The Covid-19 Thread: News, Preparation Tips, Etc

[Jmartjrmd]

Is anyone else hearing stories about organ failure? My SO has a friend (male, late 50s, AA, previously no known health problems) who is positive. As of Sunday he was in critical lo imcondition, and yesterday he was told that his friend's organs are starting to shut down. The wife isn't providing a lot of information so those are the only details he has.

Yes this virus creates the opportunity for all kinds of things to happen that damage organs that lead to organ failure.
Organs survive when they are perfused with blood...blood containing oxygen. Anything that disrupts this can lead to organ failure and it just snowballs..

They say the virus blocks hemoglobin ability to bind to oxygen which lowers the amount of oxygen your organs and tissues are getting. Red blood cells pick up oxygen in the lungs and transport the oxygen throughout the body. If they cant get any oxygen your organs and tissues wont either.

The weakening of your immune system can lead to secondary infections by other bacteria or other viruses.

DIC causes your blood not to clot like it should. blood doesnt clot you bleed internally.

Abnormal clots ibe the lungs...I read where one lady was successfully treated with TPA..the clot busting drug used in stroke patients

ARDS which is acute respiratory distress syndrome..acute meaning sudden can be deadly. I can speak to this personally as this was the reason I ended up on a vent initally.

Pneumonia when your air sacs are inflamed and filled with pus or fluid I stead of air.

Heart failure on the tight can lead to pulmonary hypertension. ...another cause of lung damage.

Basically anything that disrupts what the body was designated to do can lead to organ failure.

 

[meka72]

I am just as angry as you and agree this is Garbage’s fault. This country could have been better prepared for this but Garbage was too busy worrying about his re-election. People died because of this administration’s callousness and incompetence.

I'm just so upset.

Yesterday, I found out that a friend of my sisters' -a long time community activist who was involved with renter's rights, was a election poll worker and was planning to be census volunteer, died of Covid last week. This morning my other sister called to tell me that one of the deans at her university (a very nice older woman who is something of a mentor to her) is going to be put on a ventilator to give her lungs a chance to rest. It appears that she would get better for a few days and then relapse. Now her husband is in the same hospital and their poor son is trying to coordinate their care from out of state.

Meanwhile Mr. 'I knew it was a pandemic from the start' is trying to throw WHO under the bus, blaming everybody but himself for his slow response to this pandemic. I don't know how true this is but my sister told me that his administration was busy in January and February selling medical equipment to other countries. Anything to make a dollar.

The sad thing is that this did not have to happen on this grand scale in America. This is all Trump's fault.

 

[ThirdEyeBeauty]

I don’t think the hospitals would be able to cope if they admitted mild cases for monitoring

That's what we are told and I believe could happen but I really need to read the statistics. The reason is because more people are hospitalized for the flu compared to information about this virus. I need information. People are dying because hospitals wait until it gets too bad. Can the hospitals and clinics at least give something that helps with reducing cytokines storm? Not everyone knows about agents that may help. Because it is a novel virus it's frustrating that it seems hospitals are watching to see what happens rather than encourage people to help their immune system from going haywire--that information should be replayed repeatedly on news and social media.

 

[Black Ambrosia]

That's what we are told and I believe could happen but I really need to read the statistics. The reason is because more people are hospitalized for the flu compared to information about this virus. I need information. People are dying because hospitals wait until it gets too bad. Can the hospitals and clinics at least give something that helps with reducing cytokines storm? Not everyone knows about agents that may help. Because it is a novel virus it's frustrating that it seems hospitals are watching to see what happens rather than encourage people to help their immune system from going haywire--that information should be replayed repeatedly on news and social media.

I agree with you. I think the real reason they didn't want people at earlier stages of infection is because they don't know how to treat them. They could've monitored their condition and treated symptoms as they arose but then they'd have a hospital full of people. They decided against it because they don't have the resources and many people will recover on their own. It's shameful. China has blood on it's hands. The president does as well but there's a good amount of blame to go around.

