JMU Sending Students Home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My JMU kid who lives off-campus got sick on this week after he and his housemates tried their best to avoid it. DS is the sickest of the 3, exhaustion, body aches, chills and night sweats, and now he's sounding congested. I told him to get tested but the waits are hours long and he wasn't feeling up to that. He says everyone they know off campus either has gotten sick or lives with someone who's sick so they assume they have it.

This sounds like my son’s roommate! Four of them share a house and one got really sick last week - same exact symptoms. He was the only sick one, but they all went to get tests and ALL were negative - even the boy who had been so sick (he’s fine now). We thought for sure they would all be positive, but nope. So now we’re wondering what he had! Strange.

So I'm the PP and our kid just got his test back and it's positive. He went to Med Express where they do the test for you. He said at CVS the test is self-administered and a lot of people who are sure they have it get a negative result. Just FYI. He's been sick for a week now and still feels exhausted although he has no fever. He says he's keeping up with his classes but every time I call he's sleeping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My JMU kid who lives off-campus got sick on this week after he and his housemates tried their best to avoid it. DS is the sickest of the 3, exhaustion, body aches, chills and night sweats, and now he's sounding congested. I told him to get tested but the waits are hours long and he wasn't feeling up to that. He says everyone they know off campus either has gotten sick or lives with someone who's sick so they assume they have it.

This sounds like my son’s roommate! Four of them share a house and one got really sick last week - same exact symptoms. He was the only sick one, but they all went to get tests and ALL were negative - even the boy who had been so sick (he’s fine now). We thought for sure they would all be positive, but nope. So now we’re wondering what he had! Strange.

So I'm the PP and our kid just got his test back and it's positive. He went to Med Express where they do the test for you. He said at CVS the test is self-administered and a lot of people who are sure they have it get a negative result. Just FYI. He's been sick for a week now and still feels exhausted although he has no fever. He says he's keeping up with his classes but every time I call he's sleeping.

PP here - aww, I’m so sorry about your son! I’ll have to ask my son where he went for testing - I believe it was Med Express but I could be wrong. I hope your son’s roommates are keeping him fed and hydrated. I guess that’s really all that can be done. Hope he’s feels 100% soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My JMU kid who lives off-campus got sick on this week after he and his housemates tried their best to avoid it. DS is the sickest of the 3, exhaustion, body aches, chills and night sweats, and now he's sounding congested. I told him to get tested but the waits are hours long and he wasn't feeling up to that. He says everyone they know off campus either has gotten sick or lives with someone who's sick so they assume they have it.

This sounds like my son’s roommate! Four of them share a house and one got really sick last week - same exact symptoms. He was the only sick one, but they all went to get tests and ALL were negative - even the boy who had been so sick (he’s fine now). We thought for sure they would all be positive, but nope. So now we’re wondering what he had! Strange.

So I'm the PP and our kid just got his test back and it's positive. He went to Med Express where they do the test for you. He said at CVS the test is self-administered and a lot of people who are sure they have it get a negative result. Just FYI. He's been sick for a week now and still feels exhausted although he has no fever. He says he's keeping up with his classes but every time I call he's sleeping.

DP. Please find a way to get a blood oxygen monitor to your son right away. These are inexpensive "fingertip" monitors called pulse oximeters and they can be ordered from almost any drugstore chain, Walmart, etc. and one big maker, Zacurate, sells them directly online too. They are very, very easy to use and can save lives. They were hard to get early on but should be easier to get now. If a roommate can get him one at a drugstore and he has it the same day, that's even better.

The problem with covid is that it sucks the oxygen from blood BEFORE one has any symptoms like "shortness of breath." In fact, waiting until someone is short of breath before seeking medical help is often waiting too late, as many victims found back in the spring. This is a very sneaky virus. Your son needs a pulse oximeter yesterday, and needs his roomates or someone to MAKE him use it several times a day and to ensure he gets help if the oxygen level gets too low. You can look up online how to know when the blood oxygen is getting low. When that happens: ER, immediately. Please don't think, "But he's young and otherwise healthy, he'll be fine." Likely he will, but don't gamble on a college roommate realizing your son is suddenly not able to breathe.

