I have Covid-19

[Inflikted]

The thing I'm kinda waiting on, as far as testing goes, is that I don't know whether my dad is still contagious or not. So, what if we get tested, don't have it, but then catch it AFTER we've been tested? I don't really know how all of that works, and I'd hate to end up in that situation, because then the negative test result would be "false" in a sense.

Me and my family try to isolate, in general, so we won't really be spreading it to anyone else. If we start getting sick, then obviously we have it, as there's nothing else it could be. My job told me that, as long as I'm not showing symptoms, having a fever, or feeling ill, I can continue coming in to work (obviously with masks and social distancing still). Actually, so, I only have three coworkers, and coincidentally, the same day my dad's positive test result came back, one of my coworker's father (who she has regular contact with) also tested positive.

So, I'm going to keep an eye on things this week. Even if the little things I've had throughout the week are symptoms, I'd say that, on a scale of 1-10, they've been at a 1-2 at the most, and have not progressed at all. If I actually start feeling sick, then I'll definitely call off from work, and stuff. If I don't seem to show symptoms, I do plan to get tested between Christmas and NY, just to make sure I'm all good.

[poppyfields]

WC, I have GAD and have struggled with insomnia most of my life.

I've taken ambien, trazadone (which has become quite popular over the years for use as a sleep inducer), Benadryl, valium root, you name it.

What consistently works for me is  "Stress-Relax Tranquil Sleep" chewable tabs.  Whole Foods, Jimbos, any natural foods market and Amazon carries.

Main ingredients are 5-HTP, Suntheanine, and Melatonin.

Knocks me out!  And I sleep soundly and peacefully throughout the night. 

I take a quarter tab, that's all I need. Too much and I wake up drowsy.  You may need more, the dosage differs among people.

I highly recommend! 

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by poppyfields

[poppyfields]

30 minutes ago, Inflikted said:

The thing I'm kinda waiting on, as far as testing goes, is that I don't know whether my dad is still contagious or not. So, what if we get tested, don't have it, but then catch it AFTER we've been tested? I don't really know how all of that works, and I'd hate to end up in that situation, because then the negative test result would be "false" in a sense.

Me and my family try to isolate, in general, so we won't really be spreading it to anyone else. If we start getting sick, then obviously we have it, as there's nothing else it could be. My job told me that, as long as I'm not showing symptoms, having a fever, or feeling ill, I can continue coming in to work (obviously with masks and social distancing still). Actually, so, I only have three coworkers, and coincidentally, the same day my dad's positive test result came back, one of my coworker's father (who she has regular contact with) also tested positive.

So, I'm going to keep an eye on things this week. Even if the little things I've had throughout the week are symptoms, I'd say that, on a scale of 1-10, they've been at a 1-2 at the most, and have not progressed at all. If I actually start feeling sick, then I'll definitely call off from work, and stuff. If I don't seem to show symptoms, I do plan to get tested between Christmas and NY, just to make sure I'm all good.

How it works is if you were exposed to your dad when he had it, which from what you posted he still does, then you need to be tested immediately and self-isolate (even from your dad until he tests negative and other family members) until results come back negative.   Everyone living in the home should also be tested. 

I do not mean to scare you but this virus is so contagious that since you live in the same house as your dad, and were directly exposed, 99.9% chance you have it now and don't know.

As I said, you may never experience symptoms but still have it.

Meanwhile, you are going into work and even though you are wearing a mask and maintaining distance, you put all your co-workers at risk. 

Do you share a kitchen space with your co-workers?  Use the same copier?  Open and close the same doors, touch the same door handles?  

Your employer is being completely irresponsible for allowing that, I am actually appalled.  Your employer should be fined for allowing this..

If my employer knew I had been directly exposed the way you have, he would order me to get tested immediately and stay home and isolate.  

Not doing so is why it's become such a monster with so many astronomical number of cases and deaths.  