 

[LadyRaider]

Exercise and COVID-19
https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2020...Z14hP27_NmdDB44BS2DPtpUm5aWSCNtUl_4ZFtgXYTrCo

 

[ThirdEyeBeauty]

Exercise and COVID-19
https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2020...Z14hP27_NmdDB44BS2DPtpUm5aWSCNtUl_4ZFtgXYTrCo

Yes stuff like that. Why not have information replayed repeatedly on news and social media such as moving around and taking a high a potent antioxidant daily can help people who have covid-19 or think they have covid-19? I bet those two things alone would help most people in the early stages.

 

[shelli4018]

I always thought it was strange that positive but very mild cases were told to go home. Because it is a novel virus and I am already positive, I would have wanted to be monitored at the hospital. I guess that was the way to flatten the curve. The price though was letting people die who probably could have been saved.

We have limited resources and no vaccine. If you’re one of the unlucky few who suffer organ failure I’m not sure they can save you. I’ve read 80% of patients who require intubation don’t make it. Couple that with our crappy for profit healthcare system and lack of hospitals in rural America and you can see why folk are asked to recover at home.

Read an article yesterday that said some folk who have C19 would rather take their chances at home versus suffering alone in a crowded hospital.

 

[shelli4018]

Yes stuff like that. Why not have information replayed repeatedly on news and social media such as moving around and taking a high a potent antioxidant daily can help people who have covid-19 or think they have covid-19? I bet those two things alone would help most people in the early stages.

That information is available. And it is NOVEL. We’re learning as we go. Still doesn’t matter if a certain segment of the population refuses to behave differently or chooses to believe conspiracy versus science. Our own President expresses doubt about the veracity of this virus for 2 hours on our televisions everyday.

 

[ThirdEyeBeauty]

That information is available. And it is NOVEL. We’re learning as we go. Still doesn’t matter if a certain segment of the population refuses to behave differently or chooses to believe conspiracy versus science. Our own President expresses doubt about the veracity of this virus for 2 hours on our televisions everyday.

The information needs to spread like wildfire to help us before we get it or while the symptoms are mild. It might be a novel virus but still biomedical science should prevail to this level. We don't have drugs for a virus we know nothing about but we know how the immune system can sometimes go out of control and the effects to lungs and other organs. We know a good foundation can help reduce the chance of that happening. We don't need to know much about the virus to do that.

 

[Everything Zen]

That's what we are told and I believe could happen but I really need to read the statistics. The reason is because more people are hospitalized for the flu compared to information about this virus. I need information. People are dying because hospitals wait until it gets too bad. Can the hospitals and clinics at least give something that helps with reducing cytokines storm? Not everyone knows about agents that may help. Because it is a novel virus it's frustrating that it seems hospitals are watching to see what happens rather than encourage people to help their immune system from going haywire--that information should be replayed repeatedly on news and social media.

If a hospital fills up all its beds and can’t take anymore patients they go on bypass. That means patients have to be routed to other hospitals in the area. Every day that a hospital is on bypass they get fined by the state for no being able to accept patients. Everyone in the hospitals right now isn’t there for C19. They’re in for C19 + flu and everything else. Apparently all NYC hospitals run close to maximum capacity almost all the time and I’ve seen what some Chicagoland hospitals will do to avoid bypass fines. I’ve seen patient’s infused infused on sofas, in hallways, on exam tables and seen them put in administrative offices literally converted to rooms. There was a 54 car pileup on the highway the other day in Chicago due to snow. We still have folks out here shooting each other, etc. Thankfully we haven’t had a mass shooting, plane crash or terrorist attack. They still need to plan accordingly to accept patients that are in dire straights. That’s why they’re re-opening old hospitals, hotels, etc. and sending out emergency text alerts for people with medical license to come in and work and even hiring med students and folks out of state but who’s gonna monitor all of those patients under observation? ERs are a nightmare already. It’s terrible but the resources just aren’t there.

 

[Dellas]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/avivah...avirus-reponses-have-in-common-women-leaders/

What Do Countries With The Best Coronavirus Responses Have In Common? Women Leaders

Looking for examples of true leadership in a crisis? From Iceland to Taiwan and from Germany to New Zealand, women are stepping up to show the world how to manage a messy patch for our human family. Add in Finland, Iceland and Denmark, and this pandemic is revealing that women have what it takes when the heat rises in our Houses of State. Many will say these are small countries, or islands, or other exceptions. But Germany is large and leading, and the UK is an island with very different outcomes. These leaders are gifting us an attractive alternative way of wielding power. What are they teaching us?

