Omicron anecdata?

[Corraleno]

New data on the bivalent vaccine's ability to overcome "original antigenic sin" in humans:

"SARS-CoV-2 boosting in humans induce robust GC B cell responses, and immunization with an antigenically distant spike can overcome the antigenic imprinting by the primary vaccination series"
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.09.22.509040v1?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

 

This study is on people who had 3 initial shots followed by a BA4/5 infection, serving as a proxy for a BA4/5 booster, and suggests that immune response to BA4/5 provided good protection against other Omicron variants as well:

"immune sera from triple mRNA-vaccinated individuals with subsequent Omicron BA.4/BA.5 breakthrough infection display broad and robust neutralizing activity against Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, and BA.4/BA.5
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.09.21.508818v1.full?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[Jaybee]

I got a flu shot and a Pfizer booster today. I get a flu shot every year. I wasn't sure about the booster yet, because I have had both regular boosters, and the last one was 2 ½ months ago. But they said it is supposed to be fine after 2 months, so I hope it will be. I'm hoping I will be set for a year. I had two Pfizer vaccines, one Pfizer booster, covid (Feb.), one Moderna booster, and now this one. I think I've done about all I can do--except that I live in an area where people have always been very casual about it.

[KSera]

This is a preprint, but matches all the other things indicating that rapid tests are the best indicator of infectiousness, not symptoms or PCR tests. And further illustrates that the 5 day and "feeling better" standard is completely unscientific, with most adults having replicable virus for 10-14 days after symptom onset. I think especially interesting in this one is that symptoms were not correlated with culture positivity--you can not use feeling better as an indication you are no longer contagious.

 

Duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort study

Edited September 28, 2022 by KSera
typo

[Jaybee]

4 hours ago, Jaybee said:

I got a flu shot and a Pfizer booster today. I get a flu shot every year. I wasn't sure about the booster yet, because I have had both regular boosters, and the last one was 2 ½ months ago. But they said it is supposed to be fine after 2 months, so I hope it will be. I'm hoping I will be set for a year. I had two Pfizer vaccines, one Pfizer booster, covid (Feb.), one Moderna booster, and now this one. I think I've done about all I can do--except that I live in an area where people have always been very casual about it.

It's been 7 hrs., and my arms are barely even sore. No other symptoms so far. I'm thankful! I mean, I would be thankful for being able to get them even if I did have side effects, but no side effects is really nice!

[HSmomof2]

We’re now 4 days post flu shots and Covid boosters. Sore arms were our only side effect…..Dh, ds, and dd only had sore arms for a day. However, this morning I woke up with ‘Covid arm’—redness and itching at the injection site. I had this for 2 days after my second dose of Pfizer, but not with my first booster, and now again with this one. It’s fairly mild…used hydrocortisone cream on it, and it’s much less red or itchy tonight….(I’m also the weirdo that rapid tested positive for 29 days when I had Covid in June, so it apparently just takes me awhile to fully recover from things😊). 

[mommyoffive]

mRNA in breastmilk. That's okay. And more on COVID19 vaccines and pregnancy (substack.com)

[mommyoffive]

Two thirds of U.S. adults don't plan on getting COVID boosters soon - poll (msn.com)

[desertflower]

1 hour ago, mommyoffive said:

Two thirds of U.S. adults don't plan on getting COVID boosters soon - poll (msn.com)

Probably because they already had it.  😂

I know a few of my friends who are waiting until it's closer to the holidays.  We are getting it tomorrow because our busy schedule gets busier in a week.  Lot of parties and gatherings to attend. 

[Ditto]

My entire family has now had the bivalent booster.   I am very relieved.  No side effects for at least 2 of us.  The other ones just got it and so not sure if they will have them or not.   I got mine the same day I got my flu and pneumonia shots.   

[kbutton]

https://www.woodtv.com/health/coronavirus/cdc-no-longer-recommends-universal-masking-in-health-facilities/?fbclid=IwAR0fUyoZdmFBsNy3l-tyEIAKhXGrgehQ3zcdy-IGEFCw9rup_GIMy7sSV-s

Quote

Now, the CDC says facilities in regions without high transmission can “choose not to require” all doctors, patients, and visitors to mask. Transmission is different from the community levels CDC uses to guide non-healthcare settings.

This is already affecting DH's workplace (he's masking). 

If one local hospital wavers, the rest will likely follow.

