A few months ago, my goal was to try and blog twice a week. After my son was born a little over a month ago, I got busy and my goal was to try to blog once a week. I'm still trying and it's tough, especially now that we all have Covid.
Everyone Has COVID-19
First, it was my son, then my wife, then me. We didn't even know he was sick at first, we are very inexperienced parents and don't know him that well and he can't really talk to us about symptoms. Frankly, I'm surprised I didn't catch it first. In any case, we are survivors, and #Iamnotavirus lol (this kind of stuff was so early 2020 and seems redundant now).
The middle one is mine, I passed, but it was too late to bother isolating myself from my family.
The Baby
My infant son is 5 weeks old today! He is an anti-masker and an anti-vaxer. He was also the first one to get COVID-19 in my family. Fortunately, he is doing alright as far as infants are concerned. I think the elderly get it far worse than anyone else. The younger you are the less severe, but at his age, just like the elderly, everything is concerning.
Babies can't get vaccines or wear masks. He isn't an actually anti-vaxer. Giving a 5-week old baby a covid vaccine is illegal. Even though 5-year-olds can get vaxxed here starting April 1st and I've heard 2-year-olds are getting it in some places, he doesn't come close to qualifying in any case.
He also isn't an actually anti-masker FreeDumb!!! He doesn't wear a mask because he is too young. Generally, if you are old enough to walk and be out of diapers, you wear a mask while in public in Korea, especially indoors. No one will say anything to children under 3, but especially to 5-week old babies. I guess you could try and he wouldn't understand anyway.
I think he caught it while at the hospital getting a vaccine for a different issue - BCG for TB (It's still given in Korea, I paid extra for the good one that doesn't leave a bump). They made us wait in a small crowded 'recovery' room filled with other little anti-maskers. Perfect place to catch Covid-19.
My Wife
My wife is an anti-vaxer, but not an anti-masker. She didn't want to get a vaccine because she was pregnant. Actually, it wasn't even allowed for pregnant women in Korea until November 1st and by then she was like 7 months pregnant, so I don't blame her for not wanting it until after.
She got her first vaccine (Novavax) 2 weeks ago Wednesday, or about 1 week before showing obvious signs that she caught Covid. It probably wasn't very effective at that point. I've heard a lot of stuff about the vaccine, but needless to say, her symptoms are by far worse than mine and probably our baby's (hard to tell with that little guy). In my non-expert opinion and single case point, this is evidence the vaccine works.
She had a fever of up to 29.4C on the weekend, and she refused my home cure of garlic juice, ghost peppers and vodka. I don't blame her, but fortunately, she did take some medicine that she was prescribed and that helped with her fever. She didn't do the full 7-day course and is now on OTC stuff but that is cool. I don't know why they are prescribing anti-biotics for this stuff. Also, she said it was making her high.
She caught it 2nd I think and our baby gave it to her. He likes coughing in our faces. Actually, spit is the least gross fluid he has hit us with, lol.
Good to say, my wife is now feeling a little better which means she isn't sleeping 15 hours a day and can help me a little with the baby. Handling that on my own was a handful to say the least.
My Self
I failed my test 2 days later. I knew it was inevitable. I probably caught it from them, but who really knows? Korea has it bad now with Omicron-2a (or whatever).
I got Covid last. Actually, I tested negative Thursday night on a self-test when my wife tested positive, and then I tested negative again on Friday at a hospital test. Then I failed a home test Sunday and a hospital test Monday.
In Korea, you need to do a rapid test with a certified medical professional if you want any government support. It's worth paying a couple of dollars to skip the line and get one at the local clinic instead of the district health office where it is free. Technically, I can also get a free PCR now, but why bother when failing rapid tests?
I got a test in a little booth outside the local clinic. She stands on one side and I stand on the other. It is similar to a confession booth, but she is handling me with giant rubber gloves instead of hearing my sins. I'm sorry I caught Covid - 1 week paid staycation!
In my case, I don't feel sick at all. I had a bit of a sore throat and I thought it was because of air pollution, especially after testing negative. This also means I probably caught the coronavirus last. That's odd, I'm the one going to work all day and riding extremely busy public transportation (Seoul is busy where the standing room is barely available) while eating in the company cafeteria and being in a somewhat crowded office and elevators.
By the way, I'm fully vaccinated (Pfizer) and had a booster shot in late February. I wear a mask religiously and change it every day. I keep it on more than anyone in my office.
I assume I have the mildest symptoms in my family because I'm fully vaccinated, but maybe it's all that garlic juice with hot pepper powder and vodka I've been drinking. #homeremedy!
Rapid Tests
At first, I was a little confused about how rapid tests work. No, I'm not talking about failing to read the instructions or digging deep, I'm confused with the lines. Even the faintest line is positive as long as there is something on both C and T. In any case, we have to do hospital checks here if we think we failed a self-test. Sure you can lie to avoid quarantine when testing positive (currently 7 days here), but being responsible, or not, is a choice.
We also had to go to a children's clinic to get the baby checked. Not too many general doctors or nurses want to do a covid test on a small infant. Oddly, my baby didn't cry, he is a big boy! But I did see a 30-year-old lady cry another time I had to take the nose swab. No one likes the test, but I was embarrassed for her. After about 12 years old such reactions to uncomfortable situations are inappropriate.
Treatment
TL;DR if you catch Covid-19 you need to stay isolated for about a week and keep yourself comfortable.
We couldn't go to the pharmacy after testing positive, so we asked my mother-in-law to go. Basic yummy OTC medicines like this are running out. My went overboard, lol. I think she felt guilty she couldn't stay and help out since she cannot be exposed to coronaviruses which now thrive in my house.
