Hi folks. Wanted to update everyone about the ongoing issues with my recovery from Covid

[The Polack MSgt]

Here are my previous 2 posts:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215652806

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215664843

No need to read all of it - Here's the thumbnail -
I'm vaxxed.
Got a breakthrough infection anyway.
Was sick as fuck for 4 days.
Fever broke, headaches stopped - began improving.
Stopped improving.
The end.

I feel like I did the 1st week i was in Kandahar (elevation 5800') all the time. Meaning, I am always juuuuust short of being out of breath. Until I move - Then, I am out of breath

I get confused in between sentences several times a day.

I seem to sleep fine. Wife says I'm not snoring or having apnea symptoms, also no thrashing or night sweats.

But I wake up tired. Like how I felt after a twelve hour shift putting up antenna masts or stringing overhead cable - after just waking up

Went in for a lung scan today - And the machine broke with me in it.


Going back on Tuesday.

Doc says- "These are all common symptoms post infection" Huh. How about that... No fucking shit Major. So glad you went to school for so long just to tell me the most obvious shit possible...

Any way - I'm frustrated and have nowhere to vent except on line. so welcome to my Whine Cellar

[MLAA]

1. Damn, that must be tough to wake up exhausted.

You vent here anytime. You’ve built up a huge credit with all the wonderful music you have shared. So Vent away, I’ll let you know if you get close to,using up the credit 😜😬

[The Polack MSgt]

4. Thanks Cousin

Appreciate it

[Hekate]

2. You broke the lung-scan machine?! Jeez, man...

Seriously, take good care of yourself, and keep us posted.

[The Polack MSgt]

9. I told 'em it'd be better to shift the machine -

Than try to move my fat ass around, but they just didn't listen...

Nah - not really - the imaging system crapped out, so my big ass wasn't the issue

[cilla4progress]

3. Oh no, I'm so sorry, MSgt!

Any tips or insights for how to avoid it?

[The Polack MSgt]

7. Mask up - avoid republicans

I don't have a real tip for you.

My wife came up positive after I did - But never got sick, so I don't have a damn clue what's happening

[BumRushDaShow]

70. Please get some help.

[uppityperson]

72. Maybe another 3 yrs of help

[BumRushDaShow]

73. That might be prudent

[The Polack MSgt]

76. I missed the drama. Which flavor of idiocy was it this time?

[BumRushDaShow]

77. Let me check

the old card catalog and try to remember how the old Dewey Decimal System works...

ETA - was about to post this too -

You KNOW I am sending you a big one of these

People gotta understand that this shit ain't "just the flu" or "just a cold".

Hope you will get through it. It's such a roll of the dice how your body will react to it.

Hang in there Sarge.

[BumRushDaShow]

88. I suggest staying away from the conifers

The sap is no good.

[The Polack MSgt]

89. Sure thing. I assumed that post was from a drive by troll, but since you're here I'll pull it

I'm not out to intentionally antagonize other members

[irisblue]

81. whenithinkoflorelei what type of pizza do you like?

also, you are quite rude

[BumRushDaShow]

82. Welcome back!

Enjoy your over-extended stay.

[irisblue]

83. 🍕

[BumRushDaShow]

87. Hopefully

with some granite in there.

[BumRushDaShow]

92. Conifer resin is flammable.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

99. It's going to a hoot if you sign up for MIRT

[BumRushDaShow]

100. Well it's true though

[LanternWaste]

85. It's always five o'clock somewhere, eh?

Bless your little heart.

[BumRushDaShow]

86. ...

Too much koolaid drinking I see.

[Rural_Progressive]

68. Avoiding republicans in Entiat?

Lots of luck on that.

[cilla4progress]

78. Cant recall what friend this - Marla?

Yes some assholes moved in down the road and immediately put up a sign that starts out "We in this house believe Hillary should be in prison...".

FUCK THEM!!

[Rural_Progressive]

93. Nope, Bill east of Tonasket

We have known a fellow since he was 7 years old. Now at almost 40 he lives with a woman who still is flying a TFG 2020 flag off their home. What are you going to do?

