Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #103

[CharlestonGal]

Those symptoms came on super quick!!

Right?? I asked the doctor at the hospital (not my doctor) if my immune system was shot or what?? I am FULLY VACCINATED. He basically said nope and something about Omicron replicating 70x faster in the upper respiratory system than Delta and that it overwhelms people quickly. He said based only on my +covid test he could not confirm it was Omicron, but he was personally convinced, based on my presentation, that it was. He gave me his card with his email address and asked me to send my final results to him. He was very sweet actually and if my daughter did not already have a boyfriend I would set her up with him in a heartbeat. He seemed genuinely interested and concerned. Very, very nice young doctor.

 

[Arkay]

Taste and smell are gone. I Door Dashed soup, salad and sandwich from Panera and it all tasted like cardboard. Washed the kitchen and main bathroom down with bleach and didn't smell a thing.

I am certainly relieved for you that you are well enough to still go online and post.

However, even though I am only 5 years older than you, I can't suppress my motherly and grandmotherly urge to say, "put down the cleaning supplies and go rest!"

You have Covid and have had a murderously long day!

I'm inferring you're in South Carolina, which is my time zone as well. It's 9 PM now but I want you to get some sleep!

Sorry. Can't help myself. Jewish mothers, we worry.

 

[CrimeAway]

In other health news:

WHO investigating mysterious illness in South Sudan that has killed nearly 100 people

 

[CharlestonGal]

I am certainly relieved for you that you are well enough to still go online and post.

However, even though I am only 5 years older than you, I can't suppress my motherly and grandmotherly urge to say, "put down the cleaning supplies and go rest!"

You have Covid and have had a murderously long day!

I'm inferring you're in South Carolina, which is my time zone as well. It's 9 PM now but I want you to get some sleep!

Sorry. Can't help myself. Jewish mothers, we worry.

I know. I fed the dogs when I got home, took some more Tylenol, and tried to chill on the couch. But I'm a little OCD and irrational at times and couldn't get over the idea that my kitchen was crawling with germs. I could not rest until I bagged up every single thing I bought yesterday at Harris Teeter, threw it in the garbage can outside, and wiped down my refrigerator and countertops. I know it's irrational and I'm exhausted and sick, but I had to do it. Had to.

I'm on the couch now, tucked under a nice warm electric blanket, but my head hurts too badly to sleep. Sneezing fits every 15 minutes doesn't help. But I am resting now and not moving about anymore. Nor do I plan to any time soon.

Thank you for your motherly concern. It's very sweet.

 

[ilovewings]

I agree! The pressure to pretend we can control what happens during a world wide pandemic just stuns me.

Truth that!!! It is mind bending how so many people think we can
just go on with normal living during a pandemic!!!

 

[anneg]

I know. I fed the dogs when I got home, took some more Tylenol, and tried to chill on the couch. But I'm a little OCD and irrational at times and couldn't get over the idea that my kitchen was crawling with germs. I could not rest until I bagged up every single thing I bought yesterday at Harris Teeter, threw it in the garbage can outside, and wiped down my refrigerator and countertops. I know it's irrational and I'm exhausted and sick, but I had to do it. Had to.

I'm on the couch now, tucked under a nice warm electric blanket, but my head hurts too badly to sleep. Sneezing fits every 15 minutes doesn't help. But I am resting now and not moving about anymore. Nor do I plan to any time soon.

Thank you for your motherly concern. It's very sweet.

I hope that stupid headache goes away stat! Maybe take an ibuprofen along with the Tylenol? (I do that often, take one pill of each.)

 

[anneg]

Home from choir practice and getting caught up here. I did wear an N95 mask and could breathe and sing all right, but the mask bothers me. First it got damp from singing (ugh). It's sort of scratchy on my cheeks and the chin piece keeps sliding upward. I hope the KN95s coming tomorrow will be more comfortable.

Our Christmas Eve service has been revised to make it shorter, but as of tonight, it's still on.

