My husband has COVID and I can't get a test..yay!

[UkrainianTracksuit]

A few days ago (less than 5, I guess) my husband worked with someone that came to work with cold symptoms and was tested at work. That person tested positive.

Last night, my husband came home from work. He had no respiratory symptoms (runny nose, sore throat), but body aches, fever, and nausea. He went to bed and naturally I slept in the same bed together.  His oxygen numbers were normal this morning, but still a bit of a fever. He said he felt better, would go to work, get tested, and go from there. (For reference, he is double vaxxed, waiting on a booster.)

He came home early and yep, positive for COVID. He is basically fine...but still body aches and stuff. Now, I need a test, right?

We are supposed to acquire free rapid antigen tests from grocery stores and the province. Stock is all out.

The local testing center allowed immunocompromised people, but only if they are symptomatic.  I have no symptoms, or at least I don't think I do. But isn't it correct that immunocompromised people don't show the strong symptoms like others?

My local neph clinic is useless and my tx center is far away. In all honesty, I feel a little sluggish, but fine. I am not sure how I am supposed to feel, you know?

Not sure what are even the odds that I have COVID... I'll keep harassing people on the phone then.

[kristina]

Dear Ukrainian Tracksuit, I am so sorry for your husband and please ask your GP-doctor and your transplant-center straight away what you should do right away, apart from looking after your husband. Please find out a.s.a.p. and please, since you already have had your kidney-transplant, please don't even wait until "any or some symptoms show"...  Good luck!!!
Thinking of you both and best wishes from Kristina.

[cassandra]

Omg what a situation that is. Is it maybe poss to get a test through your hubby’s work?


Good luck my friend, and well wishes to your husband.


Love, Cas

[iolaire]

That sucks.  Our area was in the same test shortage situation around Christmas.  The tests kept showing up at odd hours for shipping from our various online retailers like Walmart, CVS and Walgreens.  People that really needed tests quickly ended up going to the pharmacies that provided higher cost rapid tests that insurance would not pay for, think travel tests and the like.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I managed to get a test at the public health-run center - I just rambled off symptoms that I do not particularly have.  Now up to 48 hours of waiting. Thing is, if you are in a high risk group, based on that alone, no test. Be high risk with symptoms, come on in. 

Husband who should stay locked in a room is up and about but seems to be developing chest congestion. He called GP and hopefully they will call back. Thing is, I don't know what a GP can call in for a prescription?! Oxygen where it was before.

I just knew that he would bring this damn virus home at some point. Since omicron, I kept nagging that he had to upgrade his mask (wear N95 which are readily available and plentiful now, but no, didn't listen) and I said even if he looked nerdy, wear the goggles or shield that were handed out too. Oh no, he would look nerdy and he "couldn't really see his work" with the visor. Kinda resentful right now. 

[MooseMom]

I'd be furious, UT!  Nerds are cool these days.  Didn't your husband get the memo?  LOL!

For your husband, your GP could call in a script for Paxlovid or Molnupiravir, the two new anti-virals.  Paxlovid has proven to be the most effective of the two, however, it is contraindicated in a lot of other commonly prescribed drugs.  I don't know if these two anti-virals are available in your neck of the woods, though, but that's what would be prescribed in the US.  He'd need to start it soon, though.

You best make a plan should YOU become ill.  You probably can't take Paxlovid...contraindicated in tacrolimus.  Can you get monoclonal antibodies locally?  Like, sotrovimab?

Keep us updated!

[UkrainianTracksuit]

My test came back negative BUT I am sick. Nothing major at this point.

Body aches, chills, sore throat, headache, scattered brain, slight nausea. But, blood pressure normal and oxygen good.

I had a chronic body ache right over my pancreas last night so I got panicky. Blood sugar was in perfect range though.

My husband’s employer sent over a box of 5 rapid antigen tests and industrial strength disinfectant. If I feel worse, I’ll use one and then get another PCR.

His GP prescribed nothing. Just told him to go to the hospital if he can’t breathe or has chest pain.

Monoclonal antibodies are available at the local hospital. It seems like a labyrinth to get them.

