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Long-Term Antibodies, Both Vaccines , Now Have Covid Again!

Posted by thomason @thomason, Apr 14, 2021

Hi all. @thomason here just to let everyone know that I went to the appointment with the Covid savvy Pulmonologist here in Indiana. He said my lungs are okay, and the condition I have is throat/radiation related, and nothing at all to do with my past Covid illness in March 2020. He said I do not have COPD, or Emphysema. This whole ride has been a crazy one. Get this: I tested positive for long-term antibodies in February 2021. I assume that was indicative of having Covid back in March 2020, when the virulent cough broke 3 of my ribs, going on for months, then turning into constant thick mucus. In March 2021, I received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. On April 4, I went to the local ER almost feeling horrible. I could barely walk two steps, was coughing up some wicked stuff, very sore throat, nausea, but the main thing was not being able to breathe. The hospital did a Covid test and it was negative. The ER doctor pumped me full of steroids, which helped my breathing...that and my Primetene Mist spray sold over the counter, thank God. It has literally saved my life. Thank you God for leading me to it. Anyway, I told the doctor I had an appointment with a Covid "Long-hauler" Pulmonologist the next day, and had to go early as it is approximately 100 miles away. He said he would have admitted me but because my daughter was driving me down, he sent me home with steroids. The next day my condition worsened, and after the appointment with the Covid savvy doctor (and his totally conflicting lung x-ray/CT Scan reading results of my other Pulmonologist that claims I have COPD and Emphysema) was sent via wheelchair to their ER, to await a bed for admission. He wanted ENT's to scope me to see my throat, plus could barely breathe or walk. This hospital also tested me for Covid, and guess what? It came back positive. Okay! Here I am, with long-term antibodies, both vaccinations, and have Covid again. People ask, how do you know it wasn't false? The way I felt. I have never had such an illness that just takes everything away from you, such as this. I will be out of quarantine in a few days here at home, and slowly tapering off a ten-day course of Dexamethasone 4 mg. 3-x-a-day. The ENT's informed me that my vocal cords were paralyzed and I needed a trach-tube put in. Well, I called my speech pathologist and local Pulmonary doctor. Both informed me that if my vocal cords were frozen, I would have no "gag-reflex" and would not be able to talk. I brought this up to one ENT, and one hour before the surgery was to be performed, another ENT came into my room and told me I should just go home and recover. He thought the whole incident was Covid-related, and nothing to do with my vocal cords. He was an angel I believe. If I could name this crazy incident of my life in a Twilight Zone episode, it would be called, "Escape from the Unreal." After spending 14 hours on a COT in the ER waiting for a bed, I was going to somehow try to leave, but knew my body would not comply because of the weakened state. Sorry to bore everyone, but thought you may want an update. So, yes, I am home-sweet-home for now. I sincerely hope everyone is well and fine. Please allow me to add one last thing!
Believe it or not, I found a children's product with homeopathic-type ingredients that actually works wonders for me at dissolving mucus. You can buy it cheap on eBay too! Mucinex, no matter what strength, does absolutely nothing for me, yet, this miracle liquid really works. I hope it works for all of you fellow mucus-sufferers as well!!! It's called "Hyland's 4Kids Cold n Mucus Daytime" Please give it a try…I just looked on eBay, and there are many great deals on the product.
In addition, I ordered a device that is due to arrive in a few days. It is very innovative, and took hours of searching to find it! You will need a suction machine to use this little miracle. It is called "The No-Bite V," and is sold by "NJR Medical. Here is a link: https://store.njrmedical.com/.
I see that this product has been around for a long-time, so maybe you have already tried it.
Also, here is a great video showing how to use the product: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_eMx9UyjEQ
Just highlight the video link, right click, and go-to. Please let me know what you think!
God be with everyone.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 14, 2021

@thomason- Good morning. I am so sorry that are still going through all of these challenges and conflicting doctor's opinions. If only the world of doctors gave us more consistent results from tests and scans and blood work. I am relieved that you are home and quarantined for just a few more days. As if you wanted more, right? lol

I'd also like to thank you for sharing your newfound relief from phlegm. I caution everyone if they chose to use an instrument that suctions out anything from your throat and beyond, despite a video with instructions. You could cause damage if you don't use it properly, and of course to check with your doctor.

The world of COVID-19 and its variants is ever-changing. Here is some new information that you might be interested in about COVID-19 variants.

I did some more research to see how this might have happened to you and it looks like COVID-19 variants can neutralize antibodies that you once had against COVID-19 (the original). Of course, this depends on whether you have a variant

"The findings, from laboratory-based experiments and published March 4 in Nature Medicine, suggest that COVID-19 drugs and vaccines developed thus far may become less effective as the new variants become dominant, as experts say they inevitably will. The researchers looked at variants from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Brazil."

"There's wide variation in how much antibody a person produces in response to vaccination or natural infection. Some people produce very high levels, and they would still likely be protected against the new, worrisome variants. But some people, especially older and immunocompromised people, may not make such high levels of antibodies. If the level of antibody needed for protection goes up tenfold, as our data indicate it does, they may not have enough. The concern is that the people who need protection the most are the ones least likely to have it." https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/wuso-nec030421.php

I encourage you when you next speak to your doctor to find out if you tested positive for one of the variants. You can use this to see what is in your state: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance.html
Do you know if you have a variant or the original COVID-19?