Truth
Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, stood up early and calmly told her countrymen that this was a serious bug that would infect up to 70% of the population. “It’s serious,” she said, “take it seriously.” She did, so they did too. Testing began right from the get-go. Germany jumped right over the phases of denial, anger and disingenuousness we’ve seen elsewhere. The country’s numbers are far below its European neighbors, and there are signs it may be able to start loosening restrictions relatively soon.

Decisiveness

Data from the European Centre for Disease Control as of April 12, 2020

20-FIRST
Among the first and the fastest responses was from Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan. Back in January, at the first sign of a new illness, she introduced 124 measures to block the spread without having to resort to the lockdowns that have become common elsewhere. She is now sending 10 million face masks to the U.S. and Europe. Tsai managed what CNN has called “among the world’s best” responses, keeping the epidemic under control, still reporting only six deaths.

Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand was early to lockdown and crystal clear on the maximum level of alert she was putting the country under – and why. She imposed self-isolation on people entering New Zealand astonishingly early, when there were just 6 cases in the whole country, and banned foreigners entirely from entering soon after. Clarity and decisiveness are saving New Zealand from the storm. As of mid-April they have suffered only four deaths, and where other countries talk of lifting restrictions, Ardern is adding to them, making all returning New Zealanders quarantine in designated locations for 14 days.

Today In: Careers
Tech
Iceland, under the leadership of Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, is offering free coronavirus testing to all its citizens, and will become a key case study in the true spread and fatality rates of Covid-19. Most countries have limited testing to people with active symptoms. Iceland is going whole hog. In proportion to its population the country has already screened five times as many people as South Korea has, and instituted a thorough tracking system that means they haven’t had to lock down or shut schools.

Women have to have experience, education, and know how. They for the most part are not given the benefit of the doubt. They have to prove themselves.

 

[Dellas]

If a hospital fills up all its beds and can’t take anymore patients they go on bypass. That means patients have to be routed to other hospitals in the area. Every day that a hospital is on bypass they get fined by the state for no being able to accept patients. Everyone in the hospitals right now isn’t there for C19. They’re in for C19 + flu and everything else. Apparently all NYC hospitals run close to maximum capacity almost all the time and I’ve seen what some Chicagoland hospitals will do to avoid bypass fines. I’ve seen patient’s infused infused on sofas, in hallways, on exam tables and seen them put in administrative offices literally converted to rooms. There was a 54 car pileup on the highway the other day in Chicago due to snow. We still have folks out here shooting each other, etc. Thankfully we haven’t had a mass shooting, plane crash or terrorist attack. They still need to plan accordingly to accept patients that are in dire straights. That’s why they’re re-opening old hospitals, hotels, etc. and sending out emergency text alerts for people with medical license to come in and work and even hiring med students and folks out of state but who’s gonna monitor all of those patients under observation? ERs are a nightmare already. It’s terrible but the resources just aren’t there.

I am affraid of hospital right now.

 

[shelli4018]

The information needs to spread like wildfire to help us before we get it or while the symptoms are mild. It might be a novel virus but still biomedical science should prevail to this level. We don't have drugs for a virus we know nothing about but we know how the immune system can sometimes go out of control and the effects to lungs and other organs. We know a good foundation can help reduce the chance of that happening. We don't need to know much about the virus to do that.

Cytokine storms aren’t new. Not sure what can be done to resolve them once they’ve begun. Maybe someone with a medical background can address that.

There is information is out there (good and bad). But there’s so much to yet to learn! In this post Truth world I think we all have to do our own work. Allow information to flow from the bottom up versus top down. Maybe that’s a good thing? This virus is exposing some ugly truths we may be forced to grapple with: democracy, privilege, misinformation, technology, universal healthcare, income inequality, Capitalism, global warming, etc. This thing seems to be bigger than just a healthcare crisis. Know what I mean? Or maybe I’m rambling.

