Caring for a Coronavirus patient at home

[daydream]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/magazine/coronavirus-family.html

What I Learned When My Husband Got Sick With Coronavirus

 

 

Quote

 

 

Now we live in a world in which I have planned with his doctor which emergency room we should head to if T suddenly gets worse, a world in which I am suddenly afraid we won’t have enough of the few things tempering the raging fever and soaking sweats and severe aches wracking him — the Advil and Tylenol that the doctors advise us to layer, one after the other, and that I scroll through websites searching for, seeing “out of stock” again and again.

 

That time, when we would sit on the couch watching something together, is behind us. Now there is too much rushing back and forth, making sure T has a little dinner — just a tiny bowl of soup, just an appetizer, really, that he is unable to smell, that he fights nausea to choke down — taking his temperature, monitoring his oxygen-saturation levels with the fingertip pulse oximeter brought by a friend from the drugstore on the doctor’s advice, taking him tea, dispensing his meds, washing my hands over and over, texting the doctor to say T is worse again, standing next to him while he coughs into the covers, rubbing his knees through the blankets.

“You shouldn’t stay here,” he says, but he gets more frightened as night comes, dreading the long hours of fever and soaking sweats and shivering and terrible aches. “This thing grinds you like a mortar,” he says

 

.

 

Edited March 25, 2020 by Dismal_Bliss
Moved from Comfort & Support to News since it's a news article and not a personal health issue.

[daydream]

https://www.krmg.com/news/national/coronavirus-fact-check-does-ibuprofen-make-covid-symptoms-worse/1WzG7WSYrzKpxR8WZYWoCI/

 

Coronavirus fact check: Does ibuprofen make COVID-19 symptoms worse?

Ibuprofen, which is in a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is given to millions to reduce pain, fever and inflammation. In addition to being used in hospitals, it is sold over the counter under brand names such as Advil and Motrin.

 

[Raven]

According to the Princess of Wales hospital NHS U.K., COVID 19 doesn't like the heat, it likes the cold, so apparently lots of hot drinks and hot showers might actually help a little, and turning the heater up, and to avoiding cold drinks and ice. I also heard that it doesn't like UV rays from the sun, so a little sun bathing might also be beneficial in such a case, provided it's not cold outside.

 

Mod Note: it has been discovered that this information is not correct. While it was posted here with the best of intentions, apparently the original writer was intending to mislead people. Please be careful. 

Edited March 25, 2020 by Bro Richard

[daydream]

Yes, Brother Corben, I plan on drinking very warm drinks from now onwards. At least until this scourge passes. I'm quite partial to iced drinks, this country being in the tropics. 

 

 

[Omoyeme]

3 hours ago, Bjern said:

According to the Princess of Wales hospital NHS U.K., COVID 19 doesn't like the heat, it likes the cold, so apparently lots of hot drinks and hot showers might actually help a little, and turning the heater up, and to avoiding cold drinks and ice. I also heard that it doesn't like UV rays from the sun, so a little sun bathing might also be beneficial in such a case, provided it's not cold outside.

 

Very interesting! That would explain the low rate of infection in sub-Sahara Africa. Specifically, those African countries passing through the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and its high UV Index.

 

Edited March 25, 2020 by Omoyeme

[Pjdriver]

12 hours ago, M'Awan said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/magazine/coronavirus-family.html

What I Learned When My Husband Got Sick With Coronavirus

 

 

.

 

So sorry to hear that sister Anne. Right now I’m hold up at home with a bad cold.  My wife has been in the hospital for the past week. They tested her for Covid 19 but have not received the results yet. She has all the symptoms including pneumonia. Here’s the kicker....of course she can’t have visitors, not even me. 😒  

[daydream]

Sorry brother Burt, I was merely quoting from an article in the New York Times. But both my OH and I are in the high risk group in terms of age. 

I hope your wife gets well soon. It must be a crushing blow not being able to be with her. Praying for her.

The memorial is just a week away and it would be so comforting to have your loved one beside you to commemorate this most sacred night. For some congregations, it will be an intimate affair with only a few friends gathered together. But it sure looks like it's going to be a Zoom event. 

Take care and please take all the precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe under Jehovah's protection.

[Nirex]

11 hours ago, Bjern said:

According to the Princess of Wales hospital NHS U.K., COVID 19 doesn't like the heat, it likes the cold, so apparently lots of hot drinks and hot showers might actually help a little, and turning the heater up, and to avoiding cold drinks and ice. I also heard that it doesn't like UV rays from the sun, so a little sun bathing might also be beneficial in such a case, provided it's not cold outside.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but...

https://factcheck.afp.com/hoax-circulates-uk-hospital-has-issued-special-advice-staff-prevent-covid-19-infection

[daydream]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ibuprofen-covid-19-novel-coronavirus-1.5501496

Mar 18, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said there's no evidence to suggest that using ibuprofen to manage symptoms of COVID-19 will worsen the condition, a statement that was echoed Friday by Health Canada.

