Bebtelovimab is usually what they give in hospital here, because they haven't tested Evusheld after infection much, and FDA hasn't authorized it for that purpose yet. I do think Evusheld will help, though.
Continue asking for bacterial and even fungal cultures. A viral infection sets the condition for several types of secondary infections.
Just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery. My recovery from my first covid infection was very long but eventually, it did get better. I pray it's the same for you 🙏🏻
Hello BruceHow are you lungs is there any sign of pneumonia?
I had a bout with covid back in January. The covid gave me double pneumonia. I spent 51 days in the hospital they treated me with antibiotics IV and steroids IV. They also had me on high oxygen. They took me off imbruvica and started getting worse so they put me back on the imbruvica eventually reduced my high oxygen and went on regular nasal cannula. They slowly weaned me down to 3 ml of oxygen and developed Fibrosis in the lungs. After being released from from hospital I had to go to a rehab acute care for two and half weeks. The doctors told me I will be on the low oxygen of 3 ml for the rest of my life but I showed them. I slowly weaned myself off oxygen completely. I still have Fibrosis but slowly getting better. I now walk a mile and a half every day without getting winded but going up steps is a different story I still get a little winded. It seems that covid and CLL is not a great match but you can fight it. It is possible. Look at me.
I got my 2nd half-dose of Evusheld a week before testing antigen positive for COVID, with symptoms - severe sinus congestion, cough, and fever. I'm Watch and Wait, with below normal IgG, IgM, and IgA, and a history of failed titers for pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine.
I got Paxlovid within a day of testing positive. I had a 102.5F (39.2C) fever for a few days, but it dropped to 100F (37,8C) or less over the ensuing couple of weeks.
Like you, I developed a secondary bacterial infection. Mine was a staphylococcus infection. I was not hospitalized. We tried 4 different antibiotics, and it finally resolved. I still have hearing loss from it.
I encourage everyone who gets COVID that lasts longer than a week to get a sinus or throat culture to check for secondary infections. I was still having sinus trouble and coughing (no lung involvement, though) 21 days after first COVID symptoms.
I also did a BioFire 2.1 test (only available in the U.S., I think) on day 21:
It's a PCR test for 22 different viruses and bacteria. It was only positive for SARS-CoV-2 for me. It does not test for staph - they did a regular bacterial culture for that. That kind of test is the future of respiratory disease testing, I think. They keep adding more pathogens to their panel.
Did your insurance pay for it, or was it out of pocket? What was the cost? Very interested. Locally, the air quality has deteriorated the past 2 years and I am now having more lung problems.
As you know, insurance in the U.S. is as opaque as it can possibly be. Our insurance is BCBSLA (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana) HMO.
All I can see are charges on the date of service, but no itemization as to what the actual charges were for.
First is the office visit charge for the ENT, which shows up as Surgery, but charges me my standard Specialist Copay of $50.
Then there's Outpatient Services, which I think is the actual charge for taking the samples for the biopsies.
Finally, there's a Hospital/Facility Visit charge, which is the big fiction now used to hide innumerable sins, I think. I suspect that's the BioFire charge. I'm not sure where they charged for the bacterial biopsy.
Type of Service: Surgery
Total Amount Charged $415.00
Member Discount Amount $201.72⁴
Not Covered Amount $0.00
Your Health Plan(s) Paid $163.28
Your Plan Paid to Provider- $163.28
Your Plan Paid to You $0.00
Other Insurance Paid $0.00
Your Share
Exclusions $0.00
Deductible $0.00
Co-Pay/Coinsurance $50.00¹
Amount You May Owe Providers $50.00
¹ Copay And Coinsurance: $50.00 - Copay
⁴ Member Discount: $201.72 - The charge exceeds the allowed amount for this service.
Type of Service: Outpatient Services
Total Amount Charged $251.00
Member Discount Amount $182.26⁴
Not Covered Amount$0.00
Your Health Plan(s) Paid $68.74
Your Plan Paid to Provider- $68.74
Your Plan Paid to You $0.00
Other Insurance Paid $0.00
Your Share
Exclusions $0.00
Deductible $0.00
Co-Pay/Coinsurance $0.00
Amount You May Owe Providers $0.0
⁴ Member Discount: $182.26 - The charge exceeds the allowed amount for this service.
Type of Service: Hospital/Facility Visit
Total Amount Charged $1,785.00
Member Discount Amount $1,590.12⁴
Not Covered Amount $0.00
Your Health Plan(s) Paid $92.30
Your Plan Paid to Provider-$92.30
Your Plan Paid to You $0.00
Other Insurance Paid $0.00
Your Share
Exclusions $0.00
Deductible $102.58
Co-Pay/Coinsurance $0.00
Amount You May Owe Providers $102.58
⁴ Member Discount: $1,590.12 - The charge exceeds the allowed amount for this service.
In the LCMC Hospital Epic EHR Portal, I see 2 Routine Orders for the day:
LCMC COMPREHENSIVE RESPIRATORY PCR PLUS Microbiology
CULTURE, SUPERFICIAL WOUND WITH SMEAR Microbiology
Acute Sinusitis, Recurrence Not Specified, Unspecified Location
So, it was all $152.58 out of my pocket (not including the monthly insurance premium). I know this is an illusion of actual cost to both me and society. On paper, the BioFire appears to cost $102.58 + $92.30 = $194.88. They might actually be taking a loss at that rate.
BioFire requires a lease or purchase of the analyzing instrument, plus supplies, such as reagents and primers. It should get cheaper per disease, though. The doctors may ultimately demand it, to the consternation of the hospital/clinical finance people. I think it does prevent misdiagnosis of the diseases it tests, especially during the pandemic. As time goes on, we'll see if doctors come to rely on it.
I got my infection from my wife. She's a teacher, and normally masks (KF94), but since I felt so relieved after getting Evusheld, for a single time, she went to the cafeteria on a teacher appreciation day, and removed her mask to eat a hot dog a day or 2 after I got the 2nd half dose. She brought it home, and my daughter and I caught it from her.
Very sorry to hear that, but thanks for your elaboration. This is a good example of how immune-compromised people depend on others to mask well, without exception.
Apologies for the flippant response earlier: out on a walk, on the phone, off the cuff. Though I doubt Evusheld can help at this stage, I wish you a strong recovery.
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