Category: Covid

20 January 2024

I seem to be getting over Covid – finally! I’ve pretty much tested every day and the test line is getting fainter and fainter. Again, the test is not technically quantitative but it probably does reflect on the amount of antigens present. Here’s today’s test.

You have to look hard to see a very faint line at the test mark. I had to photograph it and enlarge the image to see it was positive. I can say I certainly feel better than yesterday. I don’t feel great but certainly better. The cough is still around but manageable with NyQuil and DayQuil. My energy level is picking up somewhat. My only real complaint today is only 6 hours of sleep.

I’ll know more about my energy level later today since I need to clean the pool filter because I didn’t yesterday and I need to change bed linen, wash, dry and fold clothes and clean at the house.

I did a correct insulin injection today. I feel sure this old dog can be trained. I’m just stubborn and a little sleepy when I do it first thing in the morning. My big sticking point (again, pun intended) is how you normally dispense liquids with pipettes. If you have a pipette in liquid and squeeze the bulb to dispense the liquid in the pipette, you must remove the pipette before you release the bulb or you’ll simply suck up the liquid you just dispensed (think how turkey basters work).

The insulin pen works the opposite. You squeeze the bulb, wait 5 seconds, release the bulb and then remove the pen. I assume the five seconds allows the insulin to disperse and prevents you from sucking the insulin back into the pen. Either that or the designer failed biology and chemistry.

The insulin reading from the continuous glucose monitor was close to 100 when I got up this morning so maybe the 18 units is getting close to the correct dose. Of course, after my fruit and yogurt and first cup of coffee it spiked to 188.

On Thursday, Farah from Dr. Jellinger’s office called to check on me. She instantly relayed to Dr. Jellinger via text what my readings were and the dosage. She also reported to him I had Covid. It’s kinda nice that he’s keeping close tabs on me. When I last saw him he mentioned that not everyone got his personal phone number. I told him I knew that and I appreciated it.

I complained about the neuropathy yesterday. It seems slightly better today. Who knows what’s going on?

A cold front is coming through and from the weather personnel on local stations you would think we are due for blizzard conditions. It might get down to 49°F. The only thing I can think of that may not like that are orchids but mine seem to do fine at that temperature. They are even talking of bringing pets inside. Who keeps their pets outside these days anyway? We’ve already issued falling iguana warnings. Don’t walk under any trees unless you check for iguanas!

Stay tuned!

11 January 2024

Two good days in a row! I’ll take it! Dare I hope for 3? I trudged to the pharmacist to pick up my insulin and needles today. The pharmacist has been so good working to find a cost effective solution. The needles were $45 for 100 and the insulin was $70 for 2 pens. Here’s where it gets confusing. The box says 300 units. It doesn’t say per pen. The insert says 900 units per pen. I guess I’ll find out when I run out of insulin.

Attached to the prescription bag was a mass of pages of instructions. Inside the pen box was this insert.

I’ve reverted to taking photos of the instructions so I can enlarge the image on the iPhone so I can read the damn small print. I didn’t think fonts came in sizes that small.

My question to the pharmacist, since the web site wasn’t clear, was do I have to re-refrigerate the pen after each use. The answer is no. Once you take it out of the refrigerator and use it once, then you leave the pen at room temperature until you use it up or 56 days have elapsed.

Little did I know that when my cousin Jimmie offered me a sharps container, and I refused, that I would end up needed one. I’ll also have to check on how Fort Lauderdale requires disposal of full sharps containers.

This will be a major change in my life. My endocrinologist suggested it may not be a life-long dance with insulin, however, I suspect it will be.

Of course, while driving to the pharmacist using Joel’s car, there was some mist. The windshield wipers came on and would not shut off.

Another set of good news is that I don’t show any Covid symptoms. I plan on making it to the MRI tomorrow at 4. If I’m not up to drive myself, Tom has volunteered. From that my primary will either recommend either regular physical therapy or physical therapy with a neurologist. Regardless, it may give me some idea as to why my legs are so weak and unresponsive.

Just talked to the jeep hostage negotiator. Seems all their personnel have been stricken with bad colds, I assume for the last 16 days (he coughed at the end of the conversation to prove it). My jeep is currently being serviced. Right! He promises to call me back within a few minutes about an ETA for it to be finished. Right!

