COVID-19 Thread

[J.R.E.]

Had my last labs done on March 13th.  Will visit with the infectious disease Doctor at the VA hospital on April 13th, to discuss those results.  So far no cancellation.

No problems with refilling of meds at this point, which are delivered through the postal service or sometimes through UPS.

Ray

[J.R.E.]

Had my last labs done on March 13th.  Will visit with the infectious disease Doctor at the VA hospital on April 13th, to discuss those results.  So far no cancellation.

Ray

Correction, ...I just called my ID Doctor to see if the April 13th visit is still on.  We decided to postpone that until June 16th.  This is ok for me, as I can see my lab results on line, and currently there are no results that may need looking at or discussion about. Everything is fine. The VA medical system is going through changes day by day.

She also decided to renew a 90 supply of medications to play it on the safe side.

In addition, I have labs scheduled for my primary care on May 27th,20,   So she decided to add another viral load and cd4 count onto those labs as well. Now I am wondering about my primary care appointment on June 4th, and whether or not that should be rescheduled.  Will wait and see for this one.


Ray

[Jim Allen]

Hi, just wondered how everyone around the world is managing their 6 monthly testing and replenishing their arvs during pandemic?

Not an easy choice for some people to make.

I suppose everyone has to make their own choice, of course, hopefully, choices are made with medical guidance where possible during this crisis.

My own personal choice considering my relatively stable lab history, underlying conditions and following the “Interim Guidance for COVID-19 and Persons with HIV”  was to cancel my upcoming May appointment and to stay home. I'm very lucky in the sense that I have 8 months of ART on stock at home.

Clinic Visits:
https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/html/8/covid-19-and-persons-with-hiv--interim-guidance-/554/interim-guidance-for-covid-19-and-persons-with-hiv

https://www.poz.com/article/covid19-advice-people-hiv-experts-know

Is it a good idea to go to your clinic or doctor for HIV-related appointments at this time?

AIDSinfo advises those with a suppressed viral load and stable health to postpone routine visits if possible. Concerned individuals could instead call their doctor or use telemedicine to replace face-to-face meetings.

ART:

Persons with HIV Should:

Maintain on-hand at least a 30-day supply—and ideally a 90-day supply—of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other medications.
Talk to their pharmacists and/or healthcare providers about changing to mail order delivery of medications when possible.
Persons for whom a regimen switch is planned should consider delaying the switch until close follow-up and monitoring are possible.
Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) has been used as an off-label treatment for patients with COVID-19 and clinical trials are underway globally. If protease inhibitors (PIs) are not already part of a person’s ARV regimen, their regimen should not be changed to include a PI to prevent or treat COVID-19, except in the context of a clinical trial and in consultation with an HIV specialist. In a small open-label trial, 199 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were randomized to either 14 days of LPV/r plus standard of care or standard of care alone. No statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups, with regards to time to clinical improvement or mortality.1

Of course, regional or national advice and resourcing will differ, and as said check with your doctor if possible. I did check the local advice here before making my choice as well. Below is the current advice for Ireland as an example.

https://www.hivireland.ie/living-with-hiv/hiv-and-covid-19/

HIV Clinics
Are HIV clinics still operating?

Yes, however some clinics are closed to new appointments and are rescheduling existing appointments. Many HIV clinic staff including infectious disease specialists, nurses, and administrative staff are currently working on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are due to attend a clinic you will be contacted in relation to your appointment and / or the collection of medication. If you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 please do not attend and contact the clinic by phone.

If you telephone your clinic and receive a recorded message, you should leave a voice message with your name, your contact number, and your hospital number (if you know it) so that the clinic staff  can contact you.

My clinic cancelled my appointment and I have not been given a new appointment date. What should I do?

If your clinic has postponed or cancelled your appointment, you should receive a new appointment date in due course. If you do not receive an appointment date, and you require one, you should contact the clinic.

If you require an urgent appointment, you should contact the clinic and explain.

I am newly diagnosed with HIV. What should I do?

If you are newly diagnosed with HIV and you are unsure what to do or need additional support, please contact your GP / healthcare provider.

