My COVID journey and my opinion of CDC guidelines

[hamsterjill]

Try as I might, I avoided catching COVID until recently. I am vaccinated and boosted and wear a mask when I’m out anywhere.

I work remotely except our company has each team going in to the office now one day per week for “team building”. I typically mask there, except for a few minutes when I’m away from others and while eating lunch. I’m sure that I caught the virus at work because the time frame from exposure to symptoms lines up and several other employees have been positive.

Here’s my timeline:

I tested positive on July 22nd.

I took Paxlovid beginning the evening of the 22nd through the morning of the 27th. I have had what would be described as a mild case. Some congestion, fatigue, cough and an occasional low grade fever.

I didn’t test negative until August 2nd.

I started feeling a little crummy again yesterday evening (August 6th) so I tested this morning, and I am positive again.

I have not returned to the office since testing positive and have been working only remotely.

My company’s guidelines follow the CDC recommendations. I was technically cleared to go back to the office with a mask on July 27th. I was cleared to be at the office without wearing a mask by August 2nd. Thankfully I haven’t returned.

Rebound positive tests mean you are contagious. I could easily have chosen not to retest and could have gone to the office anytime without a mask after August 2nd. I don’t want to infect anyone and I want to be responsible, so I will continue to isolate and work remotely this week and until I have a negative test.

But I think the CDC guidelines simply suck. Had I no conscience, or like some people had I no choice but to return to work around others, I would certainly have been infecting others.

This five day stuff is just ludicrous and there is way too much emphasis on getting back to normal instead of giving people the time to heal.

Rant over…

[XanaDUer2]

1. I'm sorry

Take care

[hamsterjill]

2. Thanks.

I’m doing well and have been luckier than most.

Hope you’re doing well! Stay safe.

[myohmy2]

3. same here...

" I am vaccinated and boosted and wear a mask when I’m out anywhere. "

...so far (knock on wood) I haven't caught it...but I guess it's just a question of time before we all get it...

...I've got my sleeve up and arm ready waiting for the next boost...

...I hate being sick...

[hamsterjill]

18. Pfizer is coming out with a variant booster in September.

At least that’s what I hear. I am due for a booster but was thinking of waiting for that.

I will be checking with my doctor now, of course, to see how long I need to wait to consider another booster.

[dwayneb]

52. Can you take both?

If so, why not?

[AllyCat]

59. In the past boosters/doses

we had to wait 5-6 months. I'm in the same place as hamsterjill. Really want to get the 4th shot, but don't want to have to wait until January to get the new one that probably works better against the new variants. Or maybe it doesn't matter. There is just no way to tell right now.

Having just finished my first, and hopefully last, bout of Covid, I don't want to wait. Then again, I don't want to have to wait LONGER.

[peacebuzzard]

4. I also work for a company that says its ok to return after 5 days; testing is optional.

Testing after 5 days optional if symptoms continue. There is a big mixed up bag of information and optional guidelines that do not make sense. Where I work, there was actually a huge covid sick out that caused major detriments and the guidelines were softened severely.

I try to wear the KN95 as much as possible.

[hamsterjill]

5. I think that a sickout is what it's going to take.

Companies are going to have to see that passing it around impacts their productivity.

We have some work martyrs that I am convinced will have to get it themselves and have a hard hitting case for them to understand that it’s not just a minor cold. They are, of course, big Trump supporters. Need I say more?

Thanks for your response.

[Ms. Toad]

6. One slight clarification to the CDC rules -

(Not well known)

If you are testing, and you continue to test positive, the 5-day rule does not apply. You are required to isolate until you test negative. Then for 5 days after that you are to mask when in the presence of others.

If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test1 towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation). If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10.

Link to source

This is on the isolation guidelines page - at the bottom (Ending Isolation). You get to this paragraph by following a link which states (without qualification) that your period of isolation is 5 days.

So you weren't actually cleared to leave your home until Aug 2 (assuming you were testing daily and knew you were positive).

So 5 days later - August 8 would be the first day you were free to enter confined spaces wearing a mask.

So because you appear to have been testing, the CDC guidelines would not have cleared you to return until AFTER you were again testing positive.

