November 27, 2023

Gratitude

I hope you all had a relaxing and food filled Thanksgiving weekend. It’s my favorite holiday because of the focus on gratitude. Good reminders for us all. We have much to be thankful for. Especially pie.

Gratitude is healing. Writing down 3 things you are thankful for daily can help pull someone out of the blues. Easy to look at what’s wrong on our lives, but all feels better when we look for blessings. I admit not always easy, especially in the middle of the night. That’s when I focus on my fears and worries. I need to reset my thinking then so I can get back to sleep. Gratitude helps.

The US government has approved 4 more free tests for each household. Contact covidtests.gov to order some. The test still works to detect Covid viral particles, even the variants. The FDA just gave full approval to a second home antigen test, Flowflex, that was given emergency use authorization. The test is intended to be used at least 2 times over 3 days, with 48 hours between tests if the first test is negative. This allows the viral load to increase in quantity to be detected. If still with symptoms and a negative test, consider getting a molecular (PCR) test that can find the virus in lower quantities.

The government has an updated website www.covid.gov with guidance for your specific community for masking, testing, vaccines, treatments and where to find them. It is well organized and helpful. We are lucky to have treatments available if you are at risk for severe illness. Since the “Emergency” is over, treatments and testing are being billed again. You can get help to pay for meds through patient assistance programs.

Even though more rebound from Paxlovid than initially hoped (up to 20% compared to only 2% untreated.) Half had no symptoms when they rebounded. The rebound virus is considered viable and infectious, so if you do rebound, wear a mask to prevent spreading it.

Gratitude is key but we also need to be realistic. Omicron and its variants are still affecting our lives 2 years later. I read an article about “How not to kill Grandma at Thanksgiving.” It has compelling data that infections and deaths from COVID, Influenza, and RSV uptick after Thanksgiving. He suggests the usual precautions of testing, wearing masks if you have a cold, using ventilation to help airflow, avoid infection while traveling, being boosted for the new variant.

Less people are dying, but still more from COVID than influenza. The virus can make some people feel poorly for up to a month after infection. Using salt water and nasal salt water rinses can help symptoms.

Good news that most people who had taste and smell loss from COVID, slowly recover their sense of smell. Taste returns sooner but recovery from smell loss can take 3 years.

Some of us are still NOVID, meaning we’ve never been infected. Lucky and probably pretty vigilant. Don’t get cocky: it can still happen. Be sure and get your booster. It decreases infections with the new variants and prevents serious illness.

Stay sensible.

A gentle reminder that I am now writing more regularly because I’ve committed to doing so by turning on Paid Subscriptions. Read about it here in this post: A Special Message. Most of my writing will remain free. Pay only if you wish to and are able to. The cost is $5/month, $50/year, $100 Founding Member, bonus is ability to post and other content. Think of it as tipping for a busker. Thanks to all who have paid already!

covidtests.gov

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-clears-first-covid-19-home-antigen-test

https://www.covid.gov

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html

https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-1756

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/omicron-now-2-years-old-is-not-done-with-us-yet/

https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/faustfiles/107470

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/07/well/covid-symptoms-sick.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/11/09/salt-water-gargle-nasal-rinse-covid/

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/loss-of-smell-from-covid-19-takes-up-to-three-years-to-return-study-finds/

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/i-was-a-novid-until-i-wasnt/

https://www.vaccines.gov/search/