[PittGurl]

Hi from USA (East Coast) -  things are ok where i live so far. We have cases but i live in the country area. I was wondering about these clinical trials with using ART drugs....I take Triumeq and Jim you were saying something about protease inhibitors?  Is that in Triumeq? I googled but you know google...lol...

Anyways, my son and I are safe and healthy thus far. Wearing face masks and staying in!  My job cut my hours to 24 hours which stinks but apparently i can file for unemployment here. We are sad that his school is closed and went to online learning but at this time, better to be safe and home then out there. 

Blessing to everyone!!   

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

I'm on Triumeq as well.

PI's, here is an easy list of them - https://www.poz.com/drugs/classes/Protease-Inhibitors

So far though treatment with them for COVID19 is mixed results, I don't think we will know for sure anytime soon and I don't think anyone has even thought about if it could work as some sort of PrEP in the dosage used normally in HIV treatment.

Open to correction thought from anyone with reliably published sources ...

I last checked the news on this stuff 4-5 days ago and filtered out what seemed nonsense, just opinions or unreliable reposts

Ribavirin, Remdesivir, Sofosbuvir, Galidesivir, and Tenofovir against SARS-CoV-2 RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp): A molecular docking study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320520303404

"Gilead mulls repositioning failed Ebola drug in China virus". Fierce Biotech. Retrieved 31 January 2020. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/gilead-mulls-repositioning-failed-ebola-drug-china-virus

Keep in mind other HIV drugs have so far failed despite initial promising results.

Cao B, Wang Y, Wen D et al. A Trial of Lopinavir-Ritonavir in Adults Hospitalized with Severe Covid-19. N Engl J Med 2020; doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2001282

- Kaletra HIV Combo Is Not Effective Against New Coronavirus
The protease inhibitor combination did not work significantly better than supportive care overall, though those treated earlier might benefit.
https://www.poz.com/article/kaletra-hiv-combo-effective-new-coronavirus

- No Proof That HIV Med Prezista Treats COVID-19, Warns Drugmaker
What’s more, reports that Kaletra can fight the novel coronavirus have not been confirmed. https://www.poz.com/article/proof-hiv-med-prezista-treats-covid19-warns-drugmaker
 

Anyways, my son and I are safe and healthy thus far. Wearing face masks and staying in!  My job cut my hours to 24 hours which stinks but apparently i can file for unemployment here. We are sad that his school is closed and went to online learning but at this time, better to be safe and home then out there.

The job cutting the hours sucks, sorry to hear that. Most important though is staying safe and glad to hear you are safe and healthy so far with your son.

Stay safe, hugs.

[ivanm]

Hi Jim, hi everyone.

I'm new to this forum, so here is a brief presentation of me: I'm from Mexico (so pardon the grammar), 35, and I do journalism (opinion, commentary, not reporting) for a living. I was diagnosed last October. My first CD4 results were 70 and VL 71000, I started ART (biktarvy) on October 9th and for December 1st the results were 316 and VL 71.

We here in Mexico have two main state health insurance for workers, but not for freelances (like me), who can access another state-based service (nationwide but administrated by local governments; actually we had some changes, but never mind for this post; just think of something like obamacare). So everyone who tested positive in the country have free-access to medication, laboratories, medical services, etc... and we specifically in Mexico City (the capital of the country) have a very organized and professional specialized clinic (Condesa). I am very grateful for this so my experience as a PLWHIV has been very "comfortable" and easy going thanks to the people who work at Condesa (I didn't use to go to a dentist or dermathologist on a regular basis, for example, they have a group of them and specialized on HIV and aids-related infections).

I was an occasionally reader of POZ, and recently included it as part of my routine. Since coronavirus I started to check out this forum also on a daily basis.

So... I was not very anxious (I can stay at home and been here, doing the grocery shop online and that), but had some concerns as we enter just this week on a quarantine (and not a major one as NYC or LA) AND information on the pandemic and public health policies have been not very clear or professional (we have a Fauci but also our very Trump in chief). I had a scheduled refill and scheduled labs. From social media, Condesa Clinic was clear that the services were not going to be suspended, but then they canceled labs for people who have a healthy and controlled situation (like me, past labs results were very fine at all, I have no comorbidities; I would love to have new CD4 and VL count but the laboratory that made this two is the National Institute for Respiratory issues, so I understand they are on a crisis and I can wait).