BUT - those rules are hidden - and discourage testing because the initial period of isolation extends as long as you are testing.

I agree the rules are lousy - in no small part because none of the summaries discuss testing at day 5, 6, etc. So, while it is true that you are allowed to return at day 6 if you had not tested (and didn't know you were still positive), because you were responsible you were required to isolate for longer. But no one, including the CDC, made that clear.

[hamsterjill]

8. I agree with what you are saying.

And thank you for that clarification.

But the company that I work for clears everyone after five days to return to work masked, and to work without a mask after ten days. We have die hard work martyrs who are doing just that because they don’t give a damn about anyone else. The people to whom I refer have adequate means and have accrued sick leave where they could take time off if they chose. But they fear that they will be penalized if they don’t meet deadlines, etc.

I feel we have an obligation to one another to try to keep from infecting others if at all possible. I think most people feel that same way, and it’s too bad that corporate America doesn’t value that

[Ms. Toad]

39. You just said they followed the CDC recommendations -

Which include that if you are testing - and continue to test - isolation continues past the 5th day until you are negative. So it appears your company is NOT following the CDC guidelines, and it is your company's policies you are unhappy with - not the CDC guidelines.

They probably think they are following them - but they aren't.

I agree that we have an obligation to keep from infecting others, and I wish the CDC was much clearer that the isolation it is recommending is a minimum of 5 days - not a maximum.

[hamsterjill]

40. Yes I guess they think they are following them.

Didn’t realize that my every word, sentence and meaning was going to be scrutinized. At best the CDC guidelines are lacking and confusing.

The point of the whole thread is that corporate America is pushing employees to go back to work too soon.

I’ll leave it at that.

[Ms. Toad]

42. Your understanding of the CDC guidelines is the most common one

I was trying to educate anyone reading this thread about the actual guidelines, because probably 90% of the general population misunderstands them in the exact same way.

If you test every day, they are not complying with the CDC guidelines if they require you to come to work on day 6 (or later) if the test you took that day is positive.

[hamsterjill]

44. This piece is a human interest story.

It is not a scientific piece. I think there are times when an “I have to be right all the time” approach needs to be curtailed.

I think this is one of those times, don’t you?

[Ms. Toad]

55. It is a human interest story - which perpetuated a common misunderstanding of the CDC rules.

All I addressed was that common misunderstanding - because perpetuation of the myth that 5 days is the maximum isolation recommended by the CDC (as long as symptoms are resolving) is dangerous - in the same way what your employer is doing is dangerous.

People need to realize that once they havew tested positive (and are doing the responsible thing by continuing to test) the CDC does NOT recommend they go back on day 6 if they are still testing positive.

I tried to agree with you on all other aspects, because you are absolutely correct that your employer's practices (pretty darn common ones) are irresponsible. Not only that but most employers who implement those rules - AND - individuals who follow them in their personal lives truly believe they are doing what the CDC recommended, when they are not. Education and knowledge of what the recommendations actually say (also human interest) is important.

I also absolutely agree that the CDC rules are incredibly confusing. They are also (I'm agreeing with you here) inadequate - because they do not require testing after 5 days; only that if you choose to test you continue to isolate until you are negative. That failure to require testing encourages people not to test because deliberate ignorance here, under the CDC guidance,is a defense to being an irresponsible spreader.

[hamsterjill]

61. Thank you.

We are in agreement. You are right. Your last sentence explains the vehicle for companies like mine to fail to explicitly follow the CDC guidelines. It’s no wonder when the guidelines are unclear.

Might I suggest that you make your findings known to the CDC? Perhaps they are the ones you need to “educate” since you feel the need for that.

Have a great afternoon.

[Ms. Toad]

62. It's both the CDC and the public.

The CDC is not likely to change the guidelines, or even their explanation of them. And the government has worse, more devastating, piss poor communication about Medicare, so that is my current "talk to the government" project (starting with my senators).

But, in the mean time, I can at least help explain what the COVID guidance actually is.

You have a great afternoon, too.

[Strelnikov_]

67. Guess not n/t

[hamsterjill]

68. Thanks for your reply.

You made me laugh. Thanks for that!!!

