For her, they want to give the antibodies some time to work, so no steroids. No oxygen either at this point. They gave her a pulse-oximeter and a thermometer and a nurse is going to call up to 3 times per day to monitor her vitals.
The kiddo who hadn’t been sick has now tested positive, which sucks, because we tried hard to keep them from getting infected. Still, silver lining is we all get to be together again.
My symptoms are still mild. I have a runny nose, I’m sneezing, I have a headache and my jaw is sore from breathing through my mouth all night. Most surprising thing to me is that the mucous membranes in my nose and my nasopharynx hurt. There’s like a major burning pain, like getting water way up your nose that is just constant. Drinking hot (decaf) tea helps for the moment that it’s in my mouth.
No chest congestion or cough to speak of. Just pains in my head of various kinds.
That makes sense even though it’s probably frustrating because you want to throw anything that might possibly help at the problem. Do you have any hair left?
I thought about you while I was getting my booster and sent my blood pressure through the roof. People are still getting sick, hospitals are still overloaded, deaths are real and the numbers are going up. Moderna boosters were just approved yesterday, I should NOT have been able to walk right up to the pharmacy counter and ask for a booster, there should have been a line. Good and decent people are dying because selfish jerks refuse to let someone else tell them what to do.
My spouse is improving. A nurse who called after the kid’s positive test was an extremely kind treasure trove of information. We talked to her about all 4 of us. My spouse described what was going on, and was asking a question about whether coughing fits counted as breathing problems, and the nurse gave her instructions to essentially have a planned deep-breathing coughing fit once per hour to open up her airways.
She hasn’t really had the strength to do it every hour, but she’s done it multiple times, especially if her pulse-ox is low. Each time, it has helped to bring her pulse-ox back up. Last night, after doing that, her oxygen came up to 98%, which we haven’t seen for while.
She did that technique when she woke up short of breath during the night, and then this morning, when she woke up, her oxygen was 97%.
I’m sure it’s the combination of the monoclonal antibodies kicking in and the mechanical work of opening up the alveoli, and moving out the gunk.
I now have a fever – just above 100°. So I feel crappy. I got very broken sleep, and my body and head hurt. Still no symptoms to speak of for the kiddo.
Moderately good news. God bless that nurse who actually knew stuff and gave y’all good advice.
Here’s a completely unsolicited bit of advice which you may already know, but sharing it gives me the illusion of helping in some tiny way. When I have congestion at night, I sleep on a wedge-shaped pillow that elevates my upper body. Or I do the same thing with a stair-stepped terrace of pillows like this:
You don’t owe us updates, but thanks all the same.
Thanks. I never know how to make the “propped up on pillows” thing work.
Also good advice. My sister mentioned probing a few days back, so that’s been happening. I lie prone all the time in bed – it’s how I read and look at my phone – so I figure I have that going for me.
I’m glad your wife is doing better and sorry you feel like crap. As Thelma said, you don’t owe us updates or anything really, but we appreciate knowing what’s going on. I hope the news stays good or at least even.
Update for today – spouse overdid the “feeling better” thing yesterday, and was wrecked last night, but doing pretty well today, and taking it more easy.
I feel better – the head symptoms are abating. It’s moving into my chest now. Still feels about on par with true influenza. I’ve had a fever of between 99.8 & 100.9 with ibuprofen on board. Mostly at the lower end, though.
Kid #2 still has only an elevated temperature, with no other symptoms.
We had/are having a big windstorm, and our power is out. Luckily someone is bringing us dinner. Power is supposed to be back on in about 5.5 hours. Not being able to make tea is annoying, but we can deal.
God bless that nurse who actually knew stuff and gave y’all good advice.
When I have congestion at night, I sleep on a wedge-shaped pillow that elevates my upper body. Or I do the same thing with a stair-stepped terrace of pillows like this:
