Sorry for your loss, @ChoatieMom . Sending condolences.
My dad’s sister, who turns 91 in early May, was just dx’d. She’s asymptomatic at this point. Her AL facility in CA is locked down.
So sorry for your loss, ChoatieMom.
My dad goes out to Ft. Gordon regularly, and it’s all we can do to keep him home now that things are reopening.
@Creekland and @HImom You will be interested in this article about how even non hospitalized covid-19 victims may have substantial lung impairment. The article is geared towards divers but will be applicable to anyone who is active. My daughter is going to need a big workup - I am not sure they have the capability on her island.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/04/24/divers-face-long-term-health-impact-from-covid-19/
…Dr. Frank Hartig, a senior physician at the University Clinic Innsbruck in Austria, has treated six divers who were infected with the coronavirus but had suffered only mild symptoms. None of the six had to remain in hospital and all recuperated at home.
Although all six patients were deemed clinically recovered, the long-term damage to their lungs appears irreversible, Hartig told Austria Press Agency.
CT scans of the patients’ lungs revealed such an extent of damage that it makes a full recovery unlikely.
“This is shocking, we don’t understand what’s going on here. They are probably lifelong patients,” he said.
Two of the six patients exhibited irritable lungs, similar to asthmatics. Two patients suffered a lack of oxygen supply indicative of a persistent pulmonary shunt. And scans of four patients showed significant changes to their lungs.
The images were so at odds with the healthy-looking patients sitting in front of him, Hartig said in the interview, he had to double-check with the X-ray department that the files had not been mixed-up…
…Hartig said it is now certain that patients who feel fully recovered can still suffer from severe effects of the lung disease weeks and months later, prohibiting diving and many other forms of exercise…
@HImom I know you follow lung issues. Are you seeing reports like this in your resources?
I just got a call that my very good friends much younger brother (maybe 40) died last night of a massive heart attack. From what I’ve been reading about Covid, this is not uncommon. Has a wife and young children.
He lived in Rockland County, NY which are suburbs of NYC.
I assume an autopsy will find out if he had Covid,
That is so young! So many tough deaths being reported here.
@“Snowball City” Many thanks for that article! I just sent it to my son (yes, we all dive) so he can be aware. I also shared it with my med school lad so he’s informed of the up to date info as both a diver and future doctor.
As divers (and hikers, etc) ourselves, the thought of not being able to go under water again keeps us more determined to not want to catch this thing.
Who knows what else the lung damage will do as we age? I can’t see anything good from (potentially) permanent damage.
I think I may have mentioned earlier that the father of one of my favorite grads was in the hospital in NYC with Covid 19. He passed away this weekend at 72. As others have noted, the most difficult part for the family was not being able to be with him during the weeks of his hospitalization or at the end of his life. This is a terrible virus.
What exactly is ‘asymptomatic’? Is it without symptoms or is it with symptoms, but the sufferer is not affected by the symptoms?
Asymptomatic means the individual does not have any symptoms of a disease.
@WayOutWestMom Thanks. I realize I did not phrase that too well! By aymptomatic - I think it could also mean a person has symptoms but is walking around unaffected and unaware of the symptoms. Could that not be the case?
Huh - in another thread, somebody just posted this, which is essentially what I am wondering about being asymptomatic
No, it means they have no symptoms. They can still be contagious. That’s why it’s scary. You can walk around and unknowingly infect others.
@“Snowball City” — thanks for the article. The lung docs I know have not been talking with me or the patient community about permanent lung damage from COVID - 19 yet. There’s so much not understood about this condition and they’re trying so hard to keep patients alive and as safe as possible.
Have read it can cause heart, lung, neurological (brain) damage. It’s unclear how permanent these changes/damage are as it’s all very recent.
Most lung patients are already very anxious about their breathing as it is, no one wants to add to their concerns. Some are also clinically depressed and isolation adds more difficulty.
If anyone here is in the Cincinnati area, please watch WAPO tomorrow, because after 48 days, my friend’s BIL is being released from the hospital!! It really is nothing short of a miracle. He was the first admitted to that hospital with COVID-19, was on ECMO for 19 days and had all sorts of problems and complications. But he survived and is going home!
@jym626, that’s so good to hear.
I hope he continues to do well.
@jym626., that’s awesome. Do you know if your BIL was part of any medication trial or if he received any off label drugs?
My 88 year old mom went to the hospital today and was found to have pneumonia. She and my dad were tested for Covid-19. They’ll get the results tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Its not my BIL, its a friend’s BIL (who they will do a spot on on the 11 news in Cincinnati tonight, from what she said). He was on some experimental drug a few weeks ago, but only for 2 days, as because of some other complication he had, they had to discontinue it. Not sure which he was on.
Oops, that’s right, you said it was a friend’s BIL.
Sounds like he is practically a walking miracle.
Sending healing vibes to your mom and dad. And hugs to you.
My friend’s BIL’s hospital discharge just made the (ABC) national news!!!