Please read this: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html

Look up "silent hypoxia" re: covid.

Like I said, maybe not likely, but the above article is very sobering about how quickly covid can take otherwise healthy seeming people and deplete oxygen without apparent breathing issues even turning up. Our friend who is an ER nurse who has worked throughout the pandemic says she has seen people walk into the ER under their own power, talking on their phones, and withiin minutes those same patients had to be intubated because their oxygen was so low. She says she's never before seen patients who could talk and walk yet their oxygen was dangerously low. Yet it's a feature with this virus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My JMU kid who lives off-campus got sick on this week after he and his housemates tried their best to avoid it. DS is the sickest of the 3, exhaustion, body aches, chills and night sweats, and now he's sounding congested. I told him to get tested but the waits are hours long and he wasn't feeling up to that. He says everyone they know off campus either has gotten sick or lives with someone who's sick so they assume they have it.

This sounds like my son’s roommate! Four of them share a house and one got really sick last week - same exact symptoms. He was the only sick one, but they all went to get tests and ALL were negative - even the boy who had been so sick (he’s fine now). We thought for sure they would all be positive, but nope. So now we’re wondering what he had! Strange.

So I'm the PP and our kid just got his test back and it's positive. He went to Med Express where they do the test for you. He said at CVS the test is self-administered and a lot of people who are sure they have it get a negative result. Just FYI. He's been sick for a week now and still feels exhausted although he has no fever. He says he's keeping up with his classes but every time I call he's sleeping.

DP. Please find a way to get a blood oxygen monitor to your son right away. These are inexpensive "fingertip" monitors called pulse oximeters and they can be ordered from almost any drugstore chain, Walmart, etc. and one big maker, Zacurate, sells them directly online too. They are very, very easy to use and can save lives. They were hard to get early on but should be easier to get now. If a roommate can get him one at a drugstore and he has it the same day, that's even better.

The problem with covid is that it sucks the oxygen from blood BEFORE one has any symptoms like "shortness of breath." In fact, waiting until someone is short of breath before seeking medical help is often waiting too late, as many victims found back in the spring. This is a very sneaky virus. Your son needs a pulse oximeter yesterday, and needs his roomates or someone to MAKE him use it several times a day and to ensure he gets help if the oxygen level gets too low. You can look up online how to know when the blood oxygen is getting low. When that happens: ER, immediately. Please don't think, "But he's young and otherwise healthy, he'll be fine." Likely he will, but don't gamble on a college roommate realizing your son is suddenly not able to breathe.

Please read this: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html

Look up "silent hypoxia" re: covid.

Like I said, maybe not likely, but the above article is very sobering about how quickly covid can take otherwise healthy seeming people and deplete oxygen without apparent breathing issues even turning up. Our friend who is an ER nurse who has worked throughout the pandemic says she has seen people walk into the ER under their own power, talking on their phones, and withiin minutes those same patients had to be intubated because their oxygen was so low. She says she's never before seen patients who could talk and walk yet their oxygen was dangerously low. Yet it's a feature with this virus.

I just talked to him and on Sunday when they did his Covid test, his oxygen level was 95%. I ordered one from Amazon to be delivered by tonight. He sounded MUCH better today, more energetic, and not breathless like he sounded last weekend. He's lost his sense of taste and smell now though. He's just getting the full experience I guess - and his roommates got nothing. So strange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My JMU kid who lives off-campus got sick on this week after he and his housemates tried their best to avoid it. DS is the sickest of the 3, exhaustion, body aches, chills and night sweats, and now he's sounding congested. I told him to get tested but the waits are hours long and he wasn't feeling up to that. He says everyone they know off campus either has gotten sick or lives with someone who's sick so they assume they have it.

This sounds like my son’s roommate! Four of them share a house and one got really sick last week - same exact symptoms. He was the only sick one, but they all went to get tests and ALL were negative - even the boy who had been so sick (he’s fine now). We thought for sure they would all be positive, but nope. So now we’re wondering what he had! Strange.