Earlier reports said a spokesperson had cautioned against using ibuprofen to manage symptoms of the illness caused by the coronavus until WHO experts could investigate.

 

[Raven]

7 hours ago, Nirex said:

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but...

https://factcheck.afp.com/hoax-circulates-uk-hospital-has-issued-special-advice-staff-prevent-covid-19-infection

Well I guess I need to edit my post then. Thank you for sharing that with me...Can't imagine why someone would make up such a hoax when it comes to something as serious as this, but then again, we do live in the Satan's world.

 

~ Looks like I need help to remove that post actually.

Edited March 25, 2020 by Bjern

[Raven]

Sorry everyone.

[Tortuga]

27 minutes ago, Bjern said:

Well I guess I need to edit my post then. Thank you for sharing that with me...Can't imagine why someone would make up such a hoax when it comes to something as serious as this, but then again, we do live in the Satan's world.

 

~ Looks like I need help to remove that post actually.

Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there, some of it is intentional but most of it isnt. Thank you for your efforts to share something that you believed to be true and helpful. 

[daydream]

https://www.wistv.com/2020/03/23/new-study-suggests-how-long-covid-can-stay-surfaces/

March 23, 2020

 

The COVID-19 virus can persist in the air and on surfaces for hours, according to a new study performed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC, UCLA and Princeton University.

 

Researchers and scientists found that the new coronavirus was detectable and stable on contaminated objects, suggesting that people could become infected in numerous ways.

 

 

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe

[daydream]

DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH 

Warning over fake DIY coronavirus test that involves stopping breathing for 10 seconds

15 March 2020

On Thursday, Dr. Robert Legare Atmar, an infectious disease specialist at Baylor College of Medicine, told The Associated Press that there is no clear evidence that coronavirus causes 50 percent pulmonary fibrosis.

According to experts, the 10 second breathing can not genuinely determine if someone has the virus.

 

The erroneous post also stated that drinking water every 15 minutes will kill the virus.

“While staying hydrated by drinking water is important for overall health, it does not prevent coronavirus infection,” the WHO Philippines tweeted on February 7.

 

Facebook is working to reduce the spread of coronavirus and offered some tips on what to look out for.

They social media platform suggested being skeptical of headlines, looking closely at links, investigating the source, watching for unusual formatting, considering photos, inspecting dates, checking evidence, and comparing other reports.

[daydream]

I still plan on drinking very warm water, 1st thing in the morning and also at night (before bedtime)

https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-drinking-hot-water

• Relieves nasal congestion
• Aids digestion
• Calms central nervous system
• Helps relieve constipation
• May aid in weight loss
• Improves circulation
• Can decrease stress
• Can help reduce toxins
• Relieves symptoms of achalasia

Edited April 4, 2020 by M'Awan

[daydream]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/nyregion/new-york-coronavirus.html

What Doctors on the Front Lines Wish They’d Known a Month Ago

 

The biggest change: Instead of quickly sedating people who had shockingly low levels of oxygen and then putting them on mechanical ventilators, many doctors are now keeping patients conscious, having them roll over in bed, recline in chairs and continue to breathe on their own — with additional oxygen — for as long as possible.

 

The idea is to get them off their backs and thereby make more lung available. A number of doctors are even trying patients on a special massage mattress designed for pregnant women because it has cutouts that ease the load on the belly and chest.

Some patients, by taking oxygen and rolling onto their sides or on their bellies, have quickly returned to normal levels. The tactic is called proning.

 

At Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, Dr. Nicholas Caputo followed 50 patients who arrived with low oxygen levels between 69 and 85 percent (95 is normal). After five minutes of proning, they had improved to a mean of 94 percent. Over the next 24 hours, nearly three-quarters were able to avoid intubation; 13 needed ventilators. Proning does not seem to work as well in older patients, a number of doctors said

[Omoyeme]

News analysis by Dr. Mercola

 

High Heat May Kill the Coronavirus

 

https://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2020/03/27/coronavirus-high-temperature.aspx?cid_source=wnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20200409Z1&et_cid=DM501474&et_rid=847123452

 

Quote

There is still much we do not know about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, but researchers are starting to piece the puzzle together as we go along. For example, a recent Chinese investigation suggests COVID-19 is "highly sensitive" to high temperatures and spreads faster in colder climates; its most rapid spread is occurring at a temperature of 8.72 degrees Celsius.¹

 

Promising no doubt.

