Blog Note: Mike Has COVID

I've got the dread disease I guess. I tried three different home tests, all of different brands; two were slightly past the use-by dates. One showed no trace of a positive line; the fresh test kit from the pharmacy seemed to show a line but so faint it was barely on the threshold of perception; and on the third it was even fainter—there might have been a line or there might not have been.

The doctor's office, though, says any kind of line, however faint, means a positive test, so I guess that means me.

You count the first day of symptoms as Day 0, so I'm in Day 3. The symptoms keep moving around and changing. I had a toothache for the first three days, of all things—and late last night it departed. But last night I developed a wicked sore throat, the kind where you dread having to swallow; but my fever went down. My blood oxygen level is fine but my heart rate has been considerably elevated, by about 20 beats per minute. On the good side, I sleep through the night, so that's nice.

It's been good for pool. Something about being sick makes it easier to get into the "flow state." I play this practice game called "1-2-3" where you throw all 15 balls out on the table, and you only score the last three if you make all of the first 12 with no misses. The third-to-last ball is one point, second-to-last is two points, and the last ball is three points. So the possible scores are zero, one, three, and six. I did three total clearances yesterday—three sixes—and three threes, which is better than usual. On a normal day I'll score several ones and threes and maybe one six or maybe not. And a lot of zeros, meaning I failed to make it to the final three. (I'm trying to learn position play. I'm getting much better at it than I was, but still have a long way to go.)

[UPDATE: After writing this I was so concerned about having bragged on myself that my pool game went all to pieces. Or maybe I should blame that on being sick, too. —MJ]

The doctor's office says on Day 6 I can resume normal activities...even if I still have symptoms. According to the ever-changing guidelines, vaccinated people are presumed to be contagious for no longer than five days from the onset of symptoms. Fortunately I wasn't around people much at all before the symptoms appeared.

I went back on my plant-based diet two weeks ago, and as of this morning I've lost 16 lbs. in 12 days. Too fast. But how much of that is the food and how much the illness? A little of both I guess. On a plant-based diet you aim to lose about a pound a week. You have to eat a lot to keep the weight loss that low, and I just haven't had sufficient appetite.

Anyway, you don't need to hear the blow-by-blow. Things happen to all of us, and they seem important to us while we're in them. The bottom line is that things might be a little sparse around here for a few days while I deal with this. Being sick is never easy when you live alone; everything that needs doing still needs doing. And all I want to do is go lie down.

...Which I guess I will go do right now.

Mike

Herman Krieger: "Sounds like you got the bug!"

Skip Davis: "I am so glad that I have been wearing my face mask when I visit your website.... Get well soon."

Bob Feugate: "I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve got COVID. On the other hand, I was delighted to see from these comments that Herman Krieger is still as sharp as ever. His website is packed with visual puns and always rewards a return visit." [Ed. note: Herman, 95, is TOP's honorary oldest reader.]

Jim Arthur: "I stumbled across a quote recently which seems to apply to your predicament so I thought I’d share. Feel better, try not to work too hard, and maybe enjoy some lotus tea.  :-)  "

For my own part I reckon being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill and is not obliged to work till one is better...to lie there careless of everything, quiet and warm, and with no weight upon the mind...to watch the soft shadows come and go upon the ceiling...not only to be a lotus-eater but to know that it was one's duty to be a lotus-eater.

—Samuel Butler

Comments

[Neale MacMillan]

We'll hope for mild symptoms, and a quick recovery!

[Peter Komar]

Sorry to hear about you getting COVID, I am currently in day two of full blown symptoms. They are quite similar to yours, I received the vaccine and then the two boosters. I am convinced they have reduced the severity of my symptoms. Get well soon, we all need you to continue with your SIGMA FP journey but more importantly your recovery. I just can’t believe COVID is still hanging around for 2 years now.

[Best wishes to you too, Peter. --Mike]

[John Krumm]

It seems to have everyone's name on it. I still have been lucky, but my wife, daughter, and most of my friends have had it. One of the common symptoms seems to be the fatigue, sometimes strong fatigue. A friend said he usually bounces back from the flu, but covid held him down and directed him towards the couch for a week or so. As grandmas the world over say, stay hydrated. Eat whatever you want, ice cream and chicken soup if that sounds good.

[Dennis Mook]

Get well soon, my friend.

[Tom Burke]

Hope it’s not too serious and that you get better soon, Mike.

We (in the UK) have pretty much the same government guidance - it’s OK to go out after n days. But I did some digging and found this recent research paper. Published in The Lancet, the research was done by Imperial College London and this article summarises the findings: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/239213/realworld-study-details-average-duration-infectiousness/

Note that while the paper is only recently published, the research is 12 months or more old. So it might not be as applicable today with the different variant. Or it might be 100% applicable!

[Tex Andrews]

Welcome to the club. My wife and I got it on July 30. Down for a week, then out of work due to protocols the second week, still having wooziness and weakness the 3rd week. Normal now, but still got a little congestion. Both of us got Paxlovid, not sure if it helped or just prolonged it. My wife got a fever 3 days after I did, and although she had it milder her temperature and positivity lasted longer. I lost at least 10 pounds.