They encouraged us by e-mail or messages on social media that if not necessary or an emergency, just go to the clinic to get your meds when they finish. We regularly have to go there every month for a one month supply...

And, this is why I wanted to post this, just if there is someone of you curious about situations in other countries: I just checked in the office today, gave my clinic-ID, they checked on the system and I got three months supply, just as main world health and aids organizations are suggesting.

So... we are ok in here, I can imagine some people are more anxious, those who have to work outside or those with another health issued like diabetes or arterial hypertension but we as PLWHIV are safe and at least with a stock of pills at home for three months.

Best for all, and thank you Jim for your work here. Stay safe and if possible, stay at home.

Ivan

[J.R.E.]

 

 I Subscribe to newsletters. One of those I subscribe to is Medpage Today :

https://www.medpagetoday.com/

Anyway,, I had a newsletter yesterday from them that brought a smirk to my face. This is satirical.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/gomer/85708

The title of this article was :

CDC: Coronavirus Vaccine Will Be Ready for Refusal By Anti-Vaxxers By 2021

Couple quotes from the article:

"Opportunity to decline, refuse, and reject a potentially life-saving vaccine as early as possible" 

CDC officials announced Tuesday that they believe the new vaccine currently under development aimed at controlling the rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 virus -- responsible for causing COVID-19 -- will be approved and ready to be utterly rejected by those in the anti-vaccination (anti-vax) movement by next year.

"This is an exciting development," said Eric Polsky, director of the CDC's Novel Vaccination Program, "and we will work tirelessly to ensure all anti-vaxxers have the opportunity to decline, refuse, and reject this potentially life-saving vaccine as early as possible."

The announcement has many in the anti-vaccination movement excited, including a local woman present at the press conference, who noted, "I just get such a thrill from ignoring mountains of scientific evidence at the danger of threatening the world around me, and the chance to do that by yet again opting out of a critical vaccine is just delightful." 


Ray

[BubbaPat]

I'm considered "essential" so I'm working. My last visit to my doc was a great visit in that we went over my numbers and he said "See ya in 4 months."  I've always been pretty "hardy" when it comes to my health but now my mental energy is draining.  I work with a younger crowd and they don't get that they do have a job and they should do it...not just show up and collect a check.  We have things to do to stay in business.
I'm contemplating calling in saying I just don't feel well... my boss doesn't know my status and I don't feel I need to tell him.
I'm just needing a break from coworkers and some of our more "pleasant" customers.

How about y'all?  Anyone in same boat?  Anyone struggling with being healthy while others are getting sick? Is the paranoia creeping in that "I" could get infected?

[virgo313]

I still work as a e-hailing driver.
Wearing mask.

[harleymc]

Yes. My job has been identified as essential and having HIV makes no difference to suseptability or seriousness of Covid infection

[leatherman]

How about y'all?  Anyone in same boat?  Anyone struggling with being healthy while others are getting sick? Is the paranoia creeping in that "I" could get infected?

here in SC, my husband, who has been poz since 90 (about 5 yrs less than me but never aidsy/hospitalized) is working at a home improvement store m-f. Unfortunately as they are making money hand-over-fist (large dollars every day for the last 2 weeks. larger than black friday. and record sales for the last 2 weekends) will never close down unless the gov declares it. Of course, gov. mcmaster is a republican idiot and believes that jebus will protect us, ain't nobody gonna take our guns, and all sorts of stores are "essential", so we still have all sorts of people out and about.

luckily my hubby works on a specialized crew - and they are not republicans nor stupid. His supervisor got everyone masks (not the company, not the store; but the supervisor of a 10 person crew), the crew voted to change hours to avoid more
customers (ie idiots), and they have reported several sick coworkers from elsewhere in the store. Two coworkers actually have had the audacity to come back to work while they were mildly ill and were waiting on results of covid tests.

