New Year Covid

[mccallister84]

Jan 16, 2023 22:44:43 GMT -5 babsbunny said:

Hey all, I need some help. DH has felt bad for 7 days now and is not getting better. I'm trying to talk him into going to the doc tomorrow. His concerns are (1) they'll want to first do a pcr test and won't do anything until the results come back in 3 days, and (2) they won't be able to give him anything to help him feel better or get better faster.

He's had a low (99.5) fever for a week and bad coughing for 4-5 days. He doesn't sound too congested. 3 negative rapid tests.

What might the doc do for him?

H had a bad virus that lingered for weeks. He saw the doctor twice. I don’t think either time they did a PCR, they took a negative rapid as good enough when he told them he had also tested negative at home. They tested for flu the first time and strept the second time. They of course listened to his lungs and did a full exam. Ultimately it was determined to be viral and he was told to wait it out, but it was still worth the visit in case it had been a sinus infection or pneumonia.

[wanderingback]

Jan 16, 2023 22:44:43 GMT -5 babsbunny said:

Hey all, I need some help. DH has felt bad for 7 days now and is not getting better. I'm trying to talk him into going to the doc tomorrow. His concerns are (1) they'll want to first do a pcr test and won't do anything until the results come back in 3 days, and (2) they won't be able to give him anything to help him feel better or get better faster.

He's had a low (99.5) fever for a week and bad coughing for 4-5 days. He doesn't sound too congested. 3 negative rapid tests.

What might the doc do for him?

FYI 99.5 isn’t a fever. The doctor should take a history, do an exam (likely listen to heart and lungs) and then decide what to do from there. Could test for the flu, could recommend over the counter stuff, could order an X-ray, etc. It’s really hard to say exactly what the doctor will do.

Fwiw, if I had those symptoms and the cough was only going on for 4-5 days I personally wouldn’t go to the doctor either.

[NewOrleans]

Billionaires getting what we’ve been asking for. 🙃

Here's an extensive list of all the COVID protection measures the World Economic Forum is taking. It includes access dependent on PCR testing, masking, HEPA filtration, ventilation, UV and more.

www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2023/01/20/world-economic-forum-is-taking-all-these-covid-19-precautions-at-davos/amp/

[nothingcontroversial]

Some local medical experts split on benefits of yearly covid shot.


Federal health officials want to simplify covid-19 vaccinations and make the procedure similar to an annual flu shot. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday floated the idea of allowing most adults and children to get a yearly shot to protect against the mutating virus.

Local medical experts had mixed reactions to the proposal.

Pittsburgh-based infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, cautions against a “one size fits all” approach.

“I think it’s unclear what the goal is with (yearly) covid vaccinations — prevention of infection or prevention of severe disease — because for low-risk people, they really don’t benefit in terms of reduction of severe disease with additional boosters,” Adalja said. “They may not need to be boosted once yearly or even at all.”

Adalja said someone who has had a bone marrow transplant, for example, may need more frequent boosting than someone who suffers from isolated hypertension.

[sillygoosegirl]

I wish that when the courts took away the CDC's ability to require masks on transit, the CDC would have started an ad campaign to let people know that masks on transit are still needed. I wish they were mandated, but most people don't seem to realize that the mandate went away because a judge ruled the CDC didn't have that authority, NOT because the CDC thought masks were no longer necessary on transit. When I got COVID, it was from a family member who *thinks* he always follows CDC recommendations, and he got it flying maskless on an airplane. I know, I know, this is hardly the only place the CDC screwed up it's messaging during the pandemic, but one of the ones that felt the most stupid to me.

[estrellita]

I'll probably test today because we're supposed to see my 90yo grandma tomorrow but if it's negative, we've somehow avoided covid STILL, this time even after a week at WDW. I'm not complaining, but how??? Is it the vaccines? Was I just asymptomatic and had no idea? Were tests wrong? So weird. I wish there was a way to know if I've EVER had it and just didn't know.

