Another dreaded C word…COVID 19

AFTER POSTING THIS ON FACEBOOK A FRIEND REACHED OUT TO ME SAYING SHE JUST LOST HER MOTHER TO COVID. AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER, SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE HER MOTHER WAS NOT EVEN OFFERED Regen-COV Monoclonal Infusion.

LITTLE LONG BUT MAYBE WORTH READING...a family member with cancer was exposed to Covid on Monday August 9th at her workplace by a co-worker who had been fully vaccinated. She was told to do a Covid test on Friday August 13th (not experiencing any symptoms). The test came in negative. No reason to believe she could spread anything…

She came to our home on Saturday morning August 14-15 and stayed until Sunday.

After returning to her workplace, by Tuesday August 17th she was having symptoms a low grade fever, scratchy throat, & sniffles. She had another Covid test done at MD Anderson and was told if her temperature spiked to 100.4, which it did, she needed to go to MD emergency downtown Houston. After arriving another Covid test was done with a Positive result. A monoclonal antibody was administered on Wednesday August 18th and she is now doing fine.

Our exposure was August 14-15, now 9 days later James is experiencing a low grade fever & sinus like drainage. I only had a slight headache and sinus like drainage and was unaware of any temperature. We made an appointment with our Doctor to be tested for Covid on Wednesday August 25th. The nurse took our temps, James was normal and to my surprise mine was 99.3. Next came the rapid 15 min. Covid test.

The Doctor came to the car and announced that James tested positive and I had tested negative. He was scheduled for a Regen-COV Monoclonal Infusion to be done on Thursday August 26th. Since my test came back negative for Covid, he said in order to be sure we needed to do a PCR test that would be in on Friday and if it came back positive he could order an infusion for me.

I ask him why could I test negative when we had the same symptoms and the same exposure time. He said maybe you have something else going on. The PCR test was done.

I called the Doctor’s office knowing it was Friday and there would be no Infusion on the weekend. I had to wait for him to call me back, my temp had risen to 100.4 with all the same symptoms. He announced that the PCR test came back Negative. I challenged him, maybe a little loudly, saying how can this be, I have all the same symptoms and it is getting worse. I continued to plead with him to give me another 15 minute rapid test. He finally agreed and said to be there at 1PM.

The test was completed and returned a positive response. He said he could now order an infusion or try some other meds. I told him I wanted the infusion, after seeing the results James had. So that afternoon Friday August 27th I received the infusion.

I met another couple receiving the treatments. The man said he had went to the Doctor to get a vaccination, but he tested positive for Covid. He then brought his wife and she too tested positive. Neither of them had any real alarming symptoms. I expressed to him I would not be taking the vaccine and his wife said she didn’t want it either. Then he commented well maybe God keep him from getting the vaccine.

The point of this story is to state the symptoms are mild, but seems the low grade fever is one important indicator of an attack. Keep on hand a good thermometer, I had purchased a Digital kind for the forehead, but a $4 Baby oral digital one did the best job!

If we had not been aware of our Sister-in-law being exposed, we would have simply ignored the signs. I have also learned you need to be very intent on expressing your own body warnings. Why my 2 test came back negative and then a final test showing positive is a mystery I knew without a doubt the symptoms were exactly the same for each of us.

After the infusion the results were quick and almost immediate. The coughing completely subsided and the temp returned to normal.

I hope anyone reading this understands there is a way to combat this Flu like Covid. Be aware of your body, stand firm in expressing to your Doctor.

DO NOT LET FEAR OVERCOME YOU. MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES...

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