[BlackSkimmer]

46. Thanks for giving some insight into those guidelines.

I think they've changed things around so much that no one is sure just what is what anymore.

[Ms. Toad]

56. This "if you know you are positive continue to isolate" has been there since

they implemented the 5 days isolation + 5 days of masking guidance.

They are just piss poor at explaining it.

I only realized that it was a minimum of 5, not a maximum, when I had COVID and I was trying to sort out exactly what I was supposed to do. Coincidentally, just before that someone had posted here that the isolation period was potentially longer than 5 days (not my understanding at the time), so (as I usually do when I encounter something that doesn't match my understanding) I ran off to do fact checking.

[BlackSkimmer]

57. Well, you've been on top of it since the beginning, and I appreciate it.

I think the CDC has done a good job of fouling things up and muddying the waters throughout.

The whole "yeehaw! let's take our masks off!" was just stupid imo.

I mask indoors, and I'm pretty much a hermit anyway, but I never want that virus again. I had it right about this time of year in 2020. I remember it very well.

[Layzeebeaver]

7. My recent experience...

Small plane flight to north Ronaldsay (Orkney islands) no one on plane masked (except for me and my wife) 48 hours later I’ve got a throat issue.

The next 6 days I enjoy rusted razor blades in my throat, chills, aches and pains, nasal issues.

Tested every day. Negative. Except for day 6. Then negative after that.

In my opinion, the virus has evolved. And our testing tech has not kept pace.

[hamsterjill]

10. I agree.

I don’t think the data is being compiled in ways that it should be by now. Enough time has elapsed for at least some preliminary information.

Like, how many cases and the severity with each vaccine or vaccine combination. Is one indeed better than the other?

More research on why some people just blaze through COVID with no real severity - even unvaccinated people - whereas others have much worse cases. I know of two instances where married, heterosexual couples got the virus. In both instances, one spouse got really sick while the other barely knew they had it. It was the husband in one instance and the wife in the other. Was it initial viral load of what they were exposed to? What’s the difference? Immune strength?

There has been too little forward movement in my opinion (no one has to agree) in the time that has elapsed. We need better answers. My opinion is that there is a need to recoup money for the initial vaccines and that may be impacting research. Again, my opinion and anyone is free to disagree.

[Hugin]

26. I think stress can play a large role in severity and catching the disease.

Anecdotal, I know.

About two months ago one family member had what I don’t consider a “mild” case. Granted it didn’t kill them, however they were very sick and are only now getting over some of the symptoms. Fully boosted for their age, too.

At the time of infection, this family member was very busy with several major positive life events. Not enough nutrition or sleep. By all rights, someone else in the family should have caught it. We all repeatedly tested negative for a couple of weeks following a major exposure. Not one single person in the family did. We were also at far lower levels of stress and exhaustion.

This family member is also very consistent in following the other COVID protocols to the point we’re not even sure where their exposure occurred.

[hamsterjill]

35. I would agree as to stress.

We all have it and have to deal with it. It would be truthful for me to say that I’ve been in a current stressed out state for several months. Just life events, etc., and I’m working toward fixing the majority of what I’m dealing with. But having greater stress than usual - something a whole lot of people have right now, especially, most assuredly plays some role.

[StarryNite]

38. More research! Yes! Absolutely!

It seems like everything has practically stalled or maybe it's because the media just isn't reporting much on COVID anymore. I still want the nasal vaccines to be our next defense.

[liberal_mama]

17. There have been several times during the pandemic where I've had some Covid symptoms, including

when my husband actually had Covid. I took tests literally every day and never tested positive. I wonder if it's possible to get a very low dose of virus (I always wear an N95 when out and wore one around my husband when he had Covid) that is enough to cause some mild symptoms, but not enough to make a rapid test turn positive.

[hamsterjill]

20. I believe that can be true.

From the package insert on the test that I use, it specifically says that a negative result may not be completely reliable but a positive likely is.

I’ve used the same type of test each time I’ve tested. The first positive was blatant. A few days later, the positive line was lighter and finally, there was an unmistakable negative - until this morning when there was another blatant positive.

