Medical Discussion of Coronavirus

[Tim]

Clearly in her case it wasn't - but in order to make that call, we all have to know in advance not only our personal expiration date but our case of death. As soon as I can find a source for that information, I am signing up! Until then, though, we just have to make what seems the best decision, while knowing we're missing crucial information and the retrospectoscope may subsequently show our decision was suboptimal.

I don’t have enough information to judge in her case.
CDC also has refused to release data. At least in the legally obtained emails, it is because even qualified peer reviews might misinterpret it. I have no clue if or when CDC will ever identify any suboptimal decisions.

Anecdotally, when we isolated 95 yr old MIL, one of her sons that strongly wanted to visit, went into ICU the next week and passed within 2 weeks. COVID. No funerals available. We don’t know if MIL would have caught it. But, isolation seemed to be worth it. No vaccines available, but she has had three years.

Just where is this retrospectoscope available of which you speak?

[Jaqen Haghar MD]

Is anyone here willing to admit to having covid fatigue and now total covid indifference? Vaccinate, accept that either you have already gotten it or will get it (I’m in the former category.) Not expending any further mental energy on covid, and not taking any particular measures to avoid it. That’s where I’ve been for at least the past 3-4 months.

I’ve been this way for the past 1+ year, but I have noticed that that even those I know that used to be COVID-paranoid, are pretty much checked-out.

So many around here seem to have had COVID 1-2x, and so many of their contacts have also, so there is now just an extreme familiarity with it. The vast majority of these regular people did fine, and non-medical folk didn’t see the proportion of sick cases that filtered onto the hospital, so they just view it as “no big deal” at this point.

In addition, with inflation going absolutely nuts, shortages, and a clear view of a WW2 style war, people have now moved on to bigger problems.

Politically you’ve got far-right COVID-deniers, far-left COVID-obsessionalists, with the majority in the middle being COVID eye rollers now.

[StateOfMyHead]

so here’s a lady who did “everything right”(vaccines, social distance , masking etc) and she still died (not from covid apparently).

She got COVID so how much of "everything right" did she do?
I wonder if there was a connection, she gets COVID and two months later dead? Maybe we could look at it as she got an extra two years out of life due to the early preventative measures? IDK no easy or correct answers for sure

[shady]

She got COVID so how much of "everything right" did she do?
I wonder if there was a connection, she gets COVID and two months later dead? Maybe we could look at it as she got an extra two years out of life due to the early preventative measures? IDK no easy or correct answers for sure

I agree. Not to blame everything on COVID, but even in a surgical subspecialty unrelated to COVID, I've seen a fair share of people who COVID doesn't kill them but seems to hasten their decline in health. Most cases seem vasculitis in nature. PEs, DVTs, strokes, and MIs a couple months after recovering from COVID. Perhaps purely coincidental, but common enough that it catches my eye.

I still wear an n95 at work for the simple fact that if we are required to mask I'm no more bothered by an n95 vs a surgical mask so it doesn't much matter. If anything the n95 has a seal and prevents my glasses from fogging. Also, after breathing surgical smoke for several years and then being required to wear an n95 during COVID, I've pondered why I haven't worn one in the OR forever?

[VagabondMD]

My wife had a week-long URI. She Covid tested 5 times (1 PCR and 4 home Ag test). On Friday, she did an antigen test (negative). I had a little scratchy throat with a mild headache and also did an antigen test (only because we were breaking open a new pack anyway). Of course, I tested positive. It was a faint line but definitely there. The very next day, I did a PCR test at Walgreen's, which was negative. Did I, or did I not, have Covid?

[Tim]

Did I, Yes
or did I not, No
have Covid? Maybe

[fatlittlepig]

My wife had a week-long URI. She Covid tested 5 times (1 PCR and 4 home Ag test). On Friday, she did an antigen test (negative). I had a little scratchy throat with a mild headache and also did an antigen test (only because we were breaking open a new pack anyway). Of course, I tested positive. It was a faint line but definitely there. The very next day, I did a PCR test at Walgreen's, which was negative. Did I, or did I not, have Covid?

I would repeat the antigen test.

[StarTrekDoc]

My wife had a week-long URI. She Covid tested 5 times (1 PCR and 4 home Ag test). On Friday, she did an antigen test (negative). I had a little scratchy throat with a mild headache and also did an antigen test (only because we were breaking open a new pack anyway). Of course, I tested positive. It was a faint line but definitely there. The very next day, I did a PCR test at Walgreen's, which was negative. Did I, or did I not, have Covid?

We've expanded our viral testing include all types Flu+Covid19+Viral panel to really get into the weeds (academia afterall).

With Omicron; the virality really has dropped off and for the vast majority the current situation of covid19-BA2 should be - resume life.

For those at risk -- vaccinate/boost and be cautious as your health dictates and if +COVID - antiviral orals.

Enjoy the summer. Medical facilities be prepared for winter campaign and hope future variant of COvid-19 doesn't revert back to a lung loving site and remains where it should be - upper respiratory.

[Tim]

My old "estate attorney" bought the house next door. Walking his dogs he stopped for a brief neighborly chat. Of course he dropped the "Did you know XXX has Covid?" (the neighbor on the other side). Nope, just neighborhood gossip. The debate of covid or not changes nothing unless you need to consider hospitalization.

[Hatton]

My wife had a week-long URI. She Covid tested 5 times (1 PCR and 4 home Ag test). On Friday, she did an antigen test (negative). I had a little scratchy throat with a mild headache and also did an antigen test (only because we were breaking open a new pack anyway). Of course, I tested positive. It was a faint line but definitely there. The very next day, I did a PCR test at Walgreen's, which was negative. Did I, or did I not, have Covid?

Sounds like those faint line positive pregnancy tests. Solution..Blood test.

[Lordosis]

Sounds like those faint line positive pregnancy tests. Solution..Blood test.

Just a little bit pregnant?

[MaxPower]

Just a little bit pregnant?

Like the guy in residency who told me he had “a touch of cancer.”

[Tim]

Sounds like those faint line positive pregnancy tests. Solution..Blood test.

Or you can wait for CDC and the FDA to provide guidance. Seriously, even an ignorant illogical person like myself knows a pregnancy blood test for a male won’t help!

The real question, what actions are you going to take now? Feeling better?

[VagabondMD]

Sounds like those faint line positive pregnancy tests. Solution..Blood test.

The instructions indicate that a faint line is considered to be positive.

[Kamban]

My wife had a week-long URI. She Covid tested 5 times (1 PCR and 4 home Ag test). On Friday, she did an antigen test (negative). I had a little scratchy throat with a mild headache and also did an antigen test (only because we were breaking open a new pack anyway). Of course, I tested positive. It was a faint line but definitely there. The very next day, I did a PCR test at Walgreen's, which was negative. Did I, or did I not, have Covid?

Five tests for wife - negative. Your PCR was negative. Antigen was faint. I am not sure how good those home antigen tests are anyway.

I would think the probability is high that it was a false positive. In the big picture it does not matter and you should carry on life as usual.I would not waste any effort to repeat the test if you are asymptomatic now.