@@@ June COVID THREAD

[Poppy]

krystee, that is concerning. Any swelling?

It is probably nothing but I wouldn't mess around with a potential clot. Can you call your doc and ask?

[TR]

Jun 12, 2022 20:20:51 GMT -5 krystee said:

Could someone please tell me I am being a hypochondriac? I am 13 days out from a positive test, and I’m feeling a throbbing heat every few minutes in the back of my leg. My anxiety has convinced me that I have a post-covid blood clot. Please tell me I would need more symptoms than that for a blood clot and I just pulled a muscle.

Is your leg actually hot to the touch in that spot?

[krystee]

TR no, it’s not hot on the outside, which is why I’m hopeful that I’m just a worrier for no reason!

[picksthemusic]

Had to take the kids to urgent care this weekend to confirm that they didn't have strep or covid. DD has had a persistent sore throat for about a week now, and thankfully strep and covid were negative. DS was also negative for covid, and does not have a sore throat. I've basically been testing them every few days and nothing. So we added nasal spray to their allergy regimen (the cottonwood here is out of control), and hopefully that kicks it.

I'm definitely grateful that they haven't gotten it yet, even though DS has been super lax about mask-wearing at school (according to DD).

[InBetweenDays]

Jun 13, 2022 9:31:04 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

Had to take the kids to urgent care this weekend to confirm that they didn't have strep or covid. DD has had a persistent sore throat for about a week now, and thankfully strep and covid were negative. DS was also negative for covid, and does not have a sore throat. I've basically been testing them every few days and nothing. So we added nasal spray to their allergy regimen (the cottonwood here is out of control), and hopefully that kicks it.

I'm definitely grateful that they haven't gotten it yet, even though DS has been super lax about mask-wearing at school (according to DD).

The pollen this year has been horrendous. DD takes Claritin daily and while she doesn't have a sore throat she seems to be constantly sneezing and stuffed up. We too just got some nasal spray.

[pugz]

My mom has been sick with COVID for over a month now, and she took Paxlovid. I think she may have had the rebound that they talk about. It helped initially and then about 10 days later she got sicker and needed steroids and antibiotics. Improved again and then a week later on vacation her coughing and low 02 returned. Chest xray is clear so she's on more steroids and an inhaler.

[Velar Fricative]

I'm so sorry your mom is having a hard time kicking this virus, pugz . And I hope all is well, krystee .

My taste and smell are gradually returning and today is the first day I tested negative on a home test. I tested at home every day since day 0, and today is day 13. I'm fascinated by my case, now that I'm better (whereas when I wasn't feeling so great, it was miserable and the last thing I wanted to do was think about the science behind everything lol). I tested positive (dark line) the same morning I developed symptoms, there was no transmission to my household members despite me not 100% isolating or masking around them (which makes it possible that I got infected when I went to a store alone only a day and a half before my symptoms began instead of during our weekend out of town where I assumed I picked it up), 12 straight days of positive tests despite being vaccinated and with one booster, and I lost my taste and smell only *after* my worst symptoms were gone. What the fuck kind of variant in this bullshit?

And despite DD2 having some kind of superhuman immunity because she was exposed to me by far the most during these last two weeks and is unvaccinated and never had covid as far as we know, I cannot wait until she gets her first dose tomorrow. I am not messing around with this shit and as long as she's got some induced immunity in her little body, I can breathe even if she does eventually catch it. Looking forward to all the under-5s getting their first doses soon!!

