How long is his flight? Does he have a history of allergies or asthma, or is there a history of clotting in the family? Obviously not medical advice, but knowing what I know now from having a young adult with Long Covid if it were my family member I'd encourage the following: -High quality mask on flight (preferably N95, would accept KN95 or KF94) with SIP valve if possible to order on time, in order to minimize mask removal for hydrating. -Mast cell stabilizer supplements like quercitin, black seed oil or perilla seed extract or if it's not possible to get those then OTC antihistamines. We know that many of the acute complications of Covid and Long Covid involve inflammation, so stabilizing mast cells to prevent/reduce the release of 1000+ inflammatory mediators could be protective. I'd especially want to do this if he has a history of allergies or asthma, which have a mast cell/histamine component and are among the conditions the CDC lists as increasing risk of complications from Covid. OTC antihistamines may be helpful, but mast cell stablilizers can prevent release of inflammatory mediators other than histamine, so to me that's a better approach. Lots of folks combine both. -Encourage stretching in his seat and walking in the aisle during flight, especially if it's a long or international flight. If there's personal or family history of clotting, could talk with his doc and/or consider compression sock for the flight and a supplement like nattokwinase, serrakinase or lumbrokinase for several weeks. -Really really encourage rest, hydration, great nutrition and holding off on exercise for several weeks before and after he gets home. Lots of folks with LC, including my dd, wonder if pushing it too soon after Covid contributed to developing LC. --ETA: Vit D, C and zinc supplements too.

Because you've expressed such a strong desire to minimize/avoid more pharmaceutical intervention if possible, I want to mention that histamine intolerance or mast cell activation can cause or exacerbate neuropsychological symptoms for some people. Is she sensitive to food dyes? Have you ever tried a low histamine diet? Covid infections seem to be either exacerbating or possibly initiating mast cell activation and neuroinflammation for a subset of people, so a recent illness could be one factor to consider in trying to sort out what has shifted. Sending all good energy to you and your girl.

These are great points. With GI bugs I do think more of hand washing and sanitizing surfaces and toilets but considering ventilation and filtration is really smart. Assign family members who are sick their own bathroom, if possible. With one bathroom leaving a window open or a fan on, masking when using the bathroom and spacing out shower times between those who are ill and those who are well might be helpful, especially during acute symptom phase. We have two bathrooms but only one shower, so we combine different strategies above.

I hope to live my life so that most of the world doesn't rejoice when I die.

Great ideas on this thread! Sophomore year we took our daughters to a few different types of campuses, to help them get a sense if they liked small or large school vibe, rural/surburban/urban, in or out of state etc. I'd keep it low key with just an info session + group tour, so it feels fairly anonymous. Maybe on your own walk through a department or facilities of interest. It's helpful to look around on group tours and see if you can picture your kid finding their people among any of the enrolled and prospective students around you, and I'd definitely focus on schools that seem like a potential fit. Love the idea of checking out tech or community college programs in your area to see if any programs seem like a potential fit. Another way to keep things broad and exploratory at this point. You and your teen might identify settings or directions that give you more clarity, focus and confidence for future steps. ETA: Seconding @prairiewindmomma about finances and practicality. We only visited schools where cost and logistics seemed doable. You can run net price calculators and check cost of attendance on college websites. For us the geographic limit was a 12-hour drive from home, and given Covid and health stuff with our eldest I'm glad her school is within driving distance.

Now that FDA approved Novovax I’m hearing it might be available beginning next week? My county Board of Health said they will have it, and I’ve heard Rite Aid and some CVS and Costco locations.

I’m so glad you did telehealth and got a prescription! Dd17 had shingles this year and started feeling a bit better within a day of starting the antiviral. Hoping you feel some relief soon.

Rite Aid tweeted that they’d carry the updated Novovax. In the past only certain Costco and CVS locations had it.

FDA finally approved Novovax and it may be available next week! Folks 12+ who had mRNA or any other vaccine eligible for one shot. Unvaccinated eligible for two. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-updated-novavax-covid-19-vaccine-formulated-better-protect-against-currently

It can take months, through several life cycles, to know if treatments and cleaning have worked and if they’re really gone. You need to figure out and clearly communicate to her your policy for visiting at either home or driving together until you’re confident it’s resolved. If dd is really not getting the seriousness find a YouTube video of someone struggling to get rid of them. The cost is just the tip of the iceberg—it’s endless work and absolutely crazy-making, from what I’ve seen with friends, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Mast cell issues? Much more common than people realize, and can be a challenge to find a knowledgeable practitioner. Hormonal fluctuations can impact symptoms. Looks very different depending on the person and can impact just about any organ system.

Health care workers, pharmacy staff, educators and school staff are all stretched so thin these days! Feeling like we need to better appreciate, staff and remunerate all kinds of caring professions.

Medicare plans can have network pharmacies, but hopefully they're the same for both medical and pharmacy benefits? That would prevent the different pharmacy network problem.

Thank you for helping your neighbor get her vaccine! It's so weird we can't go to our usual pharmacies. Your stories are making me realize what a disaster this is for elders and anyone else who may not have the bandwidth to make 8 attempts to schedule their updated vaccines during a surge, for heaven's sake! Huge mistake, in my view, to end the pandemic emergency and privatize Covid vaccines, testing and treatments, all of which have reverted to access-only-for-the-privileged. Thinking I may check in with the older generation among my family and friends.

