***Long Covid*** ... Are you prepared ? 5 tips from a long hauler of 3.5 years
Posted by Effective-Ad-6460@reddit | PrepperIntel | View on Reddit | 300 comments
Let me preface by saying i fully expect there to be naysayers, you would however be wise to Prep for Long Covid, it will do more damage to your life than an Egg Shortage - you won't be working/prepping if your unable to walk, talk, breath or feed yourself.
I can tell you for a Flying Fact .. it is real - it will disable you for years and there is no cure/treatment.
https://www.cdc.gov/covid/long-term-effects/living-with-long-covid.html
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/long-covid-keeps-people-out-of-work-and-hurts-the-economy
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/about-8-us-adults-have-ever-had-long-covid-survey-finds
400 million people worldwide since the pandemic hit
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03173-6
Lets compare that with people who have developed cancer worldwide in the last 5 years - 53 million.
Almost half a billion ... Those numbers are insane.
How do i know its real?
I have it ...
4 years ago i was climbing mountains, biking daily and jogging .. then i caught covid and a few weeks later my life essentially ended for 3 years, am i better? Yes ... will i have long term health problems ? Yes .. was it the single worst experience of my entire life ? Yes ... and i have almost died a few times.
I couldn't breath, walk, talk or shower. It has taken me 3.5 years to relearn how to walk, talk and heal lung wise.
CFS/MCAS/Organ damage/Brain damage/Endothelial damage. I spent a year in a dark room unable to read, watch anything, breath, talk or walk - The suffering was uninmaginable .. the doctors told me to my face " We know it's Long Covid, But we have no treatments .. Go home and Hope " ... you read that right ............... Hope.
There are no treatments and no cures for long covid, research is still ongoing and Long covid now is the most researched medical condition in human history - each infection increases the chance of developing Long Covid.
My advice coming from a Prepper with Long covid -
1) Antihistamines - Get yourself a large supply of antihistamines, they were the single most effective medication i have come across to deal with MCAS.
2) 3 years worth of rent/bills. As preppers you probably already have a stash - however on average the serious cases of Long Covid remain at a high level of disability for 3 years minimum.
3) Work on your gut health - keep fermented foods - Covid damages the microbiome, we have proof of this .. If you don't already know 70% of your immune system is in the gut. Stands to reason - healthy gut healthy immune system.
4) Know/Have someone who can take over your prepping while your incapacitated. You will not be walking ... CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is no joke. In Long Covid the virus damages the Mitochondria, if you remember your biology - Mitochondria = Energy.
5) Keep Anti bacterial handwash on you and around the house at all times. Honestly masking should still be a thing also but the outcry from the general public has essentially got rid of this .. which seems mad to me considering.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
>>>*** We Shut the entire world down for a Virus - THE - ENTIRE - WORLD - this isn't over, take care of your immune health .. be smart ***<<<
GoodBoundaries-Haver@reddit
I got COVID a year ago. I wasted so much fucking money on delivery because I could not walk across my own house without struggling in some way for like 6 months. I'm still not 100% but Jesus Christ. Looking back I don't really know how I survived it
Forsaken_Bison_8623@reddit
I couldn't walk my kid 3 blocks to school for months. I developed chronic asthma that caused air hunger in the middle of the night and required several inhalers daily. It was a brutal 14 months of recovery for me.
GoodBoundaries-Haver@reddit
It was a terrifying and disorienting barrage of ever changing symptoms. I'm glad you hear you're on the mend! I got a series of oral steroids that really helped my shortness of breath/air hunger. The fatigue and nerve damage were the worst for me. Still can't quite wiggle my toes but at least I'm not totally numb and useless below the ankle anymore.
Used to have the numbness start creeping up from my ankles when I'd stress out, sometimes up to the neck. It was so fucking scary I thought I was having a stroke or seizure. Lmao doctors were just like š¤· by the time I could get in for an MRI it had stopped happening. Numb feet took months longer to resolve.
I'm impressed to hear you're a parent with this illness. Kudos to you. My husband and I are thinking of having kids and this whole experience made the idea so much scarier. I can't imagine going through it with someone relying on me like that.
Forsaken_Bison_8623@reddit
It was a scary experience for sure. I felt underwater and like my legs were encased in concrete. I'm glad to hear you're doing better too.
I do have lasting nerve damage in my foot that remains, and was recently diagnosed with Raynauds.
I have a friend who has migraines ever since covid, one that has new onset allergy issues, and a relative that developed pulmonary fibrosis after their 3rd infection.
We're all getting hit hard by this virus, whether we want to acknowledge it or not.
GoodBoundaries-Haver@reddit
Yes!! Oh my God, the feeling of waking up from 16 straight hours of sleep and feeling like you're wearing a full body plaster cast. I could never get anyone to explain to me what the FUCK that was about. Best answer I got was something about fascia. I was straight up sobbing trying to stretch and get out of it. Massages helped a lot.
The temperature regulation stuff is so weird too! Feeling hot and cold at the same time!
You're right, it seems like everyone has gotten COVID and a shocking number of people have long term effects, sometimes stacking effects. I don't know how people are just going about life like it's normal to feel like this all the time. I know some people who are in complete denial about their illness and it's painful to watch.
Remarkable-Opening69@reddit
Because it was man made and they canāt come to terms with the story that was fed to them.
DuchessOfCarnage@reddit
How would that change their treatment or symptoms? How it started is much less relevant than how we react to it, and the long term issues.
If anything, it might make people treat the virus as a serious issue again!
IntroductionSuch8807@reddit
I had COVID twice a few years ago and I still get chronic headaches that are frequently debilitating, and no one believes me š”
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
This is how it is, covid really does a number on your body. I had over 80 symptoms at one point and i was pretty certain i was dying. I've spoken to people with Long Covid who have also had Cancer and Chemo - they say the Long Covid is worse.
The fact your still here is a testament to your strength.
Keep going lighter days are ahead of you.
This comment below is from an AMA i did and is the 5 main steps i took to start healing, mainly Rest, Antihistamines, Gut healing, Fasting and Diet overhaul. Worth a read if your still looking for answer ... also if your not aware theres a sub for longhaulers r/covidlonghaulers
https://www.reddit.com/r/covidlonghaulers/comments/1hjxgkx/comment/m3fe8go/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Low_Daikon7538@reddit
Look up Dianna Cowern. Physics Girl on YouTube. She has the medley of issues due to long covid and has a recent video talking about her friend with CFS and how hes going through with assisted dying. If you haven't seen anyone with it, her example is heartbreaking and will absolutely convince you to mask up and get the shot.
I have CFS/POTS (both common with long covid) and if you can avoid it...do it. Im in my thirties and went from healthy to needing help showering some days. Its miserable. You can absolutely be completely disabled by it.
whatisevenrealnow@reddit
Some of us with immune issues can't get the shot - I ended up in the hospital after my second round. I have had autoimmune issues since childhood and waited for the mRNA (which meant isolating for MONTHS as it took forever for us to get it in Australia), and it still messed me up even though it's a much lower rate of issues.
My doctors say I shouldn't get more vaccines, so I basically have to avoid the world and hope other people get vaccines so I can survive off herd immunity.
I'm so fucked lol.
xOMFGxAxGirlx@reddit
Are you saying POTS came from long covid? I keep meaning to look up if it has any thyroid effects because I just got some news in that department and am now wondering...
UsefullyChunky@reddit
My child's pediatric cardiologist is booked solid now b/c of new cases of POTS from covid. :(
Low_Daikon7538@reddit
No, POTS got defined officially by Mayo in the 90's. But getting a viral infection can trigger POTS and autoimmune diseases. There is an autoimmune disease that impacts your thyroid. Its something to look into.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
I've actually followed her story and it's incredible what she has done to raise awareness for Long Covid.
Everything she goes through is a true reflection of how brutal it is.
Hats off to her.
Also Hats off to you - The CFS Community has been gaslit for decades, you guys are tough as nails ... i hope the long covid research brings you all some relief also.
I don't know if it will help for you but i noticed a decrease in my CFS when i overhauled my diet and started antihistamines, it's not cured but better .. i am currently looking into Toxicity caused by a damaged gut lining causing a cascading event of internal inflammation which then goes on to damage mitochondria, i am working through this via a study i found that shows very similar gut health amongst CFS sufferers.
It's just a theory, but cleaning up my diet and cutting out anything that causes inflammation, smoking, drinking, caffeine, processed foods and sugars. did help my CFS.
digitallightweight@reddit
Donāt tell me to cut out caffeine š¢š¢
tryingtobecheeky@reddit
I am so, so sorry. It is really a terrifying disease.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Thank you
But it really is, i ran some numbers last night
1 in 6 people worldwide will get cancer
1 in2 worldwide will get Long Covid
Yet funding for cancer research is x25 more than Long covid.
tryingtobecheeky@reddit
Its 1 in 2 for cancer too. :(
But I do agree that long covid needs more research, treatment and support. You should be left like this. You deserve better.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
1 in 2 - in the UK
1 in 6 - worldwide
Unfortunately we live in a time where governments would rather line their own pockets than admit we have a very serious problem on our hands.
They will start doing something when their family members start getting long covid, however then it is going to be too late.
tryingtobecheeky@reddit
Well darn. Its 1 in 2 with cancer in Canada. (Not sure about long covid.)
And yup. Society doesn't give a fuck about long Covid. To most, its done and over with. :( It really is unfair.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Actually your right its 1 in 2 canada also.
Really makes you wonder what is it about modern life that causes this, food pumped full of chemicals, pollution, modern petroleum based medications more than likely.
Good news it people are getting more health focused these days.
tryingtobecheeky@reddit
So as a young cancer survivor myself (got the good news in May), it's probably a lot of the crap we consume. Like you said everything is pumped full of chemicals and everything is plastic and bleurk.
Butttt there is also the good news that cancer is, usually, an older person disease. So it's a sign of people living longer too.
However, for people under 60, it's definitely either a faulty gene or something environmental that was consumed or inhaled... Yay microplastics.
Kun_troll@reddit
I'm sorry to hear what you're going through.Ā Great write up.Ā Very informative and could help many people.Ā
That said, imo, antibacterial soap is a huge no no.Ā It needs to stay on your hands for 8-10 minutes to work, which isn't going to happen. So, all you're really accomplishing is resistant bacteria, which doesn't cause COVID-19 anyways.Ā In fact, every few years the FDA bans the active ingredient because of the false claim.Ā Then, manufacturers just switch to the next in line, which isn't any better.Ā
If you really insist on liking the bacteria on your hands, use sanitizer.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Thank you
I say antibacterial because people with long covid have compromised immune systems and catching another virus or bacteria would hospitalize them.
Quite literally any bacteria is a no go.
Hence why most people with long covid still remain in Isolation 5 years later.
Catching something else is just not worth it.
Kun_troll@reddit
Agreed. Figured that might be what you were alluding to.Ā I'd still submit that hand sanitizer is more effective and safer than antibacterial soap, for hands or body.Ā Dish soap should be fine but they don't make many.Ā Laundry sanitizer should work as well.Ā Just keep in mind that if it doesn't remain on the surface for at least 8 minutes it's probably not effective.Ā
Getting good air purifiers also helps.Ā I'd suggest Winix or Levoit.Ā Ā
AmericanaCrux@reddit
My friend, the original person I commented on here said it, not you. Then you chimed in after.
You said you donāt mask when eating indoors. If thatās all bullshit and not following the science, according to you, then I have no idea what the fuck youāre even on about. You contradict your own fucking statements. And what, for fucks sake, is the goddamn science? WHAT IS THE SCIENCE MAN?
You got nothing in this argument, in terms of ya know logic and facts and all that good stuff. Except you do have an absurd, unshakable, moral superiority. And good for you on that. You got that in spades.