 

[anneg]

I dont know if you saw my post on the grocery thread ( by mistake )
I am a new woman- I walked in with disaster head and walked out
with a lovely style, cut and color--I really feel so much better about
myself with my new look-- hair for a woman is so important!!!!
My stylist asked me how I found that salon so I told her about the website
and how you searched for a salon where the stylists are vaccinated
and wearing masks-- she thought that was great!!!!!

I'm so happy to hear that the salon took good care of you and your hair!

 

[CharlestonGal]

I hope that stupid headache goes away stat! Maybe take an ibuprofen along with the Tylenol? (I do that often, take one pill of each.)

I can't take ibuprofen, unfortunately. Even one or two doses wreaks havoc with my gastro system. And I know better than to take aspirin during a viral infection. So I'm kind of stuck with Tylenol. I have quite a supply of Klonopin which I'm giving some serious side eye to at the moment. I also have Ambien. If I'm not asleep by midnight I will consider one of those options seriously.

But I have dogs to consider, so I can't knock myself out completely no matter how attractive that sounds at the moment. What if there is a house fire? Or a dog gets injured or sick? I'm alone here and need to keep my wits about me somewhat.

I am genuinely miserable at the moment. Highly recommend avoidance if possible. Although I am classified as a mild case, this business is wretched.

 

[ilovewings]

I'm so happy to hear that the salon took good care of you and your hair!

Thank you-I was a bit anxious going to a new place---but it worked out well!!!

 

[ilovewings]

I can't take ibuprofen, unfortunately. Even one or two doses wreaks havoc with my gastro system. And I know better than to take aspirin during a viral infection. So I'm kind of stuck with Tylenol. I have quite a supply of Klonopin which I'm giving some serious side eye to at the moment. I also have Ambien. If I'm not asleep by midnight I will consider one of those options seriously.

But I have dogs to consider, so I can't knock myself out completely no matter how attractive that sounds at the moment. What if there is a house fire? Or a dog gets injured or sick? I'm alone here and need to keep my wits about me somewhat.

I am genuinely miserable at the moment. Highly recommend avoidance if possible. Although I am classified as a mild case, this business is wretched.

It is great that the vaccines prevent more severe illness, but darn it girl, you are
really sick- I feel so badly for you and hope the MABs will belp you
recover more quickly----

 

[ilovewings]

So happy for you!! I finally had my covid hair chopped off about 2 months ago and felt like a brand new woman.

I know the feeling-- I feel like I was taking a risk going to the salon, even if they are vaccinated and masked, but I could not stand my hair the way it was- I had to wear
a wig, it looked so bad! I am sure you felt so much better getting that hair chopped
off!!!!

 

[CharlestonGal]

I just checked my EHR. My antibody test is in. 847 U/mL. Did a search of the literature and antibody response to Moderna is in the range of 3836 U/mL. So either my antibodies waned quickly in 3 months or didn't take well in general. Either way, I did not have enough antibodies to mount an effective defense. That explains a lot.

 

[MimosaMornings]

And for more good news.....

Omicron variant causes Christmas flight cancellations and holiday travel headache

United - 121 flights
Delta - 90 flights

So more people crowded into an already packed airport.

I saw a flight on Delta for tomorrow that was $375 two days ago that is now $1325 - one way.

 

[Turkeytrot]

I can't take ibuprofen, unfortunately. Even one or two doses wreaks havoc with my gastro system. And I know better than to take aspirin during a viral infection. So I'm kind of stuck with Tylenol. I have quite a supply of Klonopin which I'm giving some serious side eye to at the moment. I also have Ambien. If I'm not asleep by midnight I will consider one of those options seriously.

But I have dogs to consider, so I can't knock myself out completely no matter how attractive that sounds at the moment. What if there is a house fire? Or a dog gets injured or sick? I'm alone here and need to keep my wits about me somewhat.

I am genuinely miserable at the moment. Highly recommend avoidance if possible. Although I am classified as a mild case, this business is wretched.

What about Tylenol PM or melatonin? Although those do pretty much knock me out as well. Thinking you might feel much better if you're able to get some decent rest, though.

