COVID-19

[NDRock]

Thanks for sharing NDRock and all the best to your family, friends and co-workers. I have been pretty surprised at the number of positives for healthy people in their 40-50's. They are all in great shape and recovered well with little side effects... so far. Teachers and Health Care workers seemed to be the common denominator.

Cheers and Go Irish!!

Thanks man. Yeah, wife’s a teacher and I’m a firefighter so we’ve both seen a lot of it. Luckily it’s been fairly benign for those we know. One guy at work lost his grandfather to it. He fit the typical profile, 80+ and a few health issues.

I will say, this thing really is super contagious. My buddy had his family in for Thanksgiving for two days. All 9 got sick. His dad is in the hospital, doing ok (in his 70’s). Seems like the whole household gets it when someone brings it home. Has spread quickly at work as well.

 

[TorontoGold]

A few posters in this forum tested positive. Can/would you supply some real-time information on your symptoms and/or condition?

I don't want to out anyone but an approximate age and any pre-existing conditions might be useful.

I've had several friends that tested positive or were exposed and they went through isolation like champs. They are all in great physical condition so that may have been a variable.

Relatively speaking, we are getting hit pretty hard in Alberta. Surprised, because by my very limited observations, everyone is wearing masks, distancing and sanitizing.

Cheers and Go Irish!!

Was treated as a presumptive positive since my test came back negative but had chills/fever/no taste or smell/delirious. Had an antibody test come back showing i had the antibodies.

Was a terrible ride for a week but being in my late 20s it felt like a week long hangover.

 

[NorthDakota]

One of my buddies had it in August and still can't taste or smell. Says he can tell the difference between salts and sweets. Says eating is basically a chore now since there is no enjoyment...probably good for him, he's about 150 pounds overweight

 

[Greenore]

Was treated as a presumptive positive since my test came back negative but had chills/fever/no taste or smell/delirious. Had an antibody test come back showing i had the antibodies.

Was a terrible ride for a week but being in my late 20s it felt like a week long hangover.

Glad to hear you are on the upswing. Late 50's here... the hangovers last much longer!!

Cheers and Go Irish!!

 

[BilboBaggins]

A few posters in this forum tested positive. Can/would you supply some real-time information on your symptoms and/or condition?

I don't want to out anyone but an approximate age and any pre-existing conditions might be useful.

I've had several friends that tested positive or were exposed and they went through isolation like champs. They are all in great physical condition so that may have been a variable.

Relatively speaking, we are getting hit pretty hard in Alberta. Surprised, because by my very limited observations, everyone is wearing masks, distancing and sanitizing.

Cheers and Go Irish!!

I tested positive in November and was cleared to rejoin society November 23. I lost my smell and taste but never had my oxygen go below 97% and never had a cough or fever.

Then last week I started getting an uneasy feeling in my chest and noticed my resting heart rate is pretty high (if I so much as stand up it does to 100-110). So now I'm getting blood work done to see if there's inflammation in my heart of if its an electrical issue. Also getting a Holter monitor on Thursday. They're assuming this is covid related as lots of people post-covid had have weird long term side effects.

I'm 31 and a pretty healthy guy.

 

[TorontoGold]

Glad to hear you are on the upswing. Late 50's here... the hangovers last much longer!!

Cheers and Go Irish!!

Thanks man. You're breathing in the fresh mountain air and living in the laid back part of Canada! (lord knows I'm wound up)

 

[Rogue219]

My brother in law has Covid. Pretty harsh symptoms too.

Wife and I stayed home for Thanksgiving. They were all pretty pissed at us about it. We still have not gotten Covid yet, though, so I guess they can't really blame us for fucking up Christmas. (Which my 88 yr old grandmother says will be the last one ever?)

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

I tested positive in November and was cleared to rejoin society November 23. I lost my smell and taste but never had my oxygen go below 97% and never had a cough or fever.

Then last week I started getting an uneasy feeling in my chest and noticed my resting heart rate is pretty high (if I so much as stand up it does to 100-110). So now I'm getting blood work done to see if there's inflammation in my heart of if its an electrical issue. Also getting a Holter monitor on Thursday. They're assuming this is covid related as lots of people post-covid had have weird long term side effects.

I'm 31 and a pretty healthy guy.

Resting Heart rate in the 100's? holy cow. Mine is normally 55-60 bpm.

 

[NDRock]

Getting the vaccine this afternoon. Anyone else get theirs yet?

