3d ago

Wife has COVID and I've had a lung infection for almost 2-weeks. Should I worry? (background in post, mods read the first bit!)

MODS: WE ALREADY GOT MEDICAL HELP. The doctor knew we were husband and wife and neither she nor her nurse were worried. In fact, the nurse told my wife she would be fine. I'd just like opinions and experiences and I will treat them as such.

I'll start by saying the doctor took us separately, so I didn't know she was positive until we left and there are no humans in the waiting room. We were too shocked to go back for instructions.

Lungs been locked up for 2-weeks. I can breathe fine, but I can tell I'm fucked because the lightest activity sends my heart hammering. My usual fix (generic Advil Cold & Sinus) was working fine, until it didn't.

This is a thing when I'm not constantly exercising, exercising a lot. Been sitting on my ass for some time. This is because I have "emphysema light" due to smoking, quit 15-years back, too late.

Went to the new urgent care place with our shiny new Obamacare cards. Holy shit! I don't think we pay anything but a $12 copay! She got COVID and cough suppressant pills, I got doxycycline.

I know the doxycycline will work, I'll feel great 24-hours from now. But COVID scared the shit out of me. I know it's not the OG strain, I know the newer versions aren't so bad, but with my lungs? Terrified I'll be on a vent if this gets me.

Obviously we've been in close contact since she caught it and went infectious. Stuck in the car for 2-hours, sleeping together, all that. Betting she got it at work Thursday or Friday when she works in the office, also the only time she's around people. Fuck call centers.

AGAIN, I'm not soliciting advice as looking for opinions and experiences. With such close contact, seems weird she got it and I didn't. Anyone else?

For the record, we're the same age and both got the first 3 shots, but that's it.

9 comments

The newer versions are just as bad as the old ones (and more contagious AND you're immune for just a few months after catching them). Vaccinations just make them less bad.
Test again. It can take a while for them to work.
As a general statement: worrying doesn’t help, only raises your stress levels and negatively impact your immune system.
There are here causes for concern, and your fear is justified. Other than isolation from your wife, there is not much to do.
As a side note: being in constant contact with other humans raises your immune responses, because you are constantly trained to fight off mild infections. Coming back from full isolation was really rough on my partner, they kept getting “the flu” (something or other) every time they went to a crowded place, even just the supermarket at rush hour. It took them a year to develop a normal immune response again.
Both wear N95, use air filters, air out with windows, sleep and eat separately until she test negative and shows no symptoms for 2 weeks
- Bit too late for all that? She started showing symptoms Sunday morning, after we had been in the car together for an hour the day before and sleeping together that night. Then we drove home, another hour in a small car and another night of sleeping together. Then together all day and another 40 minutes in the car.
  If she came home from a trip symptomatic, yeah, I'd probably go all out as you said.
  I just find it weird we have the same vaccinations, and even with my sorry lungs I didn't catch it. Yet! But again, she's clearly been infectious for at least two days.
  Anyone know the typical incubation period on the latest strains?
  
  As long as you don’t have symptoms, assume you are healthy, and stray separated. Obviously, if you already got Covid yesterday, then that ship has sailed, but what if you didn’t? What if your immune system is still fighting it off and will give out in two hours? Chances are slim, but not none.
  
  There’s a new top variant out there, XFG or “Stratus.”. People infected with Stratus often report a scratchy, hoarse throat that’s easily mistaken for allergies.
  The previous top variant, NB.1.8.1 or “Nimbus” — known for a particularly nasty sore throat that earned it the nickname “razor blade throat”
I'd say you need to be at least a bit concerned, especially considering long COVID, which can be dangerous. This is why I still wear an FFP2/N95 mask, even though everyone claims that COVID is gone. I recommend doing all you can to improve your health, going as far as a healthy diet and meditation. Just do anything you can that makes both of y'all recover fully ASAP.

9 comments