Covid 19 Treatment Confusion

[BlueSky]

I'm baffled.  There has been a major effort to produce vaccines for this disease, but there doesn't seem to be much emphasis on treatment.  My 81 yr old widowed sister has covid.  She was told to go home and take Tylenol for the fever.  Her 81 yr old male friend who is undergoing chemo for cancer also has covid and he was told the same.  2 weeks later he is in the hospital and I have worries about his survival.  There are medicines that help and they are not being given to the common people such as remdesivir, hydoxychloroquine, regeneron and others.  Is it the cost of the meds?  I read that remdesivir costs $3,000.  Is it because insurance won't pay for it unless the patient is seriously ill?   the cost isn't what an ICU unit costs in the hospital.  

[RDawson]

I don’t understand all the confusion. I’ve had drs say one drug works just to hear another say it doesn’t. They keep talking about herd immunity from the shots but then I hear studies say the immunization doesn’t keep you from getting Covid it only lessens symptoms. We’re fighting now over the shots, I don’t want/trust it but the city wants us do get it. 

[N3FOL]

It is very difficult for all of us during this pandemic and I have started to believe that we are still several months away from normalcy.  The question now is, how is the new normal going to look like?  What science and health care providers can do is to aggressively treat the symptoms, but it is not a cure.  Getting hold of any of the therapeutics 'they say' might work can be a daunting task.  I think there is just not enough circulating around the country and the focus on trying to administer them and the response given to the general public is still not well organized.  It is heartbreaking that our senior citizens, our loved ones are suffering and I am very worried about my parents who are in their 80's and very vulnerable.  As opportunistic as COVID-19, I pray that science continue to make progress.   Stay safe everyone.  

[BlueSky]

Update.  My sister was taken to the hospital today.  Remdesivir has been around awhile.  No excuse for it not to be available to the public.  Remdesivir and Regeneron is what was given to President Trump and he recovered very quickly.  To be fair Regeneron was only just approved for use by the FDA but the team of doctors had enough confidence in it to give it to the President with special permission.  There are other treatments that appear to work such as steroids.  But, the hospitals don't appear to be giving seniors anything.  Go home and take Tylenol for the fever.  If you are lucky, you live.  

From what I understand, Remdesivir was developed with taxpayer money.  Nobody patented it so a chinese owned company patented it and now it costs $3k.  We have lots of very stupid people running our country it appears.  

[uncledj]

The whole thing's a political mess.   They took the latest strain of flu and are using it to control people worldwide.   

Make folks afraid and they're easier to control.

As for me...I'm not interested in any vaccine.....we'll just have to wait and see if it becomes mandatory either from the government or by employers.   Then we'll all have to make some hard choices.

[Marcarl]

Read a study from an English Doctor I think. Anyways he suggests that vitamin D is an excellent source to try to fight this virus. I liked what he laid out and made sense to me. But as for promoting it,,, nah I wouldn't do  that, there's no money it in for me,,,, but I do help myself to the vitamin bottle on a daily basis,, along with garlic, vitamin c. Just because it all makes sense.

 

[BlueSky]

Take a zinc supplement.  I just googled it and it seems Trump was given 8 meds.  The important ones were remdesivir, regeneron, and a steroid dexamethasone.  He was also given zinc, aspirin, vitamin D, pepcid, and melatonin. 

[BlueSky]

One of my sister's grandkids went on a trip, brought the disease home and passed it around to the whole family, siblings, parents, uncles and Aunts, and grandmother and her friend.  One Aunt and both of the 81 yr olds went to the hospital.  The Aunt was just released with her oxygen bottle. 

[WRIDR]

For any Folks unfamiliar with Covid-19 'Symptoms', here is a 'partial explanation' about what happens IF you become 'Infected'...  

...arguably the worst side effect: 'Extremely Difficult To Breathe'.

For us at 78, (Stage 4 Metastatic Prostate/Pelvic Cancer), that's a life-threatening scenario.

We avoid ANY potential Risk as much as possible. Stand in line to enter a Grocery Store? Waiting outside a Drug Store to get a Prescription filled? No way!

Not on your/OUR Life... literally.

The more we learn about this Menace the better. Hope this is helpful for somebody.

Rgds, WRIDR

 

[Marcarl]

I'm guessing that an underlying thought might be that once a person has been vaccinated they are now scott free,,, but not quite so easy. They can still be major spreaders of covid, just by touching things and not keeping hands clean,, or even maybe by not wearing a face mask. Just something to keep in mind as we move forward.

[BlueSky]

Well, my sister's friend passed today.  81 yrs old undergoing chemo for cancer for quite a while.  And they also told him to go home and take Tylenol initially.  He was a very nice hard working man who grew up on a farm.  His kids have done well for themselves.  My sister seems to be doing a little better today.  They reduced the amount of oxygen she needs.  Be careful out there seniors!  

[KayBur]

On 12/25/2020 at 9:18 PM, Marcarl said:

I'm guessing that an underlying thought might be that once a person has been vaccinated they are now scott free,,, but not quite so easy. They can still be major spreaders of covid, just by touching things and not keeping hands clean,, or even maybe by not wearing a face mask. Just something to keep in mind as we move forward.

