#you can't get paxlovid if you get covid even if you're at risk or vulnerable

[anyroads]

Pretty sure I've reblogged this post before with more detailed notes but the tl;dr is that that's a reasonable amount. The average dose of ibuprofen you're supposed to take is 400mg, ie. 2 pills. If you have a cold or the flu and need to keep your fever down for even just a few days, you've gone through a 16 pack of ibuprofen (at 2 pills/dose and say, 3 doses a day, though the max is 4, so this estimate is conservative) in 2.5 days, at which point you're still too sick to go to the pharmacy. That's if you're an individual; if you have a 4 person household, ie. 2 parents and 2 kids over the age of needing children's meds let's say, then that quadruples, which means a 16 pack of ibuprofen isn't even enough for a single day if your family all have the flu at the same time. It's barely enough for a day if only two people are sick enough to have a fever.

That doesn't even factor in how many people use ibuprofen for period cramps, so let's say your household has 2 people who need that monthly (2 pills 3x/day for say just the first 2 days, for two people = 12 pills/month - and again I'm being conservative because it can be as much as 16 - which adds up to 144 pills/year - or up to 192 - just for period cramps). The shelf life of ibuprofen lasts several years, so a bottle of 500 pills is completely reasonable for the average household to have. A bottle of 1000 pills is reasonable for the many families who have more than 2 kids.

My British in-laws who are doctors literally ask us to bring them back bottles of ibuprofen and antihistamines of this size whenever we visit the US, because even they agree that the UK (and most of Europe) doles out this kind of basic household medication in absurdly small packages. I'm also pretty sure I did some math the last time I reblogged this, that showed that there is a significant difference in cost per pill in the big bottles they sell in the US and the packages you get in the UK. Like, the degree to which we're overpaying for ibuprofen in packets of 16 pills was astounding.

And I know tumblr user nerves-nebula is just trying to be funny but the truth is that there's no such thing as a completely functional or completely useless healthcare system. Here in the UK we have socialized health care but good luck getting an appointment or even emergency care depending on where you live because the system has been ripped to shreds by the Tories. So on the basis of access to functional healthcare, the UK should have giant bottles of meds too. Meanwhile, access to healthcare in the US is a huge problem, but if you do have it then I guarantee you that the treatment and care you get is comparable to, if not better than, the bullshit we get here.

wait americans can just. buy massive bottles of ibuprofen what the fuck

[spookysalem13]

I'm home from work, infected with covid-19, yet again. As an immune compromised person, I'm starting to think covid is in love with me. This is my third infection this year alone.

I'm at the point in my infection where I'm getting worse. The old phrase "it gets worse before it gets better" comes to mind whenever I have covid.

I feel like it starts off mediocre, then you start to feel it and you're like "man this sucks"! That's when covid laughs and hits your harder.

I'm at the stage where my ears are half way plugged. It's becoming increasingly difficult to hear anything. I can't smell anymore, but I can still taste. Though taste is numbed. Nothing is like so delicious anymore it stands out. Everything kind of tastes just average.

My lungs have been burning for days now. But I haven't had a cough until today. Considering I still barely have a cough, that tells me it's still going to get worse.

My fever is so bad I'm drenched in sweat! I continuously randomly fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Due to my fever I'm having fever dreams. Shaking in my sleep even.

This isn't fun, I'm struggling with this infection. My immune system is having a rough time kicking it out.

Once again, they've put me on Paxlovid. The medication used in treating high risk patients, such as myself, for covid-19.

I'm writing all of this, even if no one reads it. Because I personally like to look back at where I was during certain times. Also, for those who do read, and are a part of my spooky community here on tumblr, just know you can probably expect me to posting more this upcoming week, as I will be stuck in bed.

And finally, because I am immune compromised. I have multiple autoimmune diseases as well as a ton of other chronic health conditions. It personally upsets me when people talk about how the pandemic is so called "over" or how covid is "irrelevant" now.

That is so far from the truth. In fact, covid is worse now than it ever was when we were on lockdown. The virus is also stronger now. It's learning to beat our vaccines. Which is why new ones keep immerging.

It's a deadly virus that's constantly mutating, it spreads at a rapid rate, especially during this time of year.

I tell you how my body is handling the virus, even before it hits its peak, so hopefully some more people can understand why this virus is dangerous. Why we must protect the vulnerable like myself. And even everyone for that matter.

One single covid-19 infection leaves life long health implications. We're already seeing it play out.

This virus was supposed to be far more complex than we understand. Please don't take it lightly and don't make jokes. Please take precautions when out in public and remember. The pandemic isn't over.