Yep. Last night a fever and headache descended on me. Home test today confirms it.

I’m not totally miserable at this point, but don’t have energy to do much.

I did have a previous bout of it a couple of years ago.

Well blast and damn. Hope you coast through it.

Is there something I am supposed to do besides just waiting it out? Like Paxlovid or something? Should I be calling a doctor?

I didn't even call the doctor when I got sick. My temp got a little over 102 but came back down fairly quickly without fever reducers. I just felt like I had a bad cold. I monitored my own symptoms and knew I had a few days to get the Paxlovid if things got much worse.

Mr wtg, OTOH, had more of a fever, felt like he had been hit by a truck, and was coughing a lot more. As it turns out, his temp dropped from 102.7 during the night to 99.5 not long before his scheduled telehealth appointment. That's where he was at when we did the virtual appointment with our doc.

Doctor was not inclined to prescribe Paxlovid in Mr wtg's case, even though he is 73, overweight, and has bladder cancer. Surprised me, as I thought for sure he'd write a prescription for it. He mentioned the rebound cases of Paxlovid and also side effects. I think he may have seen cases in his practice where the Paxlovid was probably worse than just letting the virus run its course.

My neighbor, in his late 50s and in excellent health, got a scrip from urgent care. He was extremely fatigued but had no other symptoms. He felt better within a day of starting Paxlovid, which he got a day after symptoms started. Mr wtg never took it. And he had a rougher case than mine.

People I know who have taken Paxlovid have ranged from no side effects (my neighbor, who didn't even have the metallic taste), to those who got the rebound and/or who had very bad diarrhea and stomach upset.

It's all over the map. I guess it boils down to how you feel. Paxlovid needs to be started within five days of testing positive, so you still have a bit of time. But of course the earlier you start, the more you shut down the virus.

eta: You could always contact the doc, see what he/she has to say, and if they decide to prescribe you could always defer having it filled for a day or two to see how things unfold.

I'm sorry, Joe.

Feel better soon.

Thanks, Daniel.

I’m having a beer. I am not a huge beer drinker, but when I have a cold, there’s nothing better.

I am so sorry. I did contact my doctor to see about Paxlovid - she said it was up to me, that there were some side effects, and the possible covid rebound (it seems to be unclear whether it is related to the paxlovid or not). I decided against it as i wasn’t sure when exactly I came down with it, and it only works on you in the beginning. A gallery mate of mine did take it and she said it reduced the severity of her symptoms. My brother called me this morning (he’s in Reno) and he also just tested positive - he’s going to take paxlovid.

How are you feeling, Jodi?

Joe, so sorry to hear this!!

Jodi, I hope you're feeling better!

Sorry to hear it, Joe.

I can tell you that what I did was go to bed and sleep for some 18 hours and that’s all it took.

OTOH, that’s what I do whenever I get sick with anything so YMMV.

If only I could have gone to sleep for 18 hours! I had a really hard time sleeping, and could NOT nap. I am a lot better today, still a bad cough and some congestion, but I have had energy to do some things in the studio, cook dinner and make up dough for bagels. Poor Steve may be joining the club - we thought he’d had a mild case, but apparently not. Looking more like he picked up something at Yellowstone that wasn’t covid, and then I caught covid after we got home a horse show I helped out at (indoor arena - and at least three others that were there that day have come down with covid) and now Steve has caught it from me. He came down with a fever this afternoon, chills and sweats and has gone to bed and we will test him tomorrow…..

Ugh, sorry to hear this Jodi!

Sorry, Jodi (and Steve). Hopefully you will both pull through this quickly.

I’m going to try sleeping on the living room couch tonight, so my wife can have the bed to herself. I’m also masking when anywhere near her.

So sorry to hear this. Hope it is a mild second bout.

Yeah, my wife and I separated when I came down with it in Santa Fe, and again when she got it after we returned home. Our cases were fairly minor.

P*D, how did you separate? Did you go to a hotel?