Is a 9-day cough w/no other symptoms suggestive of Covid?

[Grasswire2]

Asking for my adult son, who is an anti-vaxxer based on the "clean eating" premise that nothing made by science should be put into one's body. I know, I know.

Today he asked me to find recipes for expectorant. Honey, vinegar, whatever.

I suggested as softly as possible that he might want to test for Covid.

He's 2,000 miles away from me.

[onecaliberal]

1. I mean it could be, but unless you test. I've had symptoms before and tested repeatedly but was

Never positive.

[Emile]

2. He won't get tested?

[Grasswire2]

9. I sent him two tests via amazon to arrive tomorrow

with the message "Because I'm your mother."

[Emile]

14. +1. a great mother indeed!

[RockCreek]

3. Any chance of asthma? Allergies? N/t

[we can do it]

5. Bronchitis?

[Phentex]

4. anecdotal but all the people I've known with the lingering cough...

end up testing positive.

Although, our local news said allergy season was beefing up right now too.

[Donkees]

6. Tell him that honeybees receive medical treatments...

and they are not indigenous either. Best wishes

[Backseat Driver]

7. Sorry Grasswire2, but I am skeptical that he really needs you to look up recipes.

That's just to keep you busy, useful, and enabling of his reluctance to test and vax; sounds like his inner adult-child needs his parent; now you both are worried sick. That's almost nice to hear and feel when you are so far away. Here's some tips for cough and flu that you've also probably been doing since he was a kid....

Most people into "Let Food Be Thy Medicine" know how to use their browsers to find "homemade cough and mucus-thinning syrups" for colds and flu and hit Amazon or their local health food store for the ingredients.

Also, he could put a big dutch oven or stockpot full of water to steam on the oven burner to humidify cold dry interior air or sit in the bathroom with the door ever so slightly cracked in which a hot shower is running--yes, the bills go up with extra use of these utilities and one needs to turn both water or range burner off if you want to sleep. He should not be smoking (whatever substance) and he can gargle and/or sip down a shot of high-octane whiskey with lemon and honey to taste. Note: alcohol in excess is dehyrating!

Old faithful when the throat is also sore -- gargle and/or snort some salt water. Stay otherwise hydrated, water, pulp-free OJ (vitamin C) , or iced green tea that has lots of benefits for immunity function (I drink one with dinner every night with lemon and a bit of honey or sugar) -- not coffee or hot tea (except the old-fashioned spiked Hot Toddy), both which contain caffeine, a stimulant. I did see some Robitussin Natural formulas available at the big box Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, etc...as well as some commercial elderberry formulas made from sambucus nigra (elderberry)...Tell him to stay away from chocolates or milk products which tend to make mucus thicker.

Be a kind parent, he just wants to hear your reassuring voice...(hugs).

[Grasswire2]

12. thanks for your suggestions

Iced green tea is a good idea. Also it's anti-inflammatory.

[Quakerfriend]

8. Yes, it can be. He should get tested and perhaps more importantly

he should measure his 02 levels with a pulse oximeter.
Some people have no shortness of breath but, O2 levels go very low (silent hypoxemia).
If O2 levels are low he must go to hospital- If < 94.

My husband’s cousin caught Covid @ Dec 23- had terrible cough for a week then got increasingly fatigued over New Years- no other symptoms. He was not short of breath but, when he finally went to the hospital 1/4 his 02 level was 50!

He passed away this morning, one day after his 49th birthday.

He was the nicest person- not a Trumper and not political at all- but, got his only news from FB & succumbed to Russian medical propaganda.

[orleans]

15. i'm really sorry for your family's loss

hugs for you and your family

[Scrivener7]

10. Grasswire, my first thought was the same as Backseat Driver's. Your son,

presumably, knows your thoughts about vaccines. And is, presumably, an adult based on the fact he is 2,000 miles away.

He COULD look up those recipes himself. He must be more tied into the world that agrees with his "clean eating" principles than you are. So it's illogical that he would ask you to do this.

I have a relative who does this to me. It is a way for them to get attention from me, and it is a way to try and bring me into a position of enabling their behaviors that I disagree with.

I stopped engaging a short while ago, and have been enduring some real rage and "you don't care about me!" stuff from this relative. But I've been careful to stay calm and explain that it is BECAUSE I care that I am not engaging, and I am recommending vaccines and testing.

It seems to be calming down. I don't think my point is getting across, but the relative is no longer trying to reel me into a position I clearly don't want to be in.

[Grasswire2]

11. yes, it's complicated.

Yes, likely his permission for me to worry is the underlying message.

He told me months ago to not mention Covid. He is smart and his "clean eating" fixation is built on his training as a chef at Army Quartermaster cook school, then culinary school and a career as chef at places like Ritz Carlton Boston, exec chef at New England Inns, seaman chef aboard an historic schooner out of Maine, and so on. Not cheffing anymore as his knees gave out. He's a consultant, now, for fine dining interests.

I think you are right. He has not been afraid of Covid, thinking he would not be vulnerable as he and his partner both work from home and are mostly quarantined.

But his telling me about the cough means that he is allowing me to worry (as he likely is worried a bit).

I sent him two tests and a pulse oximeter to arrive tomorrow. He's smart enough to know he needs to get vaxxed -- that he can't beat the odds if it comes knocking at his door.

Thanks for your input. Much appreciated.

[Scrivener7]

13. Hang in there. It really is hard.