I need a sedated procedure, and the surgery center where I had this last time stopped masking months ago (standalone, not a hospital). I just got and appointment at a different practice that is masking, and now I am wondering if that will change by the time I can be seen and get my procedure scheduled.

I have a kid with pulmonary issues, and I am just livid right now.

[KSera]

8 minutes ago, kbutton said:

I have a kid with pulmonary issues, and I am just livid right now

As well you should be. Everyone with any kind of risk factors, including people who are just of older age, are being thrown under the bus in the name of “back to normal” at this point. Given this, I honestly don’t see how they would justify continuing to require surgeons to mask during surgery even. I mean, if they aren’t warranted to prevent infectious disease 🤷‍♀️ . Seems like they want to roll back the clock on infection prevention at this point. 

[mommyoffive]

5 hours ago, kbutton said:

https://www.woodtv.com/health/coronavirus/cdc-no-longer-recommends-universal-masking-in-health-facilities/?fbclid=IwAR0fUyoZdmFBsNy3l-tyEIAKhXGrgehQ3zcdy-IGEFCw9rup_GIMy7sSV-s

This is already affecting DH's workplace (he's masking). 

If one local hospital wavers, the rest will likely follow.

I need a sedated procedure, and the surgery center where I had this last time stopped masking months ago (standalone, not a hospital). I just got and appointment at a different practice that is masking, and now I am wondering if that will change by the time I can be seen and get my procedure scheduled.

I have a kid with pulmonary issues, and I am just livid right now.

Oh wow, I hadn't heard that.  DUMB.  That makes me want to stay out of health facilities if they end up doing that around me.  I was so comfortable that our doctor offices were still making everyone mask.   

I feel like how can someone that is trying to avoid it even have a chance with every place dropping everything?  I know I know one way masking, which is what we are doing.

[kbutton]

16 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

Oh wow, I hadn't heard that.  DUMB.  That makes me want to stay out of health facilities if they end up doing that around me.  I was so comfortable that our doctor offices were still making everyone mask.   

I feel like how can someone that is trying to avoid it even have a chance with every place dropping everything?  I know I know one way masking, which is what we are doing.

But you can't always one-way mask if you are the patient. It's infuriating. I can't mask for the pre-op for a procedure I need (and as far as I can tell, there is no reason I can't--they just make you leave your mask with your clothes before taking you back for your IV, etc., which takes more than a few minutes). I can't mask while rousing from anesthesia unless someone puts a mask on my face, and even in cautious hospitals, they are very unlikely to do that. 

I moved my appointment to a hospital instead of a stand-alone group and am even seeing a new specialist in a few weeks to get this done, but now I don't know if the new hospital will be masking or not. I was assured when I scheduled that they still are, but now that is in question. If DH's work is no longer requiring it, then I am probably out of luck.

[Not_a_Number]

On 9/30/2022 at 11:50 AM, mommyoffive said:

Two thirds of U.S. adults don't plan on getting COVID boosters soon - poll (msn.com)

I don't know if I'm getting a booster. I'm hesitating about it, because I've had a two-week headache with both the second shot and with the booster, and I'm really nervous about it. It's not at all obvious to me that odds are that the disease would be worse than the vaccine for me. 

I haven't been on this thread partially because we've definitely shifted into the "back to normal" mode and the assumption that COVID is now endemic. The social costs became too high for us, and the risks became low enough. 

I know this is in a sense a selfish decision. I would never refuse to mask if someone told me they needed it from me, but ultimately, we've made the decision to prioritize our family. We were VERY careful for years. I couldn't do it anymore without incurring costs that were too high. 

[Malory]

23 hours ago, desertflower said:

Probably because they already had it.  😂

Uptake has been very low, but maybe will increase closer to the holidays like you said.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/covid-boosters-uptake-us_n_632d719ee4b087fae6feaac9

[KSera]

3 hours ago, Not_a_Number said:

we've definitely shifted into the "back to normal" mode and the assumption that COVID is now endemic.

I’m not getting into whether someone has stopped trying to avoid Covid or not, as I know that decision making is complicated, but just wanted to point out that “endemic” doesn’t mean what people seem to be using it to mean. It doesn’t mean a disease is no longer a concern or causing harm or that we no longer do anything to prevent it. A clear definition from Columbia University Public Health:

WHAT DOES ENDEMIC MEAN?

