Omicron anecdata?

[kbutton]

I don’t have much luck posting from FB, and I can’t generate a quote box in my phone, but here goes:

**********

From Kristina Dawn’s public post…
I posted this on a private professional group I am in and was asked by several people to post this to my personal page and make it public so they could share it with other medical professionals, family, and friends. So here is my take, as a psychologist, on this new trend of some physicians diagnosing people who take precautions regarding Covid with  "Covid anxiety" or somatoform disorders (which is really out of left field and doesn't even make sense and I do not have time to even explain how this doesn't fit):

Taking precautions for Covid is not a mental health diagnosis or disorder.  

As a psychologist it really upsets me when physicians diagnose mental health conditions without referral or consultation with a provider specifically trained in mental health diagnosis. 

I understand the need for a PCP to diagnose anxiety and depression due to shortages, wait times, etc so the patient can begin medication therapy. However, if the patient is not complaining of symptoms of a mental health disorder and the physician thinks they may have a mental health disorder, a referral is necessary. Taking precautions regarding Covid is not diagnostic, by itself, to diagnose ANY mental disorder. If a patient is complaining of anxiety and depression symptoms, related or unrelated to Covid, a referral is still warranted because medication alone is not best practice. Medication plus therapy is. 

Psychologists are trained specialists in mental illness. Just like a cardiologist is trained in disorders of the heart. We go to school just as many years as other providers and are required to complete an internship and residency just like other providers. This is our field. 

A physician who is not a trained mental health provider should never diagnose somatoform disorders, malingering, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc or give diagnoses of anxiety and depression to patients without consultation. Too many times I have had a patient sent to me with a diagnosis of treatment resistant depression or anxiety who had medical disorders like thyroid disease that were untreated because the physician didn’t look for anything beyond what appeared to them to be anxiety or depression. I have even had times I’ve seen patients in the hospital diagnosed with dementia who had a simple UTI that was missed and left untreated. Please leave mental health to the professionals trained in that area. Especially in a situation such as this.  

This response is not meant to dismiss the wonderful work of PCPs, family physicians, or any other physician. Medicine is hard work. However, specialists exist for a reason and psychology is medicine. Mental illness is all we do. It’s our training and our sole focus in our career. We are absolutely better qualified to diagnose mental health conditions than any physician with the exception of a psychiatrist.  At a minimum a consultation should be done. 

Covid anxiety is not a mental health diagnosis. Period. Full stop. If other mental health professionals on this forum want to debate that with me I’m open to that debate. To diagnose someone who is engaging in mitigation strategies to avoid a virus that has killed, sickened, and disabled millions and created a pandemic that is ongoing is akin to diagnosing someone who stops smoking with lung cancer anxiety. Or a someone who uses sunscreen with skin cancer anxiety. Or someone who eats organically with GMO anxiety. I could go on here but I think you get the point.

What we are actually seeing is a trauma response. People who are trying to stay safe are not mentally ill, however many of them (not all) do suffer from PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to the ongoing pandemic, lack of safety in their environment, gaslighting from family, friends, the government, and medical providers, witnessing death and illness for over 3 years, loss of family and friends, moral injury, loneliness, isolation (imposed upon them by society), and a lack of support.  These things are traumatic. 

The issues people are facing, the mental health challenges, are not due to “Covid anxiety”. Wearing a mask, taking precautions, or refusing to put yourself in a high-risk situation is not a mental illness. It is self-preservation and it takes a hell of a lot of strength to continue to do that after 3 plus years, constant ridicule and abuse, and in the face of such backlash from society as a whole. 

I hope what I have said makes sense and has not offended any medical professionals in this group. And to those who would say I am biased because I am among those who are Covid cautious, I say to you, I am not biased, I am science based and evidence based in my practice and my life. Show me the research if you think I’m wrong. None exists. There is zero empirical evidence of Covid anxiety as a diagnosis for people taking precautions. There’s plenty of research to explain the response of those refusing to take precautions, however. There is also a huge amount of research regarding the dangers of Covid, both in the acute phase and the post-infection phase. I am more than happy to share that research. 