[kristina]

Dear Ukrainian Tracksuit, I am very sorry and I am thinking of you. Kind regards and good luck-wishes from Kristina. 

[PrimeTimer]

Sorry to hear your husband has Covid. I wish him a speedy recovery. And please, please take good care of yourself. Keep the indoors ventilated and get some fresh air. I know it's winter but seriously, fresh air is important.  If it's too cold to keep a window open or to use the air conditioner, try to use fans to keep the air circulating.

Take care,
Debra aka PrimeTimer

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I don't really know what to do, guys.

When I had my COVID test the other day, I had a slight fever, body aches, and chills. All of that has passed and I was negative for COVID.

Now, I have a cough (barking) that hits me most when I lay down (hence not sleeping now  ) and a runny nose. Other than that, all my stats are fine (O2, bp, pulse, glucose). From time to time, a small blob of mucous will dislodge

I planned on grabbing a bottle of cough syrup in the morning (Robitussin is okay to take for tx patients) but wondering if I should ring my own GP on Monday. I guess my concern is if this sits in my chest, I don't really want pneumonia. Usually their advice is just to head to the ER...who in turn treat people like crap for wasting their time.  But, all my stats are fine, and that's how they consider whether one should be there or not...

Husband is basically 95% better. 

[MooseMom]

Do you have one of those at-home tests, and if so, could you test yourself again?  I wouldn't trust a negative test result taken a few days ago if 1. my husband had covid, and 2. I am having covid-like symptoms.  Sure, it may be just a cold, but if you're a double solid organ transplant recipient, the stakes are hgher.

Let us know what happens!

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Yes, so, I did a rapid antigen test, and it came back positive.

Immediately after booked a PCR (the official test needed to get help …) and had it done. Now I wait…

[kristina]

Please do also involve your GP and find out his/her opinion where to go from here to make sure and I keep my fingers crossed for you both !!! 

[UkrainianTracksuit]

2nd PCR came back positive.

Today is a holiday (Family Day  ) so doctor offices and the like are shut. Will be interesting IF public health rings me today or tomorrow... need a referral from a doc to get any care and if they are out of office, well..the waiting game.

[MooseMom]

Oh, jeez, UT.  How are you feeling?  I REALLY want to know what your doc will say.  Just don't let them give you Paxlovid. 

Gosh, I'm concerned about you.  Please do let us know how you get on.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Hey MooseMom, I feel sick (like head cold with nausea and dizziness), but all my vitals are fine.

Yesterday was a holiday so my doctor rang in the evening when they noticed the result had been sent to them. Called in an asthma puffer for me to use for the congestion. That's it. Sent a referral to the doctor handling the covid patients and that's it. They would highlight it that it should be looked at first (because of being an organ transplant dork) but "they are really busy" so it may be a couple days for them to contact me. Probably be fine by then.

Public health people called. Told me to be happy it is omicron and not delta because the delta was much, much worse. And told me to isolate for 10 days.

That's it.

[MooseMom]

I'm quite shocked, UT.  That's it?  Gosh, when it comes to treating Covid, time is of the essence.  I, well, I just don't know what to say.  This seems awfully dismissive.

I'll be on the lookout for updates from you should you feel like positng.  I remain concerned.

[kristina]

Hey MooseMom, I feel sick (like head cold with nausea and dizziness), but all my vitals are fine.

Yesterday was a holiday so my doctor rang in the evening when they noticed the result had been sent to them. Called in an asthma puffer for me to use for the congestion. That's it. Sent a referral to the doctor handling the covid patients and that's it. They would highlight it that it should be looked at first (because of being an organ transplant dork) but "they are really busy" so it may be a couple days for them to contact me. Probably be fine by then.

Public health people called. Told me to be happy it is omicron and not delta because the delta was much, much worse. And told me to isolate for 10 days.

That's it.

Dear UkrainianTracksuit, I do hope these ten days of isolation will bring you good health-results and hopefully you and your husband are feeling better soon as well.
I send you both my kind regards from Kristina.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

My husband is going back to work tomorrow. He'll get tested when he gets there and that's that for him. Back to normal.