 

[retroHelen]

We have to go back to how animals are not susceptible to this virus's bad effects - was it something we were once and have lost and will have to learn again in the New World?

I have put some things on other small health forums from doctors. 

 

Most mammals can live in the wild getting bitten, scratched and sick without dying as quickly as a human would in the same circumstances because they have higher amounts of certain nutrients in their immune system. Their livers have better efficiency at making nutrients to support the immune system than humans have. We have lost it because we don't any longer feed ourselves enough in our diets to build up enough resiliance. Our food is processed stored cooked and hybridized beyond how God created it, so it has so little nutrition left in it. Then our guts have been compromised for various reasons and the large variety of 'friendly' microbe levels we once naturally had to help us digest have gone.

 

Average mammal whether a goat or monkey, makes over 6000 mg of vitamin C in the liver to rebuild cell/wound damage and to fill the white cells of the immune system to fight infections. There are no drugs to cure most viral infections. Even when we go to hospital with this new virus, the hospital can do little but get us breathing/taking in oxygen better and hope our own resiliance/immune system can pull us through. That's why people with other underlying issues don't do so well, as their system is pretty exhausted fighting other insults on their bodies.

 

Many countries have introduced IV vitamin C - it's not a cure, but a support for our own immune system to fight this thing. If you are at home, then you need to get hold of as high a dose of vitamin C as your bowel can tolerate in water and sip it regularly.  Here we can buy effervescent sugar free tablets cheaply - not ideal, but better than nothing. 

 

At high levels, the white cells of the immune system use it - take it to the site of injury or infection. Either use it to kill an invader as it is or, within the white cell, do a chemical reaction to create peroxide in the white cell that kills viruses. Then vitamin C is used as a precursor to collagen which is the stuff that connects skin and ligaments together. The immune system also needs zinc gluconate to do this - zinc we know is used as a wound healer as it is impregnated into bandage and some fabric band-aid/plasters, but does it as a co-factor with vitamin C.

 

Sunshine is an immune support not a cure - enough to react with the cholesterol under the skin to produce the healing hormone we call vitamin D. Washed clothes/bedsheets dried in sun kills infections.

 

Keeping up fluids is so important - fluids with a tiny pinch of salt in as electrolytes.  Best way of getting electrolytes and fluid is by clear or not chunky broth soups sipped. Good bone broths are high in collagen (that skin precursor) as well. Careful the sufferer is sat upright so as not to choke on anything - no drinking /eating prone or it will go into lungs and choke. fluids help you sweat bad things our and keeps your circulation going to prevent heart failure.

 

 

 

Learning deep breathing techniques in cool fresh air. There is a youtube technique advocated by a lung consultant for those with Covid.

 

Air in a room should be fresh as possible and not too warm. Essential oils in hot water to keep a clean humidity - Tea tree; eucalyptus; lavender which are disinfectant - this virus hates disinfectants. Let a patient turn over in bed and not lie on their back as this puts too much pressure on weak lungs - lying on side or front whatever is more comfortable and gets more oxygen to the lungs. 

 

Keep all surfaces disinfected - even shiny book covers, Covid is a fat covered virus, so it's fat is broken by alkalis/soaps cleaning, so cleaning everything coming into the house from the shops even the bags kills it stone dead. Whoever is the designated shopper also doing the drive from the shop cleans their steering-wheel and after coming home wipe the front door handles and keys.

 

[daydream]

Thanks Sister Helen for the useful tips. 

 

This is awesome advise. We hurt our lungs by sitting for long periods of time. Get up at frequent intervals to do work around the house. 

https://healthfully.com/how-to-strengthen-your-lungs-3201894.html

Quote

 

 

Participate in aerobic activities. Do an aerobic activity such as walking, dancing, biking or swimming at least five days a week for 30 to 60 minutes each time. For best results, do a variety of activities, as each one works your body differently. When you do cardiovascular exercise, you strengthen the muscles that surround your lungs, as they must work harder to supply your body with oxygen. With time, your respiratory system becomes more efficient. You will notice after a few weeks that you will not get as out of breath climbing stairs or walking uphill. Like any muscle in your body, when you exercise your respiratory muscles, they get stronger.

Do a daily deep breathing exercise. Deep breathing exercises strengthen your lungs. During aerobic exercise, deep breathing challenges your lungs to work harder to process the extra air you are taking in. As you inhale through your nose, allow the stomach to move outwards......

 

 

[daydream]

Quote

 

 

 

 

 

monitoring his oxygen-saturation levels with the fingertip pulse oximeter brought by a friend from the drugstore on the doctor’s advice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

Quote

 

 

 

The most significant anesthesiologist of the 20th century died on December 21, 2017. His name was William New, MD, PhD. Many of you have never heard of Dr. New, and don’t know what he was famous for, but in my opinion he was the Most Valuable Player of the anesthesia ranks in the last one hundred years.

