MAGIC VALLEY — Dave Frisby started to feel sick back in late June. What started off as flu-like symptoms gradually got worse. A couple of days later, he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19.
"They were going to send me home except they took a chest X-ray, and I was starting to develop pneumonia. With pneumonia, they said we need to admit you to the hospital," Frisby said.
Dave's wife experienced no symptoms, even after testing positive for COVID-19.
On the other hand, Dave spent a couple of days in the hospital, and while there he found out he met the criteria to participate in a clinical test trial, thinking he had nothing to lose, he decided to join.
"If anybody could learn something from me, I am more than happy to take part," Frisby said.
The test trial was a placebo-controlled trial meaning, meaning Dave didn't know if he received the actual medication or a placebo. But during the trial, he still received the usual medication like ibuprofen.
"So the third Monday I went in they did the blood draws I had my final chest x-ray, my lungs they told me sounded normal and healthy," Frisby said.
Dave is now COVID-19 free and says he feels back to normal.
"Looking back at hindsight, I wouldn't have waited as long as I did to seek medical help as soon as I developed a fever that should have been the first inclination that I needed help. It probably wouldn't have lasted this long had I gone to the hospital when it first started," Frisby said.
Dave says he wants people to understand the urgency of getting tested as soon as you start feeling any symptoms.