A disease outbreak is endemic when it is consistently present but limited to a particular region. This makes the disease spread and rates predictable. Malaria, for example, is considered endemic in certain countries and regions.

https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news/epidemic-endemic-pandemic-what-are-differences
 

Clearly, that doesn’t mean malaria is not a concerning disease, and unfortunately it still kills a large number of people every year, including children. And travelers to areas where it is endemic take preventatives. I think a lot of people are hearing that COVID-19 is endemic and thinking that means it’s some thing we don’t have to worry about anymore. That’s not what that means, though. I’m not even sure we can say it’s endemic yet, given that we haven’t yet reached a point where the pattern is predictable. Case in point, the omicron surge. We will see what happens this fall and winter.

[Not_a_Number]

19 minutes ago, KSera said:

I’m not getting into whether someone has stopped trying to avoid Covid or not, as I know that decision making is complicated, but just wanted to point out that “endemic” doesn’t mean what people seem to be using it to mean. It doesn’t mean a disease is no longer a concern or causing harm or that we no longer do anything to prevent it. A clear definition from Columbia University Public Health:

WHAT DOES ENDEMIC MEAN?

A disease outbreak is endemic when it is consistently present but limited to a particular region. This makes the disease spread and rates predictable. Malaria, for example, is considered endemic in certain countries and regions.

https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news/epidemic-endemic-pandemic-what-are-differences
 

Clearly, that doesn’t mean malaria is not a concerning disease, and unfortunately it still kills a large number of people every year, including children. And travelers to areas where it is endemic take preventatives. I think a lot of people are hearing that COVID-19 is endemic and thinking that means it’s some thing we don’t have to worry about anymore. That’s not what that means, though. I’m not even sure we can say it’s endemic yet, given that we haven’t yet reached a point where the pattern is predictable. Case in point, the omicron surge. We will see what happens this fall and winter.

I'm sure the word has multiple meanings, but what I meant was that it's all over the place and I don't expect to be able to avoid it anymore.

I don't think it means it does no harm. It's just that lots of things do harm and the danger it poses to me has stopped seeming disproportionate to other harms to me. 

Edited October 1, 2022 by Not_a_Number

[SHP]

I am in the ER with sudden hypertension (140+/80) and rapid heart rate (160+). My blood pressure is usually bordering on too low. I cannot take medications that can cause low blood pressure level.

I cannot imagine having to wait to be seen in this situation if Covid wasn't out of control. But here I am, in the waiting room with coughing people, sleeping people and people who still haven't figured out how to wear a mask properly. 

 

[SHP]

Going to a different ER. I posted this and recieved a notification that my discharge paperwork was added to my medical records. I looked and they even gave me a diagnosis. I hadn't been seen. 

I printed the discharge and walked out. Will be filing complaints.

[KSera]

7 minutes ago, SHP said:

Going to a different ER. I posted this and recieved a notification that my discharge paperwork was added to my medical records. I looked and they even gave me a diagnosis. I hadn't been seen. 

I printed the discharge and walked out. Will be filing complaints.

I’m sorry! You hadn’t been seen at all and they discharged you? Is there an urgent care you can go to instead? It’s unlikely to be any better from a Covid perspective, but the wait might be shorter and your symptoms sound like something urgent care may be able to evaluate and could refer you on if more was needed. Your blood pressure is not likely to register as an emergent concern to them, but your heart rate is elevated enough that I would want it checked out as well, not to mention I expect it feels very uncomfortable for you.

[SHP]

13 minutes ago, KSera said:

I’m sorry! You hadn’t been seen at all and they discharged you? Is there an urgent care you can go to instead? It’s unlikely to be any better from a Covid perspective, but the wait might be shorter and your symptoms sound like something urgent care may be able to evaluate and could refer you on if more was needed. Your blood pressure is not likely to register as an emergent concern to them, but your heart rate is elevated enough that I would want it checked out as well, not to mention I expect it feels very uncomfortable for you.

I went to another ER. Have already had an EKG. Blood pressure is lower and closer to what is considered normal. Not my normal yet but moving in the right direction. Waiting for tests.

[mommyoffive]

5 hours ago, Not_a_Number said:

I don't know if I'm getting a booster. I'm hesitating about it, because I've had a two-week headache with both the second shot and with the booster, and I'm really nervous about it. It's not at all obvious to me that odds are that the disease would be worse than the vaccine for me. 

