September covid thread

[beerlover]

Sept 21, 2022 15:19:41 GMT -5 lostrn said:

Sept 21, 2022 14:15:37 GMT -5 beerlover said:

Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else. I had Covid two weeks ago and have been feeling better for quite awhile, I was really only down for a couple days. However, I keep getting random symptoms popping back up, but just like one at a time. Saturday I got a randomly stuffy nose for about 24 hours. That went away. Today, after I had a few meetings and was talking a lot, I started coughing and cannot freaking stop. My throat feels phlegm-y and I keep clearing it. Took some Robitussin and used my inhaler but it's not really giving any relief thus far. So annoying.

Basically when will this shit go away, lol.

Me too! And my sleep is just terrible, which leaves me feeling wiped out all the time. Sometimes I can go a whole day with no symptoms. Yesterday it was so bad I could barely talk at times. I've done a few repeat rapid tests since I am seeing my dad this weekend and they all come back negative. I don't get it.

I'm sorry! That totally sucks I've also had a lot of headaches, forgot to mention that.

Hopefully we both stop having random symptoms soon!

[Velar Fricative]

Sept 21, 2022 17:08:38 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

I'm on Day 5 and I just lost taste/smell. You guys, I'm freaking out.

Oh no! That happened to me in day 4 when I had covid in June. It was jarring and awful because that was also the day I turned a corner from almost all my other symptoms. Plus no one else I knew who was getting covid around that time or even a bit later lost their taste and smell, so that was frustrating. They both came back about a week and a half later - I tested positive for 14 straight days and the day I tested negative was the day my smell and taste came back. I hope yours doesn’t last as long!

[georgeglass]

Sept 21, 2022 17:37:58 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Sept 21, 2022 17:08:38 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

I'm on Day 5 and I just lost taste/smell. You guys, I'm freaking out.

Oh no! That happened to me in day 4 when I had covid in June. It was jarring and awful because that was also the day I turned a corner from almost all my other symptoms. Plus no one else I knew who was getting covid around that time or even a bit later lost their taste and smell, so that was frustrating. They both came back about a week and a half later - I tested positive for 14 straight days and the day I tested negative was the day my smell and taste came back. I hope yours doesn’t last as long!

Thanks! I needed that. I'm the same in that I now feel almost entirely better but realized I couldn't taste or smell. I took a test today to see how I was trending and the line was so dark it looked like I drew it with a sharpie. 14 days wouldn't surprise me. Fingers crossed that taste and smell come back!!!

[StrawberryBlondie]

Sept 21, 2022 17:08:38 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

I'm on Day 5 and I just lost taste/smell. You guys, I'm freaking out.

My husband lost his when he was sick in July and literally just started getting it back this week.

Not saying this to freak you out more... Just to prepare you for what might come.

[madDawg228]

I had my booster and flu shot yesterday, and it's the most mild reaction since my 1st shot of the initial series of vaccine.

Covid random - how are your doctors/pharmacies recording your vaccinations as your Covid-card fills up?

I have two cards - I got a card for Pfizer shot #1 and another for shot #2, because I got those as a mass vaccination site and it was easier for them to have partially filled out cards ready rather than filling out everyone's card with vaxx info. And this has lead to all my boosters being on my 2nd card, and nothing else on my 1st card because they want to use "the most recent card". My 2nd card is all filled up, and I'm wondering what will happen with the next booster.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 23, 2022 10:05:22 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I had my booster and flu shot yesterday, and it's the most mild reaction since my 1st shot of the initial series of vaccine.

Covid random - how are your doctors/pharmacies recording your vaccinations as your Covid-card fills up?

I have two cards - I got a card for Pfizer shot #1 and another for shot #2, because I got those as a mass vaccination site and it was easier for them to have partially filled out cards ready rather than filling out everyone's card with vaxx info. And this has lead to all my boosters being on my 2nd card, and nothing else on my 1st card because they want to use "the most recent card". My 2nd card is all filled up, and I'm wondering what will happen with the next booster.

The card situation is super chaotic. I have all 5 of my current doses on my first vaccine card, but it includes 1 on the back (2nd booster) and my first booster is squished reeeeeally small at the bottom, and my 3rd/bivalent booster is like in the middle of some other doses at the top. It looks ridiculous and pretty not-legit and gives me anxiety.