 

[Legacy]

Two family members with close contact with Covid patients in the ER and the hospital have. The smiles are priceless.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Congratulations. What a blessing.

Here in Michigan there is a number floated out there of the number of doses allocated so far --- something like 85,000. These, I believe, are all targeted for health care workers --- AS THEY SHOULD BE (although I am an 80 year old, I completely understand and salute this.) Since this vaccine requires TWO doses per person, that is only 40,000+ people.

To "cover" essential health care workers and the vulnerable elderly in Michigan (the elderly being the smaller of the number), the State would need about 1.4 million doses for the 600-700 thousand or so persons in those categories (don't trust my math or sources exactly, but I tried to harvest this from official sites and do simple math from that.) Regardless of the accuracy of the estimates that I'm presenting, the bottomline should be that we are WAY below the amounts needed to cover the essential health workers and the vulnerable old folks.

As I remain in my retirement home bubble (we did have one "crack" in that last week --- our first case of an independent living COVID positive test --- now, hopefully, successfully isolated) I am "happy" to do my Good Neighbor and Citizen role and tough it out for a while more until we can too get the vaccine. I'm assuming that for us that will still be a couple of months. (Despite The Mighty Pfizer being right here in town with [according to their own statements] large quantities of the vaccine warehouse-ready to ship.)

 

[Legacy]

The story of mRNA: How a once-dismissed idea became a leading technology in the Covid vaccine race

 

[SonofOahu]

Was treated as a presumptive positive since my test came back negative but had chills/fever/no taste or smell/delirious. Had an antibody test come back showing i had the antibodies.

Was a terrible ride for a week but being in my late 20s it felt like a week long hangover.

For some reason I have always thought that you were in your 50s. Maybe it's the avatar.

 

[SonofOahu]

Congratulations. What a blessing.

Here in Michigan there is a number floated out there of the number of doses allocated so far --- something like 85,000. These, I believe, are all targeted for health care workers --- AS THEY SHOULD BE (although I am an 80 year old, I completely understand and salute this.) Since this vaccine requires TWO doses per person, that is only 40,000+ people.

To "cover" essential health care workers and the vulnerable elderly in Michigan (the elderly being the smaller of the number), the State would need about 1.4 million doses for the 600-700 thousand or so persons in those categories (don't trust my math or sources exactly, but I tried to harvest this from official sites and do simple math from that.) Regardless of the accuracy of the estimates that I'm presenting, the bottomline should be that we are WAY below the amounts needed to cover the essential health workers and the vulnerable old folks.

As I remain in my retirement home bubble (we did have one "crack" in that last week --- our first case of an independent living COVID positive test --- now, hopefully, successfully isolated) I am "happy" to do my Good Neighbor and Citizen role and tough it out for a while more until we can too get the vaccine. I'm assuming that for us that will still be a couple of months. (Despite The Mighty Pfizer being right here in town with [according to their own statements] large quantities of the vaccine warehouse-ready to ship.)

I think you guys are getting the Moderna vaccine. Hospitals are getting Pfizer because they're harder to store correctly. CVS/Walgreens has the Moderna contract, and they're distributing to the post-acute sector and the general community.

Then again, maybe that's only in Hawaii.

 

[TorontoGold]

For some reason I have always thought that you were in your 50s. Maybe it's the avatar.

People in their 50's have thicker skin then I do lol.

Seems like all my health care worker friends have either got the first shot or scheduled to get it this week. Crazy logistical feat going on.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Daughter #2, who's an RN and has been on the front lines dealing with all this in an area where there are a LOT of cases, finally tested positive yesterday. So far she's feeling no worse than if she had a mild cold. Her husband and their two kids seem fine so far. At least she'll get a break from work.

 

[NorthDakota]

People in their 50's have thicker skin then I do lol.

Seems like all my health care worker friends have either got the first shot or scheduled to get it this week. Crazy logistical feat going on.

Than* learn to spell you backwoods Canuck lol

 

[notredomer23]

Got tested this morning and was negative. My girlfriend’s parents both tested positive yesterday and I was with them the day they started exhibiting symptoms. GF was negative. They both feel fine now, but now that they feel better their taste is gone. So strange.

 

[Legacy]

The Place Hit Hardest by the Virus
(NY Times)

The coronavirus has disfigured Gallup, a small New Mexico town near Native American reservations, that is now one of the hardest hit places in the country.