I haven't been on this thread partially because we've definitely shifted into the "back to normal" mode and the assumption that COVID is now endemic. The social costs became too high for us, and the risks became low enough. 

I know this is in a sense a selfish decision. I would never refuse to mask if someone told me they needed it from me, but ultimately, we've made the decision to prioritize our family. We were VERY careful for years. I couldn't do it anymore without incurring costs that were too high. 

I feel you on the nervous about getting the shot.  My first booster I got a week long horrible headache and was so worried about ever doing that again.   

We were super careful for so long too, and now are mostly/somewhat back to normal.  Dh travels for work and goes into the office 3 days a week.  My kids are back face to face in activities and currently dance in studio that has made mask optional so hardly anyone is, except when coming back from being sick.  We traveled all summer. 

But we still mask.  Try to do grocery pick up.  Go to offices that have some sort of rules for people if there is an option.  

I don't know if getting Covid would be bad for me or anyone in my family or if we would be one of the people who report not being sick.  I have accepted the fact that most likely we will get it, but we are still trying do our best to not get it while still living life.  I guess I am at the point of taking the risk of getting it while doing what we can, but I am not ok with just living no precautions at this point.

 

[mommyoffive]

7 minutes ago, SHP said:

I went to another ER. Have already had an EKG. Blood pressure is lower and closer to what is considered normal. Not my normal yet but moving in the right direction. Waiting for tests.

While that is good news.  And you were seen so fast.   

[mommyoffive]

Long Covid remains a mystery, though theories are emerging (msn.com)

[Not_a_Number]

38 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

I guess I am at the point of taking the risk of getting it while doing what we can, but I am not ok with just living no precautions at this point.

I was finding taking precautions too stressful 😕 . I'm an anxious person in general, so increasing anxiety stopped feeling tenable. 

I'll likely get the booster, though. At some point when I wouldn't mind having a two-week headache... 😕 

[HSmomof2]

55 minutes ago, Not_a_Number said:

I was finding taking precautions too stressful 😕 . I'm an anxious person in general, so increasing anxiety stopped feeling tenable. 

I'll likely get the booster, though. At some point when I wouldn't mind having a two-week headache... 😕 

This became our situation as well….the anxiety and emotional toll of being super careful for 2+ years was taking on us, especially my teens, became higher than the risk for all of us. And we did all get Covid in June while still masking and limiting where we were going. Thankfully, we had a pretty mild illness and recovered fine.
We all got boosters a week ago and flu shots, and other than some sore arms,(and 1 day red/itchy injection site for me), had no other side effects. For the original series and first booster, we were all feeling pretty bad for a few days (fevers, headaches, achy, etc). I don’t know if our bodies are just more able to recognize Covid now that we’ve had 4 shots plus infections or what, but we were expecting a few days of feeling crummy that didn’t happen this time. 

Edited October 2, 2022 by HSmomof2

[Not_a_Number]

6 minutes ago, HSmomof2 said:

This became our situation as well….the anxiety and emotional toll of being super careful for 2+ years was taking on us, especially my teens, became higher than the risk for all of us. And we did all get Covid in June while still masking and limiting where we were going. Thankfully, we had a pretty mild illness and recovered fine.
We all got boosters a week ago and flu shots, and other than some sore arms,(and 1 day red/itchy injection site for me), had no other side effects. For the original series and first booster, we were all feeling pretty bad for a few days (fevers, headaches, achy, etc). I don’t know if our bodies are just more able to recognize Covid now that we’ve had 4 shots plus infections or what, but we were expecting a few days of feeling crummy that didn’t happen this time. 

That gives me hope! 

Although DH seems to be feeling cruddier than he did with the first booster, sigh. He just got his. He never reacted THAT badly before, either, so it's fine... but it worries me! 

[HSmomof2]

2 minutes ago, Not_a_Number said:

That gives me hope! 

Although DH seems to be feeling cruddier than he did with the first booster, sigh. He just got his. He never reacted THAT badly before, either, so it's fine... but it worries me! 

I hope he feels better quickly!! For us, I’m wondering if our Covid infections helped us not feel as bad with this booster…..for our area and timing of our infections, we most likely had BA5. 

[Ausmumof3]

11 hours ago, Not_a_Number said:

I don't know if I'm getting a booster. I'm hesitating about it, because I've had a two-week headache with both the second shot and with the booster, and I'm really nervous about it. It's not at all obvious to me that odds are that the disease would be worse than the vaccine for me. 