Thanks to Judith and Chris for more chicken soup. Chris says this is the best batch yet. I’ve yet to try it but will sometime today.

Stay tuned!

10 January 2024

What a difference a day makes! Today is day 5 of 5 for isolation and I feel better than I have in weeks! I actually have energy today! Enough energy that I cut up a Royal palm frond and put in the yard waste bin, made my bed this morning, and I’m washing two loads of clothes. I didn’t realize how badly I felt until I started feeling good!

I still test positive for Covid but CDC says I may test positive for up to 90 days. I should not be infectious and I should be safe for others to be around me as long as I wear a mask. I plan to make it to the MRI on Friday.

I also plan on contacting the jeep place and trying to find out what the story is on my jeep. Today is day 15 of the hostage crisis.

Other than wash two loads of clothes, fold them and put them away, I don’t plan on anything challenging. I don’t need a relapse. Maybe Paxlovid is better than I thought. Really, I haven’t felt this well in ages. I think even the neuropathy is better. It hasn’t gone away by any stretch of the imagination but the pain of walking is not as intense. I feel like I could actually do a morning walk this morning (but I won’t).

Again, everyone has been very supportive. Friends have volunteered to drive me to the MRI, I have soups and foods arriving every day and phone calls to check up on me. My appetite seems to have recovered a bit. It’s pretty humbling to be this ill and have the support I’ve had. I’m a pretty lucky guy to have such good friends.

Danielle, the nurse assistant to Dr. Velez scheduled more Herceptin infusions for me but not hydration infusions. I am not sure I need them. The last few I’ve had have not really made a difference in the way I feel. I’ll check in again when I go for the next Herceptin infusion and talk with Dr. Velez.

Stay tuned! If I feel this good today, I might conquer the world tomorrow.

9 January 2024

Today is day 4 of 5 for Covid isolation. I’ve got a feeling it could be day 34 and it wouldn’t make a difference. I feel awful. I have just enough fever and symptoms to make me feel bad but not enough to admit to hospital. The diarrhea is back. Of course it is. I shouldn’t expect less of Paxlovid. Honestly, if this is supposed to make you have a light case of Covid, then it’s not working for me.

Even during my lowest days of chemo I haven’t felt this badly. The only exception was when they actually admitted me to hospital.

Still no word from the jeep service representative that was going to call me back immediately after finishing up with a customer. Not that it matters, I couldn’t drive anywhere anyway if I had the jeep. I don’t feel like fighting them today so I’ll give them the 14th day free from harassment from me.

The pharmacy is still trying to get in insulin for me. The current try is Toujeo. Supposedly Medicare pays for this but it’s a Tier 3 drug which means I pay more for it. The Medicare web site says it is covered, it’s Tier 3 but the price may be cheaper for me because it’s insulin. I can’t find out my cost until the drug comes in. If they price the drug for me in the computer, it cancels the order.

It’s a windy day in Fort Lauderdale. I mean really windy. Gusts are up to 40 mph.

I’ll end on a positive note. My hair on my legs is growing back. Take your victories where you can.

Stay tuned!

8 January 2024

Sorry for not posting yesterday. I just wasn’t up to it. Covid has taken the wind out of my sails. I know some people have mild cases but this feels like anything but mild. It’s hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve had every possible vaccination for Covid and I always wear a mask indoors, no matter where (except when I’m eating). I really can’t tell if Paxlovid is making a difference. Today is day 3 of 5 and I’m still weak, coughing, sneezing, and have a runny nose. The good news is there was no fever this morning. I know part of my reaction to Covid has to be due to the low state of my immune system with all the chemotherapy. I have no appetite but I’m forcing myself to eat.

Today has been spent canceling appointments. I canceled the 9:30 appointment for Herceptin tomorrow and the chiropractic appointment on Thursday. It’s iffy as to whether or not I have to cancel the January 12th MRI.

I also called Farah, assistant to Dr. Jellinger, the endocrinologist, about an alternative to the prescribed insulin pen. I’m waiting to hear back from her.

I’m on the phone now with Hollywood Chrysler Jeep. So far, I’ve been sent into a continuous phone loop, made contact with a human and gave him my name, type of jeep, and put on hold and then disconnected. I’m on my third try. Apparently, the original service rep is in today and I’ve been promised she is going to call me back shortly. Right!