So the hubby worries about getting infected. I worry about him bringing it home - but we're taking lots of precautions (even sewing up our own masks this weekend), and keeping an HIV-positive but not Covid-positive attitude about it all. LOL

Paranoid? sure thing! We barely survived one epidemic and worry about surviving another when people in this area won't stay home and my husband has to keep working so we can pay the mortgage on the house we just bought a little over a year ago.

update:
just got a text from my husband after he got to work this morning - two people (employers at his store) have tested positive. Ack!

[CalvinC]

Things here in Toronto have certainly changed in relation to covid19; but as far as HIV goes, life is pretty much the same. I am blessed in having excellent insurance and even if I did not, the Ontario government would pay for my meds. So getting meds is not an issue, ever. Drug stores are open, my GP is working.

I get my bloodwork done at an HIV clinic at one of the hospitals here, that specializes in HIV patients. I see a specialist there once a year, bloodwork twice a year. They just called to cancel both, and are sending me a requisition to get blookwork done at a clinic.

Since the Canadian motto is Peace, Order, and Good Government (really it is, quite unlike Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness -- and there was a Canadian new wave band called The Pursuit of Happiness!), we good Canadians are practising our social distancing etc for the most part. Streets are very quiet for a 6 million people metropolis. It's like Sundays here used to be, before they introduced Sunday shopping in the late 80s: laid back and relaxed. Lots of sunny April days.

[wardp]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/08/bcg-jabs-mean-six-times-less-likely-get-coronavirus-study-finds/ Interesting article, UK stopped BCG  years ago, Thailand are still vaccinating,,

[wardp]

How is everyone managing in Thailand during lockdown for tests meds etc?

[Lorenzopier]

I to am optimistic that a vaccine and other pharmaceutical treatment options will be available within the next 18 months. Viruses such as this have a long history going back thousands of years of dealing crushing blows to the world and in reality will probably continue to do so. It is great that we can devise new vaccines for each new seasonal virus that creeps up into our world, but during that delay period we are still very vulnerable which is the state that we are currently in. We also have the technology to use micro-nutrients, antioxidants and amino acids in the proper effective dosages as well as correct balance to temporarily ramp up a persons own immune defenses if a person becomes infected thereby lessening the severity of the symptoms as well as the duration. It is something that I have been practicing for almost 2 decades now. I think after the type of devastation that we are going through now it is finally time to take a closer look at what this type of technology can do for man.

[PozChilean]

I was fortunate enough to have my doctor to send me an online prescription for 6 months even though I had to cancel my April check up due to our local quarantine in Chile.

My lab results were normal so that makes me feel thankful I was allowed not to go the clinic for a new prescription.

[Jim Allen]

I was fortunate enough to have my doctor to send me an online prescription for 6 months even though I had to cancel my April check up due to our local quarantine in Chile.

My lab results were normal so that makes me feel thankful I was allowed not to go the clinic for a new prescription.

Good stuff being able to get an online prescription!

[Expat1]

I would usually be getting viral load testing and blood work this month.

I was told to avoid the labs until after the "surge" and to wait until things calm down.

I needed refills and was reluctant to go to the hospital outpatient clinic so go my refills from a specialty hiv clinic that I use to get my Tafero-Em from.  They had Edurant in stock so I got everything from them, avoiding a trip into a hospital.  So I am set for next 4 months.

[wardp]

When is the surge expected in Thailand expat?

[Ncmike66]

I am friends with about 10+ guys who are hiv+ and take their anti-viral meds “religiously” . NONE of my friends have become ill with Covid-19, even without social distancing measures, during the beginning,  to now, during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Could hiv antivirals really help in alleviating Covid-19 infection? 

[zach]

I am friends with about 10+ guys who are hiv+ and take their anti-viral meds “religiously” . NONE of my friends have become ill with Covid-19, even without social distancing measures, during the beginning,  to now, during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Could hiv antivirals really help in alleviating Covid-19 infection?

