COVID-19 Omicron Preparation List and Advice

Lauren and I have both been through COVID twice now and present research suggests that we’re going to be dealing with this virus for years. As such, since once is an aberration, twice is freakish, and thrice is a pattern, I decided to start recording / sharing notes about how to weather this particular illness.

Inside, you’ll find my advice about dealing with the illness, and you’ll find tips about what to expect and how to medicate.

PREPARATION

Preparation is key. You should keep ON HAND, in my opinion, the following “Covid Bag” à la a “bug out” bag or an natural disaster preparedness bag.

(at least) 2 Rapid tests per person
A large bottle of Tylenol (acetaminophen)
A collection of Alka-Seltzer (aspirin) daytime / night time combo (probably 3 boxes)
A package of Mucinex DM (for lung infection, symptoms)
3 large bottles of Gatorade (or maybe you love the stuff and want more)
Toilet paper / Kleenex (you don’t want to need these and not have them)
Box of 3M aura respirator mask (in case you need to leave for medical care)
Thermometer
Honey
Caffeine-free tea (Tulsi ginger is my favorite)

ONSET

First, FALSE NEGATIVES are possible. You cannot sample once and walk away. The test kits advise you to test and then test again a day later so that you prevent false negatives. This is a good idea, although it tends to contribute to somewhat costly.

My initial symptoms were achey joints like the worst flu I have ever had. I fell asleep (passed out) on my couch and awoke burning and sweaty with a 102° fever. This was my first real day of the fight. My sinuses and lungs were good, but I felt miserable bodily. I got a doctor’s appointment for a day later.

Before I had confirmation, I took Tylenol and Alka-Seltzer to mitigate the fever. It is very important to keep your fever down and therefore to take your medicine on a regular basis. During the most acute phase, I was taking medicine every 4 hours. Consult with your doctor and/or follow instructions on the medicine(s) of choice.

VERIFICATION

Overnight my throat became incredibly sore and I couldn’t even swallow unless I had something to go down with it: a spoonful of honey or lukewarm tea was required. This was highly miserable.

Upon going to the local clinic (masked with the 3M Aura; traveling via stairs to avoid all others;), I went in and got sampled. As a matter of standard procedure, I received a COVID test first. Since the test strips are analog, they light up faster/darker based on the presence of the virus in the sample (i.e. your level of sickness). Seconds after applying the reagent the nurse turned and gave me the grim news. Thus I was no longer throwing false negatives but real-deal positives 😢.

NADIR

I mentioned the throat symptoms, but things got much worse with my eyes. My eyes teared for about 36 hours. This is because the virus was messing with my eyeball cells. When that stopped I was so happy, but the corners of my eyes were RAW because of wiping. On the evening of day two, my sinuses stuffed up and they remained so for 14 days. I was also running a fever (albeit lower).

I continued the same regimen: water, sleep, Gatorade, delivery food (contactless).

LONG PATH BACK

Day three: pretty miserable, but at least my eyes stopped tearing. Now it felt like a really bad common cold. This continued for another day or so.

At around day 5, I was feeling OK. By CDC recommendations, I was OK to mingle in society, masked. I did not. I left home only to get groceries, and I did so only when I could distance and only to get survival stuff / walk the dog.

LINGERING SYMPTOMS

After day 10, the CDC says these are the days you’re no longer an acute contagion risk. I tested positive every day up until day 13, though. I’m not sure what your contagion risk is between 10 and 13, but these were my experiences. On day 13, I finally got a clear test. Since that time, however, I’ve become much more regular about voluntarily masking when in public. I think this is likely the way forward forever.

Around days 8-10, I started to feel a symptom that I had felt in Mar 2020 of … Heaviness in my lungs. It’s like someone poured concrete in your lungs and you lose lung capacity. This can be very scary. As a lifelong asthmatic, it’s not entirely scary to me. If you had the good fortune of being like sporty and stuff, this may wig you out. My wife also suffered this symptom and we call it sandy lung. “Sandy lung” continued to have a presence until around day 20.

Also, around day 13 I would have long, hot/dry cough fits as I went to bed. I had to drink a lot of lukewarm water and take Mucinex (I think thinning lung phlegm was needed to prevent lung irritation and thus coughing fits).

UNSEEN SYMPTOMS

I never lost my smell/taste

BACK TO “NORMAL” DAY 23

Pretty much back to normal. Biked to work.

Conclusion

The world has been considerably changed by this pandemic, I hope this serves as a tool for helping you and your family get ready to face this spectre when it comes knocking on your door.