Coronavirus Tales

I just wear a mask when I'm out in enclosed areas with the public. Stores, whatever. KN95. No one's called me on it yet but then we are in deep violet liberal land. Thankfully.

Another one bites the dust.
I went to a wedding in Seattle. Got covid as a thank you. I tested negative with 2 home tests. Symptoms got worse so I went to urgent care. The pcr test came back positive.
So far a annoying cough and fatigue/achiness that can be mitigated enough by ibuprofen.

Starting kid in part time preschool this week. It's a mostly outdoor thing so should be safe but I'm still expecting her and all of us to get sick this month. If not covid something else

The fatigue and aches should not be understated. I've heard talk of things that turn your body into a prison. This is that. Even with ibuprofen it only takes it down to the level of being chained in the courtyard when it hits.

I moved back home a few months ago. Tuesday morning, my mom tested positive, then Thursday, my dad did. I have been an absolute dick about social distancing and masking, but I am still not symptomatic, and the two tests I have taken are negative.

My dad is the worst - it's like he just doesn't remember that he should be more careful. When I call him on it, he either ignores or downplays it. They're technically in a higher risk age group than me, but I suspect my personal health is generally worse than theirs, and they have gotten the second booster, whereas I have not (technically still don't qualify).

I have been careful and diligent - masking in public, minimizing going out unless necessary, etc. Meanwhile they're going to church functions, eating at restaurants, etc. all without masking. I have made it this whole pandemic without catching it.

I dread the rebound once they finish their paxlovid courses. I have had my finger on the trigger for getting a hotel room for the past several days now. I just don't get the complete lack of respect.

I've come to believe that their are stages of COVID like their are stages of grief:
Disbelief - Now, after all this time? After all the other near misses?
Fear - I can't believe I actually have it. I could have permanent damage or die!
Regret - I shouldn't have had alcohol. I should have worn my mask more. I should have spent even more time outdoors. It doesn't take much effort to remain distanced, even with social pressure.

And now I can't help but picture everyone I came in contact with. I mean, it is as transmissible as the measles. They'd have to have caught it from me. And then took it home and spread it to their loved ones.

fangblackbone wrote:

I've come to believe that their are stages of COVID like their are stages of grief:
Disbelief - Now, after all this time? After all the other near misses?
Fear - I can't believe I actually have it. I could have permanent damage or die!
Regret - I shouldn't have had alcohol. I should have worn my mask more. I should have spent even more time outdoors. It doesn't take much effort to remain distanced, even with social pressure.

You're definitely on to something. I've gone through these stages since testing positive Thursday night. For me, the regret was, I should have gotten that second booster I kept saying I was going to get.

As some of you know, my Mom was taken by Covid in February of this year. When my symptoms started, I knew in my gut it was Covid. I've had some emotional response as some people have underplayed the significance of getting it now, some people in my realm have even told me I probably don't actually have it ... well, I have it, and it killed my Mom, so STFU, actually.

My symptoms were mild by most standards, but I still felt like crap, the lung congestion and coughing worried me the most, and I had the bonus gastro response, which was equally horrible and meant I haven't really eaten for about 5 days ... but I'm just about back to feeling normal.

My county in KY is in the red again, this virus is still everywhere and can still do harm. Stay safe everyone.

Ah KY. Where my parents went to see a movie today and sent me a picture 11 days before they are supposed to come visit.

At least it was a matinee and looked empty. But WTF movie is worth the risk in late August?

Stele wrote:

Starting kid in part time preschool this week. It's a mostly outdoor thing so should be safe but I'm still expecting her and all of us to get sick this month. If not covid something else

Oh yeah, get ready for at least one cold a month this winter. When our daughter started preschool it was crazy, seemed like as soon as she got over one runny nose she just rolled right into the next one.

LeapingGnome wrote:
Stele wrote:

Starting kid in part time preschool this week. It's a mostly outdoor thing so should be safe but I'm still expecting her and all of us to get sick this month. If not covid something else

Oh yeah, get ready for at least one cold a month this winter. When our daughter started preschool it was crazy, seemed like as soon as she got over one runny nose she just rolled right into the next one.

With two in school we call it "NNS: Never Not Sick."

Mixolyde wrote:
LeapingGnome wrote:
Stele wrote:

Starting kid in part time preschool this week. It's a mostly outdoor thing so should be safe but I'm still expecting her and all of us to get sick this month. If not covid something else

Oh yeah, get ready for at least one cold a month this winter. When our daughter started preschool it was crazy, seemed like as soon as she got over one runny nose she just rolled right into the next one.

With two in school we call it "NNS: Never Not Sick."

For the past few years, I've really looked forward to the 1-2 days a month I feel like a healthy human being.
(Two kids under 6)

Speaking of which, wife and kids went to her parents for a few weeks. Corona struck almost immediately after the flight and tore through the house. Luckily, nobody was in any danger, but everyone felt horrible for 1-4 days each.
Since nobody was sick at the same time as anyone else, coupled with quarantine times and rain every.single.day, just over 5 weeks of vacation boiled down to just over 5 days of actually doing something.

I'm feeling better. Yesterday it sort of felt like my worsening symptoms came to almost a complete halt.
I think Paxlovid is working its magic for sure but it could be the disease running its course. I've heard it both ways where you have a few bad days and then feel at least human again. And then there are the ones who are bed ridden for weeks to a month.