As far as I understand, vaccination is not a 100% panacea for coronavirus. I think that there will still be a chance of getting sick and we need to be careful, because almost every family has people from a high-risk group. The same applies to getting sick with influenza and other viruses.

[Patch]

My family caught the virus after my son and his GF cam back from Spain in February. Tho and at the time we were clueless of this fact my son was pretty ill with flue symptoms as was his GF.

Here's what unfolded: As us older members know I met up with my age the second half of 2019. To help me cope I was given a medication that would reduce the effects of this new to me reality. After pulling thru the worst of it you may recalled I had talk with my boys where I explained in detail my first 25 years. I offered to train them as well (it was a very difficult thing for me to do as I had never laid a hand on them). So Ajay had an encounter while being a tourist in Spain and, he wanted to learn how to better counter that type of threat. We train at home in our basement but Ajay wasn't feeling well enough to travel over asking if Jake and I go to his place instead. Just the three of us went thru the steps on how to counter the attack. This type of counter was ahead of where I knew them to be at their level and keeping that in mind and at the end of the practice I explain a move somewhere down the road I would teach them... Well likes kids they had many reasons why I should show them NOW so they can practice.  As clear as thunder Jake snaps my 3rd rib down from the clavicle!

One thing I have had to relearn to do this past year and half is breath differently. I have a problem with my diagram which prevents me from exhaling efficiently, my lungs are also way too large as well as scared. I have been learning to use my upper stomach  muscles to assist in exhaling.

A week later I came down with the C19 symptoms. I had the whole 9 yards of course I figured I caught Ajay's flue, what else could it be?

Between the broken rib and my normal breathing issues my lungs were beginning to bubble with each breath and I figured I was  getting my first new case of pneumonia in 18 years so I began using a medication I had been given for keeping the lungs clear. The reason I had stopped using it was the steroids were causing me digestive problems. Before long I was able to clear my lungs with just a light cough.

But this flue stuff was nagging at me in the seance that it would get better then seem to start again. Finally one day I began feeling better but I'd be up for a few minutes then become totally exhausted, this just went on and on.

Dam what the heck is going on, Ajay and Jake were over it, tho Ajay's GF was going thru the same type of fatigue stuff?

Worst of all came later on, confusion, it was so spooky for me! I couldn't focus on anything, couldn't read a full paragraph of anything, it got to the point I went to see the dock and went thru the testing for dementia and alzheimer's as well as a new series of blood tests. Also tested for C19 but lets face it this was months after so that test doesn't tell us if we have the antibodies.

A couple of things were found tho, one was to high levels of calcium which lead to more tests. In the end I had to get back to my plus 50 Vitamins which includes the D.

Another unknown in my case was could these meds I was on causing these symptoms, at the time I had dropped the dose down on the one that helps me maintain control between my healthy heart and problematic lungs from competing against each other.

This little experience of my encounter with C19 points to what they have been saying, "we don't yet know enough" "extenuating circumstances" and theres more, my vitamin before passing 50 and switching to the 50 + I've been taking them since my early 20's with good results but, if I take them with my primary med, the effect is dramatic regardless to what the dock and pharmacist tell me, instead I found the answer on the MFG website, wait do not take this med with any other combination.

I hope you see why I tied this all together as I did, we are all fingerprints unique onto our self's. The masks reduce the rick of body fluids becoming suspended in the air from leaving our mouth to be then inhaled by others, coughing and sneezing well that requires distance and cleanliness and a touch of respect.  

Edited December 31, 2020 by Patch

[cowpuc]

Personally I trust very few with advice concerning Covid, mask wearing proficiency or even the data we are being supplied.. There is just wayyyy to much opinionizing for Polical purposes for me to do so. I also absolutely refuse to run and hide in fear over the endless banter we find ourselves bogged down in,, aint gonna happen.. I do however have a few people in my life that I do trust and, my daughter - being neck deep in Covid research is one of them. I recently had a chance to chat with her and a couple of her colleges who are also involved with Covid research from all perspectives during a recent trip to the west coast. Here is a brief summary of what I learned:

1. All the people who are putting any form of faith in masks BELOW the grade of N95 mounted properly on a clean shaven face are betting on a fools errand at best. The fact is the virus attaches itself to microscopic moisture molecules in the air (this is how the virus travels thru the air) that are so small that any form of mask less than an N95 cannot stop the spread.. If you are able to breath thru anything less than N95 masks and you are contaminated - YOU ARE A SPREADER!  If you are the type that chooses to live in fear for either yourself or others,, you best be paying attention to this.

2. The 6 foot rule is nonsense.  Being a life long deer hunter and knowing how easily and far "scent" travels,, I asked this question and got an amazing answer: I told of a recent experience I had while Tippy and I were doing our daily 2 mile walk in the State Park near our home. During that walk (which we choose not mask up for), another couple was 2 or 3 hundred feet upwind of us and I could smell the womens perfume even at that distance. I asked the professionals whom I choose to trust if there was anyway that the China Virus could travel that distance on those molecules and still be alive and dangerous.. The answer = ABSOLUTELY!!  I made comment about if this were the case, how come 95% of us are not contaminated already and got this answer = WHAT MAKES YOU THINK WE ARE NOT = many many millions of people have the anti bodies and do not even know it.  

