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I Am Very Concerned Because My 77 Year Old Mother
Question: I am very concerned because my 77 year old mother has just tested positive for covid. She woke up with a scratchy throat and took a home test of which she had a very faint pink second line. Scratchy throat is currently the only symptom she has but it is early in the infection. She is super active and healthy and seems much younger than her age. She had a stroke with no after effects 7 years ago (at that time they incidentally found a small 3mm anerysm) but she has had no other problems since. She takes aspirin and plavix plus synthroid for hyperthyroid. She had the Moderna vaccine last March, but due to caretaking her 99 year old mother she had procrastinated and did not yet get the booster. 1. How much protection from serious illness will she still have from getting the Moderna vaccine 10 months ago? 2. Are there any early interventional treatments she should take due to her age? 3. She is taking a vitamin with d, c, zinc and some cold ease. Are there any supplements I should have her take? 4. I am worried about the fact that she did have a stroke several years ago and she is on Plavix. Is Omicron considered vascular like the original covid and is she at greater risk due to this history? She has been super careful through this pandemic and we are both really upset she ended up positive.
I didn't realize this would take so long......
How much longer will I have to wait?
Brief Answer:
So let me address each of these concerns below
Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon this is Dr. G.
I did read about the ongoing situation with your mother, and I do realize the stress that produces, I will do my best to answer the questions and whatever I don't explain well enough just let me know.
So, regarding the effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine at 10 months, there is a steady decline in antibody effectiveness that we see with the vaccines, especially after 6 months, now this is really variable with each person. The only real way to know is to obtain the COVID 19 Antibody titer levels to see if they are elevated enough to offer the needed protection, this might be worth looking into.
Regarding the interventional medications there are a number of really good new antiviral medications out there that are being used to treat active COVID infections, her family doctor will now which one or ones would be appropriate for her to take. PAXLOVID is the main one.
The Vitamins that are currently being used, VITAMIN C, D, ZINC and the Cold EASE are perfect, that is the standard approach and please continue them.
The OMICRON is still considered vascular and able to produce clotting disorder, but it is far less than the XXXXXXX variant. So, there is going to be some increased risk here, the exact amount is hard to determine but this is going to at least be some increased risk. The antiplatelets agents like PLAVIX is good to continue.
Please reach out with follow up questions and I will do my best to assist.
Dr. David G, Emergency and Hospital Medicine
So let me address each of these concerns below
Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon this is Dr. G.
I did read about the ongoing situation with your mother, and I do realize the stress that produces, I will do my best to answer the questions and whatever I don't explain well enough just let me know.
So, regarding the effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine at 10 months, there is a steady decline in antibody effectiveness that we see with the vaccines, especially after 6 months, now this is really variable with each person. The only real way to know is to obtain the COVID 19 Antibody titer levels to see if they are elevated enough to offer the needed protection, this might be worth looking into.
Regarding the interventional medications there are a number of really good