Welp Covid got me

Man, that really sucks. I had a similar thing happen to me last year—got over a bad cold, felt great, then got hit with COVID and a stubborn cough that just wouldn’t quit. It’s so frustrating when you think you’re in the clear and then get knocked down again. Rest up, drink plenty of fluids, and try some honey or steam for your cough if it helps.

 

sorry to hear this. Every single person I know that flys internationally gets COVID, seems like (including us last summer, also not getting a booster before traveling). I hope your case is a short one!

 

From what I’ve heard the boosters lose effectiveness about 6 months. I don’t think there is a recommendation to get boosted every few months but once a year. Unfortunately for me though there has been an outbreak in Europe and it sounds like the Olympics were a major spreader.

Feeling better with more energy today. Still have a bad cough and sore throat though. I’m hoping I’m past the worst of it and back to normal by this weekend.

 

I’ve had the Irish flu a few times

 

It’s really good with Guinness and brown bread.

 

Sorry to hear this.

If I may ask, was this in the earlier stages of Covid? (Before Paxlovid became widely available, etc.)

 

For some reason, you mentioning the Olympics being a major spreader of COVID reminded me of how U.S. soldiers spread the "Spanish flu" into Europe near the end of WW I and it ended killing 2-4x as many people as the bloody war itself.

(This is pretty much a forgotten event in history).

 

i'm still at home hiding. is it safe to go out? i think them soaps and antiseptic liquids have ruined my hands and finger prints.

 

So why would you test if you didn't even have more than a sniffle? I've only taken a test once, when I felt crappy, but it was negative. Oh, I did have to take one before I left Ireland 2 1/2 years ago, but that was required. I have been lucky I guess. Ive never gotten it.

 

Yes it was far deadlier world wide than the war itself. Unfortunately we didn’t really learn the lessons of the Spanish Flu when COVID hit

 

I hadn’t considered getting Paxlovid and am hoping I recover enough to play a show on Saturday. I was under the impression it was reserved for those who have severe health conditions. I’m still overall pretty healthy and haven’t been to the doctor over this. Is it worth asking my doctor about getting Paxlovid?

 

Are you 50+ yet? Then you are eligible.

Or if you have certain other risk factors. Can't be on blood thinners. There are online tools to check eligibility criteria for antiviral treatment.

 

Yeah, both times I've gotten it have been international flights / trips.

 

Welp is even more serious than Covid. Everyone needs to be safe out there. You get Welp, and it's a long road back.

 

Very late stages, this was less than a year ago. He was on Paxlovid right away but after he finished his dose the virus hit right back with a vengeance. He presented with severe lung damage pretty much on day 1. I feel like the severe cases go down that way, it's immediate damage.

 

Wow, that's horrible, sorry to hear.

 

There is some cumulative protection for severe illness even if the immediate preventative effects of a booster wear off over time. Every time you either get COVID, or get a vaccine booster, your body creates more and also "energizes" your Memory B cells. The memory B cells are the immune protection cells that "live" in your bone marrow. Every infection you've ever gotten has "programed" some germinal B cells to know how to combat that infection. They then go live in your bone marrow long term. Every time you get that infection again, they rapidly wake up and produce anti-bodies. Also, the more times you're exposed to a disease, either through infection or vaccination, you make more. Even if the viruses are genetically different, as long as its similar, they'll wake up and try to fight. This is why boosters are important, especially if you're in a high risk factor population. This is also why, on a population level, diseases get "milder" over time...everybody builds up their memory B cells. In a strangely stunning plot twist, the original J&J one shot vaccine that was not MRNA, but more traditional, actually is BETTER and building up memory B cells. People that had the original J&J, over time, have maintained a better long term outcome against subsequent COVID infections surprisingly enough.

 

I did a prescription for Paxlovid and have started feeling better since taking it.