 

In 1978 Bill New invented the prototype of the modern pulse oximeter.

https://theanesthesiaconsultant.com/2018/02/23/the-most-significant-anesthesiologist-of-the-20th-century/

 

Edited April 23, 2020 by M'Awan

[retroHelen]

It's a shame these oximeters aren't available in UK. Couldn't get one when my Mam was alive and she was on 3 tanks of oxygen a day at home when she  first came out of hospital and we couldn't monitor if she was benefitting by it. She did get a CPAP eventually that did the job when her oxygen saturation was OK by the visiting Doc's oximeter. 

 

I saw how important this was for Coronavirus when they interviewed consultants from new York who had observed that although people were short breathed, they were breathing faster, so getting plenty in the lungs, but oxygen wasn't getting in the blood - a bit like altitude sickness, so HI-flow oxygen provided at the hospital bed, was more needed and less invasive for many patients when first going into in hospital than intubation/ventilation that can damage lungs in the long run. There was a better outcome when people's blood/oxygen saturation was measured.

[Old]

Sorry for your mother's situation. Oximeters are readily avaiable  at the present time. I bought a portable one about ten years ago. Direct reading, no hospital monitor needed. Very popular with pilots who fly at high altitudes. Cost about $20 to $30 USD.

[retroHelen]

23 hours ago, Old said:

Sorry for your mother's situation. Oximeters are readily avaiable  at the present time. I bought a portable one about ten years ago. Direct reading, no hospital monitor needed. Very popular with pilots who fly at high altitudes. Cost about $20 to $30 USD.

Not so easy for us in the UK - lots of things USA people can get over the counter at pharmacies or online are not available to UK people. NICE - government department -  makes sure we have to get only things on prescription or only Doctors are allowed to use them. Herbal remedies are so diluted as to be useless as well, so we are fleeced when buying from government regulated herbal shops. Not a lot of choice for us here. If we try to order things from abroad, we are inundated on ebay with possibly foreign cheap fakes that don't do what they look as if they should, which puts us off.

 

We have a sister in the congregation who was a nursing officer  who used to have meters for all sorts of things in her personal bag as she ran a surgery at our local Nuclear establishment's small hospital facility, but only she had them. They weren't available for public use, so she made herself available and let us know what she had. Thanks to her people had their blood/fat levels monitored and their blood pressures evaluated and she saved a few in the congregation as their measurements were way out of line and Doctors had not picked up on it. Sadly, wshe has retired now.  Doctors here are so strapped for cash that they don't do enough testing of patients either and all surgeries are closed in the lock-down, just emergency CHOC Doctors at the hospital where people are fearful of going in case they catch the virus.

 

People with thyroid trouble (like myself) don't get properly tested because NICE won't offer much treatment for thyroid problems, other than synthetic hormones that are dodgy, so whether you have Hashimoto's or Graves is not known over here - they won't test for what they won't treat! A woman had a child treated in America for Hashimoto's and when she came over here and got no treatment and the child got poorly, she took her to the Netherlands for treatment. On her return, she was arrested and had her child put into Social Services care - they said she was abusing her child sending her miles for treatment we don't do here for her child!  The best I can hope for is that my swollen thyroid does not go cancerous, so they remove it, as they won't treat it other than scanning for cancer every so often! I fear going to the dentist because they always want to x-ray my teeth, and don't provide a guard for my neck/thyroid, like other countries do, and those X-ray neck/thyroid guards on ebay from abroad are expensive and could be fakes, I don't know.

Edited April 24, 2020 by retroHelen

[Old]

Oximeters readily available on UK Ebay  https://www.ebay.co.uk/

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xoximeter.TRS0&_nkw=oximeter&_sacat=0

 

[retroHelen]

When Mam was alive a few years ago there were none on ebay UK. Then they started appearing in droves and I did a review of many shown on ebay UK and I gave up looking after the first 15 because reviews said they weren't functioning properly like real hospital grade ones with cables to useful meters.

 

Many of these small finger clip  only types  measured pulse rate properly, blood pressure poorly,  but more inaccurate as meters of oxygen levels. They got poor feedback from buying customers who understood how to read the readings and the readings weren't correct. 

 

They vaguely resemble real ones, but didn't work accurately enough to be useful. You find the same with many Far Eastern Dashboard digital in-car cameras sold on ebay UK- many look the part, but are cheaply made inside, inaccurately functioning copies that wouldn't give good enough accurately dated footage for insurance claims.