And yep, MooseMom, time is of the essence so that's why I am a little peeved off right now.

That morning fax to the covid doctor that was supposed to happen in the morning? Well, just found out it happened late afternoon. Pretty much end of business day. Nice little disclaimer that by the time my case is considered I will time out of the window for monoclonal antibodies.

The good news is that at least (for me! as I know other people have died and ended up in hospital with omicron) omicron is mild and the 3 jabs of Pfizer did their job. I'll be fine at the end of this...like I am not in any mortal danger, just misery and discomfort for now.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Husband hasn't returned home so that means his test was fine at work. 

As for me, it's up to my body on its own to fight this one! Knowing that it took 2.5 weeks for me to fight off a cold, this should be interesting.

Just heard from the covid people at the local hospital and someone will touch base with me "in the next couple days" so that's no antibody treatment for me. Like what is this? Every answer I get is "in a couple days" and then "in a couple days."

Just now, my file is being forwarded to the doctor in charge. Talk about freakin' bureaucratic and administrative pyramid. Being a SOT recipient "qualifies" for treatment, but it does not put an asterisk beside you in the triage system. Like it does not put a fire under anyone's behind. Like I could understand the chemotherapy people, bone marrow transplant people, and certain groups of unvaxxed people ahead of me...but the entire over 70 year old senior cohort? And a racialized group with just one medical condition?

Personally, I think because the medications are expensive, they ensure people time out of the window on purpose  and basically use them for inpatients (though meant for outpatients).

And the nice "I hope you feel better soon!" at the end is so comforting.  Sorry, but at this point, I don't need to hear back from them in 2 days because they can't do a thing for me. Avoid stupid calls and doctor time to save money in that way.

[MooseMom]

Well, color me horrified, UT.  Just to make sure I understand correctly, are you taking a mycophenolate, and if so, are you certain that three jabs of Pfizer have "done their job"?  Your immunosuppressants haven't impaired the intended effects of the vaccine?

[UkrainianTracksuit]

Yes, I take mycophenolic acid (Myfortic).

Basically, I have no way to know that the 3 Pfizer jabs did their thing. No one did any antibody testing and it wasn't available (at least for me). I'm going off the notion I have some protection because the booster affected me strongly. Again, assumption.

My GP said that all their patients on immunosuppressants that had 3 doses of vaccine "did well." There is a difference though between some classes of immunosuppressants and mycophenolate in regard to vaccines...but I am just an idiot without a medical degree. What do I know? 

Small-town bottom of the barrel doctors with huge egos at an inefficient hospital. Let's make a viral video about why we need to mask and brag we have "the good stuff" for high risk people in stock when they basically can't tell the difference between a butthole and a nostril. I'm over it at this point. 

[MooseMom]

Well, YEAH, there is a vast difference between your run of the mill immunosuppressants and mycophenolate and belatacept, both of which have been proven to be the real villains of the piece.  You don't have to have a medical degree to know this.

I don't blame you for being "over it", but, well, just look after yourself, which is a really inadequate thing for me to say under the circumstances.  Keep us up to date on how you are feeling, OK?

[iolaire]

Sorry UkrainianTracksuit.  There have been a few people who developed COVID on the Transplant Vaccine Facebook group, some bad, and others very mild - if you want to dig out those stories I can find a link to the group.

Unfortunately I feel the zero response unless you develop serious symptoms is fairly standard especially when omicron is raging.  My mother in law who is ~82 developed omicron after emergency dental work right after Christmas.  Her doctors didn't have treatments for her or any advice other than to rest etc.  Within in the week she was able to see a doctor but that was only for pain she developed after chipping ice...

And also I'm sorry you have to go through this as Ukraine is attacked.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I understand that services can be slowed due to omicron, but not to sound like an asshole (oh who cares, I am an asshole, so I'll let it rip), this hospital has under 10 patients hospitalized with no one in ICU. They are just slow and stupid.

At this point, not to sound melodramatic, I do not even feel like living anymore. I feel weak from sickness and I am heartbroken from this war. Crying for the Ukrainian citizens and so worried for soldiers (Ukrainian and Russian). What a relief my husband retired from the military when he did!