10/07/2021
# Covid 19
# My Observations...
# The Loop Holes & Get Aways....
Probably by now, each and everyone of us knows someone who has sadly passed on due to this dreadful disease. But look, there are ways to Get Away with it... I mean.... Ways to survive it.
Let's first have a look at the loop holes...
# Loop Holes:
1. Assuming that every "flu" is just a "simple flu".
2. Testing positive, Self-Isolating without consulting your Doctor or going to the local clinic. Self isolation is good to protect others, but not a treatment.
3. Low index of suspicion for the disease.
4. Vaccination without a prior but immmediate (72hrs test Max) negative Covid Test/ Vaccination while you already have flu-like symptoms.
5. Assuming that a negative Antigen test (rapid) is always conclussive.
6. Staying home for more than 72hrs with flu-like symptoms without the appropriate treatment.
These are the most common loop holes I have been observing, and I guess most Health Practitioners would also agree.
The sad truth is that that we can try as hard as we can to help many, but not everyone will make it... but let me share my thoughts once again on how to get away with it... how we helped many Patients to survive...
# The Get Aways....
1. Start treatment within the first 24hrs... if not possible... do it within 72hrs.
This is the most crucial period to getting most cascade of events under control.
(The word "Treatment" here means Consulting your health practitioner and getting the most appropriate treatment. Share with them what home remedies you are using as well, for them to guide on the safest practices).
2. Chest Xrays done as early as possible, and repeating them within 5-7 days.
This will help your Practitioner to identify any infective changes quite early, so that the treatment plan can be revised as soon as possible.
3. If you consider to be Vaccinated, please make sure you have tested negative within the last 72hrs, and you have no flu-like symtoms.
Any ailments should be allowed to completely resolve first prior to getting vaccinated.
4. Realising that the Oxygen Saturation Monitors (Pulse Oximeters) are just a guide.
Low Saturations are usually only detected in advanced lung disease. The time it drops to less than 90%, most of the lung tissue is infected and a Pneumonia has developed already. So, it's good to have the Oximeters, but they are a better guide for those who are Recovering from the disease rather, to monitor their progress in resolving pneumonias.
5. Now let us go medical... a little bit deeper.... the disease should now be an open book to everyone... you deserve to know what's happening.....
Investigations:
Chest Xrays-
You may need a series of xrays, depending on the severity of symptoms.
I usually suggest on day 1 of consultation and between day 5-7.
The reason being that in most cases, day 7-14 have proven to be the most crucial period of this disease. Patients who complicate, usually do within this time frame. So it is important that infective lung changes are treated as soon as possible.
Bloods:
Fbc/Uke/Crp/Pct/Cardiac Enzymes/TropT/D-Dimer/ProBNP/IL6/Ferittin/LDH/ABG.
Bloods will be ordered by your Practitioner upon his/her discretion, guided by the severity of symptoms and your risk factors.
In summary, what we are looking for here in these blood tests are...
*Infection markers. To check how severe the infection is. However, in most Patients this disease wouldn't show a high infectictive marker (White Cell Count). The infection marker would usually be within normal limits, or suppressed, or just marginally raised if there is any immune response to it.
*Inflammatory markers- Fortunately these markers are very responsive to this disease and are reliable in assessing severity of illnes and treatment response.
*Cardiac Function- The disease has a tendency of causing inflammation on your heart muscle (causing Myocarditis) and the cover that encases your heart (causing Pericarditis).
However, these resolve as the inflammation settles.
Secondly, hospitalised patients are prone to having Pulmonary Oedema (Congestion of fluids in the lungs). This usually results in a progessive shortness of breath that could hinder optimal Oxygenation.
*Blood Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide levels, and acid-base status. 3 major problems usually arise... usually... Low Oxygen levels, High Carbon dioxide levels, Acid formation. These need to be corrected as soon as possible.
*Infective Myositis- The reason why you'd experience severe body pains with this disease is that it causes inflammation of the muscles. The Enzyme called Creatinine Kinase (CK) is very often observed to be very high in this disease. But also resolves as the inflammatory markers settle.
*Probability of one having Lung Clots (Pulmonary Embolism)-
This is the most common cause of sudden death in this disease. Once there is a probability of one having lung clots as guided by the D-Dimer, therapy may be initiated immediately (Clexane 80mg every 12Hrs, later Warfarin). Or a scan can be done to confirm before initiating therapy, if the the Patient is stable to be taken to the Xrays department.
Treament:
This differs from one practitioner to the other, yet it revolves around similar ideas....
In-Patients-
Broad Spectrum Antibiotics-
Rocephin/Meronem/Tazocin +Targocid/Augmentin + Zithromax
Remdesivir
Decadron/Solumedrol
Clexane
Perfalgan
Vitamin C + Zinc + Vitamin D + Thiamine
Ivermectin
Careful administration of intravenous fluids
Oxygen if required
Out-Patients-
Augmentin + Zithromax
Vitamin C + Zinc + Vitamin D
Pain Meds and Antipyretics (Avoiding Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatories)
I know that the information is a bit too detailed for most who are not in the medical field, but I believe you deserve to hear about these things even if they never make sense initially....