So I'm the PP and our kid just got his test back and it's positive. He went to Med Express where they do the test for you. He said at CVS the test is self-administered and a lot of people who are sure they have it get a negative result. Just FYI. He's been sick for a week now and still feels exhausted although he has no fever. He says he's keeping up with his classes but every time I call he's sleeping.

DP. Please find a way to get a blood oxygen monitor to your son right away. These are inexpensive "fingertip" monitors called pulse oximeters and they can be ordered from almost any drugstore chain, Walmart, etc. and one big maker, Zacurate, sells them directly online too. They are very, very easy to use and can save lives. They were hard to get early on but should be easier to get now. If a roommate can get him one at a drugstore and he has it the same day, that's even better.

The problem with covid is that it sucks the oxygen from blood BEFORE one has any symptoms like "shortness of breath." In fact, waiting until someone is short of breath before seeking medical help is often waiting too late, as many victims found back in the spring. This is a very sneaky virus. Your son needs a pulse oximeter yesterday, and needs his roomates or someone to MAKE him use it several times a day and to ensure he gets help if the oxygen level gets too low. You can look up online how to know when the blood oxygen is getting low. When that happens: ER, immediately. Please don't think, "But he's young and otherwise healthy, he'll be fine." Likely he will, but don't gamble on a college roommate realizing your son is suddenly not able to breathe.

Please read this: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html

Look up "silent hypoxia" re: covid.

Like I said, maybe not likely, but the above article is very sobering about how quickly covid can take otherwise healthy seeming people and deplete oxygen without apparent breathing issues even turning up. Our friend who is an ER nurse who has worked throughout the pandemic says she has seen people walk into the ER under their own power, talking on their phones, and withiin minutes those same patients had to be intubated because their oxygen was so low. She says she's never before seen patients who could talk and walk yet their oxygen was dangerously low. Yet it's a feature with this virus.

I just talked to him and on Sunday when they did his Covid test, his oxygen level was 95%. I ordered one from Amazon to be delivered by tonight. He sounded MUCH better today, more energetic, and not breathless like he sounded last weekend. He's lost his sense of taste and smell now though. He's just getting the full experience I guess - and his roommates got nothing. So strange.

I'm the PP and I"m so glad he's doing better and very glad you are getting him the pulse oximeter! Please be sure he knows to use it twice daily even now when he feels better; he needs to know his baseline oxygen and to get used to using it. He should hold still, rest his hand next to him or just on his thigh, and not try to talk etc, just breathe. The blood ox level usualy goes up a bit if you are still and breathe. He should keep taking readings for weeks to come because he may not feel any oxygen dip when it's actually happening. He also can feel a sense of control if he's monitoring himself, which is good mentally!

He could have problems for many weeks to come, based on what's known about the virus, and could get worse before he gets truly better. I really hope he continues on an upswing, though, OP.

My DC is at college now too but at a small college where they all live on campus and can control things really carefully, and I am still very concerned about the scenario if DC actively gets ill. DC is using a pulse oximeter regularly to ensure it's working when DC needs it. So glad you got your son one--now nag him to let you know what his readiings are!

[Anonymous]

Good posts PP, thank you (from a NP).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My JMU kid who lives off-campus got sick on this week after he and his housemates tried their best to avoid it. DS is the sickest of the 3, exhaustion, body aches, chills and night sweats, and now he's sounding congested. I told him to get tested but the waits are hours long and he wasn't feeling up to that. He says everyone they know off campus either has gotten sick or lives with someone who's sick so they assume they have it.

This sounds like my son’s roommate! Four of them share a house and one got really sick last week - same exact symptoms. He was the only sick one, but they all went to get tests and ALL were negative - even the boy who had been so sick (he’s fine now). We thought for sure they would all be positive, but nope. So now we’re wondering what he had! Strange.

So I'm the PP and our kid just got his test back and it's positive. He went to Med Express where they do the test for you. He said at CVS the test is self-administered and a lot of people who are sure they have it get a negative result. Just FYI. He's been sick for a week now and still feels exhausted although he has no fever. He says he's keeping up with his classes but every time I call he's sleeping.