No. Your example isn't even anecdotal

[em]

I know this might sound ridiculous and out there way off base ?

what might be the result or an up side to this ,  it might just be an attempt to find a bright side to this horrible turn of events

when a farmer plants a field every year the soil can get worn and less productive.

so to increase productivity the farmer might leave a field unplowed this is called leaving a field fallow thus giving the soil a chance to recover and become more fertile and productive .

a comparison of our world to a field  reaching i know but it might give hope for a bright future in the time ahead .

not to mention every one might be more appreciative of the gifts life has to offer once the mayhem slows down the world recovers from this sickness it is now facing .

sickness changes the person who was ill. if they recover they can be a better person . in this situation the entire world feels the sickness. I am hopeful the entire world will be a better place when the recovery unfolds .

 I hope

all the best to you

EM

[Gladragsguy]

Well actually there is a new study working with TRUVADA and Hydroxychloroquine...so never say never...we might just get lucky.

No. Your example isn't even anecdotal

[Almost2late]

Interesting article from nature.com on how Covid-19 may hurt the immune system. Quote from the article..

Some studies reported that lymphocytopenia might be related to mortality, especially in patients with low levels of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes. 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41423-020-0424-9

Also MedCram on YouTube explains this a bit further with doodles and charts...
https://youtu.be/8NffZAGELGg


I personally wouldn't let my guard down with this thing bc we don't know all there is to know about it.

[J.R.E.]

I personally wouldn't let my guard down with this thing bc we don't know all there is to know about it.

Same here as well !!  Now we're off to SAMS CLUB with rubber gloves and Masks !

Ray

[Jim Allen]

I was giving the COVID19 a bit of a break for a few days for my own wellbeing. So I apologize if the thread has not been kept as regularly updated.

Few interesting headlines, I mention the below one as it's a question that people have asked over PM and by email.

https://www.poz.com/article/questioning-covid19-outcomes-people-living-hiv

“We Are Seeing Few Cases of HIV-Positive People With Severe COVID-19”
As a result, researchers in Spain are testing whether HIV med Truvada, often used as PrEP, can also prevent COVID-19.

Overall though, I should stress to my knowledge there is no real scientific evidence published yet to suggest that HIV treatment works or works at the dosage taken as PrEP against COVID19. Stay safe, wash hands, maintain physical distancing and follow your national/healthcare providers guidelines. 

Other items updated, although, nothing new or what we didn't already know.

http://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/coronavirus-covid-19-and-hiv

The British HIV Association gives the following advice:

People with a CD4 count over 200, who are taking HIV treatment and have an undetectable viral load are considered at no greater risk than the general population. They should follow general advice to stay at home and maintain social distancing.

People with a CD4 count below 200, or who are not taking HIV treatment, or who have a detectable viral load may be at higher risk of severe illness. Nonetheless, they should still follow the same general advice.

People with a very low CD4 count below 50 or who have had an opportunistic illness in the last six months should follow the ‘shielding’ advice for the extremely vulnerable.

Other news and updated publications: https://www.poz.com/tag/coronavirus

[Grasshopper]

I am doing the same; too much news about COVID19, chokes me up and makes me anxious.
My parents are living overseas and it's driving me crazy not being able to visit them and to help where possible. I had to cancel my trip next may/june because of the total lock-down.
We are on a much longer leash overhere, and can move around quite easy as long as we observe the social distance measurements. However I choose to only go to the stores for food or as yesterday to the pharmacy for my meds.
I know some people who contracted the virus, but were mildly ill, and are now back to working from home.
I work at a large college in Amsterdam, organizing, planning and scheduling all the testings and exams, but the college decided to cancel all on site teaching activities till august 30. I now have nothing to do, and now sitting at home on furlough with full pay.
Like all others I have to be patient and sit this out.Hope you guys manage to keep well and sane.

[hereinny]

So with the news about remdesivir having promising results treating Covid19 a question came to mind.  If an HIV patient is currently taking something such as Atripla, Complera, Stribild or the like, would that person be able to take remdesivir in the event of a Corona Virus infection?

Im just curious as to weather or not it might interfere with workings of the medication being taken to treat HIV.  It seems essentially that it would be adding a 4th (in some cases 5th) component to the "cocktail".