[Tree Lady]

33. I wondered same thing 3 days after hubby

Tested positive and was in isolation, i got a weird headache that lasted all day, a slight fever that lasted only one day, bit of sore throat and felt tired and off by next day I was back to normal.

My husband day 11 still is sick and coughing, and I had 3 negative tests including one on my day of symptoms.

So I wondered also.

[RobinA]

45. I Know Exactly When

I was exposed. My doctor told me that a negative test wouldn't be reliable until at least Day 5. I had mild symptoms on days 3 and 4 and tested negative. Finally on Day 5 I was positive.

[Tree Lady]

64. I think I know too

Hubby was sitting at table next to couple on ferry and wife was coughing. I didn't stay left to check on dog. So he was more exposed to her. When I came back 20-30 min later the couple was just leaving and he sat all that time next to them no mask. He kept thinking it wouldn't happen to him because he was boosted. Learned a tough lesson.

[dwayneb]

53. No doubt

These tests are not all that sensitive; think about those that have gotten infected but do not test positive for 4 or 5 days. In the interim, they are infected and the virus is replicating. But not detectable.

Same is surely true for someone who gets a low dose of the virus like you did, or for whatever reason is able to suppress the virus better than others. I am assuming you were vaccinated and boosted?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

69. I read about tests during my bout last montg

The gist was that Rapid tests give false negatives at the beginning and PCR give false positives at the end.
So if you test negative at home but have symptoms, get a PCR test done. And don’t bother with a PCR after you are feeling better, they can give false positives for several weeks after you are better.

[catrose]

9. Thank you for telling us. Everyone's experience strengthens my resolve to stay home, stay masked.

I hope you can avoid going back to onsite work at all. Catching Covid is not much of a team-building exercise.

Wishing you a complete recovery,
cat rose

[hamsterjill]

11. Thank you, catrose.

I’ll not be able to avoid eventually having to go back, but I am counting down the days until I can retire and it is on the distant horizon.

You are wise to continue to do all you can to keep from getting this. I will be masking fully when I return and I’ll be eating lunch in my car.

[cilla4progress]

12. Very, very helpful.

Thank you.

I've been mostly masking when I'm indoors - which is rare, and never around more than a couple people, esp. in my physical space or for more than a few minutes.

Most visiting is outdoors.

Hubs and I are still COVID virgins! We don't know if thats good or bad.

[hamsterjill]

13. Trust me. COVID virginity is a good thing.

My case was a mild one. But still not fun.

Best of luck to you in staying virgins. That’s the way to go if at all possible.

[AllyCat]

23. It's good.

We thought we were going to miss it completely because we were so careful. Have no idea how my husband got it.

[hamsterjill]

25. I think it's just everywhere right now.

The spread is not being taken seriously enough in my opinion. I am grateful we have tools to mitigate it but avoiding it should still be the goal. Hard as that is. As I said up post, I think I got it at work.

There are still vulnerable people who, for whatever reason, get very sick. That should be enough in my opinion for there to be more emphasis on continued prevention, and that seems to have gone to the wayside.

Stay safe and take care!!’

[dwayneb]

51. Yes - but hospitalizations are still quite low

Here in my state, hospitalizations are still 5X lower than the peak.

Since we can't really trust the case rates this is what I use to decide my level of risk.

What is means is that even though spread may be high, the vaccines are doing their job to prevent serious disease.

My neighbors who were vaccinated and had one of the boosters, are in their late 80's and both got Covid from a grandson. They appear to be recovering fine with no long term effects. Of course there are exceptions but this is exactly what Fauci keeps telling us. If you take the vaccines and boosters, your odds of getting serious damaging disease is pretty low.

[AllyCat]

60. That is true at my facility as well.

Hospitalizations are low and very, very few in the ICU. Almost none on vents. I live in a highly vaccinated county with good health care options, however. Not everyone is so fortunate.

Availability of paxlovid is a challenge. Only a few pharmacies carry it and getting it from anyone other than a PCP is impossible. Pharmacists not allowed to "prescribe" it in Wisconsin as they can in some other states. If it's like that for us here, I wonder what it must be like for people in other parts of the state who are not vaccinated and far away from facilities and reality after gobbling up RW misinformation.