 

[vevster]

This virus is exposing some ugly truths we may be forced to grapple with: democracy, privilege, misinformation, technology, universal healthcare, income inequality, Capitalism, global warming, etc. This thing seems to be bigger than just a healthcare crisis. Know what I mean? Or maybe I’m rambling.

You are not rambling..... its exposing all the cracks and fissures.

 

[shelli4018]

I think the virus is forcing us to evolve.

 

[vevster]

I think the virus is forcing us to evolve.

You deep today, Shelli.

 

[vevster]

23 and me just sent me a Covid-19 survey.....

 

[shelli4018]

What’s a Covid 19 survey exactly?

 

[vevster]

What’s a Covid 19 survey exactly?

1. have you experienced flu symptoms since Jan of this year?
2. have you been exposed to someone suspected or confirmed covid 19 positive
3. If yes, what type of contact?

Those type of questions....

 

[Black Ambrosia]

We know about the outbreak in South Dakota at the pork plant. Here are a couple others.

 

[Jmartjrmd]

I agree with you. I think the real reason they didn't want people at earlier stages of infection is because they don't know how to treat them. They could've monitored their condition and treated symptoms as they arose but then they'd have a hospital full of people. They decided against it because they don't have the resources and many people will recover on their own. It's shameful. China has blood on it's hands. The president does as well but there's a good amount of blame to go around.

There is a lot to think about with monitoring everyone in the hospital.
The thing is you would do the same thing in the hospital that you'd do at home which is treat the symptoms and monitor for change in condition. You'd be tying up a hospital bed for weeks.
Also with hospital acquired infections you would be a lot safer at home. Having the virus already compromised your immune system would become opportunistic for a HAI.
An already taxed hospital that's at and over capacity isn't a good place to be. You would basically be on your own. Also people would have to be there for weeks. They would be turning people away for space issues plus all those infected people would put even more people at risk for getting infected. And with this pandemic on our minds we've tended to forget other patients with other illnesses also need hospital beds.
Current statistics I have seen is that 80% of people with corona who are put on ventilators will die. Once you've progressed to the point of needing a vent it's likely too late.
Hospitals do not have the capacity to admit everyone with a case nor the resources ( ppe, people, even medication) to monitor them. You would inevitably get people who wouldn't comply with staying in their hospital room so then you have those people walking the halls and down in the cafeteria. Nobody has time to babysit them. They are also coming into contact with way more people whereas at home they are contained. Also a lot of hospitals don't have all private rooms. So say you get someone with a false positive test roomed with an accurately diagnosed patient. Now that false positive becomes positive from being in the hospital. They might not show symptoms then be released home falsely thinking they've been thoroughly monitored and are now ok. There have also been cases that have gone from asymptomatic to dead so even being monitored in the hospital ( and everyone admitted are not on monitors) might not help with the sneaky nature of this virus.
With no antiviral and no vaccine for this virus all they could do for mild cases is treat the symptoms.
One thing you can do at home if you have it or think you have it is to watch your oxygen saturation. I only know for samsung phones you can do it from your phone. I've tested mine against the hospitals and it's either the same or differs by 1 to 2 %. You can also buy a pulse ox. I have 2. One is pretty accurate and the other is usually off more times than it was correct. For me I can feel when my oxygen is low and 9 times out of 10 when I check and it is.
It also will tell you your heartrate which if its higher than your normal baseline it might give you an early indication something is off.
Pay attention to your breathing. Some things to take note of
can you sleep flat or do you need all the pillows in the house to prop yourself up..if thats change for you might need to contact your dr.

Does it hurt to breath in and out

Am I more winded than usual, if after a little exertion can I carry on a conversation

We need to gather as much info ad possible. Unfortunately people who have died can give us this info from autopsy and their records. We just have a lot to learn about this thing.

 

[shelli4018]

Our poor supply chain.

I understand many of these meat packing plants employ a high number of immigrants. I imagine they don’t have access to adequate healthcare and can’t avail themselves of the meager healthcare resources available in rural areas.

 

[lavaflow99]

I don’t think the hospitals would be able to cope if they admitted mild cases for monitoring

All of this! It would be impossible for a hospital to admit every single person that is positive. And do what with them? If they don’t need oxygen, tolerating a regular diet/fluids and has a place/home to go, then they should go home and recover. The same for any other illness. Hospital admission is for people who need higher level of care that can’t be provided at home.