[magpie]

Phew! In case anyone is interested in masking and travel right now: We made it across the world to Australia, navigating a bunch of different worlds of covid! We had three flights, all of which had different mask rules. The one from home to the west coast, of course, had no masks required. The kids and I masked for much of it, though we were eating and drinking, and H, who just had covid free weeks ago, didn't bother. The next flight from the US to Australia required masks. It was actually a little annoying because the (US based) flight attendants said Australian law required everyone 2 and up had to wear a mask at all times, when the law is actually 11 and up. I was worried about the kids having to sleep in masks on the 14 hour flight and that being a challenge, but I didn't want to point out that the flight attendant was wrong because I didn't want to cause any sort of confrontation or disagreement. It turned out to be a completely moot point because they literally did not enforce masks on anyone other than the one time at the door, getting on the plane. After the first meal was served about an hour into the 14 hour flight, I'd say more than half the passengers had their masks off in their seats, though most people put them in for walking around to the bathroom and what not. My kids masked most of the time, but both of them pulled their masks off in their sleep and I didn't wake them up to put them back on. In a flight that long with meals served, it felt like a fight not worth having. Honestly, my efforts were just focused in keeping everyone comfortable, quiet and relatively rested over the 24+ hours of travel we put ourselves through. I actually liked having a mask to sleep on the plane, for what it's worth, because I sleep with my mouth hanging open sometimes and it was nice to have it covered so people couldn't see me, ha! Masking at the airport in Sydney was lax, at best. The Australians certainly have their chins well protected from covid. Then the next flight (a domestic flight in Australia) did require masks on adults. They were militant about enforcing it and scolding all the (mostly male) passengers with their noses hanging out. Kids did not have to mask and my kids were the only kids wearing them. Overall, I've seen very, very few masks since I've been here, though I've really only been to the grocery store and the bottle shop (essentials, ha!). We took rapid tests when we arrived and those were negative, though of course time will tell...

[winemaker06]

Jun 13, 2022 12:43:30 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I'm so sorry your mom is having a hard time kicking this virus, pugz . And I hope all is well, krystee .

My taste and smell are gradually returning and today is the first day I tested negative on a home test. I tested at home every day since day 0, and today is day 13. I'm fascinated by my case, now that I'm better (whereas when I wasn't feeling so great, it was miserable and the last thing I wanted to do was think about the science behind everything lol). I tested positive (dark line) the same morning I developed symptoms, there was no transmission to my household members despite me not 100% isolating or masking around them (which makes it possible that I got infected when I went to a store alone only a day and a half before my symptoms began instead of during our weekend out of town where I assumed I picked it up), 12 straight days of positive tests despite being vaccinated and with one booster, and I lost my taste and smell only *after* my worst symptoms were gone. What the fuck kind of variant in this bullshit?

And despite DD2 having some kind of superhuman immunity because she was exposed to me by far the most during these last two weeks and is unvaccinated and never had covid as far as we know, I cannot wait until she gets her first dose tomorrow. I am not messing around with this shit and as long as she's got some induced immunity in her little body, I can breathe even if she does eventually catch it. Looking forward to all the under-5s getting their first doses soon!!

Thanks for sharing! This is fascinating!
Me and DH are on day 4 and trying to hard to keep the kids from getting it. But my little one does not understand personal space one bit even though she absolutely knows we are sick and she needs to stay away.
I didn’t expect the fatigue to be so annoying, or congestion to make it hard to breathe when wearing a mask. So wearing a mask in my home when around the kids for 6 more days makes me want to cry.

Congrats on the first dose! The relief when my kids got theirs was huge.

[dreamcrisp1]

😩😩😩 my sister is coming Saturday. She hasn’t seen DS1 since he was 3 months old. Her husband works in a client facing role and she works in a bank (client facing). Neither got covid in the last 2.25 years. Yesterday her husband tested positive. Whyyyyyyyyyy. 😭😭

Now we just have to both hope 1) she doesn’t test positive and 2) she doesn’t bring COVID to our house.

Fuck you covid. She’s so excited to come and will be devastated not too. I’ve lived abroad for nearly 4 years and she hasn’t visited us. I’m excited to have her here. 😭😭😭

[noodleoo]

One more day until the FDA meeting to discuss the under 5 vaccine! I *can't* wait!

[savan]

My family is officially 4/4 testing positive. We didn’t isolate and our positives came on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday. We all had symptoms for less than 24 hours before seeing two lines. With the exception of DS we have all felt way worse than expected which sucks.

