddmcghee Sorry you both are experiencing this health concern. I AGREE with planner recommendation.

The Emergency room you went to was it in the capital?

ExpatRusher

Active member

Member since 26 February 2022

ExpatRusher

02 February 2024 22:50:26

ExpatRusher

02 February 2024 22:50:26

Personal update: THANK YOU for all the recommendations!!

I'm not getting better today...but I've also not gotten any worse. So, we'll do a holding pattern over the weekend and I'll take one of your recommendations for Monday, if still needed.

THANK YOU ALL for being such a prompt, reliable resource for quality referrals.

Jim

ddmcghee

Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 15 May 2017

Las Terrenas, SamanÃ&#161

ddmcghee

05 February 2024 12:44:09

1614

ddmcghee

05 February 2024 12:44:09

1614

Las Terrenas, SamanÃ&#161

@ExpatRusher

Hey, Jim! How are you feeling today?

ExpatRusher

Active member

Member since 26 February 2022

ExpatRusher

06 February 2024 01:49:06

ExpatRusher

06 February 2024 01:49:06

And another update:

Over the weekend, I legally obtained some hydroxychloroquine from a local farmacia.

I don't know whether I broke any rules, but I began taking it as per standard dosing (1 x 2 x day) -- and experienced an IMMEDIATE and DRAMATIC improvement in my physical condition. The remarkable improvement was immediate, pronounced and started within 20 minutes of the first dose. Wow!!!

I wouldn't say I'm cured, but I'm probably at 90% (vast improvement) and am now confident I will be fully healed by the end of the week.

Again, thanks for everyone's advice. I'll be saving these recommendations against future needs.

Jim

p.s.: A pox on the US FDA and CDC for dissing hydroxychloroquine as being not only ineffective against COVID...but DANGEROUS!!!!! While I already knew this as reality on an intellectual basis from the numerous post-pandemic articles...I now know it on a very, very clear personal and medical basis.

I will never again trust anything these "public health agencies" advise me to do. And mandates? OH, HECK NO!! I lost personal friends to COVID-19...and they plain didn't need to die at that time, nor from this particular cause.

I have just been radicalized in a way I wouldn't have thought possible even a few years ago.