[Hoyt]

5. Take care. Had no idea you are/were so ill. Still have a sense of humor, a positive.

[captain queeg]

6. Being short of breath sucks. My sympathies.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

8. That really sucks ... I hope you feel better soon my brotha!

[The Polack MSgt]

16. I'm with you on this Hugh L

I want it to be over

[pdxflyboy]

10. I'm pushing for your health improvement, brother.

[JCMach1]

11. Out of Breath can be lungs OR heart rate...

post Covid, take both.

Get some generic Famotidine to help with overall body inflammation. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84782-w

Also, do anything you can to lower body inflammation (diet, supplements, etc.)

Heart rate issues may require a beta blocker.

Consult with your Dr. on all medications (of course). Also, realize your Dr. may not have a great deal of experience with post-Covid issues.


It took me many, many months to get back to some semblance of normal after nearly dying.

Literally AMA at any time ... get well soon.

[GoodRaisin]

12. Sorry to hear this. It's frustrating when

you have done all the right things. Hoping things will take a turn for the better for you soon.

[herding cats]

13. I'm really sorry to hear about this development!

This isn't normal for a fully vaxxed person to be having these symptoms crop up so long after infection. It's actually rare per the available data. I'm not saying it's not possible, it definitely is and does happen, but it's not common. Your doctor shouldn't be so dismissive of your condition.

I hope you get better soon!

[The Polack MSgt]

14. Not sure she's being dismissive so much as stumped for options

And restricted in our way ahead - After all I'm not a wealthy GOP donor or sitting Governor of Texas. I don't have a way to get the good shit

I'm just a regular guy, with access to regular shit

[herding cats]

22. You're like the majority of us out here.

Navigating this mess all but rudderless and trying to make it through to the other side. Your doc sounds like they're in the same boat.

Sadly, we're up against a noisy swarm of people trying to infect us and seemingly willing to take one for their team as far as being infected goes.

My neighbors are extreme denialist. The virus is fake, the vaccines are killing people, etc. Their family has been sick for the past 7 days now. It started with one adult and now all 4 (2 adults two small children) are all sick. "It's definitely not Covid" per the parents. Who refuse to be tested so not to have their "fake" diagnosis added to the already fake totals. They're that far out there. I've left the littles some baked treats but I'm over the parents and their willful ignorance.

I'm truly sorry you got sick. We've been doing the right things for months and months now, and yet we're still at the mercy of those who refuse to even try. This moment in time is a cruel experiment in our patience. Sadly, at least mine is waning.

[The Polack MSgt]

29. I appreciate your response herding cats

And I can't find a single lie in it.

I gotta go to bed again though. Good Night - I'm off to Music appreciation for the lullaby post...

[herding cats]

30. Sweet healing dreams to you.

[live love laugh]

57. They're the equivalent of suicide bombers. Remember them?

Never thought we’d have our own version but here we are.

[Alliepoo]

15. Well, dang.

I’m sending you tons of good vibes! Hope you are feeling tip top soon coz what you’re going thru pretty much sucks!! Take good care of you.

[The Polack MSgt]

26. Thank You

[StarryNite]

17. Sending you good vibes and wishing you well.

This is why it needs to be a combination of the vaccines as well as a good treatment for Covid if we are ever going to get a handle on this pandemic.

[jmbar2]

18. Wow. That really sucks

I've read that there are a lot of breakthrough cases, but never understood how serious it is until your case. That's really scary. Take care of yourself - you are a treasure here on DU.

Here are some good tunes for ya:

[The Polack MSgt]

25. Wow, this is a solid record so far (10 minute in)

Thank you so much - Can't wait to unleash it on my Jazz-Head friends

[love_katz]

19. We are here for you.

Wishing you a smooth and steady recovery. Thank you for welcoming us to your Whine cellar. Nice decor Avoiding Republicans is standard operating procedure for me, and good advice in any case. When you feel up to it, please keep us posted about how you are doing.

[denbot]

20. Shit dude, I hope the symptoms pass soon..

As per 5,200k, at least you are not humping gear and are close to beer. Best vibes.