 

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by poppyfields

[Inflikted]

3 minutes ago, poppyfields said:

How it works is if you were exposed to your dad when he had it, which from what you posted he still does, then you need to be tested immediately and self-isolate until results come back negative.  

I do not mean to scare you but this virus is so contagious that since you live in the same house as your dad, and were directly exposed, 99.9% chance you have it now and don't know.

Oh, yeah, no, I know, trust me, I've been taking the virus pretty seriously. I just figure, if I get sick, then I obviously have it. And aside from work, I'm not going out anywhere or doing anything to expose anyone else. Even at work, my coworkers actually haven't been taking the virus seriously, themselves, and I figured that, if anything, one of them would end up getting it and giving it to me. Thing is, my dad's been sick for 12 days, got tested last Saturday (day 5 or 6?), and the results didn't come back until this past Thursday (day 10?). So, at this point, it's probably far too late to have stopped anything from happening. The entire time he's been sick, though, I've been making sure I do what I can at work to keep everyone else safe from me, like keeping my distance and keeping my mask on, and stuff. And, my other coworker is blatantly exposed to it via her own family, so...

It's certainly not an ideal scenario all around, but we're doing our best to limit any kind of potential exposure outside the home. My plan is to get tested between Christmas and New Years, if no actual notable symptoms show up. I don't take for granted that I could be asymptomatic, so I will get tested then just to be safe.

[Watercolors]

35 minutes ago, Inflikted said:

The thing I'm kinda waiting on, as far as testing goes, is that I don't know whether my dad is still contagious or not. So, what if we get tested, don't have it, but then catch it AFTER we've been tested? I don't really know how all of that works, and I'd hate to end up in that situation, because then the negative test result would be "false" in a sense.

Me and my family try to isolate, in general, so we won't really be spreading it to anyone else. If we start getting sick, then obviously we have it, as there's nothing else it could be. My job told me that, as long as I'm not showing symptoms, having a fever, or feeling ill, I can continue coming in to work (obviously with masks and social distancing still). Actually, so, I only have three coworkers, and coincidentally, the same day my dad's positive test result came back, one of my coworker's father (who she has regular contact with) also tested positive.

So, I'm going to keep an eye on things this week. Even if the little things I've had throughout the week are symptoms, I'd say that, on a scale of 1-10, they've been at a 1-2 at the most, and have not progressed at all. If I actually start feeling sick, then I'll definitely call off from work, and stuff. If I don't seem to show symptoms, I do plan to get tested between Christmas and NY, just to make sure I'm all good.

I just spent an hour on the phone with the dept of health. Your dad is contagious until his last symptoms go away. The virus sheds actively for up to 6 weeks and can infect people that way. So, if you choose not to get tested this weekend and “wait and see” that’s at your own peril. I’m trying to tell you to be responsible because if you and your mom are around your Dad, you both are contagious. You may be asymptomatic but you are still contagious to others. So, this isn’t just about you. This is about you not spreading it to other people. To put it into perspective. 

[poppyfields]

6 minutes ago, Inflikted said:

Oh, yeah, no, I know, trust me, I've been taking the virus pretty seriously. I just figure, if I get sick, then I obviously have it. And aside from work, I'm not going out anywhere or doing anything to expose anyone else. Even at work, my coworkers actually haven't been taking the virus seriously, themselves, and I figured that, if anything, one of them would end up getting it and giving it to me. Thing is, my dad's been sick for 12 days, got tested last Saturday (day 5 or 6?), and the results didn't come back until this past Thursday (day 10?). So, at this point, it's probably far too late to have stopped anything from happening. The entire time he's been sick, though, I've been making sure I do what I can at work to keep everyone else safe from me, like keeping my distance and keeping my mask on, and stuff. And, my other coworker is blatantly exposed to it via her own family, so...

It's certainly not an ideal scenario all around, but we're doing our best to limit any kind of potential exposure outside the home. My plan is to get tested between Christmas and New Years, if no actual notable symptoms show up. I don't take for granted that I could be asymptomatic, so I will get tested then just to be safe.