Precautions, such as wearing a mask, are a sign of strength, not anxiety, during a pandemic. I challenge everyone to think about why this has become such a heated topic. Wearing a mask does not prevent any activity in one's life except eating in a restaurant. We do not have to be here. We choose to be. Stop scapegoating those who refuse to bend to peer pressure and continue to try to protect themselves and others and celebrate their strength instead.

********

[mommyoffive]

Thank you @kbutton.  That was a great article.

[Acadie]

55 minutes ago, Minerva said:

Thank you so much to all of you who are keeping us informed about Covid. I get better info here than anywhere else. My dad, a retired doctor, is constantly impressed with my knowledge and the studies I have been able to share with him because of you brilliant ladies. 

My 80 year old mom has Covid. She has a perscription for Paxlovid but doesn't want to take it because it doesn't do well with other medications she is taking. I visited with her for about five minutes a few days before her symptoms started, so crossing fingers that I don't have it and didn't give it to my kids. I cannot find Covid tests locally. I gave the last ones I had to my mom. I am isolating until the tests come in the mail and my kids have agreed to wear masks at school even though it will be embarrassing for them. 

 

I heard Ashish Jha say in an interview on increasing Paxlovid use that many meds can be discontinued for a 5-day course of Paxlovid--of course ONLY on consultation with the person's physician--and that in many cases it's worth it to do so. I'm obviously not making any assessment of your mom's medical needs, just wanted to mention it because most people (and probably most MDs, tbh) don't realize short-term discontinuation of other meds might be a possibility. 

Hoping you and the rest of your family stay well!

[I talk to the trees]

1 hour ago, kbutton said:

I don’t have much luck posting from FB, and I can’t generate a quote box in my phone, but here goes:

**********

From Kristina Dawn’s public post…
I posted this on a private professional group I am in and was asked by several people to post this to my personal page and make it public so they could share it with other medical professionals, family, and friends. So here is my take, as a psychologist, on this new trend of some physicians diagnosing people who take precautions regarding Covid with  "Covid anxiety" or somatoform disorders (which is really out of left field and doesn't even make sense and I do not have time to even explain how this doesn't fit):

Taking precautions for Covid is not a mental health diagnosis or disorder.  

As a psychologist it really upsets me when physicians diagnose mental health conditions without referral or consultation with a provider specifically trained in mental health diagnosis. 

I understand the need for a PCP to diagnose anxiety and depression due to shortages, wait times, etc so the patient can begin medication therapy. However, if the patient is not complaining of symptoms of a mental health disorder and the physician thinks they may have a mental health disorder, a referral is necessary. Taking precautions regarding Covid is not diagnostic, by itself, to diagnose ANY mental disorder. If a patient is complaining of anxiety and depression symptoms, related or unrelated to Covid, a referral is still warranted because medication alone is not best practice. Medication plus therapy is. 

Psychologists are trained specialists in mental illness. Just like a cardiologist is trained in disorders of the heart. We go to school just as many years as other providers and are required to complete an internship and residency just like other providers. This is our field. 

A physician who is not a trained mental health provider should never diagnose somatoform disorders, malingering, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc or give diagnoses of anxiety and depression to patients without consultation. Too many times I have had a patient sent to me with a diagnosis of treatment resistant depression or anxiety who had medical disorders like thyroid disease that were untreated because the physician didn’t look for anything beyond what appeared to them to be anxiety or depression. I have even had times I’ve seen patients in the hospital diagnosed with dementia who had a simple UTI that was missed and left untreated. Please leave mental health to the professionals trained in that area. Especially in a situation such as this.  

This response is not meant to dismiss the wonderful work of PCPs, family physicians, or any other physician. Medicine is hard work. However, specialists exist for a reason and psychology is medicine. Mental illness is all we do. It’s our training and our sole focus in our career. We are absolutely better qualified to diagnose mental health conditions than any physician with the exception of a psychiatrist.  At a minimum a consultation should be done. 