DP. Please find a way to get a blood oxygen monitor to your son right away. These are inexpensive "fingertip" monitors called pulse oximeters and they can be ordered from almost any drugstore chain, Walmart, etc. and one big maker, Zacurate, sells them directly online too. They are very, very easy to use and can save lives. They were hard to get early on but should be easier to get now. If a roommate can get him one at a drugstore and he has it the same day, that's even better.

The problem with covid is that it sucks the oxygen from blood BEFORE one has any symptoms like "shortness of breath." In fact, waiting until someone is short of breath before seeking medical help is often waiting too late, as many victims found back in the spring. This is a very sneaky virus. Your son needs a pulse oximeter yesterday, and needs his roomates or someone to MAKE him use it several times a day and to ensure he gets help if the oxygen level gets too low. You can look up online how to know when the blood oxygen is getting low. When that happens: ER, immediately. Please don't think, "But he's young and otherwise healthy, he'll be fine." Likely he will, but don't gamble on a college roommate realizing your son is suddenly not able to breathe.

Please read this: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html

Look up "silent hypoxia" re: covid.

Like I said, maybe not likely, but the above article is very sobering about how quickly covid can take otherwise healthy seeming people and deplete oxygen without apparent breathing issues even turning up. Our friend who is an ER nurse who has worked throughout the pandemic says she has seen people walk into the ER under their own power, talking on their phones, and withiin minutes those same patients had to be intubated because their oxygen was so low. She says she's never before seen patients who could talk and walk yet their oxygen was dangerously low. Yet it's a feature with this virus.

You are right, but this should have been on EVERYONE's list to send with their child to school (and to have at home with your loved older person).

If the X$* hits the fan this winter, they will be in short supply!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My JMU kid who lives off-campus got sick on this week after he and his housemates tried their best to avoid it. DS is the sickest of the 3, exhaustion, body aches, chills and night sweats, and now he's sounding congested. I told him to get tested but the waits are hours long and he wasn't feeling up to that. He says everyone they know off campus either has gotten sick or lives with someone who's sick so they assume they have it.

This sounds like my son’s roommate! Four of them share a house and one got really sick last week - same exact symptoms. He was the only sick one, but they all went to get tests and ALL were negative - even the boy who had been so sick (he’s fine now). We thought for sure they would all be positive, but nope. So now we’re wondering what he had! Strange.

So I'm the PP and our kid just got his test back and it's positive. He went to Med Express where they do the test for you. He said at CVS the test is self-administered and a lot of people who are sure they have it get a negative result. Just FYI. He's been sick for a week now and still feels exhausted although he has no fever. He says he's keeping up with his classes but every time I call he's sleeping.

DP. Please find a way to get a blood oxygen monitor to your son right away. These are inexpensive "fingertip" monitors called pulse oximeters and they can be ordered from almost any drugstore chain, Walmart, etc. and one big maker, Zacurate, sells them directly online too. They are very, very easy to use and can save lives. They were hard to get early on but should be easier to get now. If a roommate can get him one at a drugstore and he has it the same day, that's even better.

The problem with covid is that it sucks the oxygen from blood BEFORE one has any symptoms like "shortness of breath." In fact, waiting until someone is short of breath before seeking medical help is often waiting too late, as many victims found back in the spring. This is a very sneaky virus. Your son needs a pulse oximeter yesterday, and needs his roomates or someone to MAKE him use it several times a day and to ensure he gets help if the oxygen level gets too low. You can look up online how to know when the blood oxygen is getting low. When that happens: ER, immediately. Please don't think, "But he's young and otherwise healthy, he'll be fine." Likely he will, but don't gamble on a college roommate realizing your son is suddenly not able to breathe.

Please read this: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html

Look up "silent hypoxia" re: covid.

Like I said, maybe not likely, but the above article is very sobering about how quickly covid can take otherwise healthy seeming people and deplete oxygen without apparent breathing issues even turning up. Our friend who is an ER nurse who has worked throughout the pandemic says she has seen people walk into the ER under their own power, talking on their phones, and withiin minutes those same patients had to be intubated because their oxygen was so low. She says she's never before seen patients who could talk and walk yet their oxygen was dangerously low. Yet it's a feature with this virus.

