My plan for dealing with Covid

[spinbaby]

It’s inevitable. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that, sooner or later, I will get “it.” Here’s my plan.

I will continue social distancing because I prefer to get it later rather than sooner. If it kills me, I prefer this to be as far in the future as possible. If I delay infection long enough, there may be an effective treatment or even a vaccine, who knows. If the worst happens, my will and living will are up to date.

Because high mortality is correlated with virus load, when I am out and about, I will not go anywhere that’s remotely busy or allows people without face masks, the goal being to especially avoid situations where I might get a lot of virus at once.

In that same vein, I will always wear a face mask around other people because I am considerate.

I’m more diligent about exercise because a fit body is more able to face challenges. Getting winded once a day increases lung capacity. Getting outside for that exercise improves mental health.

I’m making an effort to improve my diet, mainly by upping fruits and vegetables. I’m not getting groceries as often as before, so I’m leaning heavily on frozen produce. My grocery orders don’t include junk food.

I take vitamins. Nothing crazy, no megadoses, just a good multivitamin, vitamin D, and calcium. There has been some noise about mortality being linked to vitamin D deficiency. I was already taking vitamin D to correct a deficiency, but if I weren’t, I would definitely look at adding vitamin D to my routine. Again, no megadoses.

I’m trying to keep my blood sugar under tight control. There is a study out of China that suggests that good blood sugar control correlates with better outcomes.


https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413120302382?via%3Dihub

There you have it, my plan for dealing with Covid-19.

[rampartc]

1. if that came from the cdc

trump would never let them publish it.

[Freddie]

2. I bought a pulse oximeter

Hasn’t arrived yet. One of the most terrifying symptoms is not having enough oxygen but not being short of breath or uncomfortable. The pulse oximeter is a small device you clip on your finger that measures your blood oxygen level, so you can tell if you have problems before you have any symptoms.

[Delphinus]

3. My husband

laughed at me when I bought one about three weeks ago - the more he reads, though, the more he is grateful I invested in one.

[Roy Rolling]

16. Good idea!

I have every sort of monitor available, I’m gonna get one.

Also every suggestion in the OP is beneficial. It is good medicine—it does no harm.

[mitch96]

17. Pulse Ox... where did you get it?? Brand?? tnx nt

[Freddie]

18. Amazon

I forget the brand. Costs around $50. There’s a wait (I ordered it a month ago), it’s a high demand item.

[mitch96]

20. Ok,$50 @ Amazon.. got it, thanks!! nt

[NoRoadUntravelled]

24. Great idea. I'm going to order one.

My lifestyle is nearly identical to the OP but the oximeter will be a good thing to add to the toolbox. Thanks for the suggestion.

[trof]

25. Me too. Weeks ago. And mine hasn't come either.

It's from some outfit called 'Pro-Therms'
They say they're having trouble getting shipping space on a cargo plane.
I think it's coming from China.

[DesertRat]

28. My husband uses a blood oxygen saturation app on his phone

He swears it’s accurate, I’m not convinced. Has anyone used one and compared to a pulse ox?

[cannabis_flower]

38. Show him this

No it's not accurate:

https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/23/21232488/blood-oxygen-apps-iphone-samsung-unreliable-fitbit-garmin-oximeter

[DesertRat]

42. Thanks!

[LeftInTX]

32. You will have symptoms, however the pulse ox will quantify them

Calling the doctor and saying, "My chest hurts, I feel light headed etc" won't get you a hospital admit as quickly as "My O2 sat is 80%".

It can prevent you from severe respiratory distress by getting you to the hospital before it gets too severe. If you can be treated with plain old oxygen via a facemask, you will have much better outcome than needing a ventilator.

[live love laugh]

33. I ordered one about a month ago but noticed my watch provides blood O2

levels. It’s not an Apple Watch but an iTouch Air SE which gives heart rate and O2 levels. I check daily and my O2 stays between 96 and 98 so far.

[cannabis_flower]

39. Not accurate

https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/23/21232488/blood-oxygen-apps-iphone-samsung-unreliable-fitbit-garmin-oximeter

[smirkymonkey]

36. I just recieved mine today.

I ordered it over a month ago and was afraid it wouldn't arrive. Just tested it out a few hours ago and fortunately I am in good shape.

I haven't really left my apartment building except to go out on the sidewalk to get some things from friends dropping them off. Have not gone out or down to get packages without a mask. However, I really don't like wearing the mask for very long. I don't know if it is anxiety or if just makes me really claustrophobic, but part of why I don't go anywhere is because I don't want to have to wear it for a long period of time.

I would never go out in public without one, so I just choose to not go out. I want to start going on walks next week on the back streets of my neighborhood and will still wear a mask, but on deserted stretches will pull it down to get some fresh air. I will definitely pull it back up if I see anyone approaching in the distance. I'm pretty sure I don't have it, since I have been almost completely isolated and very careful.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. The virus replicates

I think avoiding an initial 'high dose' of virus is not going to help much. Might save a few hours.