Iām all set here. Thought maybe youād consider exploring a different perspective. No one was forcing you to do anything. Just thought you might want to learn a thing or two.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
I think your replying to the wrong conversation here buddy, I'm pro masking.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
Indeed. Thank you.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
No worries, love that your supporting pro masking though. Keep at it.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
lol, will do. Wouldnāt dare coming to any other possible conclusion.
throwaway80814@reddit
Hey there! I had some phenomenal results from NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine), and a round of TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), for the neurological/psychological symptoms. Finding a good PsyD/MD who understands the issues is a godsend.Ā
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Hey great advice
I actually found NAC to be instrumental in fixing my lung problems early into long covid.
TMS i will have to look into, im still exploring other avenues at the moment.
Getting my daily electrolytes also made a huge difference now i think back.
Thank you for the kind words.
Stay up Friend
dewdropcat@reddit
Im starting to wonder if I have long covid. I had it about a year ago and it feels like since then my memory has gotten somewhat worse. Of course, it could be other things. I smoke a lot of weed. There's dementia in my family as well. I was laid up for almost a week with it but it wasn't a severe case.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
I would suggest looking into it in both long covid and covid cases there a very real structural changes to the brain after the infection.
FabricationLife@reddit
I feel for you, it is a huge shame that the medical community has no answers and society looks the other way because it's a distasteful topic to acknowledge
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
It really is and the numbers are rising.
I sat down and ran some numbers last night
1 in 6 people worldwide will get cancer
1 in 2 will get long covid
Yet cancer research is 25x that of long covid
Governments need to wake up - because this is a mass disabling event that will have long term detrimental effects to health, immune systems, future children and economies.
TinyEmergencyCake@reddit
This part is so unbelievably unhelpful after the rest of the post was fine. It's very minimizing of the one prep and prevention strategy that will have the most impact.Ā
Prevention of inhalation of airborne pathogens is the number one thing to do to not get sick at all in the first place.Ā
Consider removing this part and using better language that actually promotes preparing and wellbeing with evidence based methods instead of repeating misinformation.Ā
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
I think you misinterpreted my comment.
Re - Read
" Honestly masking should still be a thing "
" outcry from the general public has essentially got rid of this .. which seems mad to me considering. "
I'm Pro masking
xOMFGxAxGirlx@reddit
Covid was crazy all round. My husband (30s) was hospitalized for a week after they finally admitted him. They originally kept sending him home and the last time I took him in I had to detour to the fire station because he couldn't breathe. I didn't mask with him and I didn't catch it. The second time he got it, it was super mild but I caught it. My only symptom at the time was extreme fatigue, I mean couldn't even watch tv, game, or read. However, now he is fine, and I have to use an inhaler regularly. Sadly, it also ruined my taste for bourbon for a over a year as well - but I've recovered from that lol
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Sorry to hear about you and your families experience also, covid is a brutal virus.
The fatigue i had with long covid is nothing i can even begin to describe, but i try - it was like my limbs had turned to rocks and i was dragging them around.
At least your taste for Bourbon came back - cheers !
Motor-Ad8989@reddit
53 million is nowhere near half a billion. Do you understand addition?
Plan-B-Rip-and-Tear@reddit
Context. 53 million is the number of people alive 5 years after a cancer diagnosis. 400 million is the number of people with long covid.
400 million alone could be termed almost half a billion. And both together are almost half a billion.
The OP put the cancer reference of 53 million to show how serious an issue Long Covid is becoming. Virtually everyone knows someone who has/had cancer and how debilitating it or the treatment for it can be, even if itās curable.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
People have been using this 400 million number for a few years already and it is such a low estimation itās wild.
1 in 5 people have Long Covid according to most studies. That means that, worldwide, well over a billion people have Long Covid and it increases by thousands every day.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
This is actually very true, 400 million is a rough estimate ... the number is significantly more. I actually sat down and ran some numbers last night
It works out around ...
1 in 6 people worldwide will get cancer
1 in 2 people worldwide will get Long Covid.
GlitteringChipmunk21@reddit
Do you understand reading comprehension?
Sunnyjim333@reddit
"Do you understand reading comprehension?"
Sokath, his eyes covered.
Don't be mean.
GlitteringChipmunk21@reddit
Curiously, you didn't suggest that the person I responded to, who said "do you understand addition", not be mean.
Sunnyjim333@reddit
Good point, suggestion sent.
Sunnyjim333@reddit
Sokath, his eyes covered.
Don't be mean.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Re read what you just wrote
billymumfreydownfall@reddit
Omg how embarrassing for you...
CanadianPropagandist@reddit
The 53m number is in reference to cancer survivors over 5 years. The number of people with long COVID according to the article from Nature is 400m, which is close to half a billion.
Constant_Snuggle_71@reddit
They were referring to the 400 million with long covid
Ultimateace43@reddit
You missed the whole ass point of this post.
Or maybe you didn't and are just a bad actor.
Duke_Of_Halifax@reddit
I'm 4.5 years in.
It's real, and it will fuck up your life.
foodie_tueday@reddit
Iām 5 years in š
IM_INSIDE_YOUR_HOUSE@reddit
Yep. Basically obliterated some of my cognition. I was in a mentally taxing job already. I lost that job. I just couldnāt keep up like I once could.
Wytch78@reddit
Yeah thatās the endothelial damage. Out of breath but if you check your oxygen itās ānormal.ā
Duke_Of_Halifax@reddit
I don't think it's endothelial.
Current research says it's an issue with the transfer of oxygen in the mitochondria- basically, your muscles are semi-starving for oxygen and burn out.
It's why research into hyperbaric chamber therapy has thusfar proven effective- in limited (40 people receiving HBOT) studies- in reducing symptoms up to a year after therapy
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/does-hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-hbot-help-treat-long-covid
The endothelial and clotting are responsible for a whole other series of symptoms, which is part of the problem: with so many symptoms, it's hard to track down a cause or therapy.
SKI326@reddit
š
Logical-Currency8808@reddit
My last Covid infection was almost a year ago and I still canāt smell and taste like ābefore.ā
TheSpeakEasyGarden@reddit
I've seen some people regain their sense of smell and taste with supplementing zinc.
But as a disclaimer, they also were eating very poorly, clearly malnourished, and zinc deficiency does come with loss of smell and loss of taste as two if it's symptoms. The other is diarrhea, which these people also had and cleared up as they started supplementing as well.
creenis_blinkum@reddit
SO fucking FAKE
KadRendar@reddit
The adults are talking about real issues. Go play with the other kids.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Sorry to hear your going through it also.
If you didnt know theres a sub for long haulers r/covidlonghaulers i found lots of advice here, people also share specialists they have seen.
Stay up friend, lighter days are ahead of you.
Side note : This comment is from an AMA i did about long covid and was essentially what i did to get to semi functional
https://www.reddit.com/r/covidlonghaulers/comments/1hjxgkx/comment/m3fe8go/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Downtown_Statement87@reddit
I'll never forget how, in 2020, basically no one in the US died of the flu due primarily to masking. In a typical year, between 30,000 - 80,000 Americans die of the flu. Every year, we lose this many people and we just accept it.
But in 2020, we didn't. Because people were masking against COVID, a bonus was that tens of thousands of people didn't die of the flu that year. We actually pretty much wiped out an entire strain of the flu that year.
In a normal society not filled with sociopaths, the response to this would be "Great news everyone! Even if you aren't sold on masking against COVID, we've discovered a sure-fire way to get annual deaths from flu down to basically zero. So let's do that!"
Instead, a ton of people were like, "Nah, we're so mad about masking for COVID that we're willing to not even try to slow it down AND let 80,000 people needlessly die every year from the flu. That'll show 'em!"
There are so many ways we could improve our own lives if we didn't look at the world as a zero-sum game and our own selves as the center of everything.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
Okay but really how far do you want to go down the line of rationale?
My guess is that you do plenty of things that have death to others, humans and other animals, as an unpleasant externality which you accept blindly, or maybe even somewhat consciously.
I donāt think you are a sociopath for that. In fact, you might even make perfectly normal rational decisions to promote your own individual well being before others all the time and not even realize it, or you do realize it and understand that sometimes itās okay to draw different conclusions based on different perspectives and priorities.
You are on Reddit. Google uses Reddit for AI. Larry Page, from what Iāve gathered, is a transhumanist. AI is bad for the environment, big time, and is a likely threat that could pose broader harm than Covid. Just saying. One of a plethora, in fact nearly an infinite number, of examples here. But here you are.
Go after some different folks than those who just want to go on with their lives without some fucking constant reminder of existential doom. Itās not great, but itās human, and understandable.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Sure.
But the difference here is that I wear a mask that costs me $1 per week and I know that when Iām well enough to go out and about, Iām not infecting anyone who will become disabled or die from a virus I may be carrying.
My former friend was Covid +, hid that fact from me in order to visit, infected me, my husband and my 4 year old. It completely destroyed me and it took my 4 year old 2 years to recover maybe half of his previous energy. Heās still dealing with the consequences of being almost housebound for 2 years because of the impact to his lungs and physical capacity. He also had cognitive delays in that time. My friend directly did all of that. They could have stayed home, they could have worn a $1 mask and prevented all of that.
People are literally disabling and killing each other going to cancer wards unmasked, community events, seniors birthday parties, school, etc. It is much much much easier and less expensive to wear a mask, than it is to extricate oneself from all of colonialism and capitalism. If you recycle, you should wear a fucking mask.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
I recycle, but not for the sense of moral purity that it apparently gives people. Recycling works about as well as wearing masks does, which is to say, data inconclusive. Bad studies, lies, and overall recycling probably does little compared to other policy decisions.
Iād rather cut down consumption and organize over root causes.
And honestly, itās not easier wearing a $1 mask than extricating oneself from capitalism/colonialism because it is symptomatic of that very system. You know how many $1 masks I saw littered everywhere? You think those things are made with fair labor, sustainable, and packaged without plastic. Sure as hell wouldnāt cost just a dollar or be that effective if so. And I do believe reduction of plastic and sustainability is a bigger crises than COVID. Thatās my call, not anyone elseās. In essence what you are asking is for people to weigh literally nothing else in making their own decision, other than the virtue signaling of wearing a mask to oblige those that call them morons for not adhering to their social trends.
Do masks help is a different question than by how much, to what end, and what are also the negative effects to consider. They are not, in fact, simply an obvious decision with zero downside.
I empathize with those who suffered/suffer from Covid. My family followed protocol to the best of our ability the entire time, from vaccines, to social distancing, to masking, to the lockdown. All of it. And we were privileged to be able to afford some of that. We have since stopped masking.
Iām blown away by how tone deaf some can be on this issue. There is nuance here, and the likelihood that any administration, left or right, would have pitched a perfect game with policy decisions amidst a novel pandemic is preposterous. Iām asking for mutual grace and critical thinking from people. Iām not condemning masking, I am condemning those who think anyone who does not mask is a sociopathic narcissist blundering moron. Because my point here is, we are nearly all complicit at this point in the devastation of our world. And by adding to the hostility over wearing a mask, you are part of the problem.
I donāt control bad actors, neither do you unfortunately. We share this world. If two people go outside to interact with fellow humans, they are allowed the freedom of completely different perspectives and priorities. Iām sorry but that is the reality. Unless you are Wendell fucking Berry or a Buddhist monk, you donāt have a hill to stand on here.
At the end of the day, it should not be about the masks. I cannot believe anyone is still willing to fight that battle. Are you still social distancing? Wearing goggles? It is absolutely virtue signaling, and Iām happy for you if it makes you feel safe. But going after the root causes of the entire failed system is really the only way out at this point. Even if you find that to be inconvenient.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Iām not social distancing because the science doesnāt make sense. Masking does. The reports youāre referring to are garbage. Masks worked before Covid, during covid and they continue to work.
Recycling is not the solution we were led to believe it was. Turns out the government likes lying to us about a lot of things to keep the wheels of colonialism and capitalism grinding. You know that, which is why youāre on a Prepper Intel sub. Yāall will yap about readiness and catastrophes and acknowledge that viruses and pandemics are some of the biggest dangers coming for us. But when an actual pandemic is here, youāve bought into the lie that everything is fine.