Covid anxiety is not a mental health diagnosis. Period. Full stop. If other mental health professionals on this forum want to debate that with me I’m open to that debate. To diagnose someone who is engaging in mitigation strategies to avoid a virus that has killed, sickened, and disabled millions and created a pandemic that is ongoing is akin to diagnosing someone who stops smoking with lung cancer anxiety. Or a someone who uses sunscreen with skin cancer anxiety. Or someone who eats organically with GMO anxiety. I could go on here but I think you get the point.

What we are actually seeing is a trauma response. People who are trying to stay safe are not mentally ill, however many of them (not all) do suffer from PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to the ongoing pandemic, lack of safety in their environment, gaslighting from family, friends, the government, and medical providers, witnessing death and illness for over 3 years, loss of family and friends, moral injury, loneliness, isolation (imposed upon them by society), and a lack of support.  These things are traumatic. 

The issues people are facing, the mental health challenges, are not due to “Covid anxiety”. Wearing a mask, taking precautions, or refusing to put yourself in a high-risk situation is not a mental illness. It is self-preservation and it takes a hell of a lot of strength to continue to do that after 3 plus years, constant ridicule and abuse, and in the face of such backlash from society as a whole. 

I hope what I have said makes sense and has not offended any medical professionals in this group. And to those who would say I am biased because I am among those who are Covid cautious, I say to you, I am not biased, I am science based and evidence based in my practice and my life. Show me the research if you think I’m wrong. None exists. There is zero empirical evidence of Covid anxiety as a diagnosis for people taking precautions. There’s plenty of research to explain the response of those refusing to take precautions, however. There is also a huge amount of research regarding the dangers of Covid, both in the acute phase and the post-infection phase. I am more than happy to share that research. 

Precautions, such as wearing a mask, are a sign of strength, not anxiety, during a pandemic. I challenge everyone to think about why this has become such a heated topic. Wearing a mask does not prevent any activity in one's life except eating in a restaurant. We do not have to be here. We choose to be. Stop scapegoating those who refuse to bend to peer pressure and continue to try to protect themselves and others and celebrate their strength instead.

********

Thank you so much for posting this! It does my weary spirit good to know that there *are* professionals out there who still believe in science-based behaviors. (None to be found in my neck of the woods, though! 😞)

[Toocrazy!!]

Is there any info on reinfection times with these new strains? I am about 60 days out from a covid infection, and getting ready to travel. Just wondering if I have any backup immunity from that recent infection?  

[Faith-manor]

I masked today, KN95, at Ali's and went at a time when it is never crowded. Got myself in and out very rapidly.

I need to order more masks.

We will be back to hunkering down. Both ds's, the bachelor's have decided to mask at work and thankfully their managers are supportive. They might lose the masks after the next booster just because in their particular jobs, the masks are a pain. Eldest boy is in grad school, and two of his three instructors are high risk and have opted to go back to allowing as many students as would like to sign in by zoom instead of come in person which had meant that they rarely have more than five other people in the room, and the rooms are large. Right now windows are open. Daughter in law has two classes and she had to go in person so she wears an N95. Everyone is on pins and needles waiting for the booster shot since my mom is getting over covid. It took a round out of her too. She wasn't particularly sick, given what really sick means with this virus, but it exhausted her. She just wants to sleep so much. I keep encouraging her to rest, hydrate, eat, rest. I will send food down again tonight.

We have a wedding the 16th. I am thankful it is only 50 people from a crowd of folks who are pro-vaccine. It is outdoors at a state park so lots of fresh air, air flow. I would prefer not to be masked because we are the honorary parents of the bride whose own parents pretty much abandoned their kids to grandparents who have since passed away. There will be a lot of photos, and it sure would be nice to be carefree and merry. So I will probably mask when going indoors to the public restrooms, but go without when milling about outside. Fingers crossed. Hope for the best.

[mommyoffive]

16 minutes ago, Toocrazy!! said:

Is there any info on reinfection times with these new strains? I am about 60 days out from a covid infection, and getting ready to travel. Just wondering if I have any backup immunity from that recent infection?  

I remember this from today.

If you *had COVID-19 recently*, it definitely makes sense to wait (especially if you were also vaccinated and/or boosted) as you will have high levels of protective immunity for several months. CDC recommends waiting at least 3 months from infection before getting any COVID-19 vaccine, but immunological data suggest waiting up to 3-6 months is reasonable to maximize the benefit from the booster.