[Bad Dingo]

Jan 27, 2023 11:45:24 GMT -5 estrellita said:

I'll probably test today because we're supposed to see my 90yo grandma tomorrow but if it's negative, we've somehow avoided covid STILL, this time even after a week at WDW. I'm not complaining, but how??? Is it the vaccines? Was I just asymptomatic and had no idea? Were tests wrong? So weird. I wish there was a way to know if I've EVER had it and just didn't know.

If you really want to know you can probably self order a test: www.labcorp.com/tests/164068/sars-cov-2-antibodies-nucleocapsid

[estrellita]

Jan 27, 2023 12:26:27 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Jan 27, 2023 11:45:24 GMT -5 estrellita said:

I'll probably test today because we're supposed to see my 90yo grandma tomorrow but if it's negative, we've somehow avoided covid STILL, this time even after a week at WDW. I'm not complaining, but how??? Is it the vaccines? Was I just asymptomatic and had no idea? Were tests wrong? So weird. I wish there was a way to know if I've EVER had it and just didn't know.

If you really want to know you can probably self order a test: www.labcorp.com/tests/164068/sars-cov-2-antibodies-nucleocapsid

I've heard of the antibody tests, but those only really work for a limited time right? I'll keep this in mind though if I'm ever doubting test results!

[wawa]

Jan 27, 2023 11:45:24 GMT -5 estrellita said:

I'll probably test today because we're supposed to see my 90yo grandma tomorrow but if it's negative, we've somehow avoided covid STILL, this time even after a week at WDW. I'm not complaining, but how??? Is it the vaccines? Was I just asymptomatic and had no idea? Were tests wrong? So weird. I wish there was a way to know if I've EVER had it and just didn't know.

this is me. The people I live with have gotten it THREE TIMES now, (four? are we up to four??  just got over our last round!) and I have yet to test positive any of those times. 
The fact that i have reflux and multiple allergies so I wake up with a sore throat whenever I'm stressed and have a stuffy nose like...always...make it really really hard to pinpoint any mild symptom onset, but I've never had any thing that felt like the one-day symptoms I had when vaxxed.

I feel like I MUST have had it at least one of those rounds.  we theorize that maybe I was the asymptomatic carrier that gave it to the people I live with.  But we caught all their cases with the same tests and testing protocol I use on myself and nothing.

I've started joking that I should be studied for science.  

[estrellita]

Jan 27, 2023 14:25:45 GMT -5 wawa said:

Jan 27, 2023 11:45:24 GMT -5 estrellita said:

I'll probably test today because we're supposed to see my 90yo grandma tomorrow but if it's negative, we've somehow avoided covid STILL, this time even after a week at WDW. I'm not complaining, but how??? Is it the vaccines? Was I just asymptomatic and had no idea? Were tests wrong? So weird. I wish there was a way to know if I've EVER had it and just didn't know.

this is me. The people I live with have gotten it THREE TIMES now, (four? are we up to four??  just got over our last round!) and I have yet to test positive any of those times. 
The fact that i have reflux and multiple allergies so I wake up with a sore throat whenever I'm stressed and have a stuffy nose like...always...make it really really hard to pinpoint any mild symptom onset, but I've never had any thing that felt like the one-day symptoms I had when vaxxed.

I feel like I MUST have had it at least one of those rounds.  we theorize that maybe I was the asymptomatic carrier that gave it to the people I live with.  But we caught all their cases with the same tests and testing protocol I use on myself and nothing.

I've started joking that I should be studied for science.  

No one in my household has gotten it either that we know of. I'm not sure which is weirder! Lol. My mom has had it twice, my sister once, and my dad never tested positive (although we feel like he probably had it). We were around them and tested later that week. Nothing. I'm also like you, I tend to get mild sore throats and a bit of stuffiness due to allergies. We had one instance a year ago where we all had fevers and I was constantly dizzy. It sucked. But no positive covid tests. I assume it was flu, but we didn't test for anything else.

It would be super interesting if we really never have gotten it and had something in particular that's causing that. I'd love to know, although it's probably near impossible to determine that, especially with a small sample size 😂

[rubytue]

Another one bites the dust…

So, the is the third cruise I’ve taken since they declared a pandemic (and one a few weeks before in 2020). I was well aware of the risks going in. and was even telling coworkers I was at best tentative for events early next week. But, I also was thinking is a shorter cruise and I’m not even out of town for a week. I figured I’d get home before anything happened.