[The Polack MSgt]

23. Absolutely right. But I'm a whiskey, neat, kinda lush now

And your right again - Compared to my 3 deployments, I am an office lady with soft and pasty hands.

But knowing all that still doesn't stop me from bitching.

[denbot]

35. You have every right.

We also are doing what we can to be cautious, but that often is not enough. Be well.

[GeoWilliam750]

21. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery

[The Polack MSgt]

24. thank you

Appreciate it

[wnylib]

33. I found a list of hospitals, med centers, and

universities that specialize in long term covid recovery. If none of them are near you, or if you can't get to any of them, your doctor could contact some of them for consultation advice on helping you recover from your symptoms.

The url for the website is humongous and I can't copy and paste it from my phone. I will list some (there are 44 of them). You could probably find the site by doing a search with the words "Beckers Hospital Review post covid health systems."

UChicago Medicine
Aurora CO UC Health
Cleveland Clinic
Houston Baylor College of Medicine
Houston Methodist
Galveston TX UTMB Health
U of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City
Chicago Loyola Medicine
U of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
Cincinnati UC Health
Los Angeles Cedars Sinai
Boston Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Yale New Haven (CT) Hospital
Cedar Rapids IA Mercy Medical Center

I think they would be happy to consult with and advise a doctor who is treating a covid recovery patient in order to share with her what they have learned and get her feedback on how well their advice works in your care.

I think there are also online support groups for people coping with the effects of covid.

Wishing you a full recovery. Hang in there. You are not alone in dealing with this, so there are people who have learned about situations like yours and can help.

[Scrivener7]

38. What a nice thing you did!

[wnylib]

42. I hope that it helps.

[The Polack MSgt]

44. Thank you for this info

I appreciate your effort

[wnylib]

47. Well, it just seems to me that

if your doctor is not familiar with how to treat the symptoms, she could get some advice and guidance from doctors and researchers who are developing ways to help people fully recover.

About 5 years ago I had a chronic muscle inflammation as a result of a viral infection. It was very painful and debilitating. The PA that I was going to did not recognize what it was and kept saying it was arthritis. I could barely walk and could not raise my arms. This went on for a year, getting increasingly worse.

Then that PA left the practice and the new one recognized the symptoms right away and how to treat it. It was not arthritis. It was a condition called poly myalgia rheumatica which affects a certain demographic following viral infections. Treatable with Prednisone. It took 2 years of the Prednisone to get back to normal. The relief from the first dose was like a miracle.

Sometimes it just takes someone with the right experience and knowledge to solve a problem. I have read and heard in interviews that some clinics and doctors are having success in treating long term covid symptoms. So why suffer if someone with experience knows things that could help?

[SunSeeker]

27. That sucks. Hope you feel better soon.

Did they give you Regeneron when you got sick?

[The Polack MSgt]

32. No

Motrin and Water...

And a band aid if you're a pussy

It's still the mind set of the Medical Corps as far as I can tell

[SunSeeker]

34. LOL Well, I hope they take better care of you than that!

I guess they only give Regeneron to unvaccinated folks, i.e. people they think are gonna die. Still, I think anyone who is covid positive should get it if they want it. Monoclonal antibodies seem to clear covid symptoms up within 48 hours, so long as you get within a few days of coming down with symptoms.

[orleans]

28. i'm so sorry this is happening to you

i wonder if you were given an inhaler would that help?
and if rubbing vicks vapo rub on your throat and chest would that help with coughing. it helps me when i start coughing and can't seem to stop. (i take a blood pressure med that has coughing as a side effect--i don't take it every day and that is one of the reasons.)



keep us posted. you're in my thoughts.

[Unwind Your Mind]

54. Lisinopril?

If that drug makes you cough, there are alternatives. They try that one first because it’s cheap but it’s very common that people have that cough and they should switch you to something else.

If you’re not taking it every day, I’m worried for you. Take care of yourself

[orleans]

55. ding ding ding. that's the one. nt

[Hortensis]

63. Ask about another. I was switched to Losartan, still inexpensive

and works fine for me.