So why is it so hard for you to believe that Covid is the real deal? Gory, immediate deaths from acute infections arenāt the only threat from viruses. A virus that quietly disables a significant portion of the population over the course of a decade is also dangerous.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
Iām not referring to any specific reports. And Iām not claiming that masks do not work.
Iām asking about how effective they are, what the negative externalities and effects are of habitual masking, and to what ends, or what the trade off is, in how people are valuing some safety measures versus other quality of life considerations. And, there are more questions too.
The comment I originally replied to was chastising anti-maskers, calling them sociopaths, by claiming that masks eradicated nearly all flu deaths in 2020, and thus they should always be worn because it is so obvious to do so. It is hardly bold to call that entire argument dubious at best, for a variety of reasons. At best there is a strong correlation. I could make a study that statistically proves that eating more ice cream significantly reduces your chances of getting either the flu or Covid. That is if you are okay with citing studies showing correlation and not causation. Of course there are standards even with that, which we could get into, but no one ever does.
I made mention that people might not be ready to wear masks because it is a constant reminder of existential doom, and I stand by that impulsive human response. Iām not glorifying it, Iām empathizing with it. With air quality getting worse, the police state getting worse, and transmission of airborne pathogens, viruses, and so on getting worseā¦ I very much would like to hold on to living in a world where going outside doesnāt require hiding my face from a multitude of threats. Iād like my children to think fondly of these days as āremember when we could breathe somewhat fresh air with our faces unobscured?ā Itās not much, but I am protective of this sentiment. If it ends, it ends. Iām also pragmatic.
Iāve bought into no lies here. I believe covid is āthe real dealā but not all pandemics are world ending, and not every pandemic SHOULD be viewed as world ending. I am someone who appreciates living and dying equally. Iām concerned with quality of life as much as I am the longevity of life lived. These are real decisions, real philosophical quandaries, being discussed and made in healthcare and AI, and the value proposition is not as easy to determine as you make it out to be. I believe it is you who have bought into a lie in somewhere along the line.
The case is already being made that smart phones and social media have had devastating short term and long term consequences for the general population and for future generations. There are plenty of debilitating problems out there, from poverty, institutional racism, migration trends, demographic trends, income inequality, climate change, and so on and so on. As much as you might have my attention about COVID, I strongly believe it is not as urgent as other global macro issues. Again, thatās my take. And we both get to carry on freely with our opinions. I donāt believe in tossing out those freedoms just because one side has asserted themselves as the moral authority. In fact, that perceived individual freedom might be the only glue remaining that is holding the entire experiment together. And yes, banging on the table over sociopaths who donāt wear a mask, is the behavior of folks asserting their moral authority whom wish to impel their values upon others unabashedly.
For the love of everything to anything holy, Iām not anti-mask, Iām anti-dogma. Masks, even according to Fauci or whatever gospel youāre preaching, have their limits. So how far are you willing to take this ridiculous rationale? And that, was my original question to start all of this.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
My family and I mask everywhere all the time and the only thing we canāt do masking is eat indoors at restaurants. We dance at bars, fly, travel, swim, hike, go to parties, conferences, conventions, festivals, etc. etc. etc. Masking has not harmed my quality of life at all. What HAS harmed my quality of life is becoming severely disabled due to a largely preventable virus that everyone has decided to ālive withā instead of trying to prevent transmitting it.
Being abandoned by leftists and āprogressivesā and people who pretend to be all about justice and equity but who refuse to wear a mask has harmed me. Being told Iām overreacting by people who are operating on āvibesā and wishful thinking when I have the lived experience, am in several long hauler groups whose numbers are growing every day, and have read hundreds of studies about the impacts of COVID has harmed me. Watching my friends and loved ones and their kids get sick over and over and over again, watching their quality of life diminish, watching their little ones suffer, and watching them say that is just a cold, itās normal to be this sick this often, and not even realize how much their own life is shrinking is harming me. Itās like watching people trapped in an abusive relationship.
There is NOTHING reasonable about accepting getting infected with this virus over and over again and your refusal to look into the studies tells us everything we need to know. You wonāt look because youāre too scared to learn the truth. You are gripping on to your blissful ignorance with both hands. None of your excuses or attempts at ālogicā or rationalizing this or moralizing this is anything but fundamental cowardice. You think youāre the first person to try these lame excuses on us? lol please.
Being Covid cautious is not why I have been mostly bedbound the past 3 years. Being disabled FROM Covid is why.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
Talk about intentionally missing a point.
Good luck with everything, all the best! I do honestly feel bad for what you seem to be going through. I hope for your sake everyone comes around to masking everywhere, all the time, all at once. I mean that. I think you would rest quite a bit easier in that world.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Unfortunately, youāre the one whoās missing the point. This isnāt a poor me pity party, itās a call-in and call-out to another human being who is also vulnerable to this virus and whose clock may be ticking.
Plenty of people felt fine after their first, second or even 4th infection. But eventually they notice their capacities have fallen sharply, or they finally end up hospitalized with severe organ damage, etc. And then they wind up on the Long Hauler subs and wonder why the government isnāt talking about how Covid is still circulating and what it can do to us. They wonder why none of their friends and family knew, and why didnāt anyone try to tell them? How come no one they know seems to have Long Covid? And we tell them, they know people with mild and severe long COVID. The mild cases can mask their symptoms at work and in public sometimes. The severe cases have had to stop working, and are mostly home bound. Have they had any friends and family who seem to have disappeared from life? Or who are tired all the time? A bunch of random health related issues popping up suddenly? Are they sick with a cold or flu every month or two? Those are all symptoms of Long Covid. And the lightbulb finally goes on. And the grief. Wow. The grief hit hard when they realize the implications.
Iām off to see my massage therapist now. At our last appointment, she realized that her, her coworker and her teenage daughter all likely have Long Covid after asking me why I still mask and what my symptoms are. Iāll be bringing her a case of KN95s in case she wants them.
I hope your prepping instinct kicks in on this soon. This wonāt be the first or the worst virus like this we deal with.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your massage lol.
As for my prepping instincts, Iāll go back to diligently informing myself on as much as possible, learning a variety of skills, growing my own food, storing water, living sustainably and independently as best I can. Once I conquer all that I swear Iāll start wearing a mask next time I go to the club or whatever, but ya know, not inside a restaurant. Causeā¦ science.
Seriously, I wish you all the best. I know those best wishes wonāt be reciprocated, but thatās fine.
Send me a study or two when you get the chance about how masks, and masks alone, conclusively eradicated all of the flu deaths (80,000 ish) in 2020. Which was my original point of contention by the way lol.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
I never said that masks exclusively got rid of the flu. And itās always been bullshit to wear a mask to walk to a table in a restaurant and take it off at the table. None of that was ever following the actual science.
The funny thing is you could wear a mask while doing all that stuff and you would have a much better chance of avoiding severe disability long enough for your prepping to make any difference.
All the prepping Iāve done over the past several years got used up real quick when I became completely and severely disabled from Long Covid. I canāt even water my plants never mind garden. Iāll keep my fingers crossed that youāre one of the lucky ones whoās actually immune and not someone whoāll get taken out from your next infection.
But sure. Go ahead and keep thinking that youāre invincible. The fact that you think the CDCās ridiculous recommendations and a bullshit report about masking has any kind of standing is wild.
ComicCon@reddit
Iām curious where you got the ādue primarily to maskingā part of your comment. Iām by no means an expert on this, but wouldnāt it have been a combination of public health safety measures? Are there studies that looked into this?
Downtown_Statement87@reddit
Yes there are. I was following this closely back then because I was a health reporter during that time. It was widely reported in epidemiology circles that I was connected with after getting a degree in that field. If you Google it you may or may not find them now given the shit show that public health is these days.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
Also, to going back to your high horse and Google, donāt you think itās problematic to answer someone ājust Google itā without actually knowing if it has any relevance whatsoever, or if the two individuals Google search experience will even be remotely similar. And that you question whether or not Google has these wonderful studies still available or has removed themā¦
The ubiquitous use of Google is non-masking to some. Paying taxes in America is non-masking to some. Eating beef is non-masking to some. Driving a car, staring at a smart phone all day, having multiple social media accounts to obsess over, intentionally not reading the news, not paying attention to plastic consumption, not buying organicā¦ so on and so forth.
Do you have any helpful moral judgement on all these personal consumer decisions that correlate to your real peopleās lives? Everything has externalities.
AmericanaCrux@reddit
Wow, for how stupid and awful you think the non-maskers are, what a compelling retort you muster.
Doesnāt matter what study you have, it would be impossible to definitively prove that mask wearing CAUSED the āeliminationā of the flu in 2020 and saved 80,000 lives or whatever your number is.
Primarily because the premise of the argument is flawed. But also because, dumb.
Iām being serious here, if interacting with fellow humans in a hazmat suit was the āsafestā way and saved letās say 100,000 lives a year, would you do it?
Or, maybe we can agree on some more macro level policy decisions here that actually do the world some good.
The vitriol for non-maskers is just plain silly. Again, itās not great, but it is human. There is absolutely nuance is deciding what is worth it, and what isnāt. The arrogance of some to assume that they alone can know that line, is baffling. And it is that arrogance that continuously breeds MAGA populism.
daisyup@reddit
I agree, I'm skeptical about attributing all of this to masking.Ā Children are usually a huge source of viral transmission and with schools closed, a bunch of kids isolated at home, they would have been sharing fewer germs but not because of masking.Ā Ā
AmericanaCrux@reddit
Nothing that could definitely prove causation over correlation.
Wellslapmesilly@reddit
Masking is still a thing for some of us, social pressure to do otherwise be damned. And I havenāt been sick since 2019.
Ultimateace43@reddit
I always mask when I'm sick (I didn't before covid) but the only reason I don't mask in public 24/7 now is because my damn ears KILL wearing the mask.
Any tips to deal with this?
OccultEcologist@reddit
There are little hook-things you can use. Lemme see what they are called...
Mask Extender/Ear Sacers apperently. There are a lot of cute ones out there.
CulturalShirt4030@reddit
N95s have headstraps instead of ear loops. 3M Aura and 3M vflex are popular. r/masks4all for more recommendations.
For earloop KN95s, WellBefore 3D Pro have earloop adjusters. The Breathteq sample pack is another good option as someone mentioned.
Pontiacsentinel@reddit
3M Aura are what I like and wear still.Ā
Careful_Ad8933@reddit
I hear you. Try wearing a mask with supplemental oxygen and eyeglasses. There's literally no real estate left behind my ears!Ā
Ultimateace43@reddit
What I used to do at work, when we DID have to wear them 24/7, was take a paper clip and connect the two ear strings together. So that the pressure was at the BACK of my head instead of ears.
Was a PITA to take off so you can eat or drink tho lol
Wellslapmesilly@reddit
Thereās also mask extender clips that look good and function pretty well if you search for them on Amazon.
Careful_Ad8933@reddit
Thanks! I'm definitely going to try that paper clip idea!
Wellslapmesilly@reddit
I donāt really trust ear-loop masks in general. N95s form a better seal. I generally wear a charcoal colored Moldex Airwave w/full flange or Vitacore CAN99 N95s in Black. Both quite comfy and breathable. And since they have headbands, they donāt hurt your ears.
WingsOfTin@reddit
You probably need a larger size? These Breathteq ones are very comfortable for me (also come in lots of colors!), and they also let you order a sample pack of different sizes so you can try them on first. https://breatheteq.com/
Ultimateace43@reddit
Thanks for the recommendation!
WingsOfTin@reddit
Sure thing! Here's the sample pack: https://breatheteq.com/products/breatheteq-kn95-sample-sizing-kit-non-medical-face-mask. r/Masks4All is also a good sub for recommendations.