When will an updated COVID-19 booster be available? Should I wait to get it? (substack.com)

 

I have heard of people getting it again within a short timeframe.  I think that there is bigger chance of that happening when there are different variants out there.

Edited September 5, 2023 by mommyoffive

[Minerva]

4 hours ago, Acadie said:

I heard Ashish Jha say in an interview on increasing Paxlovid use that many meds can be discontinued for a 5-day course of Paxlovid--of course ONLY on consultation with the person's physician--and that in many cases it's worth it to do so. I'm obviously not making any assessment of your mom's medical needs, just wanted to mention it because most people (and probably most MDs, tbh) don't realize short-term discontinuation of other meds might be a possibility. 

Hoping you and the rest of your family stay well!

Thank you!!!! After conveying this info to my mom, she contacted her primary care doctor who gave her the green light to suspend her regular meds in order to take the Paxlovid. She started her course today. 

[mommyoffive]

1 hour ago, Minerva said:

Thank you!!!! After conveying this info to my mom, she contacted her primary care doctor who gave her the green light to suspend her regular meds in order to take the Paxlovid. She started her course today. 

Yay.  Thank you @Acadie for bringing it up.  I hope it helps others.  

How is your mom doing @Minerva?

[mommyoffive]

Tell the CDC all ages need updated vaccine access (substack.com)

[Minerva]

2 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

Yay.  Thank you @Acadie for bringing it up.  I hope it helps others.  

How is your mom doing @Minerva?

She's doing okay. She says the worst part is that everything tastes terrible. She says the silver lining is that she can read all day, guilt free. Fingers crossed it passes quickly. 

[wathe]

8 hours ago, Acadie said:

I heard Ashish Jha say in an interview on increasing Paxlovid use that many meds can be discontinued for a 5-day course of Paxlovid--of course ONLY on consultation with the person's physician--and that in many cases it's worth it to do so. I'm obviously not making any assessment of your mom's medical needs, just wanted to mention it because most people (and probably most MDs, tbh) don't realize short-term discontinuation of other meds might be a possibility. 

Hoping you and the rest of your family stay well!

Docs around here are well aware.   Some meds can be stopped.  For others, the risk of of harm from stopping the med is greater than the modest (and in some cases uncertain) benefit from taking paxlovid.  Some are meds hard are contraindications -- stopping them is not adequate.

Ontario Science Table published a very good guide back when paxlovid first came out.  Unfortunately, it's not comprehensive.  There are lots of other drugs with interactions that aren't on the science table's list.   Liverpool Covid interaction checker is more comprehensive, but doesn't include some common North American drug names, and instructions on what to do with each drug aren't as complete as OST's

Edited September 6, 2023 by wathe

[KSera]

@kbutton thanks for that piece you posted. 

[Amoret]

A BA 2.86 sequence has been uploaded from Western Australia (just FYI, the link is to a post from Raj Rajnarayanan, one of the main variant trackers on Twitter via Nitter, an alternate way to view Twitter w/o a login). They have also identified the first BA 2.86 descendant. BA2.86.1.

They seem a bit puzzled -- two researchers found some evidence to suggest that it is possibly not as immune evasive or transmissible as originally feared (this was referred to in the Your Local Epidemiologist post shared yesterday), but it is showing up everywhere all at once. They're saying that possibly the data is wrong (though there isn't a good reason to believe that to be the case) or that there is something else going on with this variant that they haven't been able to pin down. And, of course, there is far less sequencing being done now than in the past, so there just isn't that much data to go on. Only time will tell, it seems (link is to another variant tracker who is asking these questions).