 

[TrulyBlessed]

 

[lavaflow99]

There a lot to think about with monitoring everyone in the hospital.
The thing is you would do the same thing in the hospital that you'd do at home which is treat the symptoms and monitor for change in condition. You'd be tying up a hospital bed for weeks.
Also with hospital acquired infections you would be a lot safer at home. Having the virus already compromised your immune system would become opportunistic for a HAI.
An already taxed hospital that's at and over capacity isn't a good place to be. You would basically be on your own. Also people would have to be there for weeks. They would be turning people away for space issues plus all those infected people would put even more people at risk for getting infected. And with this pandemic on our minds we've tended to forget other patients with other illnesses also need hospital beds.
Current statistics I have seen is that 80% of people with corona who are put on ventilators will die. Once you've progressed to the point of needing a vent it's likely too late.
Hospitals do not have the capacity to admit everyone with a case nor the resources ( ppe, people, even medication) to monitor them. You would inevitably get people who wouldn't comply with staying in their hospital room so then you have those people walking the halls and down in the cafeteria. Nobody has time to babysit them. They are also coming into contact with way more people whereas at home they are contained. Also a lot of hospitals don't have all private rooms. So say you get someone with a false positive test roomed with an accurately diagnosed patient. Now that false positive becomes positive from being in the hospital. They might not show symptoms then be released home falsely thinking they've been thoroughly monitored and are now ok. There have also been cases that have gone from asymptomatic to dead so even being monitored in the hospital ( and everyone admitted are not on monitors) might not help with the sneaky nature of this virus.
With no antiviral and no vaccine for this virus all they could do for mild cases is treat the symptoms.
One thing you can do at home if you have it or think you have it is to watch your oxygen saturation. I only know for samsung phones you can do it from your phone. I've tested mine against the hospitals and it's either the same or differs by 1 to 2 %. You can also buy a pulse ox. I have 2. One is pretty accurate and the other is usually off more times than it was correct. For me I can feel when my oxygen is low and 9 times out of 10 when I check and it is.
It also will tell you your heartrate which if its higher than your normal baseline it might give you an early indication something is off.
Pay attention to your breathing. Some things to take note of
can you sleep flat or do you need all the pillows in the house to prop yourself up..if thats change for you might need to contact your dr.

Does it hurt to breath in and out

Am I more winded than usual, if after a little exertion can I carry on a conversation

We need to gather as much info ad possible. Unfortunately people who have died can give us this info from autopsy and their records. We just have a lot to learn about this thing.

Well said!

I hate to say this and not scare folks but the hospital isn’t the place to be if you can avoid it. They are bare bones regarding resources. The cafeteria is closed in a couple hospitals I work at. Staff is anxious and sadly that will affect patient care. And like @Jmartjrmd said, you don’t want to come here with a false positive and leave with a true positive and then end up on a ventilator then die. I won’t be surprised if there are large number of health care providers who are the asymptomatic carrier population and still working. You don’t want to be around that if you are breathing comfortably and tolerating fluids.

We see what is happening in nursing homes and I doubt it started with the patients. It was brought to them

Stay home folks! Keep your ‘Rona in your own house!

 

[Black Ambrosia]

I'm not suggesting that everyone who tests positive should be admitted and monitored. I think those at highest risk should be given additional consideration and admitted where appropriate. I'm no doctor but I suspect that waiting until people are in dire condition before admitting them to the hospital is part of the reason why 80% of the people put on ventilators are dying. I've seen a couple of stories from hospitals where their first patients are now being discharged. I think it's safe to say they were likely admitted earlier and received better care than people being admitted today. If I were pointing fingers I wouldn't start with the hospitals but there is some blame there as well.

 

[sunshinebeautiful]

GROSS. Totally gross.

 

[shelli4018]

I’ve cancelled Dr. Oz permanently. What a disappointment.

 

[TrulyBlessed]

 

[Jmartjrmd]

Dr. Oz you cannot unsay what you said. I've tried it..it doesnt work.