Aug 20, 2021
COVID-19 as my birthday present?
Vaccinated versus unvaccinated
A few days ago I tested positive for Covid-19; even though, I had taken the vaccine five months ago. My two sons did not take the vaccine; however, my daughter did. I had been trying to convince my sons to take the vaccine since March without success. I knew one of my sons would most likely have COVID because I had been in his house for two days prior to having symptoms.
My symptoms started as allergy-like symptoms. I felt that I had a huge head cold with nasal congestion, sore throat, nasal drainage, and headache. But when I started running fever the second night, I knew that something else was going on. I got myself tested and did have COVID but no lung problems were seen on the chest x-ray. I told my son and advised him to stay home since he had been in close contact with me.
The next day was my son’s birthday. I called to wish him a happy birthday and to tell him that I had cash apped him a birthday present. Later that day he called me and said his was coughing. I suggested he get tested. He would not.
Two days later I was schedule to get COVID infusion cocktail known as the REGN-COC2 which consists of two monoclonial antibodies. I did not tell him about it until I got to the clinic because I did not want to hear his objections to the treatment. I just wanted to notify him of my treatment for emergency purposes. Of course, he proceeded to tell me that I should not get that treatment as it is investigational.
Did I mention that I am a registered nurse? Why would I listen to someone who is not a medical health care provider tell me what to do?
This is the same question I ask people who listen to nonmedical people who advise them not to take the vaccine. Why would you take the advise of a person who is not a medical doctor over your doctor? How is this person qualified to tell you what to do medically? If that person is a medical doctor telling you not to take the vaccine, do you personally know that person? Also, I like to conduct research about any treatments that are recommended before I commit to the treatment. You can find information about this treatment at:
Anyway, by the time my son went to see a doctor he was coughing constantly, could not sleep, had a headache, chest tightness and was super tired. This was his first time with the chest tightness and he did not know what it was. When he finally went to the doctor, five days after initial symptoms, he was wheezing, unable to eat, nauseated, and weak. He required a prescription for medication to dilate his airway, albuterol inhaler, and cough medication. He was able to go home and he was told that a nurse would call him to schedule him for the COVID-19 infusion therapy. Of course he called me to discuss possibly not taking the infusion therapy. He was worried about it being investigational.
I explained to him that these drugs, monoclonial antibodies, are not new to healthcare providers as they have been used with cancer therapy. Now they [monoclonal antibodies]are being used for a different purpose and that purpose, COVID-19 treatment, has not been fully investigated. More people are recovering from COVID019 infection now because of this recommended treatment plan to prevent people with mild to moderate symptoms from progressing to severe cases. In severe cases, people may have pneumonia along with the COVID infection that require hospitalization and God forbid, placement on the ventilator.
I reminded my son that I had my COVID-19 infusion treatment and felt better the next day. He agreed to take the infusion. He was called the same day as he was diagnosed to have the infusion. The next day he felt a little bit better.
The bottom line is this. You want to have another birthday. Listen to your doctor and follow the recommended treatment plan. Remember, the people on social media do not know you and are not qualified to make that recommendation. If you get sick and need hospitalization, they will not know or care. Who will know and care is your family and your doctor.
Stay healthy. Stay well. Get the COVID vaccine and wear a face mask. It can make a difference between no case, a mild case, or a severe case of COVID-19. You only have one life.