Also, a new study on viral persistence as a potential cause of long Covid -- this is one of several recent similar studies looking into the possibility that the body is not clearing the virus fully, and it is persisting in immune privileged sites (like the tonsils, lower half of the small intestines, the brain, etc.) both in people with LC and those considered to be clinically recovered (including those who had mild acute infections). This study seems to be getting quite a bit of attention:

Millions of people are suffering from Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Several biological factors have emerged as potential drivers of PASC pathology. Some individuals with PASC may not fully clear the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 after acute infection. Instead, replicating virus and/or viral RNA—potentially capable of being translated to produce viral proteins—persist in tissue as a ‘reservoir’. This reservoir could modulate host immune responses or release viral proteins into the circulation. Here we review studies that have identified SARS-CoV-2 RNA/protein or immune responses indicative of a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir in PASC samples. Mechanisms by which a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir may contribute to PASC pathology, including coagulation, microbiome and neuroimmune abnormalities, are delineated. We identify research priorities to guide the further study of a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir in PASC, with the goal that clinical trials of antivirals or other therapeutics with potential to clear a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir are accelerated.

Edited September 6, 2023 by Amoret

[Ausmumof3]

A hospital in TASSIE is asking people to reconsider attending emergency 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-07/royal-hobart-hospital-crisis-claims-union/102821968
 

Not sure if it’s Covid or not as there’s limited data. We are on the way back up here but other states seemed to be going down still. 

 

[Ausmumof3]

Ok it looks like the ref in Tassie was at 1.2 and dropped to 1.08 last week so I guess this is maybe contributing 

[mommyoffive]

State of affairs: Parent edition - by Katelyn Jetelina (substack.com)

What to expect?

 

If this season mirrors the last, we will have unusual patterns of respiratory viruses:

• RSV peaking in early November

• Flu peaking in late November

• Covid-19 peaking in late December

Nonetheless, expect illness. Last year, 1 in 4 students swabbed were positive for at least one virus in November. The severity of the threat depends on the virus and age bracket, as seen below in hospitalizations last year.

• Flu vaccine: While protection wanes for older adults, it doesn’t wane as quickly for children. They should get one now.

• Covid-19 vaccine: We should know next Tuesday who is eligible. Last fall, it provided 80% protection against emergency room and urgent care visits among children. Even if you’re not worried about severe disease, the vaccine reduces the severity and length of symptoms.

• Masks reduce viral particles emitted and inhaled. In one of the best mask studies I’ve seen, school mask mandates also reduced transmission and absences. However, feasibility is challenging, given our increasingly individualized response and political inertia. If I had a healthy teenager, I wouldn’t push one in school unless required, school was about to close, or hospitals were crumbling because of too much illness.

 

We must expand COVID wastewater collection and analysis (substack.com)

Edited September 7, 2023 by mommyoffive

[mommyoffive]

The Big COVID Question for Hospitals This Fall (msn.com)

[Ausmumof3]

https://vinayprasadmdmph.substack.com/p/do-not-report-covid-cases-to-schools
 

Apparently we’re at the point where doctors are actively encouraging parents to hide their kids contagious illnesses from school

Unbelievable

 Quoted below:

Here are some practical suggestions: 

1. If you child is sick— do not test that child for COVID. 

2. When they look good enough for school, send them in. 

3. If you are sick— do not test yourself for COVID. (after all, Paxlovid data almost surely doesn’t apply to you — new post coming). 

4. If anyone is sick, do not tell your employer or school. 

5. Stop reporting these illnesses, and encourage your colleagues to cease reporting. 

6. Decline any further COVID19 vaccination, unless RCTs show benefit in your age group

7. Complain to your employer about any mandates or declination forms.

In my estimation— it is the only logical course left. The strategy makes sense. It’s time to go dark with all COVID data. If enough people don’t participate, the irrationality will stop. Eventually.

[KSera]

2 hours ago, Ausmumof3 said:

Apparently we’re at the point where doctors are actively encouraging parents to hide their kids contagious illnesses from school

That was awful to read (and he doesn’t know what he’s talking about on even some very basic factual things—like that a kn95 mask is not the same thing as an n95 masks, and they do have KN95s for kids). The guidelines the school is putting out are super reasonable—ten days of precautions that don’t interrupt learning to try to prevent a bigger outbreak that would be much more disruptive to kids’ learning. 