[Bad Dingo]

Jun 14, 2022 9:32:31 GMT -5 savan said:

My family is officially 4/4 testing positive. We didn’t isolate and our positives came on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday. We all had symptoms for less than 24 hours before seeing two lines. With the exception of DS we have all felt way worse than expected which sucks.

Don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor(s) for antivirals, they really do work.

[Velar Fricative]

Jun 14, 2022 9:51:09 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Jun 14, 2022 9:32:31 GMT -5 savan said:

My family is officially 4/4 testing positive. We didn’t isolate and our positives came on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday. We all had symptoms for less than 24 hours before seeing two lines. With the exception of DS we have all felt way worse than expected which sucks.

Don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor(s) for antivirals, they really do work.

I'm kind of kicking myself for not getting them myself. One of my staff tested positive 5 days after me and she used Paxlovid within a couple of days - we both became symptom-free on the same day. It's still early and I know she's concerned about a possible rebound, but hopefully that doesn't happen with her. 

[Velar Fricative]

Literally during my kids’ vax waiting periods today (first dose for DD2, booster for DD1), my sister texted that my nephew has covid again. He had it first in early January. He’s unvaccinated because of his asshole father, but also has an autoimmune disorder. He thankfully had it mild in January (mostly just a cough) but this time around his symptoms are worse (fever, chills, vomiting, worse cough). Fuck this fucking subvariant, whatever the fuck it is since it’s clearly not OG omicron.

[winemaker06]

Jun 14, 2022 16:43:05 GMT -5 turbo said:

Jun 12, 2022 1:06:02 GMT -5 winemaker06 said:

Was anyone isolating from each other?
I tested positive on Thursday after a rapid onset of symptoms and keep wondering if there is any chance DH and kids can avoid getting it. They are negative, so far, and I’m hiding in the basement and bedroom. DH even got a PCR yesterday out of curiosity/hoping it will detect more.

I thought we had a ridiculous stash of rapid tests, but don’t have enough to test the 3 of them daily, so trying every 2-3 days for now. Today is day 14 after the kids’ boosters so hoping that helps them!

This is probably not helpful 72 hours after you asked, but I’ll share for others: last month my H contracted COVID on a trip to SF. I for sure assumed we would all get it, since we’d been around him unmasked for the two days prior and I have little kids who hang all over him. I immediately sent him to a hotel just because our littlest isn’t vaccine-eligible yet and I wanted to feel like I was doing everything I could to protect him (this was more for my anxiety than anything as I know he very likely would have been fine). We rapid tested twice a day for the five days after and then did a PCR test (and a few rapid PCRs after). All three of us avoided it (or we’ve already had it and never knew).

But also, I suspect my H’s case was mild. He only had a slight cough and he tested positive on a PCR Wednesday morning and was “indeterminable” on his Saturday PCR. He was positive on an antigen on Tuesday, started Paxlovid Thursday, and was testing negative on an antigen by Friday afternoon. And thankfully, he did not experience the Paxlovid rebound.

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
DH did get a positive test 3 days after me. Both of our elementary-school-aged kids have been spared, so far. We’re trying to stay outside as much as possible and DH and I are masking inside, but the kids are not. The idea of masking inside for another 6 days makes me want to cry. The congestion makes it really hard to breathe through a mask and I can’t get it to feel comfortable on my nose. So I might give up at some point and just keep testing the kids regularly!

ETA: got a 2am wake-up from DS coughing his head off. Guess that’s 3 down, 1 to go in this household! Now to decide whether to keep DD home for the last 3 half-days of school, or let her go in one more day to collect all her stuff and say bye.

[NewOrleans]

Jun 14, 2022 17:10:52 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Literally during my kids’ vax waiting periods today (first dose for DD2, booster for DD1), my sister texted that my nephew has covid again. He had it first in early January. He’s unvaccinated because of his asshole father, but also has an autoimmune disorder. He thankfully had it mild in January (mostly just a cough) but this time around his symptoms are worse (fever, chills, vomiting, worse cough). Fuck this fucking subvariant, whatever the fuck it is since it’s clearly not OG omicron.