But a big fat nope on that. Instead, I’m sitting in a quarrentine interior cabin, missing the last two days. And luckily they gave me free WiFi because I had to change my flights and book a hotel because I will be following CDC guidelines and not flying for 5 days. Which, most of my travel group thinks is weird. Hello people, that’s why Covid is not over!

On the plus note, I got travel insurance in case of this, so my $1200 😫 bill for a PCR (rapids were neg) and antivirals will be reimbursed. I did not check that post cruise quarrentine was covered so I’m on the hook for that.

So let me tell you about the shipboard medical doctor. I asked for antivirals. He said there isn’t anything but supportive care. I said no, plaxlovoid. He gave me a blank look. I started getting very annoyed and insisted that the cruise line advertises that the latest antivirals are well stocked on all ships. So he went to ask someone and came back with them. But seriously, hello?! It’s 2023 we have treatment. What the fuck are you doing on a ship treating Covid passengers.

Also, the antivirals are awesome. Fever is gone already. Just a stuffy nose now.

[abs]

rubytue I’m so sorry! That is a huge bummer. I’m glad you are feeling ok.

[wanderingback]

macmars45 please @ your post or move it to the @ covid post

[rubytue]

So I left my ship today and have been released into the wild. When they called me last night with instructions for today, after she explained getting off the ship, I commented “and then I’m not your problem anymore and can do whatever?” Pretty much. 😂

I can’t really wrap my head around what I’m doing. But, I didn’t have my choice. So, I had to Uber from the port, and check into a hotel. I wore the best mask I have (I travel with a stack of NIOSH n95, and a handful of KF94s), rolled the window down in the Uber. And didn’t talk much. And then I have to deal with a hotel. But, I’m not on a plane. So that’s good.

Also, as I was being escorted off, I met me two other plague buddies. At least that’s what we called ourselves. They had the same day of onset and similar progression. But, I had never seen them before. Maybe I’ll go through the bazillion pictures and see if they were in the background of any shots.

[macmars45]

Jan 27, 2023 21:33:19 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

macmars45 please @ your post or move it to the @ covid post

I'm so sorry! I deleted it. I thought I was posting in the @ covid post.

[wanderingback]

rubytue hope you’re feeling better and hope rearranging travel plans isn’t too huge of a hassle!

[erbear]

Jan 27, 2023 11:45:24 GMT -5 estrellita said:

I'll probably test today because we're supposed to see my 90yo grandma tomorrow but if it's negative, we've somehow avoided covid STILL, this time even after a week at WDW. I'm not complaining, but how??? Is it the vaccines? Was I just asymptomatic and had no idea? Were tests wrong? So weird. I wish there was a way to know if I've EVER had it and just didn't know.

This is me too. My whole family had covid while we were sharing a hotel room. All of my colleagues have had it and most of the others in my building (school). Multiple very close contacts. I can only assume I've had it and was asymptomatic -- nothing else makes sense.

[estrellita]

Well, H and I have both tested since we've been back and both negative. I thought for sure I'd bring it back! 2 airports, 2 full flights, 5 days at WDW parks.. how?? It boggles my mind.

[beerlover]

rubytue, sorry about your experience trying to get Paxlovid. I would be so freaking annoyed.

An acquaintance that H works with here had Covid last week and tried to get Paxlovid. I am not sure if he didn't have a regular PCP or if they wouldn't give it to him, but he went into urgent care, sweating and shivering and coughing, and then told him that they would not prescribe it because it's not FDA approved and doesn't work anyway. Wut.

[rubytue]

Jan 28, 2023 11:21:08 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

rubytue hope you’re feeling better and hope rearranging travel plans isn’t too huge of a hassle!

Thank you. Luckily, work is understanding. It’s been easy enough to change, minus the unplanned $500 in hotels. Mostly though, I’m just cranky about this whole situation. I want to be home. I was to be in my own bed. I want my H to get things for me. And I would like to be someplace where they don’t stare at me wearing a mask. Because, it’s Florida.