I had a nice conversation with an old Coastie buddy, Chip this afternoon. It’s always good talking with him. We commiserated over our failing bodies. The expression “Getting old ain’t for sissies” really applies. I don’t know how my parents managed.

I did manage to put in an order for Whole Foods delivery. I’m just waiting to hear when the delivery will be. Nothing fancy – just my morning basics – fruit and yogurt. Whole Foods has just informed me they are four stops away.

I almost forgot to get my “giving” out of the way this month. I make all my charitable donations at one time – in January. I get so many solicitations for donations throughout the year. One year I realized I had sent two donations in for one charitable organization because of the solicitations. Now, I only give in the month of January for the whole year.

So far, I give to the ACLU, Sierra Club, Stonewall Library, Equality Florida, HRC, Yellowstone Foundation, Lambda Legal, WPBT2, National Park Foundation and WLRN. That totals up to $715 this year. I’ve noticed their suggested donation creeps up every year. If you gave $50 last year, they encourage $75 this year.

OK, I’m tired. Back to bed.

Stay tuned!

6 January 2024

Well, I guess it was inevitable. With all the precautions I take I got Covid anyway. Yesterday at the dehydration infusion, I felt a little off. My throat was tickling and I felt slightly nauseous. Usually, after an infusion, I feel pretty good. I drove straight home and took a Covid test. It was negative.

I slept well last night but that might have been due to the Gabapentin and Temazepan. This morning, around 8, I realized I was really stuffed up and coughing. This test came back positive. To be sure, I took a second test – also positive. I knew I needed Paxlovid but when I called my GP, he was not on duty and the duty physician did not have the authority to write prescriptions. To her credit, she did call me back and suggest Urgent Care Holy Cross, about a mile from my house.

I also called Walgreens to find out if they could give me Paxlovid on their own. The answer was yes but I needed current bloodwork, a new test, and then a careful check of my current medications to make sure Paxlovid doesn’t interact badly. I thanked the pharmacist and made an online appointment with Urgent Care for 10:40 with an arrival time of 10:25. You know me. I was early.

I suggested that I wait in the car so I wouldn’t expose anyone else to Covid but the receptionist told me if they called and I didn’t answer, then I would lose my place in line. My phone is set that unless you are in my address book, it goes to voice mail. I decided to wait inside. The room was very cold. I had a jacket on and I started shivering.

I haven’t had chills since I was a child. I forgot how uncontrollable they are. My appointment time came and went. I had been told there was an hour wait anyway, regardless of appointment. After the third or fourth person who came in much later after me were called, I went back to the receptionist. When she looked at the schedule for my name, her eyes got big. I was the next called. Someone dropped the ball. After two hours, they called me back.

They did not give me a Covid test which I thought was interesting. Of course, they have all my medical records but the doctor wanted me to relate them. I told her about the breast cancer and that I’m on Herceptin. She said she needed to check my drugs against contraindications for Paxlovid. There are two drugs I can’t take with Paxolovid: Tamsulosin (Flowmax) and Rosuvastatin (Crestor).

I put out a group text to see if someone could pick the Paxlovid up for me at Walgreens. Chris, bless her, volunteered. I texted her when Walgreens let me know it was ready and she drove over and picked it up. They only needed my address and date of birth. They already had my credit card on file.

The dosage consists of two pills. I’m to take 2 Nirmatrelvir and 1 Ritonavir for a complete dose. I’m to take the combination twice daily.

I have to isolate for 5 days and if asymptomatic after the five, I can then go out and do what I need if I wear a mask (I always do). Of course, I’ll have to cancel a Herceptin infusion on Tuesday of next week. It’s questionable whether they will let me have the MRI but I’ll check. That’s scheduled on the 12th.

Covid reminds me of the old timey flu that I had as a kid. I was so weak then I couldn’t get out of bed. I can manage to get out of bed but I sure am weak. Thanks to Holley and Jim! They brought over Mom’s Chicken Soup from Whole Foods along with a bottle of tangerine juice and cornbread. That was my first meal of the day. She had just learned her mother, who was recovering from back surgery, fell and broke her hip, yet she thought of me to bring me soup!

Thanks to everyone who is checking up on me. I didn’t need this on top of everything else but I guess my time was up and I was going to come down with it anyway.

Hopefully, there are not too many mistakes in today’s blog. I’m feeling a little better but not enough to proofread closely.

Stay tuned.