Ok sounds like you're doing the best you can.  I hope your dad gets better soon, and that you're okay too.

Good luck. 

[poppyfields]

3 minutes ago, Watercolors said:

I just spent an hour on the phone with the dept of health. Your dad is contagious until his last symptoms go away. The virus sheds actively for up to 6 weeks and can infect people that way. So, if you choose not to get tested this weekend and “wait and see” that’s at your own peril. I’m trying to tell you to be responsible because if you and your mom are around your Dad, you both are contagious. You may be asymptomatic but you are still contagious to others. So, this isn’t just about you. This is about you not spreading it to other people. To put it into perspective. 

Absolutely!

[Watercolors]

8 minutes ago, Inflikted said:

Oh, yeah, no, I know, trust me, I've been taking the virus pretty seriously. I just figure, if I get sick, then I obviously have it. And aside from work, I'm not going out anywhere or doing anything to expose anyone else. Even at work, my coworkers actually haven't been taking the virus seriously, themselves, and I figured that, if anything, one of them would end up getting it and giving it to me. Thing is, my dad's been sick for 12 days, got tested last Saturday (day 5 or 6?), and the results didn't come back until this past Thursday (day 10?). So, at this point, it's probably far too late to have stopped anything from happening. The entire time he's been sick, though, I've been making sure I do what I can at work to keep everyone else safe from me, like keeping my distance and keeping my mask on, and stuff. And, my other coworker is blatantly exposed to it via her own family, so...

It's certainly not an ideal scenario all around, but we're doing our best to limit any kind of potential exposure outside the home. My plan is to get tested between Christmas and New Years, if no actual notable symptoms show up. I don't take for granted that I could be asymptomatic, so I will get tested then just to be safe.

No, you are not taking this seriously!!!!

Asymptomatic people are contagious too. If you think you’re not contagious but have been around your dad who has Covid, then you are just making excuses. It’s a quick test. You are putting your coworkers at risk. Get tested this weekend. Stop making excuses. There are others involved here that you have potentially exposed the Covid virus too since you live with your dad who has an active Covid case. I’ll stop now because your refusal to take responsibility is really upsetting me. It’s people in your situation - who are asymptomatic, who blow off getting tested. Meanwhile, you spread it to people like ME and here I am, at home with Covid!!

[poppyfields]

4 minutes ago, Watercolors said:

It’s people in your situation - who are asymptomatic, who blow off getting tested. Meanwhile, you spread it to people like ME and here I am, at home with Covid!!

Exactly, and it upsets me too, I'm sure more so for you WC since you have. 

I'm appalled by his employer too, it's unconscionable how, knowing one of his/her employees has been directly exposed, he still allows him to come into work and put everyone else at risk.

They should be fined for allowing that imo..

[Inflikted]

5 minutes ago, Watercolors said:

No, you are not taking this seriously!!!!

Asymptomatic people are contagious too. If you think you’re not contagious but have been around your dad who has Covid, then you are just making excuses. It’s a quick test. You are putting your coworkers at risk. Get tested this weekend. Stop making excuses. There are others involved here that you have potentially exposed the Covid virus too since you live with your dad who has an active Covid case. I’ll stop now because your refusal to take responsibility is really upsetting me. It’s people in your situation - who are asymptomatic, who blow off getting tested. Meanwhile, you spread it to people like ME and here I am, at home with Covid!!

I apologize, I don't mean to give that impression at all. I very much do care. But neither me nor my mom are taking it outside of the house, and even with me at work, of the four of us at there, me and another coworker are directly exposed (she's not going to do anything differently than I'm doing now), and the other two couldn't care less about covid. As I said, I'm doing the best I can at work to keep my distance and wear a mask, and protect them from me as best I can. But, again, I've been exposed for a week and a half before I knew for sure that my dad had it, so there's nothing more I could've really done in that situation. Most likely, I've probably had it and been potentially exposing them well before I knew my dad was positive. I couldn't know that until he got his test. But like I said, I've always been very mindful of distance and safe protocols.