And I’m sorry, I’m alone and just have my phone to text. So, I’m just continuing my thoughts. I’m also so flipping annoyed that most scrutiny has been running around without a mask for so long. I still wear mine in stores. In the office. Etc. so, I took this trip and wanted to be like everyone else again. So yeah, after the airport, that was it for the mask. And apparently it. Chatting with my plague buddies at disembarkment this morning, I decided we got it during boarding. So like, the first time in 3 years I’ve been in a large room with people and no mask. I’ve done two other cruises during Covid, but masks, eating in the room, avoided indoor crowds, etc. but, just try once and bam!

[nothingcontroversial]

I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea last spring, and I started using a CPAP in late June.

I am recovering from Covid right now. This is the first Upper Respiratory Infection that I've had since starting CPAP. The advice that I got on the internet about using CPAP while having a URI is to use the CPAP "when you can." There were a few nights when I wanted to rip the CPAP face mask off my face because I was so uncomfortable wearing a CPAP mask while coughing, but I took the advice to keep using the CPAP when I could. (I have to wear a full face mask for CPAP because I'm a mouth breather.)

Obviously, being vaxed and boosted was the best thing that I did for myself ahead of time in order to prepare myself for getting Covid. However, I really feel as if using CPAP was another beneficial tool in preparing my body to fight Covid. I am so glad that when my PCP referred me for a sleep study last year to see if I had Sleep Apnea, that I agreed to do the in-lab sleep test (polysommography) and to start using the CPAP. I think that my body is still recovering from years of sleep deprivation from undiagnosed Sleep Apnea, but also that the past 7 months of CPAP use have helped my overall health. 

Now I have to go and clean the face mask and tube, soak the water chamber in vinegar, etc. 

Edit: So in summary, even with its shortcomings, I am super grateful about modern medicine right now. Grateful for the vaccinations, but also grateful for the existence of CPAP. CPAP was tested for the first time in 1980, so its relatively recent. I am grateful that I have the resources to benefit from it. 

[NewOrleans]

www.statnews.com/2023/01/25/updated-covid-19-booster-still-providing-strong-protection-against-newer-variants-cdc-study-finds/

Two new studies published Wednesday report good news about the updated Covid-19 vaccine, with one suggesting it is more effective than the previous monovalent vaccine and the other showing that even though it targeted an earlier strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its protection is holding up against current variants.

The findings suggest the updated vaccine, which targets both the original SARS-2 virus and the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, is performing better than some critics of the decision to update the vaccine concluded, based on studies that only compared the levels of neutralizing antibodies each induced.

[NewOrleans]

Jan 26, 2023 14:28:13 GMT -5 nothingcontroversial said:

Some local medical experts split on benefits of yearly covid shot.


Federal health officials want to simplify covid-19 vaccinations and make the procedure similar to an annual flu shot. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday floated the idea of allowing most adults and children to get a yearly shot to protect against the mutating virus.

Local medical experts had mixed reactions to the proposal.

Pittsburgh-based infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, cautions against a “one size fits all” approach.

“I think it’s unclear what the goal is with (yearly) covid vaccinations — prevention of infection or prevention of severe disease — because for low-risk people, they really don’t benefit in terms of reduction of severe disease with additional boosters,” Adalja said. “They may not need to be boosted once yearly or even at all.”

Adalja said someone who has had a bone marrow transplant, for example, may need more frequent boosting than someone who suffers from isolated hypertension.

This doctor doesn’t seem concerned whatsoever about said people with transplants or other medically compromised people.  So, business as usual.  

His position also doesn’t match the studies I just posted.

[seeyalater52]

Jan 29, 2023 14:58:07 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Jan 26, 2023 14:28:13 GMT -5 nothingcontroversial said:

Some local medical experts split on benefits of yearly covid shot.


Federal health officials want to simplify covid-19 vaccinations and make the procedure similar to an annual flu shot. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday floated the idea of allowing most adults and children to get a yearly shot to protect against the mutating virus.

Local medical experts had mixed reactions to the proposal.

Pittsburgh-based infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, cautions against a “one size fits all” approach.