There are now a few things to fight: you feel better so your instincts are to go do things like run errands but you can't.
And even when you are resting and recouping but the door buzzes... Nope don't do that. Talk to people through the door and if its a delivery leave it at the door and walk away fast :O

AUs_TBirD wrote:
Mixolyde wrote:
LeapingGnome wrote:
Stele wrote:

Starting kid in part time preschool this week. It's a mostly outdoor thing so should be safe but I'm still expecting her and all of us to get sick this month. If not covid something else

Oh yeah, get ready for at least one cold a month this winter. When our daughter started preschool it was crazy, seemed like as soon as she got over one runny nose she just rolled right into the next one.

With two in school we call it "NNS: Never Not Sick."

For the past few years, I've really looked forward to the 1-2 days a month I feel like a healthy human being.
(Two kids under 6)

Speaking of which, wife and kids went to her parents for a few weeks. Corona struck almost immediately after the flight and tore through the house. Luckily, nobody was in any danger, but everyone felt horrible for 1-4 days each.
Since nobody was sick at the same time as anyone else, coupled with quarantine times and rain every.single.day, just over 5 weeks of vacation boiled down to just over 5 days of actually doing something.

Only two of us in our house of 4 got it when it came through our house (me, then the youngest kid), but it still added up to a whole month of summer vacation for the kids being lost. We'd never of known she even had it if we hadn't been testing to see if anyone caught it from me after my test finally came back negative, she was completely asymptomatic the whole time.

Mom finished up her course of paxlovid, dad should be finishing his today. I haven't heard either one of them cough for a while, although they are both still testing positive. I remain masked and demand masks on them. I'm happy that the weather is at least decent right now, I can go sit on the back deck at the picnic table to eat. I tested again this morning and I'm still negative.

fangblackbone wrote:

I'm feeling better. Yesterday it sort of felt like my worsening symptoms came to almost a complete halt.
I think Paxlovid is working its magic for sure but it could be the disease running its course. I've heard it both ways where you have a few bad days and then feel at least human again. And then there are the ones who are bed ridden for weeks to a month.

This was my experience with Paxlovid too. 2 days in I started to feel normal. I didn't have really bad symptoms, but fever went away and I wasn't nearly as congested.

fangblackbone wrote:

There are now a few things to fight: you feel better so your instincts are to go do things like run errands but you can't.

Even with Paxlovid I think the guidance is quarantine until 10 days after first positive test. You may still test positive (slightly) but by 10 days you won't be spreading it around, especially if you are wearing a mask.

The current recommendation is five days quarantine, and five more limited contacts with masks, Paxlovid or not. Ask me how I know...

Got the all new Omicron booster on Friday. I wondered if the symptoms might be more mild than last time since it would be less familiar to my immune system. But no, the fever cooked me to a nice medium rare on Saturday.

Sorry to hear that

Good to know. The second shot and the first booster did a number on me so I probably need to have the next day off when I get the newest one. My work has ordered them but we're probably not going to get them until 2-3 weeks from now.

On a positive note, I may have dodged the covid bullet after going on my Seattle trip. Took a test last Wednesday before I got on the plane and yesterday too since I went back to work today. Both were negative and I have no symptoms. Wore my KN95 masks out in public so that must of helped.

Both of my parents are testing negative now, and I never had symptoms nor tested positive. Got the bivalent booster on Friday. Felt very mildly unpleasant and took a long nap on Saturday, but have otherwise felt fine since then. I think I'm on the other side of this encounter.

I hope my booster symptoms are mild as i got my bivalent today and I have an extremely busy week.

I had zero side effects the night I got the booster, but a fair amount of moderate but manageable fatigue the following afternoon. By far the mildest reaction I've had.

SallyNasty wrote:

I hope my booster symptoms are mild as i got my bivalent today and I have an extremely busy week.

I feel ok at 14 hours since booster, but I had crazy weird dreams and my arm is super sore.

Mild reaction to the bivalent booster (second booster for me) here as well. Since this was the first time receiving Moderna, I was expecting a day of flu like symptoms, but thankfully sore injection site was the only side effect.

We finally got it. My wife tested positive a week ago (Tuesday). We banished her to the spare room and I started daily testing. Tested negative until Saturday.

We've both been vaxxed and boosted (but only once). So far we're doing OK. The wife is tired but able to up and about. I've got sniffles and a cough but don't feel particularly tired. Dayquil and Nyquil seem to be keeping my symptoms manageable.

Fingers-crossed neither of us get any worse and start to see some improvements soon.

Paxlovid is a readily available treatment that worked well for me. After 1-2 days treatment I didn't need medication for the fever, aches and cough.
You just have to ask for a prescription from your PCP or local urgent care.

fangblackbone wrote:

Paxlovid is a readily available treatment that worked well for me. After 1-2 days treatment I didn't need medication for the fever, aches and cough.
You just have to ask for a prescription from your PCP or local urgent care.

There should be test-to-treat site near you that can prescribe and fill it all in one go.

SallyNasty wrote:
SallyNasty wrote:

I hope my booster symptoms are mild as i got my bivalent today and I have an extremely busy week.

I feel ok at 14 hours since booster, but I had crazy weird dreams and my arm is super sore.

At 22 hours since boost I feel pretty rough. Not bad enough to go home from the office, but definitely feeling rough around the edges.

Neither of us are bad enough to need Paxlovid. Also too late for the wife and just about too late for me (treatment is supposed to start with 5 days of symptom onset).

My wife has a headache, I have a cough. Neither are bed ridden or debilitatingly tired. Thankfully!

What seems to be the best medicine is a good nights sleep, good nutrition, and just a little exercise (we both go for a short walk every afternoon). We're taking supplements as advised by our PCP and hope to be past it by the end of the week. I'll keep you posted.

My wife and I really didn't have much at all for side effects compared to prior shots, but my daughter got hit by a truck. Felt like hell, drank some water, puked it back up, was wiped out for most of a day. By far the worst reaction anybody's had.