We are on BA4 and 5. 
www.statnews.com/2022/06/14/newest-omicron-covid-19-lineages-gaining-ground-in-united-states/

I have an existential crisis about how we continue living like this. Never knowing what’s coming. Afraid to make any plans.  Afraid to look forward to things.  

I’m glad your kids are getting protected. 

[sillygoosegirl]

Jun 14, 2022 16:39:56 GMT -5 turbo said:

FDA committee unanimously approves Moderna for 6-17. I know that it doesn’t really matter since Pfizer is out, but I have to believe that tomorrow they’re going to approve 5 and under.

Gah! It feels like there may FINALLY be a light at the end of this horrifically long tunnel.

abcnews.go.com/Health/fda-committee-clears-kids-17-vaccine-option-moderna/story?id=85388359

But can our 6-17-year-olds get a Moderna booster?  Hopefully there will be clarification about that soon.  We've delayed DD's booster due to prior infection, and I'm really hoping to get her boosted with Moderna when the time comes.  (Or an omicron-specific booster, but I don't think those will be available yet when she gets to 90 days.)  

[NewOrleans]

Apologies if this is a repeat. It’s from 6/8

With vaccine immunity waning, and concerns over a fall surge growing, officials from Moderna announced on Wednesday that data from its study on Omicron-containing bivalent booster, revealed that it offers superior antibody response against omicron – one month after injection - compared to the company's current vaccine.

Moderna Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Burton told ABC News that he believes the company's "highly effective" updated COVID-19 bivalent vaccine could be a "turning point" in the nation's fight against the pandemic.

abcnews.go.com/amp/US/moderna-booster-fall-turning-point-covid-fight/story?id=85254442

[seeyalater52]

Jun 14, 2022 18:26:43 GMT -5 sillygoosegirl said:

Jun 14, 2022 16:39:56 GMT -5 turbo said:

FDA committee unanimously approves Moderna for 6-17. I know that it doesn’t really matter since Pfizer is out, but I have to believe that tomorrow they’re going to approve 5 and under.

Gah! It feels like there may FINALLY be a light at the end of this horrifically long tunnel.

abcnews.go.com/Health/fda-committee-clears-kids-17-vaccine-option-moderna/story?id=85388359

But can our 6-17-year-olds get a Moderna booster?  Hopefully there will be clarification about that soon.  We've delayed DD's booster due to prior infection, and I'm really hoping to get her boosted with Moderna when the time comes.  (Or an omicron-specific booster, but I don't think those will be available yet when she gets to 90 days.)  

Todays meeting didn’t discuss Moderna boosters so no, not yet. They are doing a booster study on the 6+ trial group but Im not sure how close they are to collecting enough data for an EUA. It is possible that the variant booster expected to be approved this fall could cover a wider age group than just adults but some of that will depend on discussion and decisions made during the VRBPAC meeting later this month where they’re discussing the variant booster.

ETA: answered my own question. Moderna rep today at VRBPAC said they expect to have booster trial data for adolescents by the end of the month and 6-11 by mid July.

[seeyalater52]

Jun 14, 2022 16:39:56 GMT -5 turbo said:

FDA committee unanimously approves Moderna for 6-17. I know that it doesn’t really matter since Pfizer is out, but I have to believe that tomorrow they’re going to approve 5 and under.

Gah! It feels like there may FINALLY be a light at the end of this horrifically long tunnel.

abcnews.go.com/Health/fda-committee-clears-kids-17-vaccine-option-moderna/story?id=85388359

One more sleep. Based on todays meeting I expect them to approve both Pfizer <5 and Moderna <6 tomorrow. Too little too fucking late but here we are. We will take it.

Moderna sent out a memo to trial sites clarifying that we can unblind after VRBPAC meets, which is helpful since otherwise we’d be waiting over the whole holiday weekend. Hoping we get to unblind Thurs or Fri so we can cross over next week.

I’m a ball of emotions.

[hermione]

Does anyone have a link for the live stream of today's meeting?

[noodleoo]

Jun 15, 2022 10:00:52 GMT -5 hermione said:

Does anyone have a link for the live stream of today's meeting?

