October Covid (possible @ content)

[tacokick]

The price of the lifesaving Covid-19 antiviral medication Paxlovid will more than double as the United States transitions out of the emergency phase of the pandemic, drugmaker Pfizer said Wednesday.

The list price, before insurance, will be $1,390 for a five-day course, Pfizer said in a statement. That’s 2.6 times higher than the $530-per-course price paid by the US government, which provided Paxlovid free to patients during the pandemic. The Wall Street Journal first reported the new price.

www.cnn.com/2023/10/18/health/pfizer-paxlovid-price/index.html

[sonrisa]

Oct 22, 2023 17:49:19 GMT -5 lynn07 said:

We have COVID in the house for the first time (as far as we know). DH tested positive today. No one else has symptoms so far, but I guess we’ll see. We all have gotten the newest shot within the last 4 weeks. Anyone taken Paxlovid lately? Trying to decide if DH should ask if he can get it, although he’s not high risk.

By now you know how it's progressing for him. For me, it was absolutely the thing that kept me out of the hospital because my breathing deteriorated so much. When I called in to ask about it, I sounded so bad (needing to stop, etc.) that the advice nurse wouldn't let me off the line unless I had another adult around who could drive me to the hospital if necessary. They layered Paxlovid with two other drugs to get me back on track.

If he is unable to do low key, normal things I'd consider it. 

[lynn07]

Oct 25, 2023 8:55:27 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Oct 22, 2023 17:49:19 GMT -5 lynn07 said:

We have COVID in the house for the first time (as far as we know). DH tested positive today. No one else has symptoms so far, but I guess we’ll see. We all have gotten the newest shot within the last 4 weeks. Anyone taken Paxlovid lately? Trying to decide if DH should ask if he can get it, although he’s not high risk.

By now you know how it's progressing for him. For me, it was absolutely the thing that kept me out of the hospital because my breathing deteriorated so much. When I called in to ask about it, I sounded so bad (needing to stop, etc.) that the advice nurse wouldn't let me off the line unless I had another adult around who could drive me to the hospital if necessary. They layered Paxlovid with two other drugs to get me back on track.

If he is unable to do low key, normal things I'd consider it. 

Thanks for the input! The worst it got was like a really bad cold, but he did go ahead and get it, and it seemed to help within 12hrs of taking it. I tested positive yesterday and went ahead and got a script as well. So far it’s mild, but I’m high risk because of being overweight + history of asthma, so it seemed like I should just take it.

[wanderingback]

Well my partner finally got an appointment for the vaccine. He had one awhile back when it first came out, but they called to cancel cause he ran out. Since then all appointments have been booked out for several weeks. Well he's going to our other house in a different city tomorrow and both cvs and walgreens had tons of appointments available, so he got one.


@@@@@

Our pediatrician office emailed saying they've fully switched to moderna and you can schedule at a vaccine clinic. But they don't have the covid vaccine at all locations! And our location wasn't one of them (5 min walk from our apartment). So instead of waiting for her well visit in about 2 weeks I had to schedule at a different location (thankfully it's still walkable, about 45 min). We were able to get an appointment for next week, my partner is going to pick her up early from daycare. 

So with all these scheduling woes my partner was like does this government want another pandemic?!?
It really did feel like trying to get vaccinations back in early 2021.

[pixy0stix]

My husband just tested positive. Sigh... He was the last one in our house not vaccinated with this year's shot.

[ssmjlm]

I think this booster is messing with my previous lack of a cycle since my ablation.

I had a day of spotting and now I have cramps. WTF. If this messes with my beautiful period free life post ablation I will not be happy.

[Scout'sHonor]

Not covid, but mine is home with strep today. I thought she'd be ok to go back tomorrow since she'll have then 12 hrs of antibiotics, but the drs note says 2 days.

[underwaterrhymes]

Ughhh. @@@

My oldest and I both have COVID. I think H does too because he has symptoms but is still testing negative. We will obviously test everyone again tomorrow. I just had it in July. 😢

[abs]

Nov 5, 2023 10:54:05 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Ughhh. @@@

My oldest and I both have COVID. I think H does too because he has symptoms but is still testing negative. We will obviously test everyone again tomorrow. I just had it in July. 😢

Ohhhh no. I’m so sorry!! It’s going around here like crazy. Again. We all had it in July so I thought we were safe but maybe not. Stupid Covid. I hope you feel better soon and that it will at least be more mild this time.