Also what i found to be quite interesting is that some HIV doctors are reporting a trend they have observed in their own practices that MIGHT suggest that people with HIV are actually less prone to severe complications from Covid19.

Some interesting information but the question on my mind is on taking remdesivir in addition to other HIV treatment. 

[Grasshopper]

This is the site that my ID doctor checks for interactions:


https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org/checker

[Jim Allen]

So with the news about remdesivir having promising results treating Covid19 a question came to mind.  If an HIV patient is currently taking something such as Atripla, Complera, Stribild or the like, would that person be able to take remdesivir in the event of a Corona Virus infection?

Im just curious as to weather or not it might interfere with workings of the medication being taken to treat HIV.  It seems essentially that it would be adding a 4th (in some cases 5th) component to the "cocktail".

If, that happens, then the same as any other time a doctor has to treat multiple conditions, I will presume. They would have to asses what meds the person is on, the interaction risk if known and if their is a known risk decide what's best, i.e treatment interruption, switching meds, lowering dosages or alternative treatments etc.

I am doing the same; too much news about COVID19, chokes me up and makes me anxious.
.

Yeah had to take a break. Have to say I found the Dutch news (NOS) has a better national & international coverage and, is far less sensationalized than the Irish media.

My parents are living overseas and it's driving me crazy not being able to visit them and to help where possible. I had to cancel my trip next may/june because of the total lock-down.
We are on a much longer leash overhere, and can move around quite easy as long as we observe the social distance measurements. However I choose to only go to the stores for food or as yesterday to the pharmacy for my meds.
I know some people who contracted the virus, but were mildly ill, and are now back to working from home.
I work at a large college in Amsterdam, organizing, planning and scheduling all the testings and exams, but the college decided to cancel all on site teaching activities till august 30. I now have nothing to do, and now sitting at home on furlough with full pay.
Like all others I have to be patient and sit this out.Hope you guys manage to keep well and sane

Same here, although, I keep telling myself that my parents who live in Friesland are fine as hardly anyone lives there for them to interact with or get sick from to start with unless it migrates to the cows 

[Jim Allen]

BTW here is a link on the story about Remdesivir for anyone reading the thread..

https://www.poz.com/article/remdesivir-appears-promising-covid19-treatment
Remdesivir Appears Promising for COVID-19 Treatment
Experts caution that results from randomized clinical trials are still needed to determine whether the antiviral drug is effective.

[Grasshopper]

"unless it migrates to the cows  "

That would then be KOERONA.   

[J.R.E.]

Hope everyone is well !,...

My partner brought to my attention two days ago, an article he was reading about "Covid toes"

It peaked my interests, because for approximately 3 1/2 months, I have something on my left foot ( Second toe in that looks very much in what is described in this article, and picture. I have read several different articles since.

See link:

https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/familyhealth/what-are-covid-toes-dermatologists-podiatrists-share-strange-findings/ar-BB12OAfm

https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB12MJJ1.img?h=1084&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f

Now, another condition possibly linked to the coronavirus has captured researchers' attention. Dubbed "COVID toes" by the dermatology community, it can look like "purple lesions" on feet or hands, Dr. Esther Freeman, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told TODAY.


Note the above pics are not my feet or toes !! 

This red spot on my second toe in on my left foot, looks almost identical to the picture in the link. It almost looks similar to what shingles looks like with a very slight blistering, in the early stages.

In my case it's not painful, and for the longest time, I was thinking that something was rubbing in my shoes, or perhaps my socks were irritating that particular toe. But nothing has changed in my footwear.

So I have kept it bandaged, with a daily smear of triple antibiotic ointment.

Once again, its not painful, I don't have the swolleness, that appears in the photo, and it's only on one toe.  it appears to be going slowly away, but ever so slowly.

In all of my life, (68 years) I have never had any issues with my feet, and my feet were always healthy in appearance.  Except for some mild Nephropathy as a result from HIV, I never had foot issues.