Maybe do it BEFORE you get sick with something that causes cough, though. I waited to use up my supply of lisinopril because in the beginning the cough was mild. But the cough worsened and became very frequent and more intractable over the month. THEN I came down with a chest problem, and between the two I developed severe, never-get-over, throwing-up spasm, can't lie down, can't sleep cough. I did get over it eventually, of course, but absolutely to be avoided.

And flu season's coming up, and of course Covid season's here.

[disndat]

90. Side effect from blood pressure medication

I had the same coughing when I first used blood pressure medication. There are many
other blood pressure medications that don't cause that side effect. You might try
Procardia or it's non-generic, less costly prescription.

[appalachiablue]

31. Hang in there, keep improving & good vibes. Sorry you

are going thru this, stay strong.

[SheltieLover]

36. Have you seen this recent research?

https://news.uams.edu/2021/09/09/uams-research-team-finds-potential-cause-of-covid-19-long-haulers/

I'm not a medical professional & have no idea how this might impacr your treatment, if at all, but I felt to share with you.

Perhaps email it to your doctor?

Healing vibes on the way to you. 💓💓💓

[malaise]

37. Damn!

[Scrivener7]

39. I'm so sorry to hear this. That must be so hard. And you did

everything right. I hope you feel better soon.

[Thtwudbeme]

40. I am vaccinated today- and being tested today. As far as your current symptoms

Your Dr. DID give you the correct answer.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/people-who-were-vaccinated-and-got-covid-19-were-half-as-likely-to-have-long-term-symptoms#Risk-of-long-haul-COVID-19-49%-lower-for-vaccinated-people

[The Polack MSgt]

46. I guess I beat the odds with this, and yet I never win raffles

Thanks for the link

[Thtwudbeme]

48. At this point in the game, I consider "winning" against Covid

means no vent/ death.

I am so sorry you are dealing with this shit. I'll know in 24 hours if I am going to be a passenger on that same shitty boat

[The Polack MSgt]

49. I wish you the best of luck cousin

[brer cat]

41. I hope this ends soon.

[Maeve]

43. So sorry to hear this

We had to cancel a business trip (i.e., lost about $1000 we would have made) because our vaxxed neighbor came back from a trip to Alaska with covid and we were exposed before she was tested (we lucked out and didn't get sick).

This long covid business seems to be a real pain, but I don't need to tell you that. Hope that you go back to getting better. Take care (and naps)!

[LiberalLoner]

45. I'm so so sorry. I hope so much you will have a full recovery, and soon!🌹🌹🌹

[mountain grammy]

50. Took my son a month to start feeling like himself

Hope you’re feeling better soon.

[niyad]

51. I am so very sorry to hear what you are going through. All I can offer are virtual hugs,

and vibes for healing, strength and endurance. Vent away, your DU family is here for you,

[bucolic_frolic]

52. I'm no doctor, but from what I've read and experienced, COVID damages

circulation and smaller blood vessels throughout the body. Any hint of anemia popping up? Could be reduced absorption of foods. I had this post-intestinal illness which I won't go into. LOTS of yogurt, digestive enzymes, B-vitamins, folate, green smoothies (several a week - kale, collards), and that old time remedy, a real standby that I was forced to take when a child - blackstrap molasses. It has minerals, B-vitamins, lite on sugar compared to regular molasses. Some people say it is a treatment for gray hair, and I found that to be true a bit, some hairs did darken up mid-stream. I took about a bottle a month for 2-3 months. I found these to be a general supplement for post-viral, flu, intestinal, major illness. Of course mine was not COVID related, so my case was general support.

[Fla Dem]

53. So sorry for what you're going through. Hope you get on the road to full recovery very soon.

[malthaussen]

56. Sucks, dude.

Whine all you like. Nobody has to click your post.

-- Mal

[ProfessorGAC]

59. Get Better Soon, Sarge!

At least it doesn't screw up your music listening.

[mzmolly]

60. I'm sorry

to hear that you're experiencing this. It sounds awful, to say the least.

I hope you're fully recovered soon.

[boston bean]

61. Sorry to hear this. I hope in a few months you will feel better.

Which vaccine did you get?

[Duncanpup]

62. Get well

Stop riding sick call 😉

[regrestic]

64. Get well

Keep positive, you'll get there !!