[wanderingback]

Nov 5, 2023 10:54:05 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Ughhh. @@@

My oldest and I both have COVID. I think H does too because he has symptoms but is still testing negative. We will obviously test everyone again tomorrow. I just had it in July. 😢

Aww I’m sorry your sick, that sucks.

A friend had a super spreader wedding 6 weeks ago (no judgement, that’s what she caught it cause lots of people got covid). She just told us that 2 of the family members that had Covid at the wedding have it again now. It’s no fun being sick!

When I had Covid for first time in Jan I gave myself exactly 1 month of "freedom" and went out to eat with friends and to a couple of events. But after that I was back on lockdown, masking and only eating outside since we had a newborn. I know you can get it again rather quickly and being sick back to back is no fun

I Hope you feel better soon!

[underwaterrhymes]

abs and wanderingback - thank you. ❤️ I’m mostly just tired and congested right now. I sent an email to my doctor requesting a Paxlovid prescription. It’s really helped me when I’ve taken it before.

[msmerymac]

My H and I both got our updated vaccine on 10/9 (Pfizer).

@@@

My daughter was able to get it after me obsessively calling our peds office last week. They said they would update us on when they have another round of doses for her, since this was her first one (Moderna).

[TR]

Nov 5, 2023 10:54:05 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Ughhh. @@@

My oldest and I both have COVID. I think H does too because he has symptoms but is still testing negative. We will obviously test everyone again tomorrow. I just had it in July. 😢

That sucks! My friend had it in August and then again a few weeks ago. And the second time hit her really hard.

[underwaterrhymes]

I’m beginning to think we had faulty tests since they were super faint and had a January expiration date on the box. (I know they’ve extended the expiration dates for tests and we just got these in the latest round of free tests.)

@@

Anyway, my oldest and I tested again yesterday and today and they were negative both times.

I’m very tired, but I’m not sleeping well right now due to high stress levels with everything happening with my sister, so that could explain that. K hasn’t had any symptoms since the first day we tested when he was coughing in the AM (but since he has allergies, he coughs a lot). And H always has allergies and continues to test negative.

We kept him home yesterday to be safe, but since he has no symptoms today and we have 48 hours of negative tests he’s going today.

I guess the other explanation could be we both had it, had no symptoms, and we caught a faint positive on the tail end?

[beerlover]

I'm going to finally take DS (7) to Walmart Friday when he's off school and get him his Covid vaccine. He flips out about shots and started sobbing when I told him about it, but seems OK after I told him he could get a small toy and McDonalds after, lol. I had been putting this off a little because not many places here offer it to kids but it's time.

[noodleoo]

@@@
underwaterrhymes, we had a similar situation last year where DD2 got a light (but clear) positive on a rapid Covid test. We had her tested later with a PCR at the doctor and it was negative and all subsequent rapid tests were negative. We kept her out of daycare as if it was a real positive (rules were strict), but I still wonder if it was a false positive or not. It was so stressful and ruined a lot of plans and we almost canceled a vacation over it.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Not covid, but DD had a cold over a month ago and can't shake a cough. She's otherwise fine. She has seasonal allergies so that definitely contributes but it's frustrating that there's basically nothing we can do.

Yes, I've called the pediatrician. They're unconcerned at this point.

[kitty]

Nov 7, 2023 8:53:03 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I’m beginning to think we had faulty tests since they were super faint and had a January expiration date on the box. (I know they’ve extended the expiration dates for tests and we just got these in the latest round of free tests.)

@@

Anyway, my oldest and I tested again yesterday and today and they were negative both times.

I’m very tired, but I’m not sleeping well right now due to high stress levels with everything happening with my sister, so that could explain that. K hasn’t had any symptoms since the first day we tested when he was coughing in the AM (but since he has allergies, he coughs a lot). And H always has allergies and continues to test negative.

We kept him home yesterday to be safe, but since he has no symptoms today and we have 48 hours of negative tests he’s going today.

I guess the other explanation could be we both had it, had no symptoms, and we caught a faint positive on the tail end?