The other reason why I bring this up, In December for close to 3 weeks, I was really sick with a terrible non-stop cough, and quite a bit of respiratory shit going on. I think I reported it on a thread here, back when i had it. For 3 weeks I basically stayed home, was in bed most of the time, only getting up to go eat or use the restroom. It was a long and miserable 3 weeks. The coughing went on day and night. Sometimes I thought I was going to break a rib from all the coughing.

By the time I got to see my primary care doctor, I was about at the end of it and feeling much better, but, he ended up prescribing me a Z- pack for 5 days, as he still heard a lot of congestion in my lungs. The doctor thought I may have had the flu, but did not do a swab, to confirm. When I mentioned to to my infectious disease Dr, she thought a swab should have been done. It is what it is...

The Z pack ultimately cleared up everything, and I've been well ever since, Except for this thing in my one toe.

I will not diagnose myself, BUT, I am wondering if what I had in December was a milder form of covid-19. And perhaps, I built up antibodies.

So this will be part of the discussion when I see my doctor next.  By the way, What ever I had, I also passed it on to my partner, and he was prescribed a z-pack as well.

He had it no where near as bad as I did but still made him miserable for 2 weeks. He also recovered quickly by the completion of his Z-pac.

Just seems kind of coincidental, an honestly, a little frightening. But as I stated, I am doing quite well with no issues. I will probably see if i can get an appointment set up with a podiatrist.
 

Take care ----Ray

[Grasshopper]

Hmmm....I don't know what to think of this.

You mention a single toe, while the article mentions and picture shows multiple toes.

In your case, the fact that the lession is specifically localized and limited to a singel toe, means that it could very well be something totally different, and hopefully innocuous.

Fingers crossed !

Keep an eye on it though, and if possible emailing your doctor a picture for an initial opinion ?

[Jim Allen]

"unless it migrates to the cows  "

That would then be KOERONA.   

  LOL

For anyone wondering "Koe" is Dutch for "Cow"

[fabio]

I really like corona beer though Haha.
One name suggeaction would be luna,since their competitors named a similar  beer as sol.

[yogaholic]

Hello Forum Friends,

I hope this post finds you all safe and healthy amidst this corona crisis.

I am a New Yorker who fled 6 weeks ago to Costa Rica to protect my immune system. I have since been quarantined on a farm and am healthy. I currently have four months of my HIV medication Odefsey but I may stay here in country for 6-8 months until the virus calms down back in the US. (There are no confirmed cases in the region where I am here.)

MY QUESTION/PROBLEM: I need to either A.) Buy new meds here in country, or B.) Get my medications brought into the country by a friend. (Mailing medications here is not permitted.)

OPTION 1.: The borders are closed to foreigners so my normal plan of having a friend bring them from the US is not possible. Only Costa Rican nationals are allowed into the country at this time and I don't know any CR nationals coming into the country from the US.

OPTION 2.: Buying new meds here, which is likely cost prohibitive. Or is a foreigner eligible for any free med programs here? (I assume not but doesn't hurt to ask.)

OPTION 3.: Spreading my meds out. Has anyone had luck taking Odefsey every other day instead of daily?

The only other option is to return to NYC when my meds run out which I really don't want to do.

Do you have any suggestions or can you provide any help?

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

If it was me facing option 3, to avoid issues like resistance, I would continue normal dosage until the supply ran out and restart whenever I next had meds available.

Anyhow hope you can sort your situation out before it gets to that. Best. Jim

[Expat1]

How is everyone managing in Thailand during lockdown for tests meds etc?

Dr Phillip is operating his clinic as normal. 

I needed to get a refil of dapsone, so went to local private hospital.  It was virtually empty.  Not at all crowded.  Talked with my doctor, he said yeah,   very quiet.  He thinks everyone is afraid to come into the hospital with regular problems.   They had appropriate tirage outside.  No one waiting.  Certainly not like any scenes from American Hospitals recently.

Temp checks at entry. 

I go a refill and also a flu shot as flu season in Thailand coincides with the rainy season from May to October.