[Hortensis]

65. Fatigue's a big spoiler, all right, but maybe just go with it, give yourself

permission to be a musical slug until you feel like dancing again. Hope your lung scan results are boring.

[The Polack MSgt]

67. Me too. Appreciate the support

The elephant in the room of course was the 30 years of me smoking a pack of Camel non-filters every day.

Yeah, I quit almost 4 years ago, but that had to have done damage - at least some portion of this is my fault.

[Hortensis]

75. Wait to see the results. I thought I had lung damage because

I have an autoimmune disorder that attacks the lungs and was so exhausted after pneumonia and a collapsed lung, but nothing significant. Just astonishing debilitation after less than a week of pneumonia.

Smoking reminds me of a woman in a line yesterday, though. In her late 70s/80s probably, long white hair (not a Georgia church lady style!), skinny and brown as a lifelong heavy smoker -- yet fit and elegant and somehow cool looking -- puffing away in her car. Hadn't realized how few do that now, but on her it looked interesting.

[calimary]

66. And yet your wit is as strong and healthy as ever.

I LOVE your “Whine Cellar”! May have to borrow that one!

[superpatriotman]

71. Sgt I hope your health improves

I literally just had a conversation which we agreed that Covid unknowns are the scariest part.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

74. Oh no!!!! How long has it been since you tested positive?

Read extreme tiredness/weakness can last a couple months

My vaccinated father in law caught it and it is in a hospital rehab facility. He is almost paralyzed on one side and too weak to raises his hand on the other.

So sounds hokey but things could be worse? Although if someone said that to me I'd probably slap them in the face LOL

[hay rick]

80. Best wishes for your full recovery.

[elias7]

94. The median time of pulmonary recovery is 2-3 months for severe illness

and sometimes longer, like up to a year, so do not give up hope.

However, persistent dyspnea at 3-6 weeks should be worked up, as your doctor is doing. Must rule out non-pulmonary causes 1) myocarditis (heart inflammation with or without permanent damage) will look similarly, and should be ruled out with cardiac enzymes, ECG and ECHO (ultrasound); and 2) thromboembolic disease (i.e. pulmonary emboli, aka blood clots), and that may have been the scan your doc was doing at the time the machine broke. A CT angiogram of the chest can not only rule out blood clots, but will also give good visualization of your lungs to see what kind of damage there still might be, from persistent inflammatory process to a more permanent type of fibrosis, which you don’t want.

Following this, pulmonary function testing may help define presence or absence of lung damage or reactivity. In some, an asthma type reactivity persists and will respond to albuterol inhalers as someone in this thread mentioned, or longer term asthma type management. Those with more long lasting lung damage will benefit from pulmonary rehab, which I imagine is a lifelong process and requires patience and discipline, but hopefully you will not be in that group…

Hope this helps…

N.B. I am a physician, but hope I’m telling you stuff that’s not so obvious…

[The Polack MSgt]

97. Yes - I had the ultrasound already, and a couple vials of blood were drawn and the Doc says -

That the labs all look good.

Thanks for the rundown - I appreciate hearing the details - The why of what is going on, mostly what I got from my Doctor was the "This is what we're gonna do"

I make fun of military health care, but in general I'm confident I'll receive good care

Again, thank you for taking the time to respond

[elias7]

118. Good luck to you...

[Demsrule86]

95. Are you checking your 0xygen levels? Also, Covid can sometimes cause a blood clot. I had one in

my bladder! It could be in your lungs or anywhere.

[Cha]

96. Ooh I am so Sorry, TPMsgt!

Here's Healing Vibes to you!

[Marthe48]

98. Could you have an oxygen concentrator?

Or would you want one? Is oxygen treatment an option, or would it harm you further?

I had pneumonia in 2016. I was treated without hospital stay, but I felt tired for weeks. You have my sympathy. Take care of yourself.

[Unknown Beatle]

101. I'm glad you made it through covid.

Breakthrough, no doubt. Keep on keeping on.

You have exactly 10,000 posts. Congrats.