 

[anneg]

I just checked my EHR. My antibody test is in. 847 U/mL. Did a search of the literature and antibody response to Moderna is in the range of 3836 U/mL. So either my antibodies waned quickly in 3 months or didn't take well in general. Either way, I did not have enough antibodies to mount an effective defense. That explains a lot.

That's interesting... I had my booster the first week of October, wondering how much my antibodies have waned to date.

 

[acutename]

everyday we arrive at work we are required to fill out a form that says we have NO symptoms (fever, headache, fatigue, runny nose, etc- there are 14 listed) and that we have not had recent exposure to a COVID positive person. you are not allowed to enter the building without filling this out. we also are required to wear masks. I go to talk to a coworker and another person- professional, trained, smart, etc., is sneezing and her eyes are watering and she looks awful. So I ask her "are you sick?" She says "I think it is just a cold, but of course I don't know for sure so I am trying to schedule a test."

I stifle the urge to ask her if she lied on her entry questionnaire and the urge to tell her to get the [expletive] out of the building immediately, and I go back to my office. I put another mask on top of my K95 and sanitize my hands. I email her a list of testing locations in the county and suggest to her that she really might have COVID because the omicron symptoms are "like a cold."

how can people be like this? auggghhh. (how does omicron spread? uh, by people not even following the basic precautions?)

 

[CharlestonGal]

I know the feeling-- I feel like I was taking a risk going to the salon, even if they are vaccinated and masked, but I could not stand my hair the way it was- I had to wear
a wig, it looked so bad! I am sure you felt so much better getting that hair chopped
off!!!!

I didn't get to the wig stage, but my hair had grown nearly to my waist and was all kinds of out of control. Like you, I found a salon that was vaccinated and masked. I came out fine. Better than fine. And had no issues with covid. I had mine blunt cut just above the shoulder and daily life became a hundred times better. I spent hours simply detangling and washing all that hair and I'm glad it's gone. I don't color anymore because my natural hair is a beautiful mix of medium brown with heavy silver front pieces and random silver scattered throughout. Women often ask who my colorist is. But it's all natural and a perfect mix on its own. It's a beautiful mix of brown with pure (not yellow) silver highlights. I love it.

 

[CharlestonGal]

What about Tylenol PM or melatonin? Although those do pretty much knock me out as well. Thinking you might feel much better if you're able to get some decent rest, though.

That's a great idea. I don't have Tylenol PM but I do have melatonin. I seem to have a bit of brain fog at the moment, but melatonin is a great idea I hadn't even thought of. Thank you! Will try that first.

 

[MimosaMornings]

everyday we arrive at work we are required to fill out a form that says we have NO symptoms (fever, headache, fatigue, runny nose, etc- there are 14 listed) and that we have not had recent exposure to a COVID positive person. you are not allowed to enter the building without filling this out. we also are required to wear masks. I go to talk to a coworker and another person- professional, trained, smart, etc., is sneezing and her eyes are watering and she looks awful. So I ask her "are you sick?" She says "I think it is just a cold, but of course I don't know for sure so I am trying to schedule a test."

I stifle the urge to ask her if she lied on her entry questionnaire and he urge to tell her to get the [expletive] out of the building immediately, and I go back to my office. I put another mask on top of my K95 and sanitize my hands. I email her a list of testing locations in the county and suggest to her that she really might have COVID because the omicron symptoms are "like a cold."

how can people be like this? auggghhh. (how does omicron spread? uh, by people not even following the basic precautions?)

Ugh!! Is she out of sick days or what?!

Is your manager on site? We have to do self assessment forms similar to that but we are also required to report if anyone is exhibiting symptoms no matter that “it’s just a cold”.

There were two guys exhibiting cold like symptoms last week on a site (not mine thank goodness) who had tested negative the day before via a rapid test. Neither their supervisor nor our pm reported on their EOD form. Crew is off the job permanently and pm is suspended. Their test the next day was positive.

I’m thinking no job site is safe now due to omicron.