Any tips for dealing with Covid?

[Mack8]

Any tips for dealing with Covid. Supplements? Or OTC? I am day 6 and miserable. My PCP didn't want to prescribe Pax.

[starlight5]

Sorry you are feeling so miserable. I would suggest a pulse ox so you can keep an eye on your oxygen. Hope you start feeling better soon.

Both times I had covid I would describe as absolutely miserable also, even with the antivirals. Nothing OTC helped, it just had to run it's course.

[Mack8 in reply to starlight5]

Thank you for your reply! I had it before and it was more respiratory. This time it is FATIGUE and body aches/feverish and terrible taste. Ugh! and brain fog!! Hate that we are still dealing with this.

[ahrogers in reply to Mack8]

I had to take Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen for the first week when I got it about a month ago. I didn't take Paxlovid this time. I took it the second time I had it. I may have recovered slightly faster that time but it was likely a different strain so hard to compare. I am about 95% better now, a month later. The congestion and fatigue lingered.Unfortunately, for us, it takes longer to get better.

[Fancy59 CommunityAmbassador]

Why the h e** not prescrìbe Paxlovid. When you have MS, the Coronavirus can be extremely hazardous to one's health. Starlight5 is correct that you need to get an oxygen monitor to keep an eye on your oxygen level in yourblood. When I had COVID my primary care doctor advised me that if my oxygen level dropped below 90 I needed to head straight to the emergency room. She stated that it could drop suddenly and go down quickly causing life threatening situations. Fancy59.

[Cwright170994]

I'm so sorry about your plight!When I caught it, I just needed paracetamol, ibuprofen, and more sleep. My husband was the same when he caught it a few days after my ocrevus infusion, but it was essentially like he had "man flu." I didn't catch it, even if I slept next to him every night! I think you would be alright fighting it, given our immune system is already working overtime just to harm the very thing it is supposed to protect.

But, paracetamol, ibuprofen, and sleep. You can safely take paracetamol and ibuprofen together because they work differently. I know paracetamol can injure your liver if you take too much at once, but ibuprofen is a non-steriodial anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and in hospitals the nurses give you both (ex-student nurse here.) Drink lots of water as well, because everything working will need "rehydration," a bit like if you were to go running, and then sleep.

[DM0329 in reply to Cwright170994]

Thanks for sharing such detailed information. Although I have MS (was on Avonex but switched to Aubagio after starting menopause during the global pandemic (2022).

As new variants continue to emerge globally, all will eventually come here USA/Canada, there's no stopping it's constant mutation/evolutions.

I'm "lucky" because I am mostly a "shut in" with me and my cat in a quaint suburb of Pittsburgh; but how did you all catch Covid? If you ever really now that answer?

FWIW, my brother is in the USMS for the S District of FL, and transports prisoners with Covid all the time. He constantly wipes everything down with alcohol and washes his clothes with the new Lysol disinfectant too. He has been constantly tested for COVID too, of course, but thankfully he's never tested positive.

It's so scary because you can have COVID but be asymptomatic and exhibit NO symptoms. That's the scary part, because you can be a carrier and infect all in your circle.

SHEESH. Will this ever end? And, better yet, will some of the MAGA folks realize that COVID is REAL and not just a COLD? Sorry, to turn towards politics, but it's just the constant misinformation that's most insane. Despite your beliefs, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Thanks for your sharing your knowledge and experience.

[Cwright170994 in reply to DM0329]

It's ok 🤗 husband goes to work on the trains, his work's in a city centre, and in the UK the NHS does the covid testing kits, which got delivered to people who are high risk free of charge! They also gave the high risk people a mini device that you put on a finger and it'll tell you your heart rate and sats 🤷‍♀️ we can also get booster vaccines when they get released, however the last one I was in the 12 week period after my ocrevus infusion, and by the time I could get it, it was no longer available 😒😑 I think the next one I should be able to get, fingers crossed. Husband can get the vaccines because he's my "carer", technically. I don't think he got the last one, because he's a bit lazy sometimes, but we're living 😅

[DM0329 in reply to Cwright170994]

Thanks so much for your prompt response. FWWI, my fellow MSers living in the UK or Canada where there is "socialized Medical care for it's citizens" is much needed here in the USA.

Although since I "retired" at age 45, after two years of waiting to get approved for my SSDI, I finally got Medicare, which is "socialized Medical Care for seniors and/or disabled folks who have paid into the social security system.

It's a scary thing, how COVID constantly changes, and how we are a totally "globalized" world now with the ease of international travels, etc.

Again, thanks! Be Well. 🙂🙏😽

[Cwright170994 in reply to DM0329]

I agree! It's scary how quickly stuff can change, and it's like the flu! A winter flu vax comes out every year, so I think it's going to be the same from now on 🤔

[ahrogers in reply to DM0329]

Unfortunately, it is not just the MAGA people with the idea it is just another flu or cold and not all of them believe that. Having had it 3 times I can say first hand it is worse than a typical flu or cold. My husband used to say it's just the flu and only got vaccinated to protect me and his mom. After he saw how sick I got the first time I had Covid he changed his tune.

[mm1527mm]

Doxycycline antibiotic really helped Ms as well as sudafed. I hope you feel better soon!

[sashaming1]

Maybe hydroxychloroquine?

[Frances_B in reply to sashaming1]

The suggestion that hydroxychloroquine can be used to "treat" COVID has been well and truly condemned by multiple reputable sources and clinical trials have confirmed that it is not approriate as a COVID treatment.

World Health Organisation

who.int/news-room/questions...

And from a fairly recent NCBI article: "The current totality of evidence more strongly supports our previous recommendations concerning the lack of efficacy and possible harm of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Also www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/cl...

And jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

[ByeByeMS]

I am sorry to hear this. I too had COVID 19 for the first time. Even after taking Pax for 5 days, it lingered on for 15 more days!!! 24 days of Covid 19 is something I never want to see again!!! I have no suggestions but to stay hydrated and know you are not alone!! Feel better😊

[AquaZumbaFan]

My Dr recommended the Emergen-c supplements.. I got them and turmeric and ginger. Trying to decrease inflammation as much as possible. You can get them from Amazon or any pharmacy and many grocery stores. When I got Covid last year unfortunately because I have asthma really bad in my chest so I ended up having to have a steroid and it even took a steroid inhaler for a month or two to fully clear it up.. rest with lots of fluids for sure! Best of luck 🤞🏻

[Mollyabigail]

Oh, man! This posted 3 days ago. I hope by now you are feeling better. Everyone had good suggestions, but I'm with Fancy -- why not Paxlovid? Prayers for a quick recovery!