Cross-posting from booster thread-- My family had 8 Covid vaccine appts cancelled with CVS and Walgreens at different times. One was definitely due to lack of vaccine, but I wondered if some were because our insurance wasn't going through. When I called our insurance co, they said since Covid vaccines have been privatized we have to stay in-network for coverage. For our plan that means Discount Drug Mart, Giant Eagle, Rite Aid, Marc's, Meijer and CVS. Except CVS is having trouble converting their billing and there have been tons of issues, the rep said. And Walgreens is out of network, so that's a nope even though we got Covid vaccines there before. Dd21 ended up finding appts online at a random Meijer 30 min from our house. Nutshell is it may be worth calling your insurance co, especially if your appts are getting canceled, because this is a total mess right now. I never would've guessed what was in and out of network for us, since it's covered by our medical plan which has a completely different network of pharmacies than our pharmacy plan!

My family had 8 appts cancelled with CVS and Walgreens at different times. One was definitely due to lack of vaccine, but I wondered if some were because our insurance wasn't going through. When I called our insurance co, they said since Covid vaccines have been privatized we have to stay in-network for coverage. For our plan that means Discount Drug Mart, Giant Eagle, Rite Aid, Marc's, Meijer and CVS. Except CVS is having trouble converting their billing and there have been tons of issues, the rep said. And Walgreens is out of network, so that's a nope even though we got Covid vaccines there before. Dd21 ended up finding appts online at a random Meijer 30 min from our house. Nutshell is it may be worth calling your insurance co, because this is a total mess right now. I never would've guessed what was in and out of network for us, especially since it's covered by our medical plan which has a completely different network of pharmacies than our pharmacy plan! ETA: I'm going to post this separately as a PSA because others may benefit from calling insurance to clarify coverage.

My sister lives in VT and I love visiting her. To me it's one of the most beautiful places in the world! Lots of folks of French Canadian descent, French taught in schools, easy trips to Quebec. Her neighborhood didn't flood with the recent 100-year events, but she said it was really surreal driving around because certain pockets of homes and bridges were totally washed out. I'd definitely ask a realtor or folks around town about recent flooding and prioritize living in an elevated area that didn't flood, ideally with multiple access roads. BIL couldn't get to work for a while due to road closures. Montpelier is a wonderful town--nice residential areas on the hill above the business district that was severely impacted by flooding. Winter is really cold, so for all those hills and mountains you need the best winter vehicle and tires you can afford, and wear a hat! My sis actually developed partial hearing loss in one ear that her doc attributed to not wearing a hat enough. From what I hear, there's great funding for social services, home health, etc--at least better than my swing state. Lots of funky small businesses, farmers and artists, very human scale. She got better care giving birth at the tiny birth center attached to her local hospital than I got at a major university hospital in my city. She definitely makes trips to Boston for cultural events and shops when she travels for things she can't find locally.

Interesting technique! Similar to the way I make soups and stews, just start the pot and prep/add ingredients in order of cooking time. I bet those potatoes were tasty!

This is what I'm hearing too, that older vaccines--and prior infection--may not provide the protection they did with earlier variants. And though the updated vaccine is a somewhat better match, we're still heading into uncharted waters with these newest variants. I really wanted to get the updated Novovax but the FDA is slow-walking approval again, even though CDC gave it a green light. And with the current surge and everyone in my family traveling, it just seemed like a good idea to get it done now. Still might find a creative way to get Novovax in 2-3 months.

Wow! Shingles vaccine alone wiped me out for days--definitely the worst side effects I've had. Dh typically hasn't had Covid vaccine side effects but he did this time, after combining it with flu. I just got Moderna yesterday and feel fine, aside from a sore arm and a little fatigue.

Expired tests could be useful if someone has Covid and wants to test daily or every other day to see when they turn negative. If you get a control line and the test is positive, I'd take that as a positive. If no control line, the test isn't working at all. If you get a control line and negative result, you can still confirm if needed with a new test kit. Expired tests could also come in handy if multiple household members have the same symptoms, and one has already tested positive so it seems likely others have the same thing. Basically we're keeping our expired tests, along with some new test kits, because I think they have some limited usefulness, but only if you're still getting a control line.

Yes, we've sent key pieces of clothing to Insect Shield for treatment and also purchased a few items from them (socks and t-shirts). I prefer it to the DIY sprays--doesn't smell so toxic and lasts longer. You just need to be strategic about what you send them, since it adds up. I've hit sales sometimes, definitely for the items they sell and I believe for the treatment too. I forget how many washes they say it lasts, but we use the clothing for hiking and camping (so not every week) and it seems to have held up for a couple years. ETA: I like that they add a tiny label to the items they treat, so you don't forget which it is!

Certain doses of midodrine weren't available. The pharmacist suggested trying to get refills at least 10 days ahead, if possible, to allow time for them to try to track down the prescribed dose or if necessary to communicate with the doc about alternatives.

We've had trouble refilling human (midodrine) and canine (tresaderm) this week, after many months of no problems with a variety of prescriptions. Not sure if these are supply chain problems or what, but just wanted to give the Hive a heads up that it may be worth getting refills early, if you're able, based on whatever prescription or insurance eligibility factors you may have.

Also if anyone else's pets are on Tresaderm snag a refill whenever available!