I haven't been on this thread partially because we've definitely shifted into the "back to normal" mode and the assumption that COVID is now endemic. The social costs became too high for us, and the risks became low enough. 

I know this is in a sense a selfish decision. I would never refuse to mask if someone told me they needed it from me, but ultimately, we've made the decision to prioritize our family. We were VERY careful for years. I couldn't do it anymore without incurring costs that were too high. 

Have you had Pfizer every time? I had Moderna for the fourth shot and although I still felt crud for a week I didn’t get a headache which was a huge win. I’m also in the ambivalent about boosters stage. I got the last one because the wave was starting to look nasty down here.

We’re still masking (except DH who’s had it) but I don’t know anyone else who is much. I hate feeling like the odd one out! 

[Longtime Lurker]

6 hours ago, Ausmumof3 said:

Have you had Pfizer every time? I had Moderna for the fourth shot and although I still felt crud for a week I didn’t get a headache which was a huge win. I’m also in the ambivalent about boosters stage. I got the last one because the wave was starting to look nasty down here.

We’re still masking (except DH who’s had it) but I don’t know anyone else who is much. I hate feeling like the odd one out! 

I also had Moderna for the new booster after 3 Pfizers and I had hardly any headache at all this time. 

[Acadie]

I'd really like to get Novovax as a booster instead of Pfizderna and it's pissing me off that we haven't heard a peep from the FDA on when it might be approved. 

I'm betting early November, and that they're intentionally delaying to get more people to get the mRNA boosters before Halloween, as Ashish Jha suggested. But that's just me spitballing, not based on any actual info. 

[mommyoffive]

12 hours ago, Not_a_Number said:

I was finding taking precautions too stressful 😕 . I'm an anxious person in general, so increasing anxiety stopped feeling tenable. 

I'll likely get the booster, though. At some point when I wouldn't mind having a two-week headache... 😕 

For me precautions make me feel less stress. 

[catz]

45 minutes ago, Longtime Lurker said:

I also had Moderna for the new booster after 3 Pfizers and I had hardly any headache at all this time. 

I'm hearing about more people locally having less side effects/reaction now with this latest vaccine.  I hope it's true!  I am definitely getting the bivalent just because I want that additional broad coverage even though I assume we'll all be getting it.  I certainly know I have had exposures.  I did have a rough day or 2 after dose 3-4.  And 3 was a Pfizer, and 4 was a Moderna.  So I just wonder if it's more like you immune system isn't freaking out any more over this newer virus?  I don't react to flu vaccines. 

I have a teen hidden away upstairs getting over covid right now.  We are on day 7 since symptoms started and my husband and I don't have it so I think we're going to make it!  If she really wants to test today, I will let her but I'd prefer she waits until tomorrow.  It is easy enough to keep her up there one more day.  Honestly, she is having a great time and feels fine. I've been cooking to order.  😂 She has a thing tomorrow night she REALLY wants to go to.  (They told her she could go if she had no fever for 24 hours, tested negative that day and masked).  We will see, crossing fingers.

We have an open window in the bedroom she is in and a fan blowing out.  The accessible bathroom right next to the bedroom has an open window and an exhaust fan on a timer.  She turns on the exhaust fan for 20 minutes every time.  She is masked.  But when she showers, she turns it on for 60.  She has an air purifier in her room and we have one in the hallway between her room and our bedroom.  My husband and I are sleeping apart just because I thought if one of us got it we both would get it sleeping in the same bed.  I'll probably sleep downstairs for a couple days after she tests negative.  Anyway - isolating is working here!  I will say she got word of her exposure and got suspicious of minor symptoms on Monday.  She tested negative on antigen but we stuck her in isolation right away to test faintly positive the following morning.  We've all had allergy stuff going on so I really thought we'd be releasing her the next day.  Anyway - she hasn't been super sick at all.  Did all her school work, been friend chatting, etc all week.  Typical cold symptoms.  Yesterday she said she felt normal and just had the occasional cough.  She uses an inhaler just when she has upper respiratory stuff which we were able to refill with an online covid appointment within an hour and had the inhaler delivered by capsule the same day which was AMAZING.  She has had a tendency to get bronchitis with colds in the past (she hasn't had a cold since before covid!).  But gets over them super fast with an inhaler for some reason.  Anyway - thought I'd share how we isolated here.  