Ultimateace43@reddit
Holy cow, these are like... Cadillac of face masks. (Comfort, not price)
WingsOfTin@reddit
They are truly my unicorn masks - I haven't gotten anything else since. KN95, ear loops, colors, nose wire, good seal - love 'em.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Wise choice, long covid is considered worse than Chemo/Cancer ... i have spoken to people who have had both LC and Cancer and they say ... " Cancer/Chemo was a breeze compared to this "
Hope you continue to get lucky
WingsOfTin@reddit
Thank you SO much for posting this. We are sleep walking into mass disability and it sucks. All those posts and videos about "Why are we all sicker now?", "Why is brain fog so prevalent?", "Why can't kids read anymore?". š Everyone has sustained significant immune, cardiovascular, and neurological damage from repeated Covid infections, that's why (or at least partially responsible). The best "prep" is avoiding Covid reinfections.Ā
LumpyElderberry2@reddit
Kids canāt read anymore because the methodology for teaching reading has changed drastically in this country. There is a ton of information on this, but here is a good summation of the issue:
https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2019/08/22/whats-wrong-how-schools-teach-reading
Alsoā¦. The screens are giving them short attention spans, which doesnāt lend itself to reading.
I think the other points you raise are interesting but this one in particular has a lot of evidence behind the cause coming from elsewhere
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
1 in 5 children (including infants) have Long Covid. Childhood dementia cases are skyrocketing.
iPads and teaching methodologies are not contributing to cognitive decline in babies.
adoradear@reddit
Citation please for the 1 in 5 children. Preferably one that includes the diagnostic definition of Long Covid for infants.
Forsaken_Bison_8623@reddit
new RECOVER study: up to 5.8 million American children now have Long COVID, making it the most common chronic illness affecting children.
Jama May 2025: Long COVID is common, affecting up to 10% to 20% of children with a history of COVID-19. With almost 6 million US children potentially affected, this is higher than the number of children with asthma, the most common chronic health problem in children.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2834486#:\~:text=Long%20COVID%20is%20common%2C%20affecting,chronic%20health%20problem%20in%20children.
Parents are letting their kids get infected over and over again. The more we learn about the long term impacts of this virus on every system in our body, the worse the long term prognosis of this seems.
Some good info on how bad this situation is in this article by Julia Doubleday - https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/long-covid-is-now-the-number-one?
adoradear@reddit
āThe incidence of PASC in children is less well-characterized than in adults and varies widely, ranging from 4% to 62% across existing large studies, with more studies reporting estimates closer to 10% to 20% within the first 6 months after acute infection.9,13,ā21 Overall, the wide range of estimates of PASC incidence relates to differences in study design, setting, population, follow-up period, variable ascertainment methods, and variable diagnostic criteria. To date, the majority of studies of PASC in children can be characterized as small, case-based, cross-sectional, retrospective, clinic-based, or convenience samples. PASC can also be difficult to diagnose because associated signs and symptoms are broad, affecting numerous organ systems, and can overlap with underlying comorbidities.ā
Again, not exactly evidence. This is the issue; it is poorly defined and characterized in children. Hence the wide variation of numbers (4-62% basically means weāre all just guessing). And Iām calling absolute shenanigans in the 1 in 5 infants number cited initially. Facts matter. Arguing with unsubstantiated numbers makes an argument weak.
Forsaken_Bison_8623@reddit
The most recent large scale data we have on pediatric long covid rates comes from a meta analysis of 8373 publications including 80,071 children and adolescents that reports the pediatric rate of long covid prevalence to be 25.24%. 1 in 4 kids who get covid are dealing with long term health impacts from that infection. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-13495-5#:~:text=Meta%2Danalyses%20of%20the%20prevalence,2%2C%203
February 2024 study in the New England Journal of Medicine that shows that every infection impacts the brain - Very large study that followed 800,000 people over three years. Link to study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2311330
Each covid infection increases your odds of having long covid. https://www.sciencealert.com/every-covid-infection-increases-your-risk-of-long-covid-study-warns#
What Repeat COVID Infections Do to Your Body, According to Science SARS-CoV-2 behaves differently than a common cold or flu virusāand can do major long-term damage. https://www.self.com/story/covid-reinfection-health-effects
Memorial Sloan Kettering: One of the most concerning long-term impacts of COVID-19 is immune dysregulation and dysfunction. https://libguides.mskcc.org/CovidImpacts/Immune
New research shows COVIDās impact is more prolonged than previously thought, with signs of inflammation and traces of virus detectable years after infection. The results raise uncomfortable questions about long-term health implications that we are only beginning to understand. https://www.statnews.com/2024/07/03/long-covid-ucsf-study-finds-virus-presence-years-post-infection/
PET scans show higher T cell activity in brain, spinal cord, lungs, and gut up to 910 days post-COVID. Some patients still have SARS-CoV-2 RNA in gut tissue, hinting at viral persistence and immune issues. Found double-stranded RNA in long covid, suggesting active reservoir persists and evades immune clearance. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adk3295
COVID's Hidden Toll: Full-Body Scans Reveal Long-Term Immune Effects https://www.sciencealert.com/covids-hidden-toll-full-body-scans-reveal-long-term-immune-effects āEven those who recovered fully from COVID still showed persistent changes to their T cell activity in numerous organs compared to pre- pandemic controls, in some cases over 2.5 years after...ā
COVID-19 Leaves Its Mark on the Brain. Significant Drops in IQ Scores Are Noted https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-significant-drops-in-iq-scores-are/
āDebilitating a Generationā: Expert Warns That Long COVID May Eventually Affect Most Americans https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/debilitating-a-generation-expert-warns-that-long-covid-may-eventually-affect-most-americans
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Thank you. People want to keep downplaying these catastrophic numbers because theyāre not exact enough š well guess what, numbnuts. Even if the numbers are half of what these studies are suggesting, thatās almost a billion children with Long Covid, aka a collection is symptoms which create noticeable and significant health and quality of life issues.
adoradear@reddit
Not downplaying at all. Insisting on accuracy. Tell me you donāt know shit about science without telling me you donāt know shit about science.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Iām waiting for all the accurate science you have that shows Covid is no big deal and doesnāt harm children. Donāt hold back, bud. Show us your studies! Surely you would love to shut us up with your higher understanding of science?
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
It doesnāt take a scientist to know that this shit is very very very bad news. If youāre so much more educated than me, go ahead and post the studies that show Long Covid is not a big deal and doesnāt harm children.
FutureLost2024@reddit
I've been waiting for those studies too. Even just one would be nice.
adoradear@reddit
The only study relevant to this conversation is the meta analysis of 20-someodd studies (primarily questionnaires) performed before February 2022 in your first link. From their results: āThe most common symptoms and percentage of prevalence associated were mood symptoms (e.g., sadness, tension, anger, depression, and anxiety) (16.50%; 95% CI 7.37ā28.15, I2 97.49%), fatigue (9.66%; 95% CI 4.45ā16.46, I2 99.12%), sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia, hypersomnia, and poor sleep quality) (8.42%; 95% CI 3.41ā15.20, I2 93.49%); headache (7.84%; 95% CI 4.04ā12.70, I2 98.49%), respiratory symptoms (7.62%; 95% CI 2.08ā15.78, I2 99.15%), sputum production or nasal congestion (7.53%; 95% CI 3.78ā12.36, I2 0%), cognitive symptoms (e.g., less concentration, learning difficulties, confusion, and memory loss) (6.27%; 95% CI 4.46ā8.35, I2 91.32%), loss of appetite (6.07%; 95% CI 3.95ā8.59, I2 93.54%), exercise intolerance (5.73%; 95% CI 0.00ā19.38, I2 87.77%), and altered smell (e.g., hyposmia, anosmia, hypersomnia, parosmia, and phantom smell) (5.60%; 95% CI 3.13ā8.69, I2 97.11%).ā
Gee, I wonder if anything else was going on in the world between 2020 and 2022 that might have caused mood symptoms, headaches, and insomnia in children?
For the record. I am not denying that Long Covid exists. I am not denying that children can be affected. I am absolutely calling bullshit (as a physician) on the claim that 1 in 4 children, including infants, have Long Covid. Itās a conflated number thatās designed to cause panic, and in fact does the opposite. It doesnāt fit with the science or with the lived experience of most people, so they ignore everything else you say. Stick to actual facts, and we might have more success in eg pushing the envelope in creating better ventilation in our public spaces. Hyperbole helps no one.
FutureLost2024@reddit
Here you go: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2834486
"Long COVID is common, affecting up to 10% to 20% of children with a history of COVID-19. With almost 6 million US children potentially affected, this is *higher than the number of children with asthma, the most common chronic health problem in children.*
What Symptoms Should I Look for? Long COVID can impact many body parts, and its symptoms can last for months or years. It can severely affect daily activities and emotional well-being, such as playing or attending school.
Long COVID has many common features but can look different across ages. Infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children are more likely to have symptoms parents can observe, such as poor appetite, sleepiness, and respiratory symptoms (eg, a cough). School-aged children are more likely to have neurologic symptoms, eg, trouble focusing, trouble sleeping, or feeling lightheaded. They may also have back or neck pain, headache, stomach pain, or vomiting. Sometimes, they have behavioral changes. Adolescents are more likely to have a change or loss in smell or taste, pain, fatigue-related symptoms, trouble with memory, and lightheadedness. Postexertional malaise (PEM) has been reported in children and adults with long COVID. PEM is a flare of symptoms and/or the appearance of new symptoms even after minimal exertion, including physical activity, mental exertion, and sensory overload. Often presenting 24 hours after the triggering event, PEM is different from just being more tired than normal after an activity or feeling muscle soreness."
adoradear@reddit
Thatās not a study, thatās a patient info page. And if the diagnosis of Long Covid in an infant is ātrouble sleepingā, I look very sus at the publication. And I say this as a physician who fully knows that Long Covid exists and is dangerous.
FutureLost2024@reddit
Isn't JAMA Pediatrics highly-respected, peer-reviewed and the top-ranking journal in the field of pediatrics?
Here are some other studies of Long COVID in children: https://www.zotero.org/groups/5006109/covidstudies/collections/2MQ27NKM/item-list
adoradear@reddit
The Lancet published the Wakefield paper about the MMR. All publications can be sus.
FutureLost2024@reddit
Ok
AbsoZed@reddit
This smells like bullshit of the highest degree
Forsaken_Bison_8623@reddit
Unfortunately, it is not. And it's really sad to see this playing out across a generation of kids. See above for sources.
AbsoZed@reddit
Prove it. Scientifically, with studies.
Iām raising four kids, so either weāre the four of five or youāre full of shit.
FutureLost2024@reddit
Here you go: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2834486
"Long COVID is common, affecting up to 10% to *20% of children with a history of COVID-19. With almost 6 million US children potentially affected, this is *higher than the number of children with asthma, the most common chronic health problem in children.**
What Symptoms Should I Look for? Long COVID can impact many body parts, and its symptoms can last for months or *years*. It can severely affect daily activities and emotional well-being, such as playing or attending school.
Long COVID has many common features but can look different across ages. Infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children are more likely to have symptoms parents can observe, such as poor appetite, sleepiness, and respiratory symptoms (eg, a cough). School-aged children are more likely to have *neurologic symptoms, eg, trouble focusing, trouble sleeping, or feeling lightheaded. They may also have back or neck pain, headache, stomach pain, or vomiting. Sometimes, they have behavioral changes. Adolescents are more likely to have a change or loss in smell or taste, pain, fatigue-related symptoms, trouble with memory*, and lightheadedness. Postexertional malaise (PEM) has been reported in children and adults with long COVID. PEM is a flare of symptoms and/or the appearance of new symptoms even after minimal exertion, including physical activity, mental exertion, and sensory overload. Often presenting 24 hours after the triggering event, PEM is different from just being more tired than normal after an activity or feeling muscle soreness."