[spinbaby]

5. It does

But there is anecdotal evidence that there is much higher mortality when the virus is picked up in densely populated environments.

[localroger]

12. I think the key is giving your immune system a chance to notice it at low levels

It takes time for your immune system to learn how to deal with an infection. And it's not the infection that kills; it's an immune system overreaction which is provoked by a high viral load. So if you have a high initial viral load, or your immune system is weak and takes extra time to get into action while the virus is replicating to ready itself, you're more likely to get the immune overreaction that also attacks your own tissues. But if you receive a light initial load and your immune system just deals with it quickly, there's no immune overreaction and you just have mild symptoms or even none at all as it runs its course.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. With a little luck, you and most of us will "get it" from the vaccine, in time. . . . nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Also very useful is to get full restful sleep. All things you say are really good for overall health

[spinbaby]

10. A good point

Sleep isn’t really an issue for me, but it is important to have a consistent bedtime and avoid random napping.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Given that it is a novel virus,

meaning that none of us are immune to to it, your plan is reasonable. I have the good fortune to be in excellent health in the first place, and have a strong immune system that may well carry me through this. I don't take vitamins, but that's my preference. You do what seems best for you.

Oh, and at the projected worst, more than 90% of us will survive. This is not the Black Plague.

[certainot]

9. i used to walk a lot as part of everyday lliving but moved to a place less amenable to it

so i started running around the couch

doing a 10 ft circle in 4 - 5 secs gets me about 1 1/2 miles in 20 minutes

there's a lot less pounding than regular jogging because i'm leaning in. it's almost like skating when you get going faster. now i'm at another house with a patio and with two objects i also do figure 8s. i chance direction about every 5 minutes so the compression and stretching switches sides.

crocs are my running shoes. when i keep my eyes up my focus has to adjust quickly, it's probably good eye exercise. i can combine it with news, or a soccer or b-ball game previously.

weather not a problem and i don't have to worry about dogs chasing, or traffic.

[Vinca]

11. I also started taking a baby aspirin again after the clotting information came out.

I already take Vitamin D to stave off winter depression. Our grocery store has been doing a really good job re fresh fruit and veg so I haven't had to rely on frozen much, plus the local berry crops will be starting up in another month and I've got a garden started already. IMO, Google doctor that I am, I think virus load is the most important thing to consider, especially in a generally healthy person. I'll be wearing masks and carrying disinfectant wipes around with me until there's a vaccine.

[cannabis_flower]

40. Vitamin D also helps your immune system

I used to get bronchitis and be sick for a week about 4 or 5 times a year and had to go to the doctor. After my doctor did a Vitamin D test on me and said I was deficient and told me to take 2000 IU per day I haven't been sick with bronchitis more than a few times in the last 5 years and when I am sick I usually get over it on my own without going to the doctor.


Here is an article about Vitamin D and CoVid-19 and respiratory infections overall.

Still, multiple studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency can harm immune function and increase your risk of developing respiratory illnesses (10Trusted Source).

Additionally, some studies have indicated that vitamin D supplements can enhance immune response and protect against respiratory infections overall.

A recent review that included 11,321 people from 14 countries demonstrated that supplementing with vitamin D decreased the risk of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in both those who were deficient in vitamin D and those with adequate levels.

Overall, the study showed that vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of developing at least one ARI by 12%. The protective effect was strongest in those with low vitamin D levels (11Trusted Source).

Moreover, the review found that vitamin D supplements were most effective at protecting against ARI when taken daily or weekly in small doses and less effective when taken in larger, widely spaced doses (12Trusted Source).

Vitamin D supplements have also been shown to reduce mortality in older adults, who are most at risk for developing respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 (13Trusted Source).

Keep in mind that there’s no scientific evidence that taking supplemental vitamin D can protect you from developing COVID-19. However, being deficient in vitamin D may increase your susceptibility to overall infection and disease by harming immune function.

This is especially worrisome given that many people are deficient in vitamin D, especially older individuals who are most at risk of developing more serious COVID-19-related complications (14Trusted Source).

For these reasons, it’s a good idea to have your healthcare provider test your vitamin D levels to determine whether you have a deficiency in this important nutrient.

Depending on your blood levels, supplementing with 1,000–4,000 IU of vitamin D per day is typically sufficient for most people. However, those with low blood levels will often require much higher doses to increase their levels to an optimal range (15Trusted Source).

Though recommendations on what constitutes an optimal vitamin D level vary, most experts agree that optimal vitamin D levels lie between 30–60 ng/mL (75–150 nmol/L) (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Evidence that vitamin D supplements reduce the risk of developing COVID-19 is lacking, but having healthy vitamin D levels can enhance immune health. Plus, vitamin D supplements may protect against respiratory infections in general.