“I think it’s unclear what the goal is with (yearly) covid vaccinations — prevention of infection or prevention of severe disease — because for low-risk people, they really don’t benefit in terms of reduction of severe disease with additional boosters,” Adalja said. “They may not need to be boosted once yearly or even at all.”

Adalja said someone who has had a bone marrow transplant, for example, may need more frequent boosting than someone who suffers from isolated hypertension.

This doctor doesn’t seem concerned whatsoever about said people with transplants or other medically compromised people.  So, business as usual.  

His position also doesn’t match the studies I just posted.

Yeah I found that take fascinating and actually kind of funny given that pretty much all the critique from experts in virology I’ve seen center around the fact that the current vaccines don’t provide lasting immunity and that covid is mutating extremely quickly with everything “back to normal” (not) so a yearly vaccine is likely to be insufficient, especially for anyone who is (rightfully) concerned about the impact of covid infection/multiple reinfections.

[rubytue]

So, today is Day 5. Technically not after day 5. Negative test this morning. N95 in place. And I’m going home. Paxlovid is awesome!

Also, it appears this cruise was a super spreader event. Not surprised. But the FB group is full of people testing positive or feeling crappy with all the signs but a negative. So far, roughly half my friend group is positive.

[NewOrleans]

Jan 30, 2023 5:42:30 GMT -5 rubytue said:

So, today is Day 5. Technically not after day 5. Negative test this morning. N95 in place. And I’m going home. Paxlovid is awesome!

Also, it appears this cruise was a super spreader event. Not surprised. But the FB group is full of people testing positive or feeling crappy with all the signs but a negative. So far, roughly half my friend group is positive.

Ugh. What ship? 😟

I’m glad you’re better. Follow up with your doctors!!

[sillygoosegirl]

Jan 29, 2023 14:54:18 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

www.statnews.com/2023/01/25/updated-covid-19-booster-still-providing-strong-protection-against-newer-variants-cdc-study-finds/

Two new studies published Wednesday report good news about the updated Covid-19 vaccine, with one suggesting it is more effective than the previous monovalent vaccine and the other showing that even though it targeted an earlier strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its protection is holding up against current variants.

The findings suggest the updated vaccine, which targets both the original SARS-2 virus and the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, is performing better than some critics of the decision to update the vaccine concluded, based on studies that only compared the levels of neutralizing antibodies each induced.

Isn't access to doses still based on the CDC recommendations though? I thought the government still controlled all the doses and was only allowing them to be given following the CDC recommendations, so doctors had their hands tied and can't give additional doses to at risk patients until the CDC guidelines say they can. Did that change?

[seeyalater52]

Jan 30, 2023 7:24:54 GMT -5 sillygoosegirl said:

Jan 29, 2023 14:54:18 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

www.statnews.com/2023/01/25/updated-covid-19-booster-still-providing-strong-protection-against-newer-variants-cdc-study-finds/

Two new studies published Wednesday report good news about the updated Covid-19 vaccine, with one suggesting it is more effective than the previous monovalent vaccine and the other showing that even though it targeted an earlier strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its protection is holding up against current variants.

The findings suggest the updated vaccine, which targets both the original SARS-2 virus and the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, is performing better than some critics of the decision to update the vaccine concluded, based on studies that only compared the levels of neutralizing antibodies each induced.

Isn't access to doses still based on the CDC recommendations though? I thought the government still controlled all the doses and was only allowing them to be given following the CDC recommendations, so doctors had their hands tied and can't give additional doses to at risk patients until the CDC guidelines say they can. Did that change?

It has not changed. They did recently have a VRBPAC meeting and the CDC’s ACIP is likely to meet to discuss changes to recommendations but it isn’t exactly clear what those would/will be.

[waverly]

I had to wait a year in between anyway because no boosters were approved. It's a little different for other age groups (50+ etc.), or people who had delayed their shots. But I tried to make all my doses ASAP after approval, so it was October 2021 for my last booster and then approval for the bivalent came Sept 2022.

[icedcoffee]

Aww sorry rubytue. My covid in December was from a cruise too. We knew the risks when we booked, but it still stunk. Glad you're on the mend!