AbsoZed@reddit
10-20% of children who have acquired it is not 10-20% of children. Thatās not how math works.
Letās say we have 100k children and 20% catch COVID. Thatās 20,000.
Letās say 20% of those have long COVID. Thatās generous. Thatās 4000.
There are 380,000,000 people in the USA. Thatās .000015%. Per 100k, itās 4%.
FutureLost2024@reddit
"20% catch COVID" is quite wishful thinking. With nearly the entire world dropping all mitigations, other than maybe washing hands (except Covid is mainly spread in the air), for the last 3-4 years, it's highly unlikely that only 20% have caught it. I'd be ecstatic if 20% *haven't* caught it.
Remember, no testing, no COVID cases right? Also, Long COVID doesn't only happen in severe cases requiring hospitalization. It could happen in mild or asymptomatic cases.
Anyways, I'm not here to convince you in particular. You don't need to believe me or any of the of studies. (I think it's up to the hundreds of thousands now: https://www.zotero.org/groups/5006109/covidstudies/library) Not here to fear monger. I don't fear COVID anymore. I just want to avoid getting it as much as I can. My family wears our fitted n95s and live a normal life.
All I, and others on this thread, want to do is be helpful. You are free to take the information or leave it. The only thing we all have in common as parents is that we want what's best for our children. So it might be a good idea to keep an open mind and look at all the research before making decisions that could impact them for the rest of their lives. I honestly wish I was wrong and all of the research is wrong and you are right. Wearing a n95 in public and getting ostracized by society is not how I imagined parenthood would be like. But it is what it is.
AbsoZed@reddit
I am not by any means a denier that Covid exists, that would be beyond idiotic.
I am, however, critical of hyperbole and ensure the decisions I make for my family are grounded in reality.
Is my family vaccinated - you betcha. Do I believe in fear mongering based on misinterpreted statistics and act accordingly? Naw.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
If youāre so based on facts and data, make sure read the actual studies and specifically note that over 70% of Canadians had been infected with Covid at least once by 2022 with the omicron wave. 3 years later, weāve had at least 6 more waves of extremely infectious variants like omicron and delta, which means more than 70% have been infected.
Children are not more immune to Covid, as previously touted, they are just more likely to have milder initial symptoms. That being said, infants are highly vulnerable and have the highest hospitalization rates of any age group other than 75+.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7338a1.htm
Children are being hospitalized because of Covid, and seeing serious, long term health issues. Children that were previously thought to have āno underlying health issuesā, even.
Also, please note that fetuses that get Covid via maternal Covid infections are more likely to be born prematurely and have lower birth rates, etc.
FutureLost2024@reddit
I'm glad you're not a denier and are vaccinated. And that you make decisions grounded in reality. Hopefully you will give some of those studies a read then and check their stats. I wish you nothing but health!
TheSpeakEasyGarden@reddit
4% of kids is enough to have an average of one child per class room of 25 being affected.
That's still quite disturbing to think about.
Forsaken_Bison_8623@reddit
As of February 2023, testing of blood donations shows us that 81.9% of Americans had infection induced seroprevalence. That's certainly higher more than 2 years later.
The Statistics Canada COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (December 2023) that confirmed the following cumulative risk of long covid based on number of infections: Canadians with one infection: 14.6% reported prolonged symptoms Canadians with two infections: 25.4% (1.7 times higher risk than one infections) Canadians with three or more infections: 37.9% (2.6 times higher risk than one infection)
Using the data from this survey and assuming one infection per year, researchers modeled that 43.3% of the population will have had long covid or currently have long covid by the year 2026. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2023001/article/00015-eng.htm
This is not specific to kids, but the prevalence of long covid for all age groups is alarming.
ScottyFalcon@reddit
there is a study linked not two comments above yours by the commenter your replied to. and your response of "I'm raising four kids, are we the 4 in five?" is a bad faith response and you know it. statistics doesn't work that way. just because you want something not be true doesn't mean it isn't. though the stuffy they linked does say 10-20% so 1 in 5 is on the extreme end of that scale. anecdotally though, my partner is a teacher, and I can tell you that 1 in 10 does not feel far off from what she's seen in her classrooms.
AbsoZed@reddit
You realize that 10-20% of those affected by COVID between XYZ ages is a subset of a subset, right? Thatās just basic statistics. Youāre equating 20% of total child population to a subset and presenting it as fact.
PiperFM@reddit
Is your only argument semantics?
ScottyFalcon@reddit
this Mel Brooks quote comes to mind when reading this person's responses https://youtu.be/hYTQ7__NNDI?si=GDAajGXo348N7ue4
AbsoZed@reddit
It isnāt semantics, itās pure mathematics. That is how all of this works, in case you hadnāt caught on. Itās math all the way down.
ScottyFalcon@reddit
oh, so you're this kind of person then https://youtu.be/hYTQ7__NNDI?si=GDAajGXo348N7ue4
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Virtually all people on this planet have had Covid, unless they are somehow naturally immune to it.
Canāt really consider the entire population of children a āsubsetā.
AbsoZed@reddit
Yes I can, because they literally are. They are a subset of the total population and statistically significant. A further subset is the affected twenty percent. Your beliefs do not change mathematics.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
What are you even talking about? Almost every person on this planet has had Covid. Which means that 10-20% of children who have had Covid is 10-20% of almost ALL CHILDREN.
You want to pretend that this is statistically insignificant? You want to pretend like somehow you can manipulate facts and data to make Covid not a big deal? There are over 459,000 studies on Covid and they pretty much all hammer home how fucking dangerous Covid is.
I know the majority of the population wants to bury their heads in the sand cause yāall are too weak to wear a goddamn mask and give up eating in restaurants, but the facts are the facts.
WingsOfTin@reddit
I think it's probably all 3 factors (as well as others - hello, microplastics!).
tortantula@reddit
These things aren't mutually exclusive. OP could have included more context but you're creating a false binary here. It is screens and methodology and in some cases long COVID.
geardedandbearded@reddit
Whatās the incidence rate of long covid in children?
Whatās the incidence rate of children being exposed to unsuccessful teaching strategies?
Whatās the incidence rate of children having cell phones, unfettered access to social media, etc?
One of these things is (probably) sub single digit of a percent
Two of these things are high double digit percents, and could reasonably be described as occurring in the overwhelming majority of children.
Of those two proportions, which do you think more accurately describes a population?
FutureLost2024@reddit
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2834486
"Long COVID is common, affecting up to 10% to *20% of children with a history of COVID-19. With almost 6 million US children potentially affected, this is *higher than the number of children with asthma, the most common chronic health problem in children.**
What Symptoms Should I Look for? Long COVID can impact many body parts, and its symptoms can last for months or *years*. It can severely affect daily activities and emotional well-being, such as playing or attending school.
Long COVID has many common features but can look different across ages. Infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children are more likely to have symptoms parents can observe, such as poor appetite, sleepiness, and respiratory symptoms (eg, a cough). School-aged children are more likely to have *neurologic symptoms, eg, trouble focusing, trouble sleeping, or feeling lightheaded. They may also have back or neck pain, headache, stomach pain, or vomiting. Sometimes, they have behavioral changes. Adolescents are more likely to have a change or loss in smell or taste, pain, fatigue-related symptoms, trouble with memory*, and lightheadedness. Postexertional malaise (PEM) has been reported in children and adults with long COVID. PEM is a flare of symptoms and/or the appearance of new symptoms even after minimal exertion, including physical activity, mental exertion, and sensory overload. Often presenting 24 hours after the triggering event, PEM is different from just being more tired than normal after an activity or feeling muscle soreness."
suchdogeverymeme@reddit
āUp to 10% to 20%ā
Okay, what is that supposed to mean? Does it mean āup to 20%ā or ā10% to 20%ā? Confusing language right in the abstract
TheSpeakEasyGarden@reddit
It usually means that they checked a series of studies, which had slightly different results. So they give you the range.
This should be the case because different populations should have a lot of differences which would cause variability.
shell_mode@reddit
It's difficult to measure because there is no mandatory reporting of long COVID. Estimates are likely from self-reporting, which likely has a large margin for error. It could likely be very high or very low. Without significant funding, we probably won't know how many people are affected.
geardedandbearded@reddit
Well thatās a lot more than I expected! Thank you for sharing the article with me, Iāll give it a read.
Inner-Confidence99@reddit
Itās not all on Covid. Iām in my 50ās. I grew up outside. Water from hose, playing in woods, eating dirt, wrecking bikes on gravel, getting knocked down playing football in the street. We didnāt have a Vitamin Deficiency. We got Vitamin D from the sun, vitamins from the fruit we picked from trees in neighborhoods, getting food from the Gardens we planted. We donāt have a lot of junk food. Times we were lucky to have food. Back then vegetables tasted wonderful. They have made so many vegetable seeds hybrid. They no longer get as big or taste good. Meat came from a butcher who had a local source and was fresh.Ā
WingsOfTin@reddit
I agree some of these issues are for sure impacting public health overall, and repeated Covid infections certainly aren't helping. There is very solid research showing that even one infection damages our immune system. I can post some studies if any one is interested. :)
Ricky_Ventura@reddit
Obesity rates are actually turning around.Ā You were probably fatter as a generation than the current will be.
Inner-Confidence99@reddit
Actually obesity isnt turning around and diabetes is increasing due to them changing what the metric was. I have followed a diabetic diet since I was 10 and my Dad was diagnosed with diabetes. I am 55 and just got diagnosed myself. I am 5ā3ā 130 pounds. My sugar tests are fine, my a1c isnāt. They canāt tell me why either. They are solely going of the a1c. Not the sugar tests that all come back normal range. So be very careful.Ā
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Have you heard of survivor bias?!
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Couldn't have said it better myself, we are walking into a mass disabling event and hardly anyone is aware.
If we look at the statistics its almost have a billion in 5 years who have had or have long covid - that's a seriously concerning statistic.
Yet no government is preparing and no media channels are talking about it.
AtmosphereSea6556@reddit
Thank you for sharing your story and I'm so sorry you're still dealing with this....
I caught one of the early strains in Feb 2020 and had strange symptoms months later, and was increasingly impacted a year later. I had to drop down to half-time work for a year and wasted all sorts of money on food delivery and ride-share to appointments because I didn't trust myself to drive at times. Eventually a second rheumatologist helped me discover I have MCTD (mixed connective tissue disease is a pretty rare autoimmune condition for men) and another doc found I have hypothyroidism and I'm also deficient in B12 and D3. Between infusions, meds, vitamins, and cutting out gluten and inflammatory foods (after an elimination diet) I'm a lot better off these days. Not back to my old self, but I'll say 90%. The fact that viruses can trigger autoimmune problems opens up all sorts of potential health complications.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
No problem at all and thank you for the kind words.
Glad to see your making improvements ..
Lots of people getting CTD's and Hypothyroidism with long covid.
The craziest thing is, these conditions are usually on their own but in long covid they are symptoms ... this is one of the more serious concerns in regards to long covid. People are getting multiple conditions as a symptom .. in a wide range of multisystemic issues.
incase you didnt know theres a sub for long haulers r/covidlonghaulers i have personally read a few stories of people in your situation with the same symptoms. You might find some advice there.
Stay up friend, lighter days are ahead of you.
AtmosphereSea6556@reddit
Well said - I've wondered about that aspect too where "conditions are symptoms" and we keep having to look "to the left" or upstream to find the real source of the continuing problems. I've had some luck chatting with functional med docs (and thinking in that mindset) but it's hard to find func med docs who A) aren't pushing a bunch of expensive supplements of questionable relevance B) take insurance. The quest continues!
That other sub looks great, thank you!
I'm back to noodling on guitar and that alone has made days brighter - but likewise friend, we fight on, healing a day at a time!
Joyfulgrrl@reddit
What kind of antihistamines do you recommend?
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Promethazine was a huge factor in my recovery. Between that and a low histamine diet while i worked on repairing the damage to my gut.
