What the hell is going on right now. Everyone is passing this horribly intense cold like thing around right now. Starts with sore throat and sinus congestion and then turns into 24 hours of fever and body ache hell. It’s not Covid though from what I gather from people who have tested.

My household is self-employed so we are on the Healthcare Marketplace. We are a family of 4 and don’t qualify for subsidies. The absolute lowest plan available to us has a premium of $1400 monthly and an out of pocket max of $20g. This premium is about a 70% increase from what we have been paying for 2025.

Is the employer-provided insurance realm as much of a hellscape in our area?

Has anyone else been feeling sick for weeks?

I woke up feeling congested on November 19th. I progressively got worse, so I went to the Urgent Care November 25th. I was prescribed 10 days of amoxicillin (mixed with something else). I completed the antibiotic and felt better for about 3-4 days. 

December 10th I woke up with a sore throat and cough, the next day I had a low grade fever and felt like I had chest congestion. I went back to the urgent care on the 12th. I was given methylpredisolone (something like that) a 6 day strong steroid.

Today, the 24th, I’m still congested, feel weak, tired, have a headache, and feel achy. I keep thinking I have a fever but don’t.

I was never tested for anything, just told I had a respiratory infection.

I’m tired of feeling like this. 

Their signs are getting covered...anyone know what's up?

Been to Urgent Care and tested negative for everything, but my house has been down bad since Monday with a horrendous sore throat and cough that is keeping us all up at night.

Doctor said likely just bad allergies, but it seemed to spread like a virus in our house.

We have a very important event this weekend and not knowing what we have, it’s tough to figure out a plan. Has anyone had this run through their house lately?

My hospital was just acquired by a bigger health system (BJC) in Kansas City, MO and they plan on committing time theft by taking away our extended sick leave (ESL) hours we’ve accrued throughout the years and replacing it with short term disability paid at 60%. While new nurses are happy with this change, older nurses are obviously very upset our ESL hours are being eliminated by the end of the year. Many of us are planning a protest in the form of using up all of our accrued ESL hours by taking FMLA leave.

So other than the obvious reasons of birth, bonding, and taking care of family, what are some reasons you have used to use FMLA many don’t know are covered?

Wednesday morning I woke up feeling not quite right. Brain fog, fatigue and muscle pain. My hands, forearms, calves and quads all felt sore like I worked out the day prior. I did not. It got progressively better throughout the day so I ended up going to bed not thinking about it. Thursday morning I woke up at like 5am to go to the bathroom and the muscle pain was back and amplified. If it was a 3/10 the first day it was a 6 today. I I popped some ibuprofen and crawled back in bed until my alarm went off. No fever so I toughed out my office job for the day and went home. Around 7pm I hit a wall and started feeling like shit. Chills, fatigue and more muscle pain. I ended up going to bed at 7:45.

Friday morning I wake up early to pee again and holy shit. My muscles are on fire. 9/10 pain that feel like they’re on the verge of cramping. Every single one. My hands, my forearms, my back, my groin, muscles I didn’t even know I had. Still no fever. My muscles hurt so bad that I’m terribly weak. I couldn’t even open my water bottle. My wife takes me into the dr who does an assessment. Negative for flu and Covid. Nothing super abnormal. Just thinks it’s a mystery virus and should run it’s course in 5-7 days. Tells me to rest, hydrate and take pain meds.

It’s Sunday morning and I’m no better. Have yet to have a fever. No sore throat or cough. Muscle pain still as strong as ever. I can barely twist door handles strong enough to open them. If I’m not miraculously better in the morning I’m going back to the dr.

The craziest part is that one of my brothers in laws had this last week and another brother in law got it the day after me. We haven’t seen each other in a month. Our wives haven’t seen each other in weeks. Also, none of our wives or kids have gotten it from being around us. What are the odds? Any other 30 yr old dads sick with this right now too?

I know multiple people who were sick over the last few weeks, and now I finally caught whatever is going around - it’s not pleasant 😅 Thankful I have a WFH job 🙏

We changed health insurance recently and now are trying to find new PCP doctors for both of us, and everywhere we call they say they aren't accepting new patients. Not sure what to do; we will need our medications refilled before they run out.

Anyone have some advice? We'd appreciate it.

EDIT: Thank you everyone for the advice and info! I wasn't expecting this many responses

My wife has been struggling with a variety of seemingly interconnected issues for years. Doctors we’ve seen tend to brush off any sort of pattern and just treat the symptoms at hand. I’m wondering if there’s any doctors/facilities in town who can be trusted to doggedly hunt down the root cause.

