- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAfter returning to Maryland from an international trip, I started having symptoms of what I thought might be a cold or the flu. I thought I would quickly recover from it. But on March 29, I started to exhibit more symptoms, including a fever, chest pressure, cough, a prolonged headache, labored breathing and loss of appetite. I scheduled a Zoom call with my primary care physician on April 6, had a test on April 7, and found out I was positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) on April 9. After my diagnosis, I was told to head to Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) for a CT scan of my lungs. My husband and I were scared to death, especially not knowing much about COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic. It’s hard to believe that I’m still the only one in my core group of friends and family members who has been diagnosed and has recovered from this virus. Looking back, I’m glad I’m here to tell my story. The care that I received at AAMC was great. The staff treated me with great respect. I really felt that my care team, along with my primary care physician, cared about my wellbeing and wanted to see me recover. On May 22, I was asked if I wanted to donate my plasma to aid in the fight against this deadly virus. I quickly said yes. I was asked about 15 to 20 antibody screening questions and on May 28, it was determined that I was able to donate. Many close to me ask why I would want to donate. My question to them is, why not? To me, I had to donate. I’m one of the lucky ones to beat this out of hundreds of thousands of people. I have to pay it forward and help someone else. There was no way that I wasn’t going to donate. The donation process was fast and easier than I expected. Now, as an “official” plasma donor, I have to wait 55 days to donate again, and I already have my date scheduled. It’s been three months since my diagnosis. I’m pretty much back to normal. My stamina has returned, though it took a while to get back to my pre-COVID self. My daily routines took a little longer to complete, as I would often get a little winded doing simple things like walking up stairs. As a COVID survivor, I want to remind people of a few things as we begin to re-open. We must continue wearing masks. We must continue practicing social distancing. We must make sure that we are correctly washing and sanitizing our hands. We need to get into these habits and be rigorous in following safety guidelines from the state and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Author Clare Vanderbeek, a mid-60s resident of Edgewater, Maryland, is a COVID-19 survivor.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogI started feeling the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Friday, March 20. I remember it like it was yesterday. I went to work like always. By mid-day, I began to have a headache and felt sluggish. So I went home to rest. The next morning, I woke up to another headache and again tried to go about my day. But my head would not stop hurting. I put up with it for as long as I could, but once again had to go home early. I just chalked it up to allergies and thought I should tough it out. By Tuesday, I felt even worse. I still had a headache and a new symptom: A fever of 102 degrees. On top of my fever, I started having loose stools and could not keep food down for long. I decided to go to urgent care, where I was told that I needed to get a doctor’s referral before I could be tested for this new virus. I wanted to be brave for my wife and son. But I was getting weaker by the day and felt no relief. Besides, I wasn’t coughing, which is one of the symptoms of COVID-19. I only had a fever, diarrhea and a headache that wouldn’t go away. My wife took my temperature again, and it was still high. She wanted to take me to the hospital. I told her that if my fever didn’t change by the morning, then I would go. Needless to say, she won the argument. I was admitted to Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) 23 pounds lighter and nine days after my first signs of COVID-19. I was in very bad shape. I began my time at AAMC in the Observation Unit. I was initially diagnosed with pneumonia and given an MRI. The nurses and doctors took great care of me and checked on me every four hours. By my second day in the hospital, I could barely breathe and was given oxygen. I got weak and couldn’t walk more than a few steps to the bathroom. My oxygen levels dipped to the low 70s. By day four, I was moved to the ICU, and there was talk of putting me on a ventilator. But one doctor decided to try another oxygen machine, and I began to improve slowly. At one point, my fever was still high and the nurses placed packs of ice around my body to cool me down. After spending five days in the ICU, I was then released to the fifth floor, where I would remain for seven more days. My health care team did a great job meeting my medical needs. Because of the no-visitor policy, I could only talk to my family and friends on the phone. There was one man from Food Services who always checked on me before his shift ended. I appreciated him going above and beyond for me. I decided I wanted to thank the doctors and nurses, including those in the ICU and in the Emergency Department, who took such good care of me. So I treated them to Ledo’s Pizza a few days before I left AAMC. I didn’t expect to be so vulnerable. I’m in my early 50s and very active. But I knew I was in good hands and that reassured me that I could beat this virus. I went home after being in the hospital for 16 days. It took three more weeks to fully regain the strength in my legs. I can still feel a little difference in my breathing. But all in all, I am just about fully recovered. Author Anthony Dozier, 54, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland is a COVID-19 survivor.
- CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs we close out Pride Month, AAMC President Sherry Perkins discusses the significance of this year’s celebration. As you walk the halls of Anne Arundel Medical Center, the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center and Pathways, you’ll see rainbow flags big and small decorating in celebration of Pride Month. These symbols of our commitment to equity and inclusion remind me not only of our solidarity this month, but most importantly of our actions to be inclusive, equitable, and stand with our LGBTQIA+ community every day. This Pride month, many efforts sponsored by our Department of Diversity Equity and Inclusion have been underway and our LGBTQIA+ Business Resource Group (BRG) has been working hard to bring events that bring us together to celebrate Pride – many of you already have participated. I want to recognize the significance of this particular Pride month as we also challenge ourselves to learn, grow, and act to fight racial injustice. We will continue to actively recognize oppression or exclusion of many forms and work to dismantle it and empower the diversity of our health care system. Thank you all for your care to patients, families, and each other.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogToday, AAMC welcomed new resident physicians in Surgery, OB-GYN and Internal Medicine. AAMC President Sherry Perkins welcomes the new residents. As a comprehensive teaching hospital, AAMC’s investment in Graduate Medical Education (GME) is consistent with our mission: To enhance the health of the people we serve. The GME program started in 2017 with the Surgery residency program, and has now grown to include OB-GYN and Internal Medicine. Dr. Barry Meisenberg, chair of AAMC’s Department of Medicine, with one of our new resident physicians. In addition to enhancing the quality of care for our community, the new programs will also offer added access for patients in the Women’s Collaborative Care Clinic, which is now open in the Belcher Pavilion for women’s health, and the Advanced Internal Medicine Clinic with expanded primary care, slated to open in August 2020.
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAs parents, we put our children’s medical needs first. When our kids have a tummy ache or fever, we don’t hesitate to call the pediatrician. These health needs are easy to identify. But when it comes to our children’s mental and emotional health, symptoms and signs of distress may not be as easy to spot. A mental health crisis occurs when a child has thoughts and feelings that can lead them to hurting themselves or others. That interfere with their ability to do everyday things or present a deterioration in their functioning. Here are tips to help you recognize the signs before and if a mental health crisis in your child occurs. Signs of distress Pay attention to behaviors that are contrary to your child’s baseline behavior, such as: Persistent physical aches that continue after a visit to your pediatrician Sudden changes in sleeping or eating patterns Bed wetting that is inconsistent with expected age development Unusual clinginess, whining or crying While signs vary from young children to teenagers, signs of a mental health crisis where you should seek immediate professional help include: Significant distress and/or out of control behavior that is difficult to calm down Verbalizing suicidal thoughts or plans Self-injury Harming others and/or animals Signs you might see in teenagers in need of mental health support include: Isolation and avoiding social activities Drastic mood swings Excessive irritability, anger, worry or fear Distress Deviant or odd behavior or ideas Signs of a mental health crisis requiring immediate professional help include: For example, your child is not able to complete school work or study, maintain relationship with others or take care of themselves. Dangerous thoughts or behaviors. This often means thoughts of death and suicide, and/or self-injury Violence Panic attacks Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness or pessimism Prevention Become informed on mental health and mental illness through books, credible websites, workshops, speaking to professionals, and by speaking to other parents who are in similar situations. You can also build protective factors around your child. Building protective factors are as simple as having family meals together, giving specific praise to your child, monitoring their use of technology and engaging in mindfulness activities. Equally important is being present in your child’s life. This means spending quality time together, fostering open communication, listening without judgment and providing support. Don’t be afraid to seek help If you think your child is experiencing a mental health crisis, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. For immediate help, call 911, the Crisis Response Team for your county, or crisis a hotline like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Author Maria Winters, LCPC, is a mental health clinician at AAMC. You can reach her at 667-204-7311.
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