I put a link to an AMA i did a little while ago in this post, lots of good info there.
DisastrousBen@reddit
Iām using Levocetirizine and Famatodine. iām sensitive to a lot of drugs and zyrtec and claritin Ā are two. everyone seems to handle them differently. Montelukast gave me stroke like symptoms but my sister has no issue with it.Ā
all of my wifeās autoimmune issues flared after covid and now she has dermatomyositis, myasthenia gravis, is in heart failure, and on oxygen, can barely walk with a walker, and had to quit work as a therapist. she just started Rituxan infusion. tomorrow is her second dose and we are hoping it will work. She has almost given up and she has stopped masking this last week around friends when she they visit. she says she canāt breathe though. iām worried about getting it again too as I am at high risk also, and i donāt want to have to mask at home. So many people going through it
dissociativetwit@reddit
Not OP but I have been living with long covid and cetirizine (Zyrtec) works best for me in combination with famotidine (Pepcid). Zyrtec is an H1 blocker and while Pepcid isnāt really thought of as an antihistamine it is an H2 blocker. They work together nicely for me.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Yup, the h1/h2 punch is recommended. Claritin works well for me so Iāve continued with that and have added Pepcid. I take double doses of each every day and itās helpful.
Hasnāt done anything for my chronic fatigue/POTS though.
ReversedNovaMatters@reddit
I must be confusing pecid with something else. What I took was for chronic heart burn/indigestion I think. But you are only supposed to take it for like 2 weeks every few months. I'l have to check the medicine cab when I get home.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Itās the same one! Yes, youāll want to check with your doctor as itās not usually recommended for long term use.
dissociativetwit@reddit
Yup I also have to double dose, a dose of each in the morning and at night.
I totally relate to the POTS issues, I have to be 100% on top of my fluid and salt intake but even when Iām doing my best itās still an unpredictable beast and if I even try to do an outdoor activity in the summer itās 1000 times worse.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
I have high blood pressure and havenāt been officially diagnosed by a neurologist yet, but my family doctor is pretty sure itās POTS so Iām not really treated for it yet. Shits rough out here š©
Joyfulgrrl@reddit
Thank you! Do you take them together or at different times of day?
dissociativetwit@reddit
Youāre very welcome! I take them together and honestly itās amazing how much my situation improved once I started with this combination.
Logical-Currency8808@reddit
Iāve been taking Zyrtec daily and it helpedāgoing to add Pepsis to the mix. Thank you!
ReversedNovaMatters@reddit
I think it was Pepcid that I took that helped but the issue was you are only supposed to use it for 2 weeks once every 3 or 4 months. Famotidine seems to do the same but you can take them daily for however long you want.
ReversedNovaMatters@reddit
Zyrtec (H1) didn't seem to do anything for me but famotidine (H2) does help. I just wrote a 50 page book in this thread about my situation and yeah, whatever my body is going through seems to be largely coming from my gut, I guess? Who knows. I just know what has worked and hasn't that I have tried for myself.
TwoFarNorth@reddit
Wondering this as well.
mogulnotmuggle@reddit
Have you found any long term potential treatments or sources you like to track for progress on that?
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Treatments ... no
Protocols however a few
https://www.reddit.com/r/covidlonghaulers/comments/1hjxgkx/comment/m3fe8go/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
This is a comment from an AMA i did a little while ago - essentially what i did to get to 90% functional. The kicker 90% functional is nowhere near recovered and it still seriously limits my life.
mogulnotmuggle@reddit
Thank you for sharing
Academic-Motor@reddit
Neuro supplements (smart drugs) and many other biohackers supps are on the rise. Its a telltale sign. Everyone is feeling like shit
earlgreyalmondmilk@reddit
Iāve started seeing so many targeted ads these days about supplements for brain fog and electrolytes for POTS :(
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
It really is eye opening
crystal-torch@reddit
This is such a huge issue and people have their heads in the sand. Our government, media, and the wealthy people that run those institutions wanted everyone to āget back to normalā they donāt care if we disabled or die. They want to continue to extract as much wealth out of us until we drop dead. Wear a mask people, get HEPA filters, use nasal spray, and avoid crowds. Donāt fall for their BS
hjras@reddit
what nasal sprays do you recommend?
crystal-torch@reddit
I use Xlear which contains Xylitol. Iota carrageenan sprays are also supposed to be good. The research is spotty on the efficiency of both but I have yet to get sick and have been around many ill coworkers and not always masked. CPC mouthwash is also really important. I like Therabreath but crest makes one too, just more weird dyes and crap but itās cheaper. Iāve also heard people recommend Viraleze nasal spray but it seems difficult to get in the US and I havenāt had a chance to research it much
crystal-torch@reddit
I forgot to mention use CPC mouthwash. And thanks
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
All really good advice, take note people.
Its a sad situation but governments are not being more open about long covid.
I truly hope that changes.
ReversedNovaMatters@reddit
Thanks for sharing. I guess I have MCAS, self-diagnosed obviously.
Never had allergies till after my last covid party. I kept getting sick like every other week for about 2 months. It would come on as like the early onset symptoms of being sick but it didn't really get that bad. I'd have fevers come and go for a day or two and then I'd be fine, but 8 days later same thing or some other slight variance.
Eventually my immune system must have been in such bad shape that whatever was going on the last time I started getting sick it got me good. Now I appear to be allergic to cats, I am a lot more sensitive to 2nd hand smoke, and I appear to have an intolerance to caffeine. Also, super processed foods seem to trigger severe allergic reactions which are specifically breathing related. My nostrils start getting closed up and I can feel my throat closing.
Its been about 1.5 years and it seems to be something I will be living with for the rest of my life. That last time I got sick which started this all something strange as heck happened. Out of nowhere, my stomach did this crazy like... Like it was having a seizure. For maybe just a few seconds, it was like my stomach muscles just went haywire and started contracting all over. Its hard to explain, it was like someone took those paddles they use to jump start a heart and used it on my stomach. It only happened that one time.
So yup, like OP, I basically just started doing my own research, did a lot of reading through reddit posts. I found someone else who had one of my issues, couldn't yawn or get that full deep breath for months. I'd want to yawn and I just couldn't max it out that last little bit.
Somewhere I came across talk about digestive track issues and that pecid ac helped. I tried it and it did seem to help a lot. For whatever reason, after getting sick, my histamine levels are getting out of whack when triggered. My Dr. tried to help I guess and suggested zyrtec. Zyrtec did not seem to make any difference. Then, I found there are two different types of anti-histamines, H1 and H2, so I tried the other and it also seems to help.
I really didn't want this getting so long but there was no way to avoid it, heh. Over the counter presidone (might be off on the spelling) inhaler has provided some relief as well while currently having a reaction. The common inhaler people with asthma tend to be prescribed did NOT help.
I'd say I'm doing good now. Knowing the triggers was the biggest help but there still seem to be other things that can randomly trigger it because sometimes I'll feel it coming on when I haven't been around cats, smoke or caffeine and then I have to back track what I consumed and where have I been the previous 2 or 3 hours. Then I'll think, I had that (surely) processed meat and cheese wrap from the gas station, maybe that did it.
I gotta say I feel 'lucky' after reading many other long covid stories. I am still terrified though. What happens the next time I get sick? It doesn't seem like anyone can understand it until it happens to them. You hear so many basically brag about how they had covid and it was just like a baby cold or how they 'never' had covid. But now you can read plenty of stories from them too, "I didn't get covid for 4 years now its kicking my ass."
The current (US) admin is scary as fuck. So many are so completely unaware. We can basically beat cancer and cure aids now, but the medical field seems to have no fuckin idea how to handle long covid? This is what leads me to think covid was man made. In a sense, it is nearly the perfect virus. The death rate is relatively low, highly transmissible and it seems to carry with it just about every symptom you can think of.
I try not to lean towards the conspiracy theories, but I do have to ask, who benefits from basically crippling large populations of the world? It almost seems like the plot to some movie. Evil billionaire/government creates virus to punish the world? Where it came from doesn't exactly matter at this point, how to handle it is.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
No problem
H2 antihistamines really helped for my food allergies and to an extent the MCAS also
Glad you have found something that helps.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this.
I would add PREP TO PREVENT GETTING COVID. Everyone in your household should be masking everywhere theyāre sharing air with someone who isnāt in your household.
Yes, itās hard. But nothing is as hard as living with Long Covid. We have less quality of life than people with late stage cancer and those on dialysis.
It is a fucking nightmare. All my prepping plans have been put on hold because I canāt even shower most days. And we have no extra money because I canāt barely work. My husband is burning out from having to pick up all of the stuff I can no longer do.
Heat and illness are truly the most prevalent, dangerous things we have to worry about in this day and age.
Donāt give away your health.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
No problem at all
Prevention is key and it's the only thing people can do considering there are no cures or treatments.
Sorry to hear your going through this also, you are correct - i have spoken to people who have long covid but also had cancer and chemo in the past ..
Their words
" I would rather go through cancer and chemo again, long covid is 100% worse, this is no way to live "
if you wernt aware theres a sub for long haulers r/covidlonghaulers lots of advice and people share the specalists they have seen.
Also i did an AMA once and this comment is what i did to get to semi functional ... hope it helps
https://www.reddit.com/r/covidlonghaulers/comments/1hjxgkx/comment/m3fe8go/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Stay up friend - lighter days are ahead of you
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Thank you! And yes, Iām in many of the Covid and long hauler subs :)
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
<3
CulturalShirt4030@reddit
Missed opportunity to discuss prevention: masking (KN95 or N95 or better) in all indoor shared air spaces since covid is airborne and using air cleaners (air purifiers or homemade CR boxes r/CRboxrs) indoors.
Current US estimates 1 in 167 infected.
Canadian estimates are outdated right now but should be updated soon.
r/zerocovidcommunity for covid conscious solidarity and tips.
r/masks4all for mask recommendations
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Actually your correct, totally forgot - covid brainfog.
Post updated
admins-are-fascists@reddit
How come you didn't get vaccinated?
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Antivaxx? I'd rather shit in my hands and clap
No im not, i have family members and a partner who work in hospitals.
I simply haven't linked them because i assume most are smart enough to know that vaccines prevent.
mjordn20@reddit
how many times have you been vaccinated?
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
The unvaccinated develop long covid also. Be smart
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-puts-understanding-long-covid-and-vaccination-question
" Among nearly 17,400 patients during Delta/Omicron waves, 6.9% developed long COVID, with no statistically significant differences between unvaccinated, two-dose, and boosted individuals. "
https://time.com/6999274/long-covid-risk-2024
" In about 450,000 VA patients infected between Delta and Omicron, 5.3% of vaccinated vs. 9.5% of unvaccinated individuals developed long COVID during Delta; during Omicron: 3.5% vaccinated vs. 7.8% unvaccinated. "
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/3-vaccine-doses-cut-long-covid-risk-over-60-analysis-suggests
https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/covid-vaccine-protected-kids-from-long-covid
" Vaccination primarily reduces risk by preventing infection; among those infected, the likelihood of long COVID was similar between vaccinated and unvaccinated kids "
https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/11/2/ofae039/7585852
" Among infection cases followed 90 days:
Pretend-Policy832@reddit
You didnāt answer the question though?
Necessary-Zombie-389@reddit
It gets very tiring seeing you Anti Vaxxers try and push false narratives.
You know how many vaccines i had?
Enough to avoid medical advice from people whose science education peaked on Facebook.
But i will rain a few truth bombs on you seeing as how your so incessent.
I've had 1, my co worker who has long covid had 0, my brother in law who has long covid had 0, another friend of mine had 1 and has long covid, my step brothers partner had 3 and doesn't have long covid... my neighbour developed long covid before vaccines were created.