[seeyalater52]

CDC very quietly at the end of the day today dropped the requirement to mask in medical settings. It is now “recommended” to mask when community transmission levels are high. Worth noting that the transmission map is the “old version” of the map where the entire county is high. The CDC usually references the less useful community levels map, which they appear to have invented for the sole purpose of making covid look less bad, so I assume very few people will be making decisions about continued masking requirements in medical settings using the correct data.

This is pretty frustrating for vulnerable people who need to be able to seek medical care safely and also for healthcare workers who are already feeling the effects of a 2.5 year and counting pandemic, workforce shortages, and may now be dealing with an even worse revolving door of coworker illnesses that impact things like ability to take PTO, over-scheduling, and being expected to work while covid+.

So far they haven’t actually announced the change so there isn’t an article to reference but here is a tweet discussing it:

[seeyalater52]

Here’s a thread that includes screenshots of the updated policy:

[curbsideprophet]

The CDC changes are worse than I thought. I thought masks were still required in health care settings when transmission was high. Did not realize it was only recommended. They really don’t care if people die.

[fernweh]

Sept 23, 2022 10:05:22 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I had my booster and flu shot yesterday, and it's the most mild reaction since my 1st shot of the initial series of vaccine.

Covid random - how are your doctors/pharmacies recording your vaccinations as your Covid-card fills up?

I have two cards - I got a card for Pfizer shot #1 and another for shot #2, because I got those as a mass vaccination site and it was easier for them to have partially filled out cards ready rather than filling out everyone's card with vaxx info. And this has lead to all my boosters being on my 2nd card, and nothing else on my 1st card because they want to use "the most recent card". My 2nd card is all filled up, and I'm wondering what will happen with the next booster.

As of right now I’m on my 2nd card. I laminated my 1st after my initial series plus they used giant stickers that took up the whole card so I would have needed another anyway. I just keep them bother together in a pouch and will add any future cards as well.
This is only an assumption on my part but I think that some point the cards will go away since it’s going to be an annual shot. I don’t get cards for my flu vaccine so assume covid will be the same once it becomes just a routine vaccine.

[mrsukyankee]

seeyalater52, our mask mandate in medical situations has been gone since May. Very few GPs/hospitals require masks and you rarely even see them on GPs or other docs/nurses. It's insane.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 24, 2022 14:10:50 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

seeyalater52, our mask mandate in medical situations has been gone since May. Very few GPs/hospitals require masks and you rarely even see them on GPs or other docs/nurses. It's insane.

Just another day in the sustained effort to collapse the NHS.

[hellomarriedlife]

Sept 24, 2022 10:11:50 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Sept 23, 2022 10:05:22 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I had my booster and flu shot yesterday, and it's the most mild reaction since my 1st shot of the initial series of vaccine.

Covid random - how are your doctors/pharmacies recording your vaccinations as your Covid-card fills up?

I have two cards - I got a card for Pfizer shot #1 and another for shot #2, because I got those as a mass vaccination site and it was easier for them to have partially filled out cards ready rather than filling out everyone's card with vaxx info. And this has lead to all my boosters being on my 2nd card, and nothing else on my 1st card because they want to use "the most recent card". My 2nd card is all filled up, and I'm wondering what will happen with the next booster.

As of right now I’m on my 2nd card. I laminated my 1st after my initial series plus they used giant stickers that took up the whole card so I would have needed another anyway. I just keep them bother together in a pouch and will add any future cards as well.
This is only an assumption on my part but I think that some point the cards will go away since it’s going to be an annual shot. I don’t get cards for my flu vaccine so assume covid will be the same once it becomes just a routine vaccine.

I am on my second card because I went to a mass vaccination site that used giant stickers. I keep them together in a zip lock baggie. 

[mrsukyankee]

seeyalater52, liking in agreement, not liking the collapse of the NHS. Bah!