[Ausmumof3]

1 hour ago, KSera said:

That was awful to read (and he doesn’t know what he’s talking about on even some very basic factual things—like that a kn95 mask is not the same thing as an n95 masks, and they do have KN95s for kids). The guidelines the school is putting out are super reasonable—ten days of precautions that don’t interrupt learning to try to prevent a bigger outbreak that would be much more disruptive to kids’ learning. 

When your strategy is to cover information and deny access to data you are on the wrong side, always.

[Ting Tang]

5 hours ago, Ausmumof3 said:

https://vinayprasadmdmph.substack.com/p/do-not-report-covid-cases-to-schools
 

Apparently we’re at the point where doctors are actively encouraging parents to hide their kids contagious illnesses from school

Unbelievable

 Quoted below:

Here are some practical suggestions: 

1. If you child is sick— do not test that child for COVID. 

2. When they look good enough for school, send them in. 

3. If you are sick— do not test yourself for COVID. (after all, Paxlovid data almost surely doesn’t apply to you — new post coming). 

4. If anyone is sick, do not tell your employer or school. 

5. Stop reporting these illnesses, and encourage your colleagues to cease reporting. 

6. Decline any further COVID19 vaccination, unless RCTs show benefit in your age group

7. Complain to your employer about any mandates or declination forms.

In my estimation— it is the only logical course left. The strategy makes sense. It’s time to go dark with all COVID data. If enough people don’t participate, the irrationality will stop. Eventually.

Awful, but I think people have been at this anyway. 

[Ausmumof3]

1 hour ago, Ting Tang said:

Awful, but I think people have been at this anyway. 

Of course! I tutor and have had several kids come in streaming over the last couple of weeks. The last thing I need is doctors actively encouraging people to do it!!!

[wathe]

6 hours ago, Ausmumof3 said:

When your strategy is to cover information and deny access to data you are on the wrong side, always.

Speaking of covering information:  B.C. hospital sees fast spread of COVID-19, but no outbreak declared due to 'negative connotations' . The headline says it all......

[mommyoffive]

Should you get the flu shot and a Covid booster at the same time? New data sheds light. (substack.com)

[mommyoffive]

This week in outbreaks, September 7 edition (substack.com)

[kbutton]

13 hours ago, KSera said:

That was awful to read (and he doesn’t know what he’s talking about on even some very basic factual things—like that a kn95 mask is not the same thing as an n95 masks, and they do have KN95s for kids). The guidelines the school is putting out are super reasonable—ten days of precautions that don’t interrupt learning to try to prevent a bigger outbreak that would be much more disruptive to kids’ learning. 

During the worst of the first Omicron surge, private schools that didn’t keep masking in place had times they were nearly empty. The anti maskers had flocked to them in droves.

The public schools had modified masks and testing requirements that sounded initially like they were going to reward anti masking behavior by allowing kids who were spreading it unmasked to not have to take precautions but ended up being quite reasonable when the numbers came in (testing to be allowed back without a mask before ten days, mask and stay for exposure, etc.).

DS started going to school after all of this, but his small school has emphasized a lot of personal responsibility for not sharing germs, and it sounds like they had a really rocky time during the worst of Covid. I think they have to mask if they are feeling well enough after Covid to come back (five days at home, then if we’ll, mask at school through day ten). 

[mommyoffive]

Where Have All The Masks Gone? (forbes.com)

[MEmama]

At the grocery this morning I noticed a LOT more people masking. It's been steadily climbing for several weeks now. I guess it's time to start back up.

[mommyoffive]

The BA.2.86 variant and the new booster - by Eric Topol (substack.com)

[mommyoffive]

Long Covid Weekly #59: Covid-19 persistence, current landscape of clinical trials (substack.com)

[mommyoffive]

People’s CDC COVID-19 Weather Report: September 11, 2023 (substack.com)

 

Wastewater levels continue the multiweek increasing trend across all regions, with the national average almost four times the level back in June (August 30: 639 copies/mL vs. June 21: 165 copies/mL). Notably, Biobot data has shown data updates over time in more than just the most recent week’s data, likely due to variation in the timing of reporting across wastewater sites, so be sure to check the website directly for the most up-to-date information.