[hamsterjill]

65. Absolutely!

And thank goodness for that fact.

That said, however, having this crap has not been a picnic.

[Dorian Gray]

14. Those are basic guidelines

for people who don't have the means or the know-how to self test daily.

I had the means, so when it hit our house, all of us tested daily until we were no longer positive. Then we went back to work/school outside the house.

I get why people are upset, sure....

I've also been reading a ton about Paxlovid and rebounds. (Especially in vaccinated people who are low risk.) None of us took Paxlovid in my household, and everybody who tested positive cleared it in 7 days. I'm not saying that's the norm or not the norm. (None of us were high risk. My daughter was too young to be boosted, so she was low risk anyhow. My husband was Vaccinated and boosted, and he never even had a fever and had mild cold symptoms. My father in law was older, boosted. We wavered on Paxlovid. Tried to convince him, but he said he wasn't all that sick either, and felt like it wasn't necessary. His case lasted the longest, but was mildest.) I never got it (was the only double boosted in our household).

I know it's all a crapshoot and feels overwhelming, but most of society has the tools to make covid less daunting. Use them!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. Oh dear.. had no idea. I don't really get how it seems

precautions and warnings and guidelines and masks and press conferences have seemed to go by the wayside.

Why? It's like we are trying to match sentiment of the crazies instead of prudent science.

Makes me sad.

Kudos to you for doing the right thing H!!!

PS cases up in Central Texas. Not surprised one iota.

[hamsterjill]

16. Thank you, Laura.

Cases are way up in my metro and school starts in a week. You know they will be a super spreader.

Hope you are staying well!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Thanks. Still managing to avoid it.. although I read that

Scientists are saying most people have had it and may not know. But having it before doesn't protect against latest virus strains.

So how do you feel now? Did people you are close to get it too? Was it scary?

[hamsterjill]

21. I feel okay.

Tired. Still have some nasal congestion and occasional cough from that dripping down (sorry to be blunt). Low grade fever in the late afternoons a few times. Only one night where my fever go to just under 102 and the sheets were wet from sweat.

So far, I’ve not infected anyone close or at work. The day that I believe I caught it at work, I had been in a conference room meeting for two hours with about fifteen people. None of them got sick, so I think I was likely infected by someone at the office who was not in that meeting. Not scientific, I realize, but my gut feeling.

The only times I have felt afraid has been a few coughing fits where they have lasted a few minutes and just don’t seem to want to stop. I’ll be seeing my doctor soon. Have appointment on Tuesday, but she may want me to wait since the recent positive test. I intend to discuss the coughing and see what if anything can be done.

I have taken this very seriously. I’ve rested and slept when I felt like it, taken over the counter meds as needed and I am guzzling water.

Missed my daughter’s birthday celebration today and that was rough, but better to be safe and we can celebrate in a couple of weeks.

Please keep trying to avoid it. That is best. But if you get it, I wouldn’t panic. I immediately called my doctor who wanted me to start the Paxlovid (everyone may be different) and gave me guidance on what over the counter stuff she felt worked best.

[AllyCat]

22. They do suck. I posted last week about it hitting our house.

EVERYONE got it. All mild except me. Mr AC should have been able to come to work on Thursday. He was still positive. Today day 5 for me and our youngest. Both positive. Everyone missing work.

I agree: I think the CDC is wrong on this one. If people are going back to work on day 5 with a mask, I can understand why it’s spreading.

We are all doing much better now and Mr AC is finally negative. I’m sick of being at home but do not dare getting anyone sick. We’ve been on our property except to get grocery pickup, pharmacy drive-thru, and testing.

[hamsterjill]

24. Glad you are all doing better.

Just be cognizant of the possibility of rebound. It can happen with or without taking Paxlovid.

Hopefully, you are all DONE with it. All the best to you and your family.

[AllyCat]

27. I've heard rebound is pretty common with this variant.

Did you actually get symptoms again?