[Bad Dingo]

www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-raises-risk-long-term-brain-injury-large-us-study-finds-2022-09-22/?utm_source=TA&utm_medium=fbtraffic&utm_campaign=23852158219900654&utm_content=23852158219910654&utm_term=23852158219920654&fbclid=IwAR0PNPXRJqiPt7Toq-zTebkGbp7ue-Ij6P92_H9jhfmZOAe1fYOHKqgrMxo

But it's just like a cold! /sarcasm

[TR]

Got my Covid booster + flu shot yesterday around 5:30pm. So far just two slightly sore arms when I lift them, but no other side effects yet 🤞🏻

[shauni27]

Sept 24, 2022 14:10:50 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

seeyalater52 , our mask mandate in medical situations has been gone since May. Very few GPs/hospitals require masks and you rarely even see them on GPs or other docs/nurses. It's insane.

PDQ

We are starting to have these conversations at my medical center as well; we are trying to be aligned with the CDC as much as possible, but the most we are willing to do at this point is recommend masking in all settings, but only require it in patient rooms and clinical settings, public areas are optional.*

If you are unvaccinated (for flu as well) you must remain masked at all times.

[imimahoney]

Saw my MIL on Sunday for Rosh Hashanah dinner and she tested positive this morning. She got it from my aunt who got it from her visiting nurse (my aunt just had knee surgery).

I am crazy stuffy but it may be allergies? My eyes are sooo itchy. It's only been 2 days since exposure which is probably too early to test (right?).

[carmenere]

Did anyone have lingering sinus issues/secondary sinus infection after covid? I have some diagnosed sinus issues including polyps and a small cyst. Overall I feel pretty good since recovering from covid a couple weeks ago but I'm having crazy sinus pressure like I've never felt before, plus a constant phantom smell of smoke. Dr. Google tells me it could be caused by anything from the polyps to a covid-related fungal infection to a brain tumor...

[chickadee77]

Maybe a weird question, and possibly premature. My H is a numbers guy and has been following the Johns Hopkins dashboard throughout the pandemic, and actually doing a pretty decent amateur job of predicting surges and relief periods. However, he mentioned that the numbers have remained static for a few days (unusual), and when he goes into the individual state data, many states don't have updated data and are simply marked, "stopped reporting as of x/x/xx."

So, I guess my questions are 1. Is this a thing? Like, "covid is over!" so everyone just stopped reporting? That seems . . . unwise. And 2. Is this data still being tracked somewhere else? Or are we just on our own to guess if there's a wave starting/tapering off through anecdotal evidence?

[charlatti]

carmenere, I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’m 2.5 weeks past my day 1 and feel pretty much normal, but I have a lingering cough that I expected and a runny nose with sinus pressure that I didn’t expect. I don’t know if it’s normal fall allergies or still Covid working its way out.

[charlatti]

Dup post

[seeyalater52]

Sept 27, 2022 11:13:57 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

Maybe a weird question, and possibly premature. My H is a numbers guy and has been following the Johns Hopkins dashboard throughout the pandemic, and actually doing a pretty decent amateur job of predicting surges and relief periods. However, he mentioned that the numbers have remained static for a few days (unusual), and when he goes into the individual state data, many states don't have updated data and are simply marked, "stopped reporting as of x/x/xx."

So, I guess my questions are 1. Is this a thing? Like, "covid is over!" so everyone just stopped reporting? That seems . . . unwise. And 2. Is this data still being tracked somewhere else? Or are we just on our own to guess if there's a wave starting/tapering off through anecdotal evidence?

Yes, many states have completely stopped recording and reporting cases. It’s extremely concerning and short-sighted, although to be fair estimates of cases from reported tests is orders of magnitude smaller (like 1/10th according to some estimates) of the true positives because of people testing at home vs with official PCR test results. Only a handful of states even have a mechanism to report a home rapid positive and even those that do obviously lots of propped don’t report.

I suggest looking at wastewater case rates for a more accurate measure, but the limitation there is that some areas don’t have wastewater tracking for covid, or at least don’t publicize it. www.cdc.gov/healthywater/surveillance/wastewater-surveillance/wastewater-surveillance.html

The CDC’s transmission and community levels maps are also up to date, and transmission remains incredibly high nearly everywhere in the country: covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&data-type=Risk

The community levels map is more useful if you’re thinking about the hospital capacity and what might happen if you or a loved one needs medical care as a result of a covid infection. Transmission levels are much more useful if you’re looking to try to guide your own behaviors around avoid covid infection, including whether to mask (and individual masking and hospital masking recommendations are both meant to correspond to the transmission levels map.)