 

[kbutton]

On 9/8/2023 at 1:17 PM, mommyoffive said:

Where Have All The Masks Gone? (forbes.com)

From the article (I can’t initiate a fresh quote on my phone):

**************
Some medical staff now claim it is their “right” to choose not to mask. Caplan stressed that this is a moral issue, not one of “freedom” for healthcare workers. Citing codes of ethics, he added, “The first principle is, you must do what is in the best interest of your patient. It is not ‘You must do what you think is best for you.’” I was taught that the first principle of medicine is, “Do no harm.” The refusal by healthcare workers to mask, especially when asked to do so by a patient, contravenes that principle.

*************
I’m still avoiding a procedure I need because the surgical center won’t guarantee masking in my presence, and they require me to remove mine before I am in the procedure room, and I will wake up unmasked. I can’t ask people to mask when I’m not awake to ask them.

I tried a second specialist who wouldn’t even discuss it with me.

I have a kid whose airway could be forever compromised from Covid (or he could be fine because Covid is whacky, but people with one of his conditions have had trouble with Covid).

[mommyoffive]

It blows my mind that healthcare providers are not masking.  I learned so much about transmission and particles and all that during this pandemic.  Things I knew nothing about before.   It is crazy that doctors didn't mask more in the office, Our doctors didn't even when we would bring in a sick kid.  

Anyway, with rates on the increase I just don't get it.  I have gone to the doctor's office 4 times now in the last month for visits and I in all those times I have seen one provider masked (not mine).  We were always masked; I probably will always be for doctor appointments now.  Only one time did a doctor offer to put on a mask when they saw us.  No nurses did even though they were in the small office with us for at least 20 mins each visit.  Totally blows my mind and makes it so hard to go in to see a doctor or get a procedure done. 

 

@kbutton I am sorry you are not finding a place to have your procedure done.  That sucks!!!

[kbutton]

On 9/2/2023 at 6:02 PM, mommyoffive said:

It's Time to "Cancel" Covid Minimizing Doctors (okdoomer.io)

I keep seeing ads for a book about the pandemic by Monica Ghandi. I have nothing nice to say about what should happen to the filthy lucre she’ll gain from that book. 

[kbutton]

4 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

It blows my mind that healthcare providers are not masking.  I learned so much about transmission and particles and all that during this pandemic.  Things I knew nothing about before.   It is crazy that doctors didn't mask more in the office, Our doctors didn't even when we would bring in a sick kid.  

Anyway, with rates on the increase I just don't get it.  I have gone to the doctor's office 4 times now in the last month for visits and I in all those times I have seen one provider masked (not mine).  We were always masked; I probably will always be for doctor appointments now.  Only one time did a doctor offer to put on a mask when they saw us.  No nurses did even though they were in the small office with us for at least 20 mins each visit.  Totally blows my mind and makes it so hard to go in to see a doctor or get a procedure done. 

 

@kbutton I am sorry you are not finding a place to have your procedure done.  That sucks!!!

Thankfully my son’s providers usually offer to mask or just pop on a mask because we have ours on.

In situations where we will be masked the whole time, I am pretty live and let live, but if one of us in unconscious and can’t ask or mask, just put one on! No one needs Covid while recovering from a procedure. As it is, the recovery room is almost always a room of curtained off beds, so the person waking up is exposed multiple ways.

[Spryte]

How are the rapid tests holding up wrt accuracy lately?

Are they looking less accurate or still good at detecting?

[Lawyer&Mom]

53 minutes ago, Spryte said:

How are the rapid tests holding up wrt accuracy lately?

Are they looking less accurate or still good at detecting?

I have COVID as we speak and the rapid tests still worked for me.  Anecdotal, but what can we do?

[Mom_to3]

So the FDA approved the new shots for Moderna and Pfizer, but Novavax will be delayed. Does anyone by how much time it will be delayed? And why? I was hoping for Novavax...but there is so much covid around, so it's risky to wait.

[mommyoffive]

US approves updated COVID vaccines to rev up protection this fall (msn.com)

FDA approves new COVID booster amid rising cases, hospitalizations (msn.com)

[mommyoffive]

Ziyad Al-Aly: Illuminating Long Covid - by Eric Topol (substack.com)

[sassenach]

18 hours ago, Spryte said:

How are the rapid tests holding up wrt accuracy lately?