REPLY
1 reply
thomason | @thomason | Apr 14, 2021
In reply to @merpreb "@thomason- Good morning. I am so sorry that are still going through all of these challenges..." + (show)
@merpreb

@thomason- Good morning. I am so sorry that are still going through all of these challenges and conflicting doctor's opinions. If only the world of doctors gave us more consistent results from tests and scans and blood work. I am relieved that you are home and quarantined for just a few more days. As if you wanted more, right? lol

I'd also like to thank you for sharing your newfound relief from phlegm. I caution everyone if they chose to use an instrument that suctions out anything from your throat and beyond, despite a video with instructions. You could cause damage if you don't use it properly, and of course to check with your doctor.

The world of COVID-19 and its variants is ever-changing. Here is some new information that you might be interested in about COVID-19 variants.

I did some more research to see how this might have happened to you and it looks like COVID-19 variants can neutralize antibodies that you once had against COVID-19 (the original). Of course, this depends on whether you have a variant

"The findings, from laboratory-based experiments and published March 4 in Nature Medicine, suggest that COVID-19 drugs and vaccines developed thus far may become less effective as the new variants become dominant, as experts say they inevitably will. The researchers looked at variants from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Brazil."

"There's wide variation in how much antibody a person produces in response to vaccination or natural infection. Some people produce very high levels, and they would still likely be protected against the new, worrisome variants. But some people, especially older and immunocompromised people, may not make such high levels of antibodies. If the level of antibody needed for protection goes up tenfold, as our data indicate it does, they may not have enough. The concern is that the people who need protection the most are the ones least likely to have it." https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/wuso-nec030421.php

I encourage you when you next speak to your doctor to find out if you tested positive for one of the variants. You can use this to see what is in your state: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance.html
Do you know if you have a variant or the original COVID-19?

Jump to this post

Dear @merpreb
You always give such useful information! Will check out all the information--thank-you.
I have no idea if this Covid is the variant. It does not state on the "My Chart" test results what type it is.
All I do know is that when this all started, some did not take it very seriously, and one of those someones, was me!
It is scary to think what may come next. The one thing I do not understand is this: Why not put trach-tubes (temporary) into people instead of intubating them into unconsciousness? It seems to me the person would have a much better chance at survival. When I asked the ENT that question, he told me it takes too long...I can see in an emergency, needing to immediately get air down into the lungs, but why not then place a trach-tube? There has to be a reasonable explanation. Thank-you, for your answer!

REPLY
2 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 14, 2021
In reply to @thomason "Dear @merpreb You always give such useful information! Will check out all the information--thank-you. I have..." + (show)
@thomason

Dear @merpreb
You always give such useful information! Will check out all the information--thank-you.
I have no idea if this Covid is the variant. It does not state on the "My Chart" test results what type it is.
All I do know is that when this all started, some did not take it very seriously, and one of those someones, was me!
It is scary to think what may come next. The one thing I do not understand is this: Why not put trach-tubes (temporary) into people instead of intubating them into unconsciousness? It seems to me the person would have a much better chance at survival. When I asked the ENT that question, he told me it takes too long...I can see in an emergency, needing to immediately get air down into the lungs, but why not then place a trach-tube? There has to be a reasonable explanation. Thank-you, for your answer!

Jump to this post

@thomason- Not being a medical professional I can't answer your question about trachs vs intubations. I think that each medical facility has its own guidelines for this. It's an excellent question and I know that it also depends on how long you are expected to need breathing assistance. The answer from the dr. who answered you sounds about right too, unfortunately. If anything in the future creeps up on you again, maybe ask first before there's an attempt made for you that you don't want done?

REPLY
Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Apr 14, 2021
In reply to @thomason "Dear @merpreb You always give such useful information! Will check out all the information--thank-you. I have..." + (show)
@thomason

Dear @merpreb
You always give such useful information! Will check out all the information--thank-you.
I have no idea if this Covid is the variant. It does not state on the "My Chart" test results what type it is.
All I do know is that when this all started, some did not take it very seriously, and one of those someones, was me!
It is scary to think what may come next. The one thing I do not understand is this: Why not put trach-tubes (temporary) into people instead of intubating them into unconsciousness? It seems to me the person would have a much better chance at survival. When I asked the ENT that question, he told me it takes too long...I can see in an emergency, needing to immediately get air down into the lungs, but why not then place a trach-tube? There has to be a reasonable explanation. Thank-you, for your answer!

Jump to this post

Good morning @thomason You have really been through the wringer, haven’t you. Sounds like, with your help, the doctors took good care of you. Thank heavens you could tell us all about it!
As for trach tubes vrs, intubation with sedation; trach tubes are used for long-term problems mostly and can lead to infections when put in since the skin has to be cut into. Sedation along with intubation is necessary for several reasons. One, the tube is uncomfortable and, two, sedation provided needed rest for the entire body so it can heal. When one is sick, they tend to move around a lot and this is more work for the body. Third, the ventilator provides a sterile source of oxygen
I hope this helps some. And I hope you get, better soon!

REPLY
1 reply
thomason | @thomason | Apr 14, 2021
In reply to @becsbuddy "Good morning @thomason You have really been through the wringer, haven’t you. Sounds like, with your..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

Good morning @thomason You have really been through the wringer, haven’t you. Sounds like, with your help, the doctors took good care of you. Thank heavens you could tell us all about it!
As for trach tubes vrs, intubation with sedation; trach tubes are used for long-term problems mostly and can lead to infections when put in since the skin has to be cut into. Sedation along with intubation is necessary for several reasons. One, the tube is uncomfortable and, two, sedation provided needed rest for the entire body so it can heal. When one is sick, they tend to move around a lot and this is more work for the body. Third, the ventilator provides a sterile source of oxygen
I hope this helps some. And I hope you get, better soon!

Jump to this post

Dear@becsbuddy, Thanks for the answer! Hey, we are all in a wringer, not just me! Thanks again.

REPLY
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