I find in general that the total case #s may not be that helpful, but that tracking % change increases from week to week provide at least a loose guide about the direction cases are trending. In many parts of the US, cases are still higher than they’ve been throughout much of 2020 and 2021. Obviously vaccines, especially now with updated boosters, make covid less dangerous from an acute infection perspective (most vaccinated people are less likely to be hospitalized or die of covid), but if you are trying to avoid infection/reinfection to avoid the compounding effects of multiple infections as well as the risk of developing long covid, issues with brain, vascular, and other bodily systems that appear to be significantly impacted even by less acute infections it is useful to try to get a sense of relative dangers of getting infected in your specific community.

[devonpow]

Sept 27, 2022 11:13:57 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

Maybe a weird question, and possibly premature. My H is a numbers guy and has been following the Johns Hopkins dashboard throughout the pandemic, and actually doing a pretty decent amateur job of predicting surges and relief periods. However, he mentioned that the numbers have remained static for a few days (unusual), and when he goes into the individual state data, many states don't have updated data and are simply marked, "stopped reporting as of x/x/xx."

So, I guess my questions are 1. Is this a thing? Like, "covid is over!" so everyone just stopped reporting? That seems . . . unwise. And 2. Is this data still being tracked somewhere else? Or are we just on our own to guess if there's a wave starting/tapering off through anecdotal evidence?

I know here in MA they still report weekly (cases, hospitalizations, deaths) but the case numbers are way off. Home tests just aren’t reported (I didn’t report when I had it!). I also check the wastewater data for my area to get a better sense.

[lpcats]

Sept 27, 2022 10:00:41 GMT -5 carmenere said:

Did anyone have lingering sinus issues/secondary sinus infection after covid? I have some diagnosed sinus issues including polyps and a small cyst. Overall I feel pretty good since recovering from covid a couple weeks ago but I'm having crazy sinus pressure like I've never felt before, plus a constant phantom smell of smoke. Dr. Google tells me it could be caused by anything from the polyps to a covid-related fungal infection to a brain tumor...

I'm pretty sure I developed a mild sinus infection after covid.  I had sinus pressure and pain even after all my other symptoms were gone.  From what I understand, any nasal congestion can turn into a sinus infection because it allows bacteria to accumulate and grow in the sinuses.

[Velar Fricative]

Sept 27, 2022 10:00:41 GMT -5 carmenere said:

Did anyone have lingering sinus issues/secondary sinus infection after covid? I have some diagnosed sinus issues including polyps and a small cyst. Overall I feel pretty good since recovering from covid a couple weeks ago but I'm having crazy sinus pressure like I've never felt before, plus a constant phantom smell of smoke. Dr. Google tells me it could be caused by anything from the polyps to a covid-related fungal infection to a brain tumor...

When I couldn’t shake my nasally voice from having covid after two weeks, I went to my doc and she diagnosed me with sinusitis. I went on antibiotics and was good as new pretty quickly after I started.

[heat40]

Sept 27, 2022 10:00:41 GMT -5 carmenere said:

Did anyone have lingering sinus issues/secondary sinus infection after covid? I have some diagnosed sinus issues including polyps and a small cyst. Overall I feel pretty good since recovering from covid a couple weeks ago but I'm having crazy sinus pressure like I've never felt before, plus a constant phantom smell of smoke. Dr. Google tells me it could be caused by anything from the polyps to a covid-related fungal infection to a brain tumor...

yes. I've never had sinus issues before, but after covid I had the worst sinus congestion. I would sit still, and immediately stuff up. It became incredibly painful every time I would go some place with a/c or just anywhere inside. if I walked around, especially outside (I live in miami so warm weather), it would get better. but my face/ear/jaw were in constant pain. I had covid end of April, and I had continuous sinus issues through July. I am now 100% better and haven't had any problems since. very weird.

[Bad Dingo]

Here's a great thread on swabbing correctly from Dr. Eric Ding (epidemiologist).

[aurora]

carmenere, H also had some lingering sinus and inner ear pressure for weeks after having COVID at the end of July. He eventually saw a doctor who prescribed some drops that helped clear it up.

[gretchenindisguise]

Sept 28, 2022 8:37:19 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Here's a great thread on swabbing correctly from Dr. Eric Ding (epidemiologist).

I mean this makes sense to me, but that's now what the instructions tell you to do -so that's a bit frustrating.