You focus on peoples shots while real people lose their lives. Thereās no jab for moral bankruptcyābut youāre a walking trial. Your comments are just a monument to how many youāre willing to lose to feel special, People like you tried to āownā the libs and ended up owning a legacy of preventable funerals. But hey, at least you got a comment in, right?
You ask about peoples vaccines like itās a gotcha, but the only thing youāre immune to is shame. Every time you open your mouth, another obituary writes itselfāand deep down, I hope one day you finally feel the weight of every life lost because people like you needed to feel special more than they cared to save a stranger.
Keep walking that line, it's going to be a very lonely road.
taseaclaiduaim@reddit
I can deal with the social pressure of/around/against masking, but does anyone live with folks who just REFUSE to mask??? I feel like Iām rearranging deck chairs on the titanic. I had just barely convinced my partner to wear them recently, and still donāt get it 100% of the time. But what does it matter if other family members go into crowds every day without masking? Feels like such a lost cause.
CulturalShirt4030@reddit
There are many people in r/zerocovidcommunity who continue to mask and live with non-masking family. Itās so disheartening. There are threads on the topic fairly often with comments of solidarity and advice.
Puzzleheaded_Act7155@reddit
No one masks anymore
Forsaken_Bison_8623@reddit
I do, and am rarely anywhere without seeing at least one other person in a respirator. It's a smart move for yourself and your family
Puzzleheaded_Act7155@reddit
Exceptions to the rule Iād say
Suspicious_Plane6593@reddit
I have had it since 3/2020. It has almost killed me. I am just recovering from another round of pneumonia and collapsed lung. This is living hell. No cure and very little help. Seriously- save yourself.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Sorry to hear your going through this also
If you didnt know theres a sub here for longhaulers r/covidlonghaulers
Also i did an AMA once and this is a comment i made in regards to what helped me get to semi functional
https://www.reddit.com/r/covidlonghaulers/comments/1hjxgkx/comment/m3fe8go/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
hopefully it helps
Stay up friend, lighter days are ahead of you.
Suspicious_Plane6593@reddit
Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you for sharing
Wytch78@reddit
How many times have you had pneumonia? Iāve had it 3x since 2020. Worried I may need oxygen moving forward :-/
Suspicious_Plane6593@reddit
Just had round 4. I am on oxygen since 2020
Just bumped up to 4L. My alarm was going last night bc I dropped down to 6 breaths a minute. My oxygen drops down to the 70ās routinely. Itās a struggle. And I had a āmildā non hospitalization case of Covid in 2020. But long Covid has almost killed me.
billymumfreydownfall@reddit
Yes, it's horrific and life changing. My coworker, who was a rising star in the industry, got covid in April 2020 and has been sick with long covid ever since. She has been to numerous pain clinics, long covid clinics, it's all useless and she is only getting worse. I worry about her mental health. She had to move home with her mother because she can only work 0.4FTE whereas before she worked full time during the day and had a part time evening job. She is 28 and has given up on ever dating, getting married, having children. She talks about understanding those who choose suicide. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for her.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
I'm sorry to hear about your friend.
I have read stories of people *Clocking out* because the suffering is beyond belief and no one will help them.
I hope your friend can overcome this.
Please send her this sub if she uses reddit r/covidlonghaulers
It's full of advice and support, people often share specialists who they have seen also.
billymumfreydownfall@reddit
Thank you for your kindness. I will pass this along.
Low_Daikon7538@reddit
This breaks my heart. Please be kind to her, if you can. Its awful how society treats people who lose their "utility" aka ability to work. And then the grief of losing the life you thought you were going to have? It's devastating. She probably needs to know people still see her.
billymumfreydownfall@reddit
Oh, I am very kind and sympathetic to her. It breaks my heart, especially to hear her say some of her family members think it's all in her head.
PilgrimOz@reddit
Never got it. And do t want to. But this is a good reminder to have a booster. Cheers
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
No problem, be smart .. take care of your immune health.
PilgrimOz@reddit
Thanks
FormerNeighborhood80@reddit
Nurse here. Thank you for sharing your story and great helpful hints. I hope you continue to heal. I wear a mask in crowds.
TinyEmergencyCake@reddit
Since airborne pathogens linger in poorly ventilated areas, it's important to mask anywhere in public that isn't ventilated, regardless of the number of people.Ā
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the kind words
But also thanking for your service, people don't realise what healthcare workers are facing right now.
You guys are Heros.
Never forget that.
luckandpreparation@reddit
If OPās post aināt convince yāall, the new strain is supposed to give you razor blade throat where swallowing anything is like swallowing razor bladesā¦.
alwaysleafyintoronto@reddit
Just sounds like strep throat. Annual occurrence for teachers
GWS2004@reddit
"Just sounds like strep throat." Did you not read OPs post?
alwaysleafyintoronto@reddit
OP's post is not the one I'm replying to
GWS2004@reddit
This whole post is about long COVID. This isn't just about the sore throat, it's about what can come WITH the sore throat.
Your post read like you were downplaying the sore throat.
alwaysleafyintoronto@reddit
Have you ever had strep throat? It feels like swallowing razor blades. It sucks, but it's not the end of the world and it's temporary. It is not long covid.
GWS2004@reddit
I didn't say it wasong Covid.
Wytch78@reddit
Not exactly. I see 400 kids a week. I havent had strep since 2003. Have had covid 4x.Ā
frash12345@reddit
i can't even imagine this, the sore throat i had from the original strain was already so terrible.
CreatureVoidOf4m@reddit
lol
HospitalElectrical25@reddit
Never stopped masking! I work in a research library where people routinely come in directly from the airport. I've watched illness start in one patron in our reading room and slowly make its way around the others over the course of a few weeks.
I know plenty of people dealing with all kinds of issues after covid. Long Covid is just part of the picture (as this post also states). People in their 30s and younger are dealing with POTS, MCAS, CFS, cancer, kidney disease, inflammation, migraines, gut issues, new food sensitivities - and that's just the ones I know personally. It's no joke!
ProudExtreme8281@reddit
does the vaccine help prevent long covid?
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Yes and this has been shown in many studies, worth a google.
Forsaken_Bison_8623@reddit
Unfortunately not much, and it doesn't have a significant impact re preventing infection either.
Logical-Currency8808@reddit
It does, but itās not magic. The last data I read stated that Novavax seemed to be the best option. It is protein based, so Iām not sure why people who were anti mRNA still didnāt get it. As a cancer survivor I was told I should be getting them roughly every 6 months. I did Pfizer for a while until finding out about Novavax. The next one will come out in the fall with updated strains.
BardanoBois@reddit
This is intel
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Glad you see it that way, its a shame though.
Rarely seeing actionable intel here.
crepidotus@reddit
Disabled people are some of the first people to be left behind. I knew when the pandemic hit specifically in the US people would not give a fuck. And they still think Covid isnāt a problem anymore, even though itās still mutating new strains.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
It's certainly crazy that there are still people out there who are burying their heads in the sand.
Hopefully enough awareness gets raised.
I read a new statistic recently that said almost everyone knows someone with long covid, even if it isn't obvious.
Strange times we are living in.
WheredoesithurtRA@reddit
I've had repeat bouts of it due to the nature of my job in healthcare and my last bout really fucked me up. Took months to get back to normal ish and I still get congested in the goddamn summer.
AntiSonOfBitchamajig@reddit
I'll allow this up because its an ongoing thing people are battling right now.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Appreciated, We are raising awareness but it gets very little traction.
The longer this goes on without funding into research the more you will see these posts.
I hope it changes, by god i hope it does.
Long covid is no life - Cancer/Chemo patients who now have long covid tell me they would rather have the cancer.
The more we ignore this the worse it gets.
Academic-Motor@reddit
You should NIH talk about this in the congress
Sunnyjim333@reddit
Oh, thank you very much.
HologramJaneway@reddit
Thank you for making this post. I donāt feel like we talk about this enough.
Iām sorry for all you have experienced. You are doing an amazing thing sharing your story and educating others.
Just want to addāmy local healthcare system has what they now call a āPost COVIDā Recovery Program. Originally it was called the Long COVID Recovery Program, but I guess the more accepted medical reference is now Post COVID. Anyway they do an amazing job and I hope more healthcare providers can offer programs like these.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the kind words
Unfortunately in my country all the long covid clinics are being closed down.
Essentially the government has shot themselves in the foot and systematically dismantled the country for decades meaning there is no money for long covid clinics/research.
This is going to bite them in the ass when they realise.
I've made a lot of progress through my own research and protocols ... but honestly the world needs to be aware, because the numbers are going to rise. More funding needs to be pumped into research ASAP.
TwoFarNorth@reddit
Thanks for sharing your experience and learnings. I was also in peak health -- hiking mountains et cetera regularly -- but haven't been the same since I contracted covid in the earliest days of the pandemic. Although I haven't been as sick as you have been, I've increasingly wondered if I have long covid too. I pay for long term disability insurance fearing a situation like yours.
I hope every day brings you increased health!
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the kind words and i am sorry you are experiencing health problems also.
Theres a sub here r/covidlonghaulers with lots of advice and many people in your situation as well.
I found a lot of advice here in regards to protocols that could possibly help.
Stay up friend, lighter days are ahead of you.
TrekRider911@reddit
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.20.25329994v1
This study has been getting passed around work (TLDR, just about everyone infected previously with COVID, even those without "long COVID" show signs of selective structural and functional alterations in basal gangliaālimbicācortical circuits.)
If you can avoid it, you do so.
Long term affects of COVID are really beginning to show in the healthcare system. I imagine it won't be long before insurance companies begin pricing/working this into their estimates for future care. There is another slow moving pandemic coming.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
I have bookmarked this for future reading, thank you.
I was aware of the structural changes in the brain after covid though.
Brain stem damage is also a very real thing in those with long covid.
Your correct in saying the long term affects of covid are beginning to be seen in the healthcare system, but the problem remains there isnt enough funding to fix this.
Though i can see if ramping up in the next 10 years when politicians start realising its a mass disabling event.
The question is : Will it be too late ?
redcoatwright@reddit
In the book "The Last Human" there's a bioweapon released to basically destroys people's brains. Not kill them but make them stupid, make it difficult for them to think.
That's kind of what this feels like to ms tbh
RunicWhim@reddit
Now this is just my personal experience, but ever since I have gotten covid. I've felt so much more sharp and analytical. My memory seems much more vivid and the visuals in my mind have more clarity, like I can imagine faces with much more details than I did before.
Biggest thing Is I'm able to study and focus for much longer. I'm a software developer, so I've really been able to see the differences over time, and it's just crazy, I've been study mathematics much more which is something I used to hate, and now I love it.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Sometimes it goes away, a bit for a day or two, which feels a bit odd but it's nothing bad, and then it comes back, and it reminds me of having 0 tolerance for caffeine and having an energy drink and being on that caffeine buzz, but it just keeps going and going. It's not like racing energy, just good motivation and focus.
I saw a few similar experiences to this a year or so ago, but just off hand comments on reddit or youtube.
If anyone else knows I'd be curious.
TacticoolPeter@reddit
This is what it was like for me coming out of my first round of Covid. It was like my brain was on fire, in a good way. I miss it. Back to baseline for the most part I guess.
Chogo82@reddit
Iāve heard of this before as adrenaline dumps. Autonomic dysregulation can cause your body to go into fight or flight mode which can cause increased ability to work and focus. It can lead to crashes if symptoms progress further. I imagine you could also get better and lose these adrenaline dumps as the body heals.
RunicWhim@reddit
I feel like with adrenaline dumps I'd feel some negative symptoms, but who knows.
Chogo82@reddit
Some people crash after but if you arenāt severe and managing to rest well then adrenaline dumps can be useful. It also depends on the timing of when the dump happens. Obviously during the day is ideal but if it happens at night then you arenāt going to be sleeping very well.
Liz600@reddit
Pure curiosity, but were you diagnosed with or suspected to have ADHD or another type of neurodivergence before you had COVID?Ā
RunicWhim@reddit
No, nothing like that. Iāve had some testing done since, blood work, neuro checks, all clean except slightly elevated cholesterol.