Are they looking less accurate or still good at detecting?

Ds used an expired-expired test and it still worked (later confirmed by an unexpired test. 
 

This was Ds’s second time with Covid. The first time was a little over a year ago. This round was WAY milder than last. A cough that lasted 5 days, fever for 12 hours, no sore throat, no head ache or body aches. He really only felt bad for 2 days. He had a very close exposure to dh the night before he tested positive and dh still dodged it. DH has yet to catch Covid and this is definitely his closest exposure (in a car together, sharing drinks the night before the positive test). We managed to get the household through without spread and ds was immediately back at baseball practice after clearing it. It was 6 days from day 0 to testing negative.

If not for home testing, that would have fallen in the category of mild cold, especially compared with our spring bout of metapneumovirus that lasted for months and netted 2 weeks in the hospital for SN ds. 

[YaelAldrich]

My youngest finally officially got covid after all these years. He just started a new school and he's boarding with his best friend's family. I dropped him off Wednesday last week and the first text I got after Shabbos was, " mom I have covid."

He had a severe headache for 2 days and a mild one for one. He's very stuffy and had a sore throat at the beginning.

His new school used to have a policy of being at home for 5 days and then coming days 5 through 10 with the mask. We spoke to them when he was diagnosed through a rapid test and they said he can come back to school at any point once he was fever free and feeling better. So he went back to school yesterday. They didn't even require a mask! I told him he should wear one however. I was flabbergasted that they changed the policy, especially because this was one of the first schools to have to do with covid at the very beginning.

[Wishes]

20 hours ago, Spryte said:

How are the rapid tests holding up wrt accuracy lately?

Are they looking less accurate or still good at detecting?

They seem to work well. This is the first time since Covid appeared that I tested positive Been testing every couple days and the line is fainter. My kids both tested positive, my son still is. Floflex is the one we’re using. My mom used them and tested negative several times.

Edited September 12, 2023 by Wishes

[Spryte]

Glad to hear the tests are working well!

Ours are very expired, past the extended dates, and we need to replace them.

We’ve just had a round of illness in the house, though, and everyone tested negative again (with last of our officially-expiring-this-month tests). We’ve all serial tested, and everyone has stayed negative, so I will chalk up this round of illness to a random virus, and we will move on.

[Acadie]

37 minutes ago, Spryte said:

Glad to hear the tests are working well!

Ours are very expired, past the extended dates, and we need to replace them.

We’ve just had a round of illness in the house, though, and everyone tested negative again (with last of our officially-expiring-this-month tests). We’ve all serial tested, and everyone has stayed negative, so I will chalk up this round of illness to a random virus, and we will move on.

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.  

[KSera]

Are there any brands that have a failed an expiration date extension? So far, all of ours are still good under the extensions, despite the dates on the boxes showing expired.

[mommyoffive]

Your ACIP cliff notes - by Katelyn Jetelina (substack.com)

[mommyoffive]

COVID This Week - September 12, 2023 - People's CDC (substack.com)

[mommyoffive]

Who needs the updated COVID vaccine? Eligibility, side effects, cost and more (msn.com)

Is the booster free or will it cost money?

Since 2020, the cost of COVID vaccines was covered by the federal government, and every person in the U.S. was able to get jabbed for free regardless of insurance coverage. The updated vaccine will not be provided free by the government, the experts note.

Fortunately, the majority of Americans will still be able to get the new shot for free, the CDC said in a release.

Most private and public insurance plans, including Medicare, will cover the cost of the updated vaccine, says Mulligan. However, people may need to visit an in-network provider in order to pay no out-of-pocket costs.

Pfizer and Moderna have said they are pricing each vaccine dose at over $100, NBC News previously reported.

If your health plan does not cover the cost of the vaccine, or you are one of the approximately 30 million Americans who does not have health insurance, there are still options. According to the CDC, uninsured individuals can get a free vaccine at local health clinics, state, tribal, or territorial health departments, and participating pharmacies.