After following regulations (I'll probably lose my job if I get a fine for being stupid), we got the medicine from the pharmacy. Our child hasn't been prescribed anything, but my wife and I have been prescribed the same gauntlet of medicine. It involves anti-inflammatory, anti-biotic, painkillers, decongestants and fever reducers. My wife took hers for 2.5 days out of 7. I got a 5-day prescription. I specifically told them I only had a sore throat - not even enough to gargle saltwater, but they still gave me everything. Much science, score another point for home remedies.
Anyway, the treatment that actually works (antivirals developed specifically for covid) is only available for inpatients that cannot breathe on their own or people over 70. It's a shame, maybe my wife could have used some. She was looking awful on Saturday.
With such mild or non-existent symptoms, I'm not even sure I need my garlic, pepper and vodka remedy, just a nice cold beer is fine, lol (they can legally deliver beer now because of covid).
OTC Care and My Experience
We bought a lot of cough syrup (Colddaewon blue), throat candy (Ricola and Halls) and Theraflu (lemon tea). The cough syrup and Theraflu tea are a cocktail of medicines. Acetaminophen (paracetamol/Tylenol) is basically the main ingredient. I'm not even sure I need it, but heck, I haven't had this good of an excuse to chug cough syrup and painkillers for years.
Now that it's Tuesday, we are finally feeling better. Our baby is still not sleeping, but what can we expect from an infant? My wife no longer has a fever. I'm feeling the same. But we are all stuck indoors for a few more days. They will be free Friday, but I'm stuck until Monday.
Lesson Learned
I felt we did everything reasonable to avoid this. Unfortunately, Korea is getting like 300k cases a day out of a population of 50m. Something like 20% of the country has caught it since mid-January. For a while, the government was doing well with contact tracing, treatments and quarantine and even made up a stupid K-quarantine propaganda campaign with K-pop stars to brag #toosoon. However, omicron wrecked the zero-covid policies that existed in Korea and a few other places.
Having a sick wife and a sick baby really suck. My wife could barely look after herself and obviously, my baby can't do anything sick or well. It was an awful weekend. I'm glad I didn't have it that badly.
Masks and vaccines work. Not sure about the treatments, typical cold remedies worked for us. Be safe.
Yikes!! What a nightmare, especially the little kid getting it!! I can imagine it's so difficult to know how he is feeling, but hope he is crying less and eating and sleeping more. I think that's a sign of a healthy happy baby? Not that I would know 😬
Anyway, hope you all recover very soon. You do get stronger immunity from catching it, so at least some good is going to come out of all this!!
That sums up how I feel too, :)
It's been a rough week, lol.
Thank you for your good wishes.
What a ride! I am glad you're all on the mend. Stay safe!
It's...been rough.
Thank you.
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I hope you and your family are safe! I've always wonder how the rapid test work and wanted to get some for myself. My family and I were really sick just last month, we didn't get tested though but was really afraid it was covid. Like you, we also took those medications including iodine gargle and salt water. It took about more than a week for me to recover. We also consume a lot of vitamin C, D, vitamin you name it 😂 strangely where I am at now Bali, a lot of people don't even wear mask which is crazy. It's concerning at the same time and I am trying my best to stay healthy and just chug vitamins and eat really well.
Thank you.
I've been taking vitamin D all winter and I definitely eat enough fresh fruits and good food to get a healthy diet. I'm not sleeping the best, but that's inevitable with a baby in the house.
I'd be concerned with people not wearing masks around me, especially in the more crowded areas on Bali.
Basically, the covid test has 2 parts to read C -control result and T - test result, if C doesn't get a line (even a clear line is a line), the test is broken. If T gets a line, you have covid. False negatives are more common than false positives because of incorrect use. There is a small risk you can contaminate it and turn positive, but you have to be quite careless to do that.
Wow! we hope that little Julian will pull through 100% and you and your wife as well.
This Covid is a real messy affair and we are in a dwindling state of infections in our country. Only until the next wave of the new Covid which they estimate to arrive at the end of April.
A strange thing took place as my eldest daughter was emigrating to the UK with er family ans she tested positive for Covid. She was the only one in her family that had Covid and she had no symptoms.
Regardless, as she had to isolate for 14 days before they could leave and her whole family had to be in quarantine for another 14 days when they arrived in the UK.
Marian and I have had no Covid, but nevertheless we went for the two shots of Pfizer vaccinations plus a booster shot, as we will feel very bad if we were to give Covid to the poor people that we work with in the communities.
So we hope and pray for Julian and for you and your wife 🙏
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Thank you for your kind words.
Fortunately, I don't have it bad at all and Julian seems fine. My wife had it bad, but she is getting better now.
This omicron wave is bad, highly contagious, but fortunately not so severe. If I remember right, it started in Africa, but now there is something called stealth-omicron. I hope your next wave isn't that bad. It's really hard on the economy and those over 70. Hopefully, the vaccine rate is now high enough to help prevent the worst cases.
I think wearing a mask is the best way to prevent spreading covid. Obviously, you aren't going to be doing that while at home with your wife, but keep it on while doing your charity work. I think they will be understanding. Personally, I avoid people who are uncomfortable with me wearing a mask.
My pleasure and glad that all of you are improving.
Africa denies that it started here, but that's a long story as China also denies that the original started there.
Thankfully I am 2 years younger than 70 and our local vaccine rate is not ideal yet. Too many conspiracy stories floating around.
Yes, masks and hand sanitizer is the correct way to protect ourselves and all others. So as soon as we leave the house it is mask on times.
Distances have also to be kept especially in the case of those with no masks.
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