[poppyfields]

Just checkin in WC, how you feeling today?  Did you get any sleep?  

 

[Watercolors]

1 minute ago, poppyfields said:

Just checkin in WC, how you feeling today?  Did you get any sleep?  

 

I did get some sleep this morning from 3 a.m-ish to about 8:30 a.m. when a State Dept of Health nurse called me to check on me (they do that after you do your contact tracing interview with your state's dept of health) but am really tired today. I hope to god its not the crushing fatigue that's returned. Maybe its just being tired after no sleep for 4 nights. I got a few hours this morning.  The nurse told me that I should try to relax tonight b/c she said days 8-10 are critical for respiratory symptoms. If I don't have any that get worse on those two days, then she said she thinks I'm headed around the corner to healing.

I have two more days of quarantine before I am "not contagious." I think I will go straight to my urgent care clinic Tuesday to ask them to check my vitals, etc.

[BaileyB]

23 hours ago, Watercolors said:

Today, I got a text from my state’s Dept of Health. The text said that I will receive a phone call from a specific phone number, where a health official will interview me about my positive Covid diagnosis, and do contract tracing with me, etc. So, I’m impressed (and intimidated by) the through follow up from state health officials with each person in my state who is a positive case. 

While it is great that they are checking in on you, contract tracing is pretty much ineffective at this point. Considering that you have been infectious for at the very least, 10 days now... any contacts that you may have had in the early days post infection or when you became symptomatic have likely gone on develop their own symptoms (or will soon) and/or spread it to others. The good news is you likely didn’t have many contacts because you were following the rules... 

Hoping your symptoms continue to improve. Take care. 

Edited December 20, 2020 by BaileyB

[poppyfields]

I'm glad you got at least some sleep!  👍.

But five hours on top of four days of very little, it's still not nearly enough WC. 

I know when I go through periods of very little sleep, I feel like I'm gonna die, literally.  

The melatonin sounds good, not sure if you read my previous post.  Or perhaps something stronger prescribed by your doctor, temporarily.

Sleep is just so important, and the lack of is most likely what's causing the crushing fatigue or adding to. 

The good news is it sounds like you're close to the end of this monster, two more days?  I know it's hard, but try to stay positive, it helps!  Easier said than done I know.

Hang in WC, and fingers crossed you keep improving and you start feeling better soon!  

 

 

Edited December 20, 2020 by poppyfields

[Watercolors]

13 minutes ago, BaileyB said:

While it is great that they are checking in on you, contract tracing is pretty much ineffective at this point. Considering that you have been infectious for at the very least, 10 days now... any contacts that you may have had in the early days post infection or when you actually became infected have likely gone on develop symptoms (or will soon) and/or spread it to others. The good news is you likely didn’t have many contacts because you were following the rules... 

Hoping your symptoms continue to improve. Take care. 

Well, I gave them all the names and phone numbers of the places I'd been 14 days before my symptoms appeared. I even emailed people I had been around those 14 days which includes my mom. She had Covid in October, and I visited her on Thanksgiving, which is when I was infectious with my own Covid. I have called the nursing home to ask the executive director to check on my mom. So far, I haven't heard anything. The only place I visited a lot the two weeks before my symptoms, was my favorite coffee shop. I'd place "to go" orders there every morning, pick up my order, then leave. But a few times in those two weeks prior to my symptoms, I stood back from the counter to chat with them (with my mask on) for about 10-15 minutes. I definitely followed the rules. I didn't want to get Covid, or infect anyone unknowingly.

2 minutes ago, poppyfields said:

I'm glad you got at least some sleep!  👍.

But five hours on top of four days of very little, it's still not nearly enough WC. 

I know when I go through periods of very little sleep, I feel like like I'm gonna die, literally.  

The melatonin sounds good, not sure if you read my previous post.  Or perhaps something stronger prescribed by your doctor, temporarily.