[em]

as time moves forward things grow

when dealing with the spread of something that causes  harm

time distance and shielding

 precautions for dealing with hazardous materials

A deadly virus ( hazardous material )

the fewer the number of contacts lower the chance and limits the spread time spent in contact with others

with AIDS have safe sex shielding .   use protection a condom close bath houses .

with COV-19  stay six feet apart and wear a mask .   close places people gather   similar but just the next step in the evolution the growth of  precautions . 
HIV spread by intimate contact COV-19 spread by close contact

the next step,  that would be growth or evolution  ..
 
time distance and shielding

stay home all three in one step.  but the reality no one wants to spend their entire life at home .



there most likely are  other similarities. . 

 I am sure someone else here might notice and might post more ?


any thoughts ?

all the best

EM ( pen name ( short for Emmanuel ))

just in case you wanted to know

[Jim Allen]

reality no one wants to spend their entire life at home

This is hardly the first or the last outbreak of illness.

Extreme Physical distancing measures, as seen in some nations can only be maintained short term. Maybe not today but people will socialize, fall in love, have concerts, pubs and school etc again and COVID19 will one day fade into the history books and slowly forgotten with time until the next pandemic.

[em]

unfortunately for me

with the my life the way it is

the not going out thing has been my past twenty years

too much information to process in the world ,  staying home is for me the best option

but feel free to live your own life the bestway you know how

we all do

EM ( emmanuel to some means ( god is with us ) a more direct translation ( with god ) but whatever .    it is like every other word just a word

do not read to much into it .  it is only a pen name .

EM

[Jim Allen]

Choose to live however you like, locked away or outside and free.

The point was the majority of the world post this COVID19 outbreak will simply move on, just like it has with every other outbreak.

[em]

so true life will go on

[fabio]

I never knew Emmanuel meant that,plus you have a really nice name Em. It's better than Fabian,which means "bean grower" 😂,even though I don't like beans....

[em]

EM is my pen name

this I find funny though

emmanuel  the word in the middle   man

just a man like any other man .

Latino men are sometimes named Jesus.

so what is in a name . a rose by another name would still smell as sweet

EM

[fabio]

My dad actually wanted to give me a very Albanian sounding name (my grandfather's name) Reshef,but my grandma didn't really like him much so she chose Fabian for me 😂.
Yes,I have noticed Jesus is the most latino name,but nothing wrong with it. A man,I would love to call someone Emmanuel,it's very unique.

[em]

I am almost certain and as close to this I feel very likely

that you will find someone to care about who cares for you in the same way

I am sure whatever this person's name is the sound if it will fill your heart with joy

even with this coronavirus life and love will continue to exist . just like AIDS did not stop people from caring about each other neither will this virus

all the best to you

EM  or maybe my pen name should be Emilio still starts with EM . or maybe I should just stay with EM and live with the idea that someone every once in while saying why hello Emily ?    could be worse they could just not say anything and leave me alone with my thoughts and fears .      with this new contagion running wild there is no shortage of thoughts and fears > 

wishing everyone health and prosperity

[zach]

Well, Georgia is reopening tomorrow.

Our curve hasn't flattened. Daily death toll and infections continue to rise. Each day breaking the previous high.

Check back on us in a couple weeks, see if there is an exponential increase in infection rates.

News coverage is really depressing. The level of stupidity is mind numbing.

It disgusts me what is being done to Dr Fauci. Every one of us here lives due in part to that mans life work. If you don't know who he is or what he's done for us, you owe it to yourself to read up.

I'm sure history will remember him well in hindsight, but in the present the media and conservative right are dragging him through mud in what may well his finest hour.

He is a hero twice over

Off my soapbox now

[PittGurl]

100% Disagree on Fauci...he's in with Gates and population control..I will post on that later though.

Good job for Georgia!! Would love to relocate there. PA is horrid!! Our Governor and Secretary of Health have been caught lying about cases, inflating probable deaths, our hospitals are empty,  nurses are being laid off.  his reopening plan of Pennsylvania changes by the minute. Farmers eggs are being destroyed, suicides are up, domestic abuse is skyrocketing. It's almost like communism. There is a huge march being planned May 1st and May 2nd. I see now how the holocaust happened