I had the same question!  It took a lot of googling but I finally found it:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixm4UmldTGQ

ETA:  I missed a lot of the presentations (pesky work) but I'm listening to the public comments now and I'm tearing up.  This has been a long, hard journey for parents of kids under 5.  Just approve it already!!!

Oops spoke too soon, fucking anti-vaxxer.  If you don't want the vaccine, don't get it!  Let the rest of us have it!

[Susie]

I remember when H and I got vaxxed, how elated I felt, and again when 6yo DD was.  (Incidentally, she got her booster today.)  But now that we are on the cusp of it for 3 yo DS, I feel too exhausted to feel anything.  He's one month out from having covid and I feel like I'm barely still standing.  He spent 50 days in quarantine in the last 6 months alone, on track for 100 days in a year.  I don't have any actual PTO at work, also had covid myself, and still haven't taken any time.  

We'll get him vaxxed, but I feel like I've already lost most of what I stood to lose (mostly myself as a person), thanks to how long it took.

[noodleoo]

Update: They just unanimously voted to recommend Moderna for EUA! Not sure if I missed them voting on Pfizer yet. It is so exciting!

Now I need to figure out where/when I can get DD2 vaccinated! I'd prefer Moderna, but not sure how availability will play into which one we get.

[timorousbeastie]

If anyone wants a good summary of what has been happening at today’s meeting, here is a live blog of what has been discussed: www.statnews.com/2022/06/15/tracking-an-fda-advisory-panel-meeting-on-covid-vaccines-in-young-children/

[seeyalater52]

Jun 15, 2022 14:05:56 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Update: They just unanimously voted to recommend Moderna for EUA! Not sure if I missed them voting on Pfizer yet. It is so exciting!

Now I need to figure out where/when I can get DD2 vaccinated! I'd prefer Moderna, but not sure how availability will play into which one we get.

They will vote on Pfizer between 4-5pm I think. I’m expecting FDA director to sign off on both EUAs this evening.

Like Susie I mostly feel numb. Ready to unblind and desperately wanting to move ok with the real vaccine but also just so tired and sad about everything this saga has taken from my family that we won’t ever get back.

[mskitkat]

I’m resisting the urge to immediately start annoying my Moderna trial contact for unblinding.

[noodleoo]

Jun 15, 2022 14:14:32 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Jun 15, 2022 14:05:56 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Update: They just unanimously voted to recommend Moderna for EUA! Not sure if I missed them voting on Pfizer yet. It is so exciting!

Now I need to figure out where/when I can get DD2 vaccinated! I'd prefer Moderna, but not sure how availability will play into which one we get.

They will vote on Pfizer between 4-5pm I think. I’m expecting FDA director to sign off on both EUAs this evening.

Like Susie I mostly feel numb. Ready to unblind and desperately wanting to move ok with the real vaccine but also just so tired and sad about everything this saga has taken from my family that we won’t ever get back.

Yes, it feels very anticlimactic.  Especially after having Covid (DD2 got it first and gave it to all of us).  I'm happy and trying to stay positive, but one of the public comments touched on how frustrating and exhausting this process has been for us as parents and how ridiculous it is that it took *this* long.  Even the fact that they could have reviewed the Moderna data almost a month ago is just so frustrating...

The news outlets don't even seem to be covering it!  Distracted by primaries and inflation and everything else... the world moved on and left us behind.

One of the public comments (quoted from the LINK timorousbeastie shared)

Michael Baker, a father of a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old, posted an evocative slide showing all the things his children have not experienced while their parents are waiting for Covid vaccines to become available.

Baker noted he struggles with whether his family has made the right choice shielding their children from things that in other times would be a normal part of development, saying it will be years before the pandemic’s full impact on children’s social development is known.

He made a rather eloquent plea: “All I am asking is now that the rest of the country can choose not to care about Covid that I have the choice to vaccinate my children, and I have the choice to do it in the most timely fashion possible,” Baker said.

[pixy0stix]

I'm not numb. I'm bawling.