The virus’s spread upended the local economy, which over the years built up around tourism and the railroad and heavy industry.

Hospitals in Gallup are nearly full. Most stores are empty. The unemployment rate in the county where the city sits is one and a half times the national average. Earlier this month, it had the most cases per capita of any metro area in the United States, according to a New York Times database.

As the pandemic has steadily marched across the country in recent months, places like Gallup have been among the hardest hit.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Daughter #2, who's an RN and has been on the front lines dealing with all this in an area where there are a LOT of cases, finally tested positive yesterday. So far she's feeling no worse than if she had a mild cold. Her husband and their two kids seem fine so far. At least she'll get a break from work.

sorry to hear that. prayers go out to her and her family. hopefully she will be up and hale in the near future

 

[IrishRazor82]

I had it, my wife did too. It was less than a cold for each of us but my taste has not fully come back on Chicken or eggs. Very random but everything else tastes normal.

 

[NDRock]

Got the Moderna shot last week. Felt pretty bad for half a day and my arm was very sore. Worse than any other shot I’ve previously gotten.

Sadly, my friend’s dad is doing very poorly. Been on a vent for over a week. Caught the virus while visiting my friend for Thanksgiving. Not looking good for him. Hope everyone stays healthy.

 

[Valpodoc85]

I was chipped by Pfizer last week. No I’ll effects, just a bit sore at the injection site. The process was efficient and remarkably upbeat. Just goes to show how ragged healthcare is right now.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

They are starting the Moderna with us this week. Have to take a pass on the first round, I’ve got a nasty case of bronchitis going on right now and don’t want to take anything when I’m not at full health. I’ll report back with anything that may arise with the guys getting first batch.

 

[Irish#1]

I had it, my wife did too. It was less than a cold for each of us but my taste has not fully come back on Chicken or eggs. Very random but everything else tastes normal.

I'll be interested to see which taste comes back first, the chicken or the egg?

 

[Irish2155]

Damn - two of my internal employees tested COVD positive over the weekend and our Columbus, IN branch is pretty much shut down right now because everyone is sick.

 

[notredomer23]

I know more people now than ever that are positive. Thankfully no one has serious symptoms, but I know some that were with elderly family members at Christmas so fingers crossed but I suspect that number to grow in the coming days.

 

[IrishLion]

A few posters in this forum tested positive. Can/would you supply some real-time information on your symptoms and/or condition?

The week I got Covid:

Monday - woke up with congestion and sinus-related issues
Tuesday - congestion becomes runny nose, sinuses already doing better, very mild cough
Wednesday - runny nose, mildest cough ever, starting to lose sense of taste and smell
Thursday - runny nose, cough already gone, completely lose sense of taste and smell (on Thanksgiving, dammit!)
Friday - runny nose, no taste or smell
Saturday - no taste or smell
Sunday - no taste or smell
Monday 2 - get taste and smell back, mostly
Tuesday 2 - symptom free

One of my buddies had it in August and still can't taste or smell. Says he can tell the difference between salts and sweets. Says eating is basically a chore now since there is no enjoyment...probably good for him, he's about 150 pounds overweight

This is the weirdest part, for me. Not being able to taste or smell is already strange, but then it's like your body teases you by giving you hits here and there of 'salty' or 'sweet' or 'savory,' depending on what it is. It's like the virus attacks very specific taste buds for intricate flavors, but the general sense of salty/sweet/savory/umami remains.

When my wife made Thanksgiving dinner, I could taste the saltiness of the potatoes and the gravy, and could taste the oil on the butter... but couldn't taste the actual turkey, bread, stuffing, veggies, etc.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Yow. I REALLY hope that this DAMM thing is affecting only the "external" taste/smell receptors on the surfaces of the tongue-nose etc. That would seem fairly non-threatening in the longer run. Hopefully this nasty piece of biochemistry doesn't get "inside" and go after the Olfactory bulb in the brain (I used to teach some brain chemistry and "geography".) If it doesn't (and that's what the "Blood/Brain Barrier" is for) there is lots of hope that the damages are self-repairable.

God Bless You with full recovery health.

 

[Legacy]

Good to hear about your recovery, Lion. There is a small number of patients who are developing psychotic symptoms post-Covid. Just saying.

Anyone have an idea of how many hospital-acquired infections (non-Covid) incidences in hospitalized patients especially with the nurse-patient ratios increasing due to the surge, PPE availability and inability to obtain traveling nurses?