3.  All the front line healthcare workers I spoke with have been vaccinated, they trust/have faith in their fellow scientist.. All of them, including my daughter, are all still alive and still hard at work in research over the subject matter.   It appears, and lets all pray this is the case, that once again AMERICAN capitalism (you really dont think those big companies went to all that work for nothing do you?) ingenuity has come thru for the world!

4.  WASH YOUR HANDS!! ALOT!!  When talking about masks I was told that "surgery room containment style" was the best protection aside from gearing up in a hazmat suit (I actually pictured myself and Tippy dressing up in a Hazmat Suits and riding out to Sturgis next year when that was mentioned,,, they looked at me with evil eyes when I started laughing over that picture flying thru my mind LOL). I was also reminded to think about all the times I had seen Doctors scrubbing up for surgery and then walking around with wet hands pointed skyward to air dry. That type of hand washing is recommended for those who really fear this stuff.. Others of us, regular hand sanitizing works good..

5. PRAY!! God is still in the answering prayer business!! 

Thats my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Puc

By the way,, did you know that drunk driving still kills more people annually than Covid? How come we are not at war with booze?  I asked that and WOWZY did I get the stare!!  You a drinker? Might be Covid is the least of your worries.. THINK ABOUT IT!

[Patch]

So Puc? Because you seeded our thoughts thru your minds eye and, me not being a shy guy, and, yaknow I know some of the amazing features you brag so often about that Tippy has..... On behalf of the shy guys then - what is Tippy wearing under the Hazmat suit 

[cowpuc]

20 minutes ago, Patch said:

So Puc? Because you seeded our thoughts thru your minds eye and, me not being a shy guy, and, yaknow I know some of the amazing features you brag so often about that Tippy has..... On behalf of the shy guys then - what is Tippy wearing under the Hazmat suit 

ME!!!! We are both frugal enough that we are gonna get an XXL one that both of us can fit in!!!

[Patch]

9 minutes ago, cowpuc said:

ME!!!! We are both frugal enough that we are gonna get an XXL one that both of us can fit in!!!

Yaknow know the rule Puc, it never happened without a picture!

[Leland]

If underwear and blue jeans can't stop a fart...

[BlueSky]

Well, my 81 yr old sister came home or rather to her daughter's home today with an oxygen bottle so hopefully she will survive this virus.  She didn't have any major health issues before.  Her daughter and her husband have already recovered from the virus.  

[luvmy40]

Great news BlueSky!

[cowpuc]

7 hours ago, BlueSky said:

Well, my 81 yr old sister came home or rather to her daughter's home today with an oxygen bottle so hopefully she will survive this virus.  She didn't have any major health issues before.  Her daughter and her husband have already recovered from the virus.  

INDEED SKY!! That is great news! Prayers up for your Sister!!

[larrydr]

I do know Covid is a bad one .....In December 2010 I was diagnaosed with Liver Cancer and that if they did not operate now I had 4 days ..underwent 8 hrs of surgery to remove 3 nasty Tumors ...Met with 5 Specialist before the surgery , after my first dose of Chemo they came to see at my bed side ...they told me ...They had to remove the Liver to remove the infected areas ....When I was discharged the Specialist meet with  me and said they had found that after 5 years of testing ...VITAMIN D3 did fight infection and promote healing ..They wanted me on 5000 IU per day for the first year and 3000 IU per day after then on .They told me that they were still studying some of the VITAMINS  played a role in fighting infection ....I am doing well today in January 2021 and still on VITAMIN  D3  3000  IU PER DAY...  i keep wondering why there little said today about Diet and VITAMINS  to help in the fight against Covid

I am 74 and just like anyone else out there have had my challenges in my health besides cancer , and there are 2 things that I credit for my recovery ..First is my Faith in God , second healthy life style .. I still work 3 days a week anywhere from 3 to 6 hours per day ...The human body needs to active , and I hope I can bank enough pennies to ride the full season in 2021...Riding a motorcycle does great stuff for our brain .

Edited January 15, 2021 by larrydr
additional comment

[BlueSky]

My wife is a big believer in taking supplements.  And she has convinced me.  I'm taking several, one of which is Turmeric for my arthritis twice daily and glucosamine chondrointin once a day.  I'm convinced the Turmeric helps.  Twice a week I'm also taking a mulitvitamin, zinc, selenium, vitamins C, D, B, garlic, fish oil, and CoQ10 along with several prescribed meds for ailments.  I remember when I was 50 and didn't take any meds...   At 76, it seems to take a lot.  All these modern meds prolong life but the side effects are so bad, you wish you were dead! 

[Marcarl]

On 1/14/2021 at 12:30 AM, larrydr said:

  i keep wondering why there little said today about Diet and VITAMINS  to help in the fight against Covid

 

There is no money in it!!!

[SpencerPJ]

2 minutes ago, Marcarl said:

There is no money it!!!

You are absolutely correct on that one.