[mommyoffive]

My experience with the new booster is that any side effects could have been the shot or my normal migraines/headaches.  I think I felt minorly feverish for maybe a day.  I got the shot on Saturday afternoon and had a headache that night.  I didn't take anything until I think Monday afternoon and then I was totally fine.  Probably would have been fine if I took something on Sunday, but I was trying to not interfere with the vaccine.

My 1st booster I got at the same time as a flu shot and wasn't expecting any reaction as I hadn't ever reacted to the covid or flu shot other than the sore arm. 

But I ended up getting really sick for 5 days.  A headache that never stopped even if I took something.  Feverish.  

So, I can do that and feel a lot more relaxed about future boosters.  I think I will just not have them at the same time as another shot and hope for the best. 

 

All my shots have been Moderna.

Edited October 2, 2022 by mommyoffive

[kbutton]

7 hours ago, Ausmumof3 said:

Have you had Pfizer every time? I had Moderna for the fourth shot and although I still felt crud for a week I didn’t get a headache which was a huge win. I’m also in the ambivalent about boosters stage. I got the last one because the wave was starting to look nasty down here.

We’re still masking (except DH who’s had it) but I don’t know anyone else who is much. I hate feeling like the odd one out! 

Come to think of it, I did this, and I am pretty sure I didn't have a headache after the Moderna booster. I had a lot of body aches (actually more like restless leg syndrome from head to toe if I didn't take tylenol or ibuprofen). I did tend to have headaches with the Pfizer shots to varying degrees. 

[SHP]

3 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

For me precautions make me feel less stress. 

This. It has been over 2 years, things like grabbing a mask when leaving the house and washing hands frequently are part of the routine. More so than remembering to grab a light jacket when leaving at 3pm knowing I won't be back until after the sun goes down and the temperature drops

Other things like getting food to go and eating at a park or at home instead of inside a restaurant and doing more activities that are outdoors vs inside are now the norm.

If nothing else it is part of an overall healthier lifestyle, spending a couple hours hiking or biking vs sitting in a movie theater eating junk food or playing board games and eating junk food.

Somethings are just more relaxing to do away from large crowds. For example there was a free outdoor blues concert event. Instead of dealing with the crowds I went and relaxed at a nearby park. I could hear the music just fine and instead of sharing personal space with thousands of people I enjoyed walking around and sitting by the pond.

[mommyoffive]

4 minutes ago, SHP said:

This. It has been over 2 years, things like grabbing a mask when leaving the house and washing hands frequently are part of the routine. More so than remembering to grab a light jacket when leaving at 3pm knowing I won't be back until after the sun goes down and the temperature drops

Other things like getting food to go and eating at a park or at home instead of inside a restaurant and doing more activities that are outdoors vs inside are now the norm.

If nothing else it is part of an overall healthier lifestyle, spending a couple hours hiking or biking vs sitting in a movie theater eating junk food or playing board games and eating junk food.

Somethings are just more relaxing to do away from large crowds. For example there was a free outdoor blues concert event. Instead of dealing with the crowds I went and relaxed at a nearby park. I could hear the music just fine and instead of sharing personal space with thousands of people I enjoyed walking around and sitting by the pond.

100% this.  

If my kids were dancers, we would probably do everything outside.  Hiking mountain biking, nature school, sailing and kayaking.  

And yep putting a mask on is just normal to us as this point. 

[I talk to the trees]

3 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

For me precautions make me feel less stress. 

Me too. At least if one of us (or all of us) get sick, I won’t feel the need to beat myself up with “If only I had just…” ! 
 

Honestly, masking, distancing, and hand washing/sanitizer have become completely routine for us. 

[Ditto]

4 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

For me precautions make me feel less stress. 

Me too!   I always think things through and do what I can because I never want to look back and thing "if only".   I will keep up all of the precautions we have been taking (sanitizer, wipes, masks, etc) and know I am doing all that I can to keep us safe.   

For some reason my WBC and ANC have dropped so low that I am neutropenic.  All of my other labs are normal and I am not sure what happens now.  My oncologist is drawing labs Friday (hx of breast cancer so I have an oncologist).  I am scared.  But I am grateful that I have kept up all of these precautions because now that my immune system is struggling I am at higher risk of illness.  Also, If anyone has any (preferably non scary) reasons my WBC could be super low, I would appreciate it.

