Following Healthcare Buzz’s initial October article – “What is Long COVID”, including the various symptoms that are difficult to identify and treat – many people replied “thank you for reassuring me that these lingering symptoms are not not in my head”. The frustration of finding any kind of treatment for the wide array of symptoms continues to be the biggest challenge for patients with Long COVID. Based on this type of feedback, we have started a series of Long COVID patient stories. (Long COVID is also known as COVID Long Haulers Syndrome, Chronic COVID, Post-COVID Conditions/CDC.) If you would like to contact us, please do so and use the email contact below. No personally identifying information will be used, just your individual story. Thanks a lot!
Center for Disease Control/CDC updates:
- US hospitals are reporting an increase in the number of COVID patients after Thanksgiving. More than 35,000 patients are being treated, with most states reporting increases. The rise began just before the holidays and health officials fear a continued rise could tax the country’s already overstretched healthcare system more than other viral illnesses, such as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and influenza. . (The trifecta – COVID, flu and RSV/children. Be very careful not to kiss a child on the face, hands or lips. It helps! Also, home/positive tests are usually not reported, it is therefore likely that a large number of cases will go unreported.)
- The CDC Prevention group has reported updated information on the benefits of taking Paxlovid within the first five days of infection. The large study compared 200,000 people who took the antiviral drug with 500,000 who did not. There was a 51% drop in hospitalizations among those who received treatment. But only 28% of eligible people have had it prescribed, raising concerns that we are missing opportunities to alleviate the suffering of elderly patients and those with underlying health conditions who have suffered disproportionately since the start of the pandemic.
- The proportion of COVID deaths among Americans 65 and older fluctuated from 8 in 10 in the first few months to a low of 6 in 10 when the Delta wave hit in the summer of 2021 to a high of 9 in 10 today. Hospitals are again reporting significant growth in COVID cases. (Be sure to get your yearly flu shot and your COVID booster. Let’s have a healthy holiday season with our loved ones.)
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Patient story 3
I am 89 and had COVID in June. I lost all taste. It was weird to eat without taste.
Recently, unusual tastes are back – like cinnamon on cinnamon rolls, the taste of certain types of tomatoes, and garlic spices.
My wife and I have had a tradition of “4 Hours of Wine” for many years. Friends and family would join us for great socializing and just get together to stay connected. After losing my taste, I continued to have time for wine. Yes I didn’t get to taste it, but the 4 hour wine hour was not about the wine but the special time with my friends and family.
As of today, I have unique tastes coming back, but I just made my favorite potato soup and didn’t taste any. I still believe I have brain fog as I now have memory issues that I didn’t have before COVID. I’m just happy to have my health.
All historical articles and training materials are available on the Patient Financial Navigator Foundation webpage: PFNFinc.com. The Foundation is an Idaho-based family foundation established in 2017. 208 423 9036 for more information. (Have a topic for Healthcare Buzz? Want to tell your LONG COVID story? Send a contact to daylee1@mindspring.com. Thank you!)
Day Egusquiza is president and founder of the Patient Financial Navigator Foundation Inc., an Idaho-based family foundation. For more information, call 208-423-9036 or visit pfnfinc.com. Do you have a topic for Health Care Buzz? Please share to daylee1@mindspring.com.
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