How likely not catch again?

[busymama7]

I had covid in November 2020.  Just recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease although not a specific one yet.  I had Pfizer in July/August. I am taking low dose naltrexone for the autoimmune but not anything specifically immune suppressing (unless that is?).

We are not locked down. Maybe we should be but it is really hard to give everything up again. My teens are vaccinated (same time as me).  Husband last March. 

I go back and forth between thinking recovery+vaccine is as good protection as it gets and panicking that some random person wearing a stupid mesh mask is going to give it to me again.  

Then I started to worry that if I have autoimmune issues (triggered by covid but not exactly a shock either as I have family history) maybe the vaccine didn't work to give me a boost.  I know I can't rely on my previous case fully either. 

Sigh.  I hate this. 

[Farrar]

Hugs.

It's unpredictable. Obviously locking down would help lower your odds, but there's a tradeoff there. You can test and see if you have antibodies, but my understanding is that the testing isn't great yet. 

I think the best thing anyone can do is make a firm set of rules and refuse to re-evaluate them except at specific intervals. I think this constant second guessing is what kills us all and makes these worries grow - no matter what our risk level is. I'd outline for yourself your boundaries - where and when you mask, at what level, what activities are absolutely off the table. And then just go live and refuse to go back and question it. You will have done what you can do while maintaining the quality of life you think is necessary. 

[Katy]

I just spent some time googling and I think you're likely protected from severe disease.  The naltrexone shouldn't impair your immune system and you're vaccinated.  I wouldn't go around unmasked in case Mu or another variant comes around that you don't have as much immunity to, but you're likely safe from the one you had and have at least some immunity for Delta.

[PeterPan]

6 minutes ago, busymama7 said:

Then I started to worry that if I have autoimmune issues (triggered by covid but not exactly a shock either as I have family history) maybe the vaccine didn't work to give me a boost.  I know I can't rely on my previous case fully either. 

My dd is now taking LDN and not taking the vaccine, which obviously I'm concerned about. I told her to have a solid discussion with her doctor about getting MCAB hot fast if she were to test positive. Probably some kind of game plan like that would be your best bet. 

[busymama7]

9 minutes ago, PeterPan said:

My dd is now taking LDN and not taking the vaccine, which obviously I'm concerned about. I told her to have a solid discussion with her doctor about getting MCAB hot fast if she were to test positive. Probably some kind of game plan like that would be your best bet. 

Sorry, what is that acronym?

I was just called by the local covid long haul clinic. They need a referral but then will make me an appointment.  So having them on board if I do catch it again would helpful for sure. 

I'm headed to a memorial service this weekend for a dad in our community.  Left behind a wife and teenage children.  And yet some in our community are still not taking it seriously. So sad. 

[PeterPan]

low dose naltrexone

[busymama7]

22 minutes ago, PeterPan said:

low dose naltrexone

Yes I'm on that sorry. The other one MCAB?

[SoCal_Bear]

MCAB = monoclonal antibody treatment

 

[TechWife]

What does your physician recommend? They will have the best advice based on what is going on in your local area. 

[ktgrok]

I think vaccinated plus natural infection is as good as you can get for protection. Also, most but not all automimmune disease would not mean your vaccine was less effective. If anything, you'd react more strongly to it. 

[gardenmom5]

1 hour ago, busymama7 said:

I had covid in November 2020.  Just recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease although not a specific one yet.  I had Pfizer in July/August. I am taking low dose naltrexone for the autoimmune but not anything specifically immune suppressing (unless that is?).

 

 

Its FDA approval is as an opioid antagonist.  (re: that's what has been studied.)

One of the off-label uses is as an immunomodulator for autoimmune disorders. - So yes, it "modifies" the immune response. 

In an autoimmune disorder - the person's immune system starts attacking the person.  Standard treatment for autoimmune disorders is to suppress/modify the function of the immune system to stop the process.    

My dsil also has an autoimmune disorder.  He is on a Rx to treat it that is immune suppressive. when I was there in July, the toddler had a cold - and it went through all of us.  Dsil was so sick, he thought he had covid (he was tested), despite receiving 2nd dose of Moderna in April.   It made him want to stop the Rx for his autoimmune disorder.  

[Janeway]

The people around me I have known with Covid did have the vaccination. I have not gotten it so far (knock on wood) even though I have been around several people with Covid. I am not sure what the statistics are though.

[Halftime Hope]

@BlsdMama   I have no frame of reference to confirm or deny or put in context these figures, but recently the NYT put together statistics from US cities that ARE keeping records on cases (not just those hospitalized as the CDC is doing), showing vaccination status.   The composite of three or four of these cities together showed about a 1 in 5K breakthrough rate in areas having high case counts, down to about 1 in 10K in areas with low case counts.  To me, that's a pretty reassuring stat. 

Another thing you could do to make yourself a "harder target" is to implement nasal and oral hygiene measures.  (Neti pot, saline rinses on a daily basis, or if you're in high risk situations, povidone iodine or other anti-viral nasal sprays and gargles.)  These are not as invasive as systemic medications, but they are quite effective at reducing viral exposure.  

 All the best to you and yours.