[hamsterjill]

28. Low grade fever returned.

That’s really all that alerted me to test again. I’ve had fatigue, nasal congestion and a cough since testing positive the first time, but those symptoms have improved a little each day. Yesterday, I felt tired and feverish, so I took my temp and had a little over 99. I typically run about a degree under “normal”, so that meant I had fever. I waited until this morning to test for convenience as I was not going to be in contact with anyone last night.

My daughter’s birthday celebration was today and I tested to be sure I would be okay to go. The positive result meant I missed the party but we will celebrate when this is over.

[live love laugh]

29. My experience too but glad I didn't take Paxlovid.

The rebound issue plus contraindications in view of my mild symptoms wasn’t worth it to me.

But like you I took 10 days to get a negative. And nobody’s wearing masks hardly!

[Tree Lady]

34. My husband stopped taking Paxlovid

Because it made him violently sick to stomach, I guess that is a reaction some get.

[AllyCat]

36. Did he get Paxlovid Mouth?

That’s my biggest complaint at the moment. It got me feeling much better in about 36 hours.

[Tree Lady]

63. I think he was too sick to notice

The metallic taste. He chocked and almost turned blue from getting sick. Scared him. But I will say not taking it Covid has lasted longer. Day 11 and he is still sick. He has had bad headache the whole time along with cough.

[hamsterjill]

66. I lucked out in that part.

I got the metal taste about two hours after taking a dose and then it only seemed to last about an hour or so. Yuck!! But at least mine was the entire time.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

70. My Pax mouth started about 1/2 hour after taking

And lasted until about a 1/2 hour before I had to take the next dose.
My wife didn’t take it and lost her taste, I kind of wish I had.
But it did go away after my last dose.

[hamsterjill]

43. I understand. Paxlovid isn't right for every situation.

My doctor recommended it in my situation.

Yes, in my area, there are few people who still mask. With the numbers going up exponentially every day, too.

[TexasBushwhacker]

30. I agree. The guidelines need to be more exact.

I'm on day 9 since I first had symptoms. Finished Paxlovid yesterday. Muscle aches are gone and coughing much less, but when I took my temp, it was back up to 100.8. WTH?! Took another COVID test and it was negative. Taking another test and temp in the AM. Going into work either way, but masking, and my anti-vaxxing boss and his wife can kiss my ass if they don't like it.

[deurbano]

31. My husband (double boosted w/no previous infection) also recently experienced infection & rebound.

While he tested negative more quickly than you did, he also rebounded more quickly…. with the course of the illness ultimately spanning 18 days. He had symptoms/positive test/first Paxlovid treatment on July 18th, then tested negative on July 22nd. He continued to test negative until the 25th, then didn’t test on the 26th, returned to work on July 27th, then started getting symptoms again that morning, so retested and was positive. (I’d told him to retest before returning to work, and thought he had!) So… back into isolation. He finally tested negative again on Friday (Aug. 5th). That means it took 18 days from the first positive, through rebound, to finally testing negative again. He stayed away from the rest of the family (with all of us wearing N-95s or similar masks when we needed to interact) during the initial and rebound phases, and he also wore a mask during the between phases period. He tested negative again today. Thankfully, no one at work (or home) caught it from him during the initial or rebound phases.

I agree that the guidelines are overly optimistic. Even after the rebound, his medical provider told him he only needed to isolate for five days, when it actually took 9 days to test negative. I think infected people need to test longer before leaving isolation, and also to keep wearing high quality masks longer. Our neighbors had rebound even without the Paxlovid... and the course of their illness (including rebound) was at least 14 days. Also, my husband (at 66) had a tougher time than Biden seemed to, and needed a lot of rest. He still sounds like he has a cold.

I wish you a speedy recovery!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

32. I read stories like yours a lot.

I'm not sure what to think but I'll cheerfully offer an opinion or two here.

I think the essential thing is that Covid is reminding us very powerfully that each individual person has an individual immune system, which is why some get sick, some don't, some die, some get long Covid, both before and after the vaccine.

I wonder if there's anything that people like you have in common: vaccinated, boosted, wearing a mask, but still get Covid. Why? I'm likewise boosted and vaccinated, don't often wear a mask these days, and I have not gotten Covid. Or if I have, I was completely without symptoms, which is apparently possible.