I just talked to him and on Sunday when they did his Covid test, his oxygen level was 95%. I ordered one from Amazon to be delivered by tonight. He sounded MUCH better today, more energetic, and not breathless like he sounded last weekend. He's lost his sense of taste and smell now though. He's just getting the full experience I guess - and his roommates got nothing. So strange.

I'm the PP and I"m so glad he's doing better and very glad you are getting him the pulse oximeter! Please be sure he knows to use it twice daily even now when he feels better; he needs to know his baseline oxygen and to get used to using it. He should hold still, rest his hand next to him or just on his thigh, and not try to talk etc, just breathe. The blood ox level usualy goes up a bit if you are still and breathe. He should keep taking readings for weeks to come because he may not feel any oxygen dip when it's actually happening. He also can feel a sense of control if he's monitoring himself, which is good mentally!

He could have problems for many weeks to come, based on what's known about the virus, and could get worse before he gets truly better. I really hope he continues on an upswing, though, OP.

My DC is at college now too but at a small college where they all live on campus and can control things really carefully, and I am still very concerned about the scenario if DC actively gets ill. DC is using a pulse oximeter regularly to ensure it's working when DC needs it. So glad you got your son one--now nag him to let you know what his readiings are!

Thanks so much! Hope your DC stays healthy. I made the mistake of thinking that because DS was a very healthy 20-year-old that he'd be asymptomatic or have a mild case.

[Anonymous]

Bringing students back on campus.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the university’s main priority has been keeping our community safe. We moved to de-densify campus and transitioned to remote learning for four weeks because we care, first and foremost, about your well-being. In the time since we transitioned online, we have increased our ability to keep our students, employees and residents of Harrisonburg safe. We are currently finalizing plans to resume in-person instruction on Oct. 5.

What follows are additions to our original reopening plan. With these changes, plus additional changes we will be announcing between now and Sept. 25, we are confident that we will have a successful in-person experience going forward. More specific information, such as move-in dates and logistics, will be included in the announcement before Sept. 25.

https://www.jmu.edu/news/2020/09/18-bov-meeting.shtml?fbclid=IwAR2O-CxzASdhB-iTeEw6-FQ-tarqI0BMHWAbSw3ypCs3rUY7UcNcf6hyeuU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bringing students back on campus.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the university’s main priority has been keeping our community safe. We moved to de-densify campus and transitioned to remote learning for four weeks because we care, first and foremost, about your well-being. In the time since we transitioned online, we have increased our ability to keep our students, employees and residents of Harrisonburg safe. We are currently finalizing plans to resume in-person instruction on Oct. 5.

What follows are additions to our original reopening plan. With these changes, plus additional changes we will be announcing between now and Sept. 25, we are confident that we will have a successful in-person experience going forward. More specific information, such as move-in dates and logistics, will be included in the announcement before Sept. 25.

https://www.jmu.edu/news/2020/09/18-bov-meeting.shtml?fbclid=IwAR2O-CxzASdhB-iTeEw6-FQ-tarqI0BMHWAbSw3ypCs3rUY7UcNcf6hyeuU

So JMU brought everyone to campus, didn't require negative tests for those living in the dorms, and had no testing regimen set up to check for asymptomatic spread.

Within a week of school starting, JMU sent everyone home - many of whom were probably infected. Now they're going to reopen again and hope that enough students have immunity to prevent further spread?

[Anonymous]

This place is a hot mess, send them home to infect those at home then bring them back to huge fall parties. Closed again by October 15th.

[Anonymous]

I believe most students live off campus and they stayed. Some who were on campus remained. So it doesn’t seem like it would be a proportionately big number returning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This place is a hot mess, send them home to infect those at home then bring them back to huge fall parties. Closed again by October 15th.

'

Not a JMU parent but wondering (since several of DC's friends went to JMU) -- what happens if a student now at home decides he or she just does not want to return in person? Will JMU make all-online an option? I know one kid (not a freshman) who was in a dorm, and was so disgusted with how badly the return was going that he was asking to come home days after arriving. Now that he's home, I suspect he will tell his parents he doesn't want to go back again. What a clusterf$%k. I wonder how many students are going to refuse to return Oct. 5 if they were in campus housing.