Sounds like you're about ready to do a little light gauge 8-ball hustling at your local dives, if you can stand to be in a bar.

[Ernest Zarate]

Good you are taking care of yourself. May your symptoms clear quickly, and your energy rebound as well!

[Graham]

Well if it's any consolation my daughter is also on day 3, just tested positive today also. We'll get you both through it.

[KeithB]

You should have punned on the previous title:
"Got the grippe: Mike"

[Josh Hawkins]

Sorry to hear that. It’s happening to all of us at this point. And btw, I highly recommend getting a Rx for Paxlovid. Great drug. Will knock COVID down fast. Also get some hard candies to deal with the bad taste in your mouth.

[Simon Griffee]

Get well soon, Mike!

[Graeme Scott]

Deb & I caught the bug last year but we got over it. My attitude to flu or a heavy cold ( or Covid ) is to just let it take its' course - rest, keep warm & let your body's defences deal with it. Don't try to fight it or tough it out. You'll get well faster.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Henning]

You and Butters take care of each other, and hopefully things will pass quickly and with no leftovers.

[darlene]

Always want the best for you, Mike. Sending thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

[Dan Khong]

COVID is just a five letter word not found in the bible nor in Shakespeare.

[Bob Johnston]

I had that sore throat and it's no joke.Take care, rest and concentrate on getting better. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Ed Hawco]

The ever-changing guidelines are being pulled in one direction by good old fashioned caution and in the other direction by people who don’t want to wear masks. If it were me I would definitely err on the cautious side, for the sake of the more vulnerable people in the community. At the least I’d keep the mask in public until five days after symptoms disappear.

Hope you heal quickly and fully!

[Sal Santamaura]

So close (to the bivalent booster) and yet so far.

We've not modified our behavior yet. Which is to say, effectively practicing hermitry, except for essential shopping once each two weeks, as well as medical visits, and masking then. It helps being retired and able to do that, but others looking at us as outcast fools isn't fun. Especially family members whose invitations we've turned down.

On the other hand, we haven't contracted the disease and are not part of the "long-term clinical trial" that is long COVID.

Get well soon, Mike. Don't push it.

[Rod S.]

Best wishes for mild symptoms and a quick recovery, Mike.

My partner and I caught COVID in late May whilst travelling in Spain, despite our precautions. Our experiences differed. I had received my fourth shot just three weeks before and experienced two days of extreme lethargy without any other symptoms. After sleeping two days I felt completely good on the third day (!). However, my very healthy partner had not yet qualified for the fourth shot, and her third shot was by then five months old. She experienced painful sinuses and nausea for seven days and wasn't well for another seven.

[John Robison]

That’s the pits. Wonder where you came in contact with it. So far I have been fortunate, but over 70, over weight, type 2 with high blood pressure, I’ve been very cautious and still wear an n95 when out shopping. Fully vaxxed and boostered but that’s like air bags and seat belts, happy I have them, but hope I never find out how well they work.

[kirk]

Saw this right after my appointment to get the bivalent Moderna vaccine this morning. My fifth jab for Covid. Hopefully it will help protect against BA4 and BA5. We no longer go to parties, have not flown since 2019, don't go to restaurants that don't feature patio seating and turn down work with companies that don't have a vaccine protocol in place. So far B. and I have eluded Covid. She gets her new vaccine next week. We like to do them a week apart so we can help each other through the side effects. All that time saved gives me more opportunities to look at cameras on the web and waste money....

Hope your course is short and easy. Lots and lots of water...

[Dogman]

Hope everything remains mild for you, Mike.

Take care....

[Dave Karp]

Feel better Mike!

[Sean]

My wife and I are yet to test positive for covid. We're fully vaccinated and are due our second booster later this autumn. After long periods of going without seeing our friends and family, plus avoiding the places that mean something to us, life has returned to normal because of the vaccines. I can't help wondering what it will be like when the inevitable covid calls.

I hope your brush with it is quick and mild

Sean

[Richard Ripley]

Hello Mike:

I am very sorry that you have Covid. I hope that you have a quick and complete recovery. I'll be thinking of you and wishing you the very best. Take it easy and take it slow.

Best wishes…

[Bear.]

Lots of experience using Rapid Anti-gen Tests or RATS here - they seem to require a fairly significant viral load to show a positive result - far more than the lab standard polymerase chain reaction or PCR tests, which are for all practical purposes definitive (if slow - but in Victoria, Australia, still provide by the Government for free). My entirely anecdotal experience from my workplace, friends and family, and especially with immuno-comprised friends and family who have special need to avoid SARS viruses, is that by the time a RATS test shows positive you have had COVID and been contagious for at least two days. And since RATS seem to show false negatives about 10-20% of the time (i.e. insufficient viral load to trigger positive report), I operate on the basis that a minimum of two negative RATS restyles over two consecutive days are required to be reasonably satisfied there is no COVID infection, especially if any possible symptoms are showing. Obviously, one could do more but cost does become an issue when testing is required several times a week. I have yet to hear of a false positive RATS, although with free PCR testing here, a very faint result might make the trouble of a PCR test worthwhile. Get well soon, Mike.