Perhaps the essential difference here is that I'm retired, so I'm not going into an office at all. I do go grocery shopping -- never gave that up. I live in New Mexico, which had people mask early and kept mask mandates much longer than many places. I have been to some large group events this year, mainly science-fiction cons that are a large part of my life. What's nice about science fiction people is that they are VERY science oriented, and more than one of the cons has required proof of vaccination and/or masking. Nice.

I happen to be an extremely healthy person. Essentially never get sick. I'm 73 years old, last had a cold, I dunno, about five years ago? I last got influenza sometime in the mid-70's and I don't bother with flu shots. I know, that's heresy here. This, briefly, is my health history. I'm the third of six children. When I was young we lived in public housing, and so I hung out with lots of other kids. My kindergarten year I was sick a lot, just one thing after another. And of course I got all the things we now have vaccines for, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox. After that kindergarten year I was rarely sick. Some bouts of influenza, mainly the Asian flu in 1957, and of course colds on a regular basis. Having been exposed to so many things earlier, I built up a good immunity to lots of stuff. Yes, I know that Covid truly is a novel virus, which none of us had met before. So of course I got the vaccine and booster.

But back to my point, which is that we all have our own unique immune system. Some of us will resist one disease, some another. Covid, again being a novel disease, is really challenging our collective immune systems.

It's almost as if every single one of us is eventually going to get this. I personally hope not, but if I get it, I get it, and I'll deal with it then.

I hope you are doing much better. And yes, too much emphasis on getting back to normal instead of giving people time to heal is one of the things that is hugely wrong in this culture. Even in companies that have sick leave, people are (stupidly, in my opinion) encouraged to go to work sick. Yeah, let's share that cold, that flu, that Covid.

[hamsterjill]

47. Thanks.

I totally agree that COVID reminds us that we are all individual and can’t be put on a specific recovery time line. I do hope that one day soon more research will yield answers as to why some don’t get sick at all, others die from it, and the rest of us are in between.

I hope you continue to stay safe and avoid this. That is the ultimate goal.

[ecstatic]

37. Where did you hear that a rebound test means you're contagious?

And with your rebound case, did you feel a fresh new set of symptoms? Or did you feel recovered?

[hamsterjill]

41. Here's one of many links

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/07/30/health/paxlovid-rebound-contagious-study-wellness/index.html

I googled a lot. Both Biden and Fauci re-isolated during their rebound cases, too, so that makes me believe rebounds mean still contagious.

I had not had fever for several days and noticed a return. Other than that, the lingering symptoms seem no worse.

[ecstatic]

71. Thanks for the info!

Damn, this nightmare is never going to end!

[hamsterjill]

72. Agreed.

I’m sick of being sick!

[Deep State Witch]

48. Paxlovid Isn't Perfect

It's not a perfect cure. As we've seen with Biden and others, sometimes the standard 5 day course isn't enough. My husband had a breakthrough case as well, when we both had it back at the end of May-beginning of June.

[hamsterjill]

50. Agreed.

It’s the best we have for some situations. My doctor advised me to take it and I do think it lessened the severity. I believe there have been some discussions for giving it for a longer term, but no new recommendations written in stone yet. Fauci took a second course because his condition worsened on his rebound. But he is the only person that I’ve heard has taken a second round.

How long did it take you and your husband to feel totally recovered?

[Deep State Witch]

58. A couple of weeks

While I was negative and starting to rebound by the first weekend of June, I was really fatigued until probably about the middle of June. I've also had a lot of inflammation ever since having COVID, and my weight has shot up by 10 pounds. Probably water retention.

[dwayneb]

49. Paxlovid rebound

Rebounds are pretty common with Paxlovid. They don't know why it happens, or whether you are contagious. But the 5 day return is not sufficient to prevent spread I agree.

[hamsterjill]

54. There are also rebounds in people that have not taken Paxlovid.

Everything I’ve read says rebounds are most likely contagious and you should isolate again for at least five days. I’m sure everyone is different. Some may be contagious. Some not.

No, the five day time frame is NOT long enough. We are seeing number ma continue to climb in my area. It’s nuts that they aren’t reinstating the masking requirements.