What was the brand? Someone I know had what she is assuming were false positives from her latest round of free tests that were a brand she had never seen before (Celltrion DiaTrust).
@@@ She tested two of her kids with these and said there was a super faint grayish line that she could see by eye but wouldn’t show in a photograph. She retested them with iHealth tests and took them to the pedi to get tested there (later the same day) and all of the retests were negative for both kids.

[fluffycookie]

Nov 7, 2023 13:40:37 GMT -5 kitty said:

Nov 7, 2023 8:53:03 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I’m beginning to think we had faulty tests since they were super faint and had a January expiration date on the box. (I know they’ve extended the expiration dates for tests and we just got these in the latest round of free tests.)

@@

Anyway, my oldest and I tested again yesterday and today and they were negative both times.

I’m very tired, but I’m not sleeping well right now due to high stress levels with everything happening with my sister, so that could explain that. K hasn’t had any symptoms since the first day we tested when he was coughing in the AM (but since he has allergies, he coughs a lot). And H always has allergies and continues to test negative.

We kept him home yesterday to be safe, but since he has no symptoms today and we have 48 hours of negative tests he’s going today.

I guess the other explanation could be we both had it, had no symptoms, and we caught a faint positive on the tail end?

What was the brand? Someone I know had what she is assuming were false positives from her latest round of free tests that were a brand she had never seen before (Celltrion DiaTrust). She tested two of her kids with these and said there was a super faint grayish line that she could see by eye but wouldn’t show in a photograph. She retested them with iHealth tests and took them to the pedi to get tested there (later the same day) and all of the retests were negative for both kids.

I have a friend who just had the same issue with this brand. Very faint line, ihealth and PCR were both negative.  She tossed them.

[underwaterrhymes]

Nov 7, 2023 13:40:37 GMT -5 kitty said:

Nov 7, 2023 8:53:03 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I’m beginning to think we had faulty tests since they were super faint and had a January expiration date on the box. (I know they’ve extended the expiration dates for tests and we just got these in the latest round of free tests.)

@@

Anyway, my oldest and I tested again yesterday and today and they were negative both times.

I’m very tired, but I’m not sleeping well right now due to high stress levels with everything happening with my sister, so that could explain that. K hasn’t had any symptoms since the first day we tested when he was coughing in the AM (but since he has allergies, he coughs a lot). And H always has allergies and continues to test negative.

We kept him home yesterday to be safe, but since he has no symptoms today and we have 48 hours of negative tests he’s going today.

I guess the other explanation could be we both had it, had no symptoms, and we caught a faint positive on the tail end?

What was the brand? Someone I know had what she is assuming were false positives from her latest round of free tests that were a brand she had never seen before (Celltrion DiaTrust). She tested two of her kids with these and said there was a super faint grayish line that she could see by eye but wouldn’t show in a photograph. She retested them with iHealth tests and took them to the pedi to get tested there (later the same day) and all of the retests were negative for both kids.

YES! They were these same ones and the lines were grayish and visible by eye but not in a picture. (Well, extremely faintly in one pic, but not in both.)

@@
Also, I noticed after the fact that these shouldn’t be used in kids under 14. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[kitty]

Nov 7, 2023 13:55:58 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Nov 7, 2023 13:40:37 GMT -5 kitty said:

What was the brand? Someone I know had what she is assuming were false positives from her latest round of free tests that were a brand she had never seen before (Celltrion DiaTrust). She tested two of her kids with these and said there was a super faint grayish line that she could see by eye but wouldn’t show in a photograph. She retested them with iHealth tests and took them to the pedi to get tested there (later the same day) and all of the retests were negative for both kids.

YES! They were these same ones and the lines were grayish and visible by eye but not in a picture. (Well, extremely faintly in one pic, but not in both.)

@@
Also, I noticed after the fact that these shouldn’t be used in kids under 14. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Ugh! Hopefully there’s a way to report these to the FDA. I ordered my free tests about a week and a half ago and was paranoid I was going to receive the same ones but breathed a sigh of relief when I opened up the envelope and saw the Binax ones!!

[karinothing]

I want to make sure everyone knows that you may be able.to get free test via your insurance. My insurance (bcbs) covers 4 tests per insured member so 16 free tests total for my family. The walgreens let me pick whatever tests I wanted.