[mommyoffive]

2 hours ago, Ditto said:

Me too!   I always think things through and do what I can because I never want to look back and thing "if only".   I will keep up all of the precautions we have been taking (sanitizer, wipes, masks, etc) and know I am doing all that I can to keep us safe.   

For some reason my WBC and ANC have dropped so low that I am neutropenic.  All of my other labs are normal and I am not sure what happens now.  My oncologist is drawing labs Friday (hx of breast cancer so I have an oncologist).  I am scared.  But I am grateful that I have kept up all of these precautions because now that my immune system is struggling I am at higher risk of illness.  Also, If anyone has any (preferably non scary) reasons my WBC could be super low, I would appreciate it.

I don't have any advice on the WBC, but I am sending lots of prayers and good thoughts to you.  

[Spryte]

2 hours ago, Ditto said:

Me too!   I always think things through and do what I can because I never want to look back and thing "if only".   I will keep up all of the precautions we have been taking (sanitizer, wipes, masks, etc) and know I am doing all that I can to keep us safe.   

For some reason my WBC and ANC have dropped so low that I am neutropenic.  All of my other labs are normal and I am not sure what happens now.  My oncologist is drawing labs Friday (hx of breast cancer so I have an oncologist).  I am scared.  But I am grateful that I have kept up all of these precautions because now that my immune system is struggling I am at higher risk of illness.  Also, If anyone has any (preferably non scary) reasons my WBC could be super low, I would appreciate it.

Beaming more good thoughts your way! 

[Not_a_Number]

11 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

For me precautions make me feel less stress. 

They don't for me, because they keep COVID on my mind. If I don't think about it, I increase my risk of getting it, but I decrease how much headspace it occupies. 

[Not_a_Number]

8 hours ago, I talk to the trees said:

Me too. At least if one of us (or all of us) get sick, I won’t feel the need to beat myself up with “If only I had just…” ! 
 

Honestly, masking, distancing, and hand washing/sanitizer have become completely routine for us. 

Our social life felt very limited by masking and distancing. I was willing to do it for a few years, but certainly not for the rest of my life. 

I think everyone is going to at some point think about whether they expect to live the rest of their lives like that, and if not, what it would take for them to change these things. I know that for myself, living the rest of my life like this was never an option. 

[melmichigan]

I've waited to post but I think 🤞we are now past covid.  BA.5 is rampant here in our county, we are in the red on both maps, and I knew it was only a matter of time once DH's company dropped mask requirements.  He has to eat during his 12 hour shifts.  I am glad we made it this far out.  

I took Paxlovid, because there were no monoclonal antibodies available, but it gave me severe bradycardia, and the cardiologist will make the call if I can take it again if needed. I'm not thinking about boosters yet, although it will be Pfizer.  I took IV steroids after my last booster to prevent a reaction like I had with my second Moderna, so I'm not sure if it will be worth the associated risks, or if the infection will suffice, that's another conversation with another doctor.

We are currently masking, and will get flu shots once everyone is symptom free for a bit.  We have always had to take precautions with the flu, so that's nothing new but we may discuss dropping masks for the kids and DH in certain situations once flu shots are effective and I've talked to all the specialists.

Edited October 3, 2022 by melmichigan

[mommyoffive]

33 minutes ago, Not_a_Number said:

They don't for me, because they keep COVID on my mind. If I don't think about it, I increase my risk of getting it, but I decrease how much headspace it occupies. 

Honestly Covid doesn't really keep headspace in my life much.  We just mask and go about life.  I don't daily check levels but when I did it was like checking the weather.  I keep up on it somewhat to know what is going on or has changed to know I should get a booster for instance.  But I keep updated on the news in my city for the same reason.  

[mommyoffive]

38 minutes ago, Not_a_Number said:

Our social life felt very limited by masking and distancing. I was willing to do it for a few years, but certainly not for the rest of my life. 

I think everyone is going to at some point think about whether they expect to live the rest of their lives like that, and if not, what it would take for them to change these things. I know that for myself, living the rest of my life like this was never an option. 

For us I think we will mask a lot more going into the future in situations.  With all the different things popping up or just in cases where it makes more sense like on airplanes.  I don't see myself going on an airplane ever again without a mask.  We used to get sick on every international flight, if wearing a mask for the flight might give me a shot at a better vacation oh yeah I am going to do it.  Public transit.  Cold and flu season.  Pollution outside.  Allergies. We will probably always have masks at home for things.