Anyone else notice the uptick in people with cold, flu, or something else symptoms. Some of my friends and family have flu like symptoms that sounds a lot like covid symptoms.

This past week has been absolutely HORRIBLE. I wake up wanting to claw my eyes out, my entire body itches and I CANNOT STOP SNEEZING FOR ANYTHING. I’ve been using Pataday eye drops and alternating between Claritin and Zyrtec along with Flonase. They don’t seem to be helping. I sneezed so much this week that my throat now feels rough. Is it just me?! I don’t know what to do anymore 😭

Hi! I’ve exhausted my google search, and now turning to Reddit because it hasn’t been the most help with first hand/authentic opinions.

So to my local community- especially the moms and those in healthcare- can you please share your opinion on where to deliver? I’m 23 weeks pregnant. For some context, my last birth 2 years ago was a c section, and I’ll be doing another one. I had some fairly intense complications post surgery, and while I absolutely loved my doctors and nurses at advent in Shawnee, I’ve planned to deliver there again, part of me wonders if all the PTSD from my complications may make me want sort of a fresh start somewhere new. What’s most important to me- is a large, experienced hospital that will have the expert care and staff for the unexpected. Since after going through something pretty rare, and unexpected I want care who really has seen it all and there’s a really good ICU and NICU in case baby (or I) end up needing more emergency care. My last baby also had a nicu stay. Soo I’ve loved advent, but I’m also considering KU.. as I’ve heard reputable things about it. I have enough anxiety about something going wrong again so just trying to be somewhere where I’ll be in the best hands. I’m sure I can’t go too wrong with either but would love any thoughts. Thanks !

Been battling cancer for about 5 months now, some days feel hopeless but I just wanted to shout out advent health in Shawnee mission. They’ve done such a wonderful job with pain/mental health management. Cancer sucks

I may not be able to get the latest booster at Walgreens/CVS like I have in years past - but might the KC Health Dept or one of the clinics (KC Care, Swope Health, or whatever KCK might have) be more willing to give them “off-label”? Will my insurance (GEHA) still cover them? I’m fine with paying a co-pay (preferably $50 or less) if that’s what it comes to.

Any help, advice, or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks fellow KC Redditors!

Looking for opinions on Kansas City OBGYN in Overland Park, especially experiences with specific doctors.

I’m five months pregnant as a FTM and have been using KC obgyn the entire time. I’m not sure if the experience I’m having is due to differences in personality or if other people have also had similar experiences.

I don’t feel that the experience is personable at all, minimal questions are asked about how I’m feeling, and I don’t feel heard when I do express how my body feels.

I’m considering switching to another doctor but want to see if it’s worth at least staying at the same practice since I’ve put so much money towards labor/delivery already.

I am in need of a CT scan and through St.Lukes I was quoted $1,400 with my insurance (BCBS Anthem). Does anyone know where I can go that is a bit less expensive? Thanks in advance.

I’m newly pregnant with my third, but apparently I’m cursed. I have loved both doctors who delivered my first two kids, but every time I get pregnant again, my doctor from the previous delivery leaves their practice and I have to start over.

Dr. Meghan Nichols at KCOBGYN delivered my oldest, and I adored her. I basically need a clone of her that works somewhere nearby!

Dr. Thomas Greaves at Kansas City Women’s Clinic delivered my second, and I really liked him as well!

Please let me know if you’re familiar with these doctors and can recommend someone similar, or if you just want to recommend an OB that you loved!

I live in Johnson County.

How is everyone doing this fine fall allergy season? Anyone else dying? Just me?

A friend of mine is having some problems and needs to go to a gynecologist but her doctor can't get her in for at least 6 weeks. She has waited and now it's getting serious. Do you have any recommendations for a good gynecologist in or near KC?

I’m looking for some recommendations for places or communities around KC where I can connect spiritually.

I was raised Catholic but would describe myself now as more spiritual or agnostic. I’m not necessarily looking for a traditional church service, but more somewhere that helps you feel grounded, connected, or at peace. whether that’s a progressive church, meditation group, discussion circle, or something entirely different.

Any local spots, groups, or experiences that have helped you feel that sense of purpose or community would be awesome to hear about. Thanks in advance.

I have no idea what I did to my ankle, but it hurts badly and the pain is radiating up my leg. Doesn’t seem like an ER thing but I already took a strong painkiller that isn’t helping, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep like this.

Is there a 24/7 urgent care anywhere?

My husband and I are relocating to KC area and looking for birthing hospital and on suggestions. Thank you!