[chickadee77]

Nov 7, 2023 22:51:50 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I want to make sure everyone knows that you may be able.to get free test via your insurance. My insurance (bcbs) covers 4 tests per insured member so 16 free tests total for my family. The walgreens let me pick whatever tests I wanted.

Must depend on your type of coverage, because I also have BCBS and there's zero coverage for home tests 😞

[karinothing]

Nov 8, 2023 9:47:50 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

Nov 7, 2023 22:51:50 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I want to make sure everyone knows that you may be able.to get free test via your insurance. My insurance (bcbs) covers 4 tests per insured member so 16 free tests total for my family. The walgreens let me pick whatever tests I wanted.

Must depend on your type of coverage, because I also have BCBS and there's zero coverage for home tests 😞

oh no! That is frustrating. I have the one for federal employees so maybe that is why they still cover it. 

[pumpkin]

Nov 8, 2023 10:24:38 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Nov 8, 2023 9:47:50 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

Must depend on your type of coverage, because I also have BCBS and there's zero coverage for home tests 😞

oh no! That is frustrating. I have the one for federal employees so maybe that is why they still cover it. 

karinothing, how did you find out about this? I’m a fed with BCBS and should figure this out.

[meowmaps]

Nov 7, 2023 10:43:24 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Not covid, but DD had a cold over a month ago and can't shake a cough. She's otherwise fine. She has seasonal allergies so that definitely contributes but it's frustrating that there's basically nothing we can do.

Yes, I've called the pediatrician. They're unconcerned at this point.

We all have RSV right now and the cough is very phlegmy and persistent. I administer two spoonfuls of honey before bed and in the morning before leaving the house. Maybe worth giving a try?

[karinothing]

Nov 9, 2023 2:32:54 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Nov 8, 2023 10:24:38 GMT -5 karinothing said:

oh no! That is frustrating. I have the one for federal employees so maybe that is why they still cover it. 

karinothing , how did you find out about this? I’m a fed with BCBS and should figure this out.

So it was a mandatory thing for insurance companies up until May of this year, I think. Then it became voluntary. Anyway, I just went to Walgreens and asked if my insurance covered at home tests still. They said yes and told me to grab four boxes. Then they fill it like a RX. 

[StrawberryBlondie]

Nov 9, 2023 7:07:18 GMT -5 meowmaps said:

Nov 7, 2023 10:43:24 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Not covid, but DD had a cold over a month ago and can't shake a cough. She's otherwise fine. She has seasonal allergies so that definitely contributes but it's frustrating that there's basically nothing we can do.

Yes, I've called the pediatrician. They're unconcerned at this point.

We all have RSV right now and the cough is very phlegmy and persistent. I administer two spoonfuls of honey before bed and in the morning before leaving the house. Maybe worth giving a try?

This is a super dry cough so different circumstances, but might not hurt.

[chickadee77]

Nov 9, 2023 7:35:12 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Nov 9, 2023 2:32:54 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

karinothing , how did you find out about this? I’m a fed with BCBS and should figure this out.

So it was a mandatory thing for insurance companies up until May of this year, I think. Then it became voluntary. Anyway, I just went to Walgreens and asked if my insurance covered at home tests still. They said yes and told me to grab four boxes. Then they fill it like a RX. 

Again, it depends. I called the insurance company in March, I think (I know it was prior to April) and was told that since covid was no longer considered an (emergency? I forget what their wording was), tests were no longer covered, and hadn't been for several months.

Insurance is so freaking frustrating. Policies aren't even the same within the same flippin' company.

[karinothing]

Nov 9, 2023 10:52:57 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

Nov 9, 2023 7:35:12 GMT -5 karinothing said:

So it was a mandatory thing for insurance companies up until May of this year, I think. Then it became voluntary. Anyway, I just went to Walgreens and asked if my insurance covered at home tests still. They said yes and told me to grab four boxes. Then they fill it like a RX. 

Again, it depends. I called the insurance company in March, I think (I know it was prior to April) and was told that since covid was no longer considered an (emergency? I forget what their wording was), tests were no longer covered, and hadn't been for several months.

Insurance is so freaking frustrating. Policies aren't even the same within the same flippin' company.

Hmm. Do you have Fed BCBS Basic or STD? I have basic if that matters. I never spoke to the insurance company, i just asked Walgreens. Maybe go check with your pharmacy and see what they say. My neighbor just got hers covered as well!