Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
Wed Apr 1, 2020, 06:28 PM Apr 2020

My brother is on the mend from what we suspect was Covid-19

His symptoms weren't quite intense enough to qualify for testing so he isolated himself in his loft. Over the past 10 or so days he had the fever spikes, sore throat, chills, cough, fatigue, some body aches. I nagged him to drink lots of hot teas and keep hydrated. His cough was quite productive, so he was expelling mucus rather than retaining it. I seriously didn't need his description of what he was 'producing', but I got it, anyway.

He was at my house about 2 1/2 weeks ago because I needed help getting 160 lbs of water softener salt from the store to my basement. He wasn't feeling stellar, then, so we took every precaution and I made him drive separately to the store, to retain that 6 foot 'social' distance.

When I talked to him, this morning, he sounded much better than the day before and he said he feels he's taken the turn towards healing.

As for me being contaminated, I'm not particularly worried. I've been in total isolation since he left, so I'm pretty much outside of the contagion 'danger' zone. Every morning I take my temp - I have yet to break 98 degrees - do the 10 second deep breath test with no discomfort, and I haven't developed any other symptoms. I intend to do everything I can to maintain that as my status quo.

I'm so relieved he's getting better because I never felt so hopeless, in my entire life.

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

BComplex

(7,977 posts)
1. I'm glad he's getting better. If anything ever happened to my brother, I don't
Wed Apr 1, 2020, 06:30 PM
Apr 2020

think I could stand it. He's my best bud.

Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
3. My brother and I are the last of the immediate family.
Wed Apr 1, 2020, 06:33 PM
Apr 2020

I can't say that all we have are each other, because we are very close to our sister's daughter, sons and granddaughter. But, I don't think I have it in me to weather another loss in the family. Losing 6 family members in the last 5 years has been crippling.

BComplex

(7,977 posts)
4. OMG Siwsan! I'm so sorry for your losses.
Wed Apr 1, 2020, 06:47 PM
Apr 2020

That's just unbearable. I went through that many years ago, and I remember hating it when the phone rang...I was so afraid someone else had died. And, sure enough, it often was the case.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
5. It is hard to say after the fact whether a person had something.
Wed Apr 1, 2020, 07:04 PM
Apr 2020

With the chaotic state of national testing, no one is going to get a test and end up with a big bill, if they are lucky enough to get tested. So your brother could have had it and may never know.

I myself about a month ago developed headaches, a clogged nose and a sore throat. I absolutely never have headaches. It was late at night when I became uncomfortable, so I couldn't up and call my Doctor. I boiled some water and made myself a cinnamon/nutmeg/clove tea that I have drank for a while to combat a genetic problem that I seem to have inherited from my mom. The next morning I woke up with the headache gone, it took another couple days to eliminate the sore throat and about a day for the clogged nose. I decided to drink the stuff regularly instead of when I had usually made and drank it. I also added a spec of fresh lemon juice because the stuff is nasty without some of that and if I was going to drink it regularly, I needed the flavor enhancement. I have not looked back, feel great.

Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
6. He is 100% convinced it's what he has. I'm at around 50 to 60% convinced
Wed Apr 1, 2020, 07:16 PM
Apr 2020

We both had colds earlier. Mine definitely improved, but his hung on. Also, he is a school bus driver so he's exposed to SO much more than I am.

I'm a big believer in dosing with turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper and garlic, plus I take CBD on a daily basis. Pretty much all of those also have anti inflammatory properties, which I'm convinced helps mitigate a whole lot of sickness. I know that's what got me though a bout of shingles, with no residual scarring or neuropathy.

Starting tomorrow I'm going to be drinking Golden Milk, every night. I know that people like to fling the 'woo' term around, but I've noticed, since starting on the above, a definite change in how I feel, and how fast I can get over things. I finally shook a long term problem with chronic bronchial infections by stopping the antibiotics and other prescriptions, and going a more natural route. It might not work for everyone but it works for me. To each their own.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
8. I am trained as an engineer. Over the last few years, I have found that
Wed Apr 1, 2020, 07:28 PM
Apr 2020

some natural remedies worked better for me than pharmas. So, if people want to toss around the woo charge, let them, you know your body. With summer fast coming in Florida, I have to get myself some natural peppermint candy, chewing a couple of pieces before bed really helps with mosquitos the next day when I walk into shaded areas where they hang out.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»My brother is on the mend...