Ironically, just three days after my last post, 2024 Mid-Year Update: Yeast, Diet, NO Crashes, COVID hit me with full force. For the last 13 days, I've been badly crashed, living life horizontally, though I am slowly improving now. Here's a brief recap to bring you up to date:
How Did I Get It?
Good question! I don't go out a lot, I avoid crowds when I can, and I always wear a mask in public. When I started feeling sick on July 13, my husband had been away for a week. Our son lives with us, but he's not around much! He and I did have breakfast together Saturday, but my symptoms began that evening, so I didn't get exposed through him. With my husband away, I did see a few friends during the week and ran a few errands (wearing my mask). A friend came here Tuesday (specifically to reduce my risk), and I met two friends at a restaurant for dinner Thursday evening. I rarely eat in restaurants because obviously, you have to remove your mask to eat, but we were at a table in a far corner without anyone else nearby, and we went early, while it was still pretty empty. Still, I could have been exposed from our waitress. None of those three friends had any symptoms or got sick. Typical incubation period for COVID is anywhere from 3-8 days, so who knows?
Course of the Illness So Far
It started with a severe sore throat Saturday evening. While sore throats were a typical part of immune activation for me in the early years of ME/CFS, I don't usually get them anymore. The severe sore throat, plus swollen glands, continued for about a week and has gradually cleared up. I was pretty sure right from Sunday that I had COVID because of the severity of the sore throat, I hadn't done anything to overdo (and as I explained in that last post, hadn't crashed from over-exertion in 7 months in spite of being very active), and I just don't catch other viruses (the immune dysfunction typical of ME/CFS makes our immune systems over-react to viruses and allergens). I haven't had a cold in decades. I also read that this very severe sore throat (it hurt even to swallow water) is very common in the recent COVID variant that's on the rise right now.
Besides the sore throat and swollen glands, I felt feverish, though as is typical for me, didn't have much of a measurable fever. My "normal" temperature runs about 97.5 F, and the highest it went (that I measured) was about 100. And of course, I was just completely crashed - absolutely exhausted, zero energy, no stamina, couldn't even sit up for more than a few minutes. I also developed some mild sinus and chest congestion and mild cough. Those symptoms are slowly improving.
I tested negative for COVID on Sunday and Monday before finally testing positive on Tuesday. Did you get that? No positive test until Day 3 of symptoms. Last time my son had it, it was Day 5 before he finally tested positive. It is SO important to keep testing if you or someone near you is sick and has the symptoms of COVID and to isolate from the first symptoms.
Paxlovid
Just on heavy suspicion of COVID, I messaged my primary care doctor Monday morning to ask for Paxlovid, the antiviral combination that works most effectively against COVID. She's known me for 21 years and was the first to accurately diagnose ME/CFS in me, so she gets it. Unfortunately, she is out of the office for a month with a medical situation of her own! Yikes - bad timing! It took me 2 days (even after the positive test) of messages and phone calls with various office staff, trying to explain ME/CFS and how dangerous COVID is for us, before the Nurse Practitioner covering for my doctor finally called in the Paxlovid prescription. I started it on Tuesday. It's a 5-day course of 3 pills taken twice a day, so I finished it Saturday. The only side effect I experienced was a nasty taste in my mouth.
The reason I was so adamant that I start Paxlovid was because COVID is such a strong trigger for ME/CFS, to start it or to worsen it if you already have it. The research so far isn't clear (and of course, isn't focused on those with ME/CFS). This large NIH study on the effects of Paxlovid in preventing long-COVID is very confusing. Their conclusions don't match the details they describe. Right in the abstract, they state that Paxlovid during an acute COVID infection did not reduce the chance of developing long-COVID, but then they say that data showed it did reduce the incidence of cognitive and fatigue symptoms post-COVID (which, of course, is much of what long-COVID and ME/CFS is).
The first time I had COVID, Paxlovid was not yet widely available, and it took me 6 months to fully recover back to my normal baseline. By taking Paxlovid this time, I am hoping to both reduce the severity of the initial infection and reduce (greatly, I hope) my recovery time. So far, so good. I didn't get the severe chest congestion and cough this time (and I am highly susceptible to bacterial bronchitis, which I want to avoid). Last time, I was severely ill for the first month, and this time, I'm starting to see improvements in the second week. I'm hoping that continues.
What Else Did I Do?
I already take piles of medications and supplements every day, including everything usually recommended to help fight COVID or other viruses. To give myself an extra boost, I increased my dose of nutrients that support the immune system and the herbal antivirals I take every day, and I added in a couple of extra herbal antivirals:
- Doubled vitamin D3 from 5000 IU to 10000 IU daily (5000 IU twice a day)
- Doubled liposomal vitamin C from 1000 mg (1 g) to 2000 mg (2 g) daily (1000 mg twice a day)
- Doubled Zinc Glycinate from 20 mg to 40 mg daily (20 mg twice a day)
Herbal Antivirals:
- Increased olive leaf extract from 750 mg (with 20% oleuropein, the active ingredient) twice a day (1 pill twice a day) to 2250 mg (3 pills) twice a day
- Added L-lysine 1000 mg (2 pills) twice a day
- Added monolaurin 600 mg twice a day
- Adding (next week) inosine 250-500 mg (1/2 pill to 1 pill) a day on weekdays - inosine is an immune modulator that will help to normalize my immune system, and it also has antiviral properties. Dosing is complicated, and I go on and off of it periodically to keep it effective. Details on what it is, how to use it, dosing, and a link to a caplet that can be split in half all at this link.
Current Status
As of Day 13, I am seeing tiny improvements every day. By Day 11, I tested negative. The sore throat is pretty much gone and most of the hoarseness. Congestion and cough are improving. My energy and stamina are very slowly getting better. I celebrated my 59th birthday Tuesday with my husband and son and was able to sit at the table for dinner (I've been living on the couch!). The past two days, I have begun to walk outside again - very slowly and carefully. Yesterday, I managed two very slow strolls around the cul-de-sac in front of our house. As I often say of everything related to ME/CFS ... baby steps!
We're supposed to be leaving on a two-week vacation this weekend to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I've been so looking forward to this trip! But, I can see that I'm not up to it. I'll cancel all the campground reservations tomorrow.
When I last had COVID in 2022, I was in much worse shape at this point, almost two weeks in. But I also see from my journal that I was pushing myself to do way too much, even while feeling awful! This time, I have been very, very careful to listen to my body, stay horizontal, and rest as much as I needed. I did not attempt to accomplish anything until the past couple of days. I guess I am trainable!
How are you doing?
Have you had COVID? How did it affect you?
Let me know in the comments below.
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