Sleep is just so important, and the lack of is most likely what's causing the crushing fatigue or adding to. 

The good news is it sounds like you're close to the end of this monster, two more days?  I know it's hard, but try to stay positive, it helps!  Easier said than done I know.

Hang in WC, and fingers crossed you keep improving and you start feeling better soon!  

 

 

Thanks, poppy. True. Five hours of four days of very litte, if any sleep, is not enough.

I do feel like that. I feel like I'll never catch up and that by not sleeping properly while I am supposed to, will hinder my recovery from Covid.

 

[Trail Blazer]

Hi @Watercolors.  I am really sorry to hear that you've contracted this dreaded virus.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery!  All the best. 🤞🤞

[Watercolors]

16 minutes ago, Trail Blazer said:

Hi @Watercolors.  I am really sorry to hear that you've contracted this dreaded virus.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery!  All the best. 🤞🤞

Thanks Trail Blazer.

[introverted1]

Just popped in to see how you are, WC.  Seems like you might just possibly be on the mend? Fingers crossed.

[Watercolors]

4 hours ago, introverted1 said:

Just popped in to see how you are, WC.  Seems like you might just possibly be on the mend? Fingers crossed.

Hi introverted1 yes I am on the mend. Day 11. I finally got a good night sleep last night and didn't wake up covered in sweat. I had a second 1 gallon humidifier delivered to my apt, and the extra humidity has helped tremendously. So have the antibiotics. I still have weird leg pain in both legs (could be inflammation as a response from my immune system fighting the corona virus, according to the internet) dizziness, and post nasal drip and some nausea today. But tomorrow is my official last day of quarantine. I think I will just stay inside the rest of the week. This has been the scariest 11 days of my life. I am happy that I've been able to sleep. That's been something I've been needing for 4 nights now. I finally had a pulse oximeter delivered to me that I bought at a CVS and had delivered. 98% oxygen, pulse bpm is between 67-72. 

Edited December 21, 2020 by Watercolors

[Ruby Slippers]

I'm glad to hear you're gradually getting better. Hang in there and get plenty of rest and fluids.

[ShyViolet]

34 minutes ago, Watercolors said:

 the extra humidity has helped tremendously. So have the antibiotics.

Why antibiotics, if covid is a virus?

Glad you're getting better, btw.

[Watercolors]

43 minutes ago, Ruby Slippers said:

I'm glad to hear you're gradually getting better. Hang in there and get plenty of rest and fluids.

Thanks Ruby. I'm hoping after this week, I"ll be 100% symptom free. That's my hope. 

22 minutes ago, ShyViolet said:

Why antibiotics, if covid is a virus?

Glad you're getting better, btw.

I have a sinus infection that could be bacterial. It's normal for people with covid to be on antibiotics too. Many people can get bacterial infections while they have covid, like bacterial sinus infections or bacterial Pneumonia. Many hospitals have put covid patients on antibiotics to thwart those bacterial infections from happening. 

[BC1980]

On 12/16/2020 at 3:21 PM, gaius said:

The nasal tests are more reliable than antibody tests so it's likely your doctor didn't actually have it but enjoys saying he did. For whatever reason.

The doctor had antibodies to Covid, so it's likely he had it. The same thing happened to a woman I work with. Her BF tested positive, and, a few days later, she had fever for a few days. She never got tested, but she gave blood a few months ago and had positive antibodies. 

[Watercolors]

1 hour ago, BC1980 said:

The doctor had antibodies to Covid, so it's likely he had it. The same thing happened to a woman I work with. Her BF tested positive, and, a few days later, she had fever for a few days. She never got tested, but she gave blood a few months ago and had positive antibodies. 

Add to that, research has shown, the longer you have symptoms of Covid, the more accurate your test (nasal or saliva) will be. I did the saliva test on Day 7. By then, I had ALL the Covid symptoms. So it makes sense that my saliva test would be positive.

[Watercolors]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/covid-antibody-tests/faq-20484429