I did have a bad fever, worse one of my adult life during covid after a shower I fainted just collapse on my legs which was a bit scary.
undifferentiatedbark@reddit
I mask everywhere I go, and I have a full life BECAUSE of this, not despite it. Masking has prevented me from ever getting Covid, and I am extremely high risk for severe Long Covid. Maintaining my current ability level is worth every effort I can make. It is the bedrock "prep" without which all my other preps are useless.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Smart choice.
My sister is in a similar situation to you and it worries me.
She is very high risk and as far as i am aware doesnt believe long covid exists. I know if she gets it she will no longer be able to look after her children and more than likely lose her house as working and paying for the mortgage will be impossible.
Awareness needs to be raised, governments need to funnel more funding into treatments. The longer this goes on the worse it will be.
Half a Billion people worldwide in 5 years is a massive number.
Sunnyjim333@reddit
You are so right, I am sorry you are in this situation.
I was in working health care during the worst part, it was soul crushing, I still have nightmares.
The worst part of all of it was/is the deniers who think they know all about (it's only like a cold). There were people begging for help, there was nothing to do for them.
I am now retired, I stay from people as much as I can.
With RFK jr running the health department I see only doom.
The anti-vaxers refuse to accept scientific fact and prefer voodoo and necromancy.
I wish you the best and a full life.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Firstly - Your a Hero - What healthcare workers did during the pandemic was nothing short of Heroic. You guys deserve medals ... seriously.
It's sad to see we still have people in the world who think covid is a myth, they refuse to take it seriously.
Unfortunately there are the ones who will be hit hard by long covid.
But thank you for the kinds words.
All the best to you. stay healthy Hero ... Your deeds will never be forgotten.
Logical-Currency8808@reddit
As the wife of a nurse who was bedside in overflow Covid ICU I want to tell you that you are an amazing human. I hope the nightmares get better and you can enjoy retirement. It was awful.
Sunnyjim333@reddit
Did your unit do all the "macrame" IV tubing webs so no one had to go into the room?
Logical-Currency8808@reddit
Honestly, I donāt know. Iāll have to ask him when he gets home from work tomorrow. We actually rented a house for him to live separately for a while (Iām a recent cancer survivor) so I feel like there was a lot we didnāt talk about that we normally would have. Andā¦he was so exhausted. But hey, the hospital gave them a pair of Crocs to boost morale.
Logical-Currency8808@reddit
Thank you for this post. Indeed, oneās health is important to prepping and survival. Iāve never understood people who thought Covid escaped from a BSL3 lab in wuhan, but also said it was nothing more than a cold. Those things donāt go together, and the data that exists is alarming. This isnāt politicalāeveryone in charge wanted to pretend things were done to get back to ānormalā to keep the economy going. I hope that people will see this post and do a little digging to figure out how to best prepare/make educated decisions about comfort, level of risk, etc.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
No problem, Health is one of if not the most important factors in prepping - after all if you cannot walk, talk, breath or feed yourself ... your chance of survival drops significantly.
It's mad to me that governments still arnt making people aware of long covid considering there are half a Billion people worldwide with it.
This is why we in the community are trying to raise awareness.
Long Covid is serious, statistically if the numbers continue in 45 years your looking at half the population of the world.
People need to wake up.
Downtown_Statement87@reddit
Also, COVID is a hoax and the only thing that cures it is Ivermectin.
Sunnyjim333@reddit
Nonono, you have to drink your own urine. /s
Puzzleheaded_Act7155@reddit
Meh had 3 vax shots never bothered me since. While others around me caught it I was fine
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
You got lucky.
Hope it stays that way
Puzzleheaded_Act7155@reddit
Nah just think the vax did its job
Migitmafia@reddit
When are we going to stop calling vaccine injuries ālong covidā?
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Educate yourself - Long covid effects the unvaccinated also.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-puts-understanding-long-covid-and-vaccination-question
" Among nearly 17,400 patients during Delta/Omicron waves, 6.9% developed long COVID, with no statistically significant differences between unvaccinated, two-dose, and boosted individuals. "
https://time.com/6999274/long-covid-risk-2024
" In about 450,000 VA patients infected between Delta and Omicron, 5.3% of vaccinated vs. 9.5% of unvaccinated individuals developed long COVID during Delta; during Omicron: 3.5% vaccinated vs. 7.8% unvaccinated. "
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/3-vaccine-doses-cut-long-covid-risk-over-60-analysis-suggests
https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/covid-vaccine-protected-kids-from-long-covid
" Vaccination primarily reduces risk by preventing infection; among those infected, the likelihood of long COVID was similar between vaccinated and unvaccinated kids "
https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/11/2/ofae039/7585852
" Among infection cases followed 90 days:
KadRendar@reddit
When there's a scientific consensus saying otgerwise...
NuclearPopTarts@reddit
Surely none of these symptoms have anything to do with the ~~untested~~ totally safe and effective Covid vaccine.
Effective-Ad-6460@reddit (OP)
Should probably do a little research there buddy - long covid effects the unvaccinated also. Educate yourself
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-puts-understanding-long-covid-and-vaccination-question
" Among nearly 17,400 patients during Delta/Omicron waves, 6.9% developed long COVID, with no statistically significant differences between unvaccinated, two-dose, and boosted individuals. "
https://time.com/6999274/long-covid-risk-2024
" In about 450,000 VA patients infected between Delta and Omicron, 5.3% of vaccinated vs. 9.5% of unvaccinated individuals developed long COVID during Delta; during Omicron: 3.5% vaccinated vs. 7.8% unvaccinated. "
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/3-vaccine-doses-cut-long-covid-risk-over-60-analysis-suggests
https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/covid-vaccine-protected-kids-from-long-covid
" Vaccination primarily reduces risk by preventing infection; among those infected, the likelihood of long COVID was similar between vaccinated and unvaccinated kids "
https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/11/2/ofae039/7585852
" Among infection cases followed 90 days:
lookwatchlistenplay@reddit
That was the second blow.
The first blow was a cocktail of various poisons/toxins in the food, water, and air to get people to take the ~~vaccine~~experimental nanoparticle-delivered genetic tinkering injection in the first place. The illusion was well crafted, but nevertheless brutally crude in its execution.
This logically explains the bewildering variety of symptoms of "Covid". It was merely the result of throwing nasty chemicals, pesticides, or any available toxins into people's immediate environments.
Other methods, similarly invisible to ordinary citizen detection, like high-enegy microwave radiation (5G masts popping up in the midst of a "pandemic" as if the technicians didn't get the memo to stay at home) were also plausibly used for the illusion, as such radiation is well known to cause mysterious flu-like illness.
An absolute plethora of existing, well-known, totally not novel things can cause flu-like symptoms when popped in the mouth, or inhaled in a closed space. Doctors weren't testing for any of them, hypnotized as they were with the Global Media and "World Government"-enforced lies. (You voted for WHO?? Well, I never).
Major areas with low "vaccine" uptake were scheduled for further, heavier poison targeting, aimed at reinforcing people's belief in the effectiveness of the injections.
The "pandemic" did not end so abruptly because "the virus" decided to take mercy on us. It ended because the minimum injection quota was reached. The desired pharmaco share price targets fulfilled. The people, suitably drained of vitality and will to resist and bring justice against what was an obviously globalist campaign of death, suffering, and vile profiteering.
The popular marketing slogan was true, but it wasn't directed at "you": Safe (from lawsuits thanks to manufacturer's immunity) and Effective (at creating lifelong customers). That's all folks.
Ok_SysAdmin@reddit
And this is why everyone should get vaccinated. And stay up to date on vaccinations.
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Vaccines donāt do enough. People should be masking and we should have state of the art air ventilation everywhere.
hjras@reddit
this!!!
WotanSpecialist@reddit
Horrible advice. The inoculations do not prevent infection or transmission and demonstrably causes an igg4 immune suppressant response that leaves you more susceptible to infection.
Ok_SysAdmin@reddit
Joe Rogan is that you?
WotanSpecialist@reddit
This is all very well documented, I really donāt understand people denying this verified phenomenon. Educate yourself.
https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(25)00067-2/fulltext#:~:text=IgG4%20and%20IgG2%20levels%20increase,against%20SARS%2DCoV%2D2.&text=Elevated%20IgG4%20levels%20after%20booster,an%20increased%20risk%20of%20infections.&text=Increased%20non%2Dcytophilic%20to%20cytophilic%20antibody%20ratio%20correlates%20with%20reduced%20functionality.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10222767/
Wytch78@reddit
Plenty of folks over at r/longhaulcovid who were fine until they were vaccinated. I know itās weird, but some pplās viral injury was caused from the vaccine. Other ppl never had the shot and are still suffering. The answer to the why? is Covid.Ā
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Vaccine injury has always been a thing and of course we have seen many more occurrences with the Covid vaccine because so many more people across the entire globe have gotten them, and gotten so many.
However, most people who are vaccinated have also been infected with Covid so it is very hard to tell if people truly got long covid from the vaccine or from an infection (even asymptomatic) they got within weeks or months of being vaccinated.
Most people got vaccinated and immediately started doing higher risk activities, which exposed them to Covid. Itās impossible to determine exactly whatās happening.
Ricky_Ventura@reddit
Too bad they promised to not recommend any covid vaccine meaning it likely won't be availableĀ
PrestigiousTomato8@reddit
Good AMA. BUT COVID is AIRBORNE.
Still no COVID here as a 100% masker/ occasional hand washer.
Ralfsalzano@reddit
Why canāt you get GOV disability ?
Specialist_Fault8380@reddit
Lolololllllllololol
Disability is extremely hard to get on and it is not nearly enough to survive. There are no real social safety nets, not even in Canada.
tuataraslim@reddit
have a read of this.
Piss_in_my_cunt@reddit
Long COVID = vaccine injury
AntBeaters@reddit
You did not study anything around this topic be quiet
Piss_in_my_cunt@reddit
š¤£ thatās a hell of a declaration to make with no way of knowing that whatsoever
AntBeaters@reddit
Oh but I do
billymumfreydownfall@reddit
You know eff all. My coworker has had long covid from contracting Covid in April 2020. Vaccine wasn't even out then. Sit down, child, and let the adults talk.
Piss_in_my_cunt@reddit
Ok ā¤ļø
ToolTard69@reddit
Vaccine injuries do happen and can result in long covid. However, being vaccinated does statically lower your overall chances of developing long covid after a covid infection. There is a great two part episode of the podcast Ologies about long covid and the doctor was very adamant in acknowledging those who have suffered from a vaccine injury but they make up a very small minority of long covid cases.
Statements like these are what turn people away from those who have legit vaccine injuries. Not helpful to anyone who is suffering.
flowing42@reddit
Like anything else, both things can be true. There are definitely people who have been vaccinated and have dealt with severe issues up to and including death from the vaccines themselves. There are also way more people that are dealing with long-term impacts of the virus itself whether they're vaccinated or not. This is not one thing or the other. Also have to differentiate between mRNA vaccines versus Novavax and other non-mRNA vaccines.
pooinmypants1@reddit
No use arguing with people like this. They have been harassing vax injury subreddits for 5 years.
flowing42@reddit
I know, you're right. When you have billions of vaccine administrations happening, bad things are bound to happen. There are just so many variables. That said, there have been so many studies that show the virus itself is way more dangerous and even more so if you have never been vaccinated. It's an easy choice if you have to pick one or the other. Here in the United States, our administration is allowing a lunatic to control our vaccine policy so.. The future doesn't look great.
CityCareless@reddit
That logic is flawed, but please do explain further.
Logical-Currency8808@reddit
Nope. People develop LC that are unvaccinated. People who are vaccinated can also develop LC.
Ricky_Ventura@reddit
But it was already established before the vaccine was already out.
Snark_Connoisseur@reddit
brother woof