The bottom line
Vitamin D plays many important roles in your body, including promoting the health of your immune system.

Scientific research suggests that supplementing with vitamin D may protect against respiratory infections, especially among those who are deficient in the vitamin.

Still, keep in mind that there’s currently no evidence that taking any supplement, including vitamin D, reduces your risk of developing COVID-19 as a result of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-coronavirus#effect-on-immune-health

[Liberal In Texas]

13. Sounds like a sane plan.

Pretty much what we've been doing.
As mentioned elsewhere here, also bought an pulse pulse oximeter.

[ashredux]

14. Pretty much sums up my "plan"...

[KewlKat]

15. So what's a good oximeter? There are so many.

Anyone have a link to what they bought?

[smirkymonkey]

37. I found mine on Amazon, but it took forever to arrive.

I just went by ratings and customer reviews. I tried to look mine up for you to give you the details, but it's out of stock and wouldn't pull up the page. You might also want to check your local pharmacy or health product supply store.

Good luck. If nothing else, it gives you peace of mind. I just got it today and tried it out and I am in pretty good shape, so not worried.

[mitch96]

19. My plan is a lot like yours.. Diet, Excersize, stay away from people,places and things that will

give me the virus.. I don't mind the quarantine.. I like to cook (and eat!) I'm basically a loner anyway.. The plan is to die as quickly as possible as LATE as possible...
Non of this lingering around in pain shit... Healthy and viable till they turn off the switch, eh?
m

[Laelth]

21. Your concern about Virus LOAD ...

... shows that you are well-educated and well-prepared. I would bet on your survival when (not if) you fall ill from COVID-19.



-Laelth

[spinbaby]

22. I wouldn't bet on it

I’m both elderly and diabetic.

[extvbroadcaster]

23. Yes! thank you

I bought a oximeter too today. I agree 100%. My nephew is a doctor and he said the same thing. If you are going to get infected, do so late in the cycle when they have SOME kind of treatment. Maybe it won't kill you then. But for now, stay clear and do what you can. Trump is downplaying it but this is really bad.

[Baclava]

26. I drink lots of milk and Vit D because I live on cereal and sun, I vape so nicotine will save me

I'm on a calcium channel blocker and I heard that protects you too. Got my 50 surgical masks from Amazon for $12 (I shopped real early)

Go herd, call me when it's all over

[trof]

27. I'm 78 and Miz t. is 75 and that's exactly what we're going to do.

We may never eat a meal IN a restaurant again, and that's OK.
We may never see another movie IN a theater, and that's OK.
We may never again have friends over for dinner, or go to their house, and that's OK.

We are beginning to consider that we may never be able to hug our daughter and family again.
Our son-in-law, our grandson, our granddaughter.
They are 1500 miles away from us.
And that is really NOT OK.

[kpete]

31. You nailed it for me

Facetime is nice but the hugs are missed

peace,
kp

[Hermit-The-Prog]

29. No mention of a really powerful light or injecting bleach??!?

According to Herr Dumbkopf Donald, all you have to do is avoid testing.

Link to tweet

(Thanks to Cha for that)

[Larissa]

30. Pulse Oximeters

Here's a useful article regarding pulse oximeters which ran in the NYT's last month:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/well/live/coronavirus-pulse-oximeter-oxygen.html

For me, perhaps the biggest challenges of getting through the age of coronavirus are worry, fear and depression. It sometimes seems as if getting infected would be almost a kind of relief. My problem with the circumstances of the treatment of this virus is the isolation. You are alone and are treated by professionals completed gowned and masked. (P.M. Boris Johnson had two nurses with him at all times.) And then there's the possible issue of the ventilator and being placed in a coma. At the final hour, the closest you get to those dear to you are FaceTime. There's no being "surrounded by loved ones" or holding a warm hand as you drift away. There is a passage in John Gunther's "Death Be Not Proud" where he holds onto his son in his hospital bed. (The boy died from a brain tumor at 17-years-old.) Gunther feels the warmth of his son's body as it fades and flows out of him while he takes his final breath.

Spinbaby, you're doing all the right things.

[helpisontheway]

34. I'm doing many of the same things..Taking a risk next week to go

get my blood drawn. I have not had it drawn since August so I’m past due. During a phone visit my dr told me to go get it drawn. So I will try to be first at the lab. I have my N95 mask, face shield and eye protection. I think I might wear my kn95 on top of the N95. Hope I can get in and out. I have barely been out of the house so this is a huge step for me.

[secondwind]

35. Take 1000 mg vitamin C daily and 35 mg zinc

They both help against COVID 19

[cannabis_flower]

41. Make sure you're not deficient in Vitamin D also

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213439801#post40

[Cha]

43. This sounds like my plan but it's also the way I've been living

my life for years.. except for the Safe Distancing & Mask thing.

Mahalo, spinbaby