[BumRushDaShow]

102. Wanted to give you a congrats on the 10K posts to go along with the healing vibes

and offer up a mellow song done by a kid who just turned 20 this year (he's like a "Little Stevie Wonder" doing Oscar Peterson). First heard this last year I think, on SiriusXM and was like OMG (album came out in 2019) -

[crimycarny]

103. Sounds so similar to my cousin--took him about 6 weeks

My cousin got a breakthrough case (was double-vaxxed with Pfizer). He was sick for about a week, like a typical flu (fever, aches, congestion, etc). However he continued to feel weak and winded for about 6 weeks. Out of breath when he would go upstairs, would get light-headed just from standing up, etc. But after about 6 weeks the symptoms had faded away to near normal, now 3 months later he's feeling fine.

[MustLoveBeagles]

104. I hope you feel better soon

[Evolve Dammit]

105. Love the Whine Cellar. That is one ordeal. Scary stuff. I ended up with pnuemonia 1/20. I'm sure I

had it. Still brain fogged big time, and very fatigued. Never coughed so hard except for a bronchitis bout. Actually pulled a muscle in my abdomen from coughing. This is one nasty virus. I hope you get better every day. Keep us posted.

[mnhtnbb]

106. I am so sorry the damn virus got you.

Love the "Whine Cellar". Laughter is good.

I'm curious which vaccine you had?

I hope the next trip for the lung scan is uneventful. And I hope you get some good news and start feeling better soon.

[Niagara]

107. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I hope that you find this link useful.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-recovery-breathing-exercises

[The Polack MSgt]

110. Thank You for the link Niagara

Just curious, are you from around the Town of Niagara or Niagara Falls?

I was stationed at a radio site in Wheatfield and lived in the Town of Niagara back in the 90s

[Niagara]

111. You're welcome, The Polack MSgt

I certainly hope that you start feeling better soon.


Yes, I live in Niagara County New York and close to Wheatfield.

[The Polack MSgt]

112. Wow, on 425 about 7 miles or so east of North Tonawanda

there was a 13 acre fenced in facility with a bunch of antenna poles and 2 cinder block buildings.

I have no idea if it's still in operation

I worked there for 3 years. Both my kids were born in Niagara Falls

[Niagara]

113. I believe 425 is also called Shawnee Road.

If you would like to email me the name of the radio site, I could ask around and try to find out if it's in operation for you. I drive my vehicle once a week so that the battery doesn't lose its charge, I could drive past the building as well.




I'm originally from Indiana and it was a shock to me how many things there is to do, parks and grocery stores this area had compared to where I came from.



I love going to the State Park's here. They're absolutely stunning.

[raging moderate]

108. So sorry you are having such a rough time. Hang in there!

Feel free to vent online as much as you want. By the way, your writing does not sound at all confused.

[SergeStorms]

109. Sorry to hear that, MSgt.

I'd expected you to be well on your way to a full recovery by now.

It must be extremely frustrating for someone like you, able to overcome all obstacles as soon as they pop up. 😷

Hang in there. They're coming up with new treatments rather quickly now, so science is on your side. You'll be your old fit self in due course. The virus is no little thing (figuratively, of course) and you'll start kicking it's ass soon enough.

Don't get discouraged, alright? You'll beat it, it's just going to take a little longer than you're used to.

[BigmanPigman]

114. Do you have your senses of taste and smell?

My sister's friend had to return to teaching before vaccinations came out so she got Covid long haul and almost a year later has to "learn how to taste" all over again. I don't know the details on the physical therapy.

[The Polack MSgt]

115. I never "lost" my sense of taste, it was just muted. I still have NO significant sense of smell

Which affect my ability to figure out flavors. But I never lost salty sour sweet & bitter

[BigmanPigman]

117. That's interesting.

Smell and taste go hand in hand. How do they do smell-therapy? I imagine strong, contrasting smells like skunks, roses, garlic, cookies, etc. Covid seems to be different for everyone. I have been exhausted since I had a cold in July. Everything makes me paranoid about Covid now, even questioning a cold.

[LuckyCharms]

116. Please get well soon.

I'm sorry you are going through this.

[DashOneBravo]

119. You can whine Top.

Get well soon buddy.