Edited October 3, 2022 by mommyoffive

[HSmomof2]

I think some precautions have become second nature, though I’m not really thinking about them anymore. We were ‘extremely’ careful and severely limited our social lives for about 2 years. I had anxiety pre-pandemic and it just became too much after a couple years….I was always thinking about how to prevent our family from getting Covid. When we got it this summer, had mild illness, and recovered, I was actually relieved. It allowed us to relax our precautions. Of course we still wash hands, vaccinate, don’t go out if ill, and selectively mask. I still mostly do grocery pick up and shop at off hours if I am in stores. I work from home, as does dh. We masked at the airport and on the plane when we traveled. But, I don’t mask in stores if they aren’t crowded. We will see friends indoors now unmasked. We go to church again—also not crowded. We eat in restaurants when they aren’t crowded. I wouldn’t be comfortable yet in a large crowd, especially indoors. But worrying about Covid doesn’t dominate my thoughts anymore, and it was before to a level that wasn’t healthy for me or my family. 

[Not_a_Number]

1 hour ago, mommyoffive said:

Honestly Covid doesn't really keep headspace in my life much.  We just mask and go about life.  I don't daily check levels but when I did it was like checking the weather.  I keep up on it somewhat to know what is going on or has changed to know I should get a booster for instance.  But I keep updated on the news in my city for the same reason.  

Yeah, I don't like masking all the time. I want to see people's faces and I don't find it comfortable. 

It's not that I'm sorry we were careful before. But at this point, we're the only ones of our friends who haven't had COVID, and I feel like I got what we wanted out of being careful, which was to wait until vaccines and treatments. 

At this point, I have so many other concerns that I just can't imagine deforming my life anymore for COVID. There's global warming. War. Personal stuff. I put my life on hold to deal with COVID, and we didn't get sick, and I'm grateful. But at this point, I'm enjoying being back to normal. 

I'm not saying that everyone else should be doing the same. But that's where we are. 

[mommyoffive]

9 hours ago, HSmomof2 said:

I think some precautions have become second nature, though I’m not really thinking about them anymore. We were ‘extremely’ careful and severely limited our social lives for about 2 years. I had anxiety pre-pandemic and it just became too much after a couple years….I was always thinking about how to prevent our family from getting Covid. When we got it this summer, had mild illness, and recovered, I was actually relieved. It allowed us to relax our precautions. Of course we still wash hands, vaccinate, don’t go out if ill, and selectively mask. I still mostly do grocery pick up and shop at off hours if I am in stores. I work from home, as does dh. We masked at the airport and on the plane when we traveled. But, I don’t mask in stores if they aren’t crowded. We will see friends indoors now unmasked. We go to church again—also not crowded. We eat in restaurants when they aren’t crowded. I wouldn’t be comfortable yet in a large crowd, especially indoors. But worrying about Covid doesn’t dominate my thoughts anymore, and it was before to a level that wasn’t healthy for me or my family. 

I would say that was me too.  We haven't had it that we know of, but it isn't something that is in my mind much.  I just keep track of things like I do tons of other news, but that is about it.  The few precautions that we take are just second nature to us, not something that makes our lives bad.

[mommyoffive]

12 hours ago, Not_a_Number said:

Yeah, I don't like masking all the time. I want to see people's faces and I don't find it comfortable. 

It's not that I'm sorry we were careful before. But at this point, we're the only ones of our friends who haven't had COVID, and I feel like I got what we wanted out of being careful, which was to wait until vaccines and treatments. 

At this point, I have so many other concerns that I just can't imagine deforming my life anymore for COVID. There's global warming. War. Personal stuff. I put my life on hold to deal with COVID, and we didn't get sick, and I'm grateful. But at this point, I'm enjoying being back to normal. 

I'm not saying that everyone else should be doing the same. But that's where we are. 

You do you.  I am not trying to say what you should do at all.  Just saying what we do.  We are not deforming our lives for covid.  If you are comfortable with what you are doing go for it.  But at this point that isn't what we are doing.  We are vaccinated and boosted and hope that if we  had covid it would be mild, but I don't know that it would be.  I know a lot of people who have been sick with it since school started and it hasn't been mild.  Plus the effects on our lives of missing things, is worth us trying to not get it. 

I don't find masking to be uncomfortable.   We don't mask all the time.  And to me the wanting to see people's faces just isn't a big deal to me at all.  

Edited October 3, 2022 by mommyoffive