MaksiSanctum he/him23h ago

From 1/29/2024 detailing my #Covid19 infection and treatment:

I've been contemplating how to post this. I've been studying #Covid19 since the original outbreak as I was getting my degree in Public Health at the time. Knowing the damage it can cause, I have gone to great lengths to protect myself, family , and patients.
But like I've always taught, the weakest link is not usually in ourselves, it's in others. A family member unintentionally brought the virus home.
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We immediately isolated all household members, but I still caught it while, thankfully, my wife did not. I plan on documenting the progress here.
1st we isolated the carrier when they tested positive. Assigned their own bathroom and given a HEPA filtration system to help keep the virus in that room. The carrier could only leave the room wearing an N95.
Despite this, we had already been exposed and I tested positive 2 days later.
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While 2 of us obviously have the same variant (likely JN.1), our reactions were very different.
The carrier is younger but is physically in much worse shape due to major medical issues. Despite this, they experienced a sore throat, headaches, was mildly feverish w/body aches,, and some congestion. Despite feeling better, they are still testing positive on day 6 so are still isolating and only out of the room with a mask.
I should note that they are vaccinated and boosted.
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We immediately sought and obtained Paxlovid for the carrier. Unfortunately, due to their medical conditions, they could not tolerate the drug and had to immediately cease using it. If they had not started feeling better the next day, we would have sought other treatment options.
On to me, I contacted the link I previously shared for Paxlovid but it was recommended against because I am on blood thinners due to a genetic condition.
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While 2 of us obviously have the same variant (likely JN.1), our reactions were very different.
The carrier is younger but is physically in much worse shape due to major medical issues. Despite this, they experienced a sore throat, headaches, was mildly feverish w/body aches,, and some congestion. Despite feeling better, they are still testing positive on day 6 so are still isolating and only out of the room with a mask.
I should note that they are vaccinated and boosted.
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We immediately sought and obtained Paxlovid for the carrier. Unfortunately, due to their medical conditions, they could not tolerate the drug and had to immediately cease using it. If they had not started feeling better the next day, we would have sought other treatment options.
On to me, I contacted the link I previously shared for Paxlovid but it was recommended against because I am on blood thinners due to a genetic condition.
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They recommended a Remdesivir infusion, not the alternative oral treatment as the oral treatment isn't as effective. I could try to make an appointment late on a Friday going into the weekend or have a visiting nurse come to my house to administer it on Monday. I was in no condition to drive, and having someone else drive a very infectious me in for treatment would have been irresponsible so I opted for Monday.
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This meant having to ride out the worst of it over the weekend. I was able to isolate in another part of the house and overnighted a HEPA filtration system to use.
Working in medicine, I have plenty of equipment to check progress so since I could do little else, I started charting my progress.
Unlike the carrier, I didn't start with a sore throat; I was lightheaded and had a headache. And then the hot and cold flashes started coming.
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I started with a low-grade fever and slightly elevated blood pressure. The next day the fever was almost gone, but my head was pounding. Later my leg joints started to ache, and my fever started climbing. Then I remembered my case studies where often symptoms became cyclic, most often the fever. The next cycle, however, was hellish as my fever spiked to 101.8 and would hover between there and 100.3. Taking showers to regulate my temp felt good but didn't seem to affect it.
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If I had hit 102, I would have called for an ambulance, luckily that never happened. The most effective medicine that seemed to slightly work was Tylenol.
While the fever raged, congestion came in and a slight cough. I went through 2 boxes of tissues in 2 days.
I noted an elevated heart rate of 90-105 at rest, while I normally have a low heart rate of 45-55. My normal 98% O2 stat is still hovering at 94-95.
I also lost my SENSE OF SMELL.
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#Covid19 #CovidIsNotOver #PublicHealth #WearAMask #GetVaccinated

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4/
Tested covid + again, but for first time the rapid test indicator line was slightly faded. I'm going to tell myself that's because the virus is starting to retreat and that I may test neg soon. Note that when I test, I swab the back of my throat, both cheeks, and then nose.

Still slightly congested with a cough and intermittent headache , but I'm mostly sleeping through the night now (yay!).
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Still testing covid positive. Same basic symptoms EXCEPT:

I've been careful not to exert myself as we know that covid+ patients can do more harm than good by pushing themselves. Needed to do some moderate physical activity for about 1.5 hours. By the end, I was nauseous with a headache because my BP had spiked again. I can only hope this condition is temporary.
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Finally tested negative on rapid test and PCR test backed it up (yay!). I have returned all my things back to the bedroom and santized everything in my office.

Aside from the light, congestion, cough and headache, my diastolic BP is staying around 97 which indicates an increased CV/stroke risk. I'll have to continue daily monitoring.
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Here it is over 3 weeks later, and I'm still dealing with congestion, cough, higher BP, and the resulting headache. My energy level and BP IS slowly returning. I'm back to work but I'm pretty wiped out by the time I get home. I still mask at work and in all public places.

Note that we're still seeing patients getting infected with Covid almost daily, just a regular part of our life in primary care now.
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#Covid19 #CovidIsNotOver #PublicHealth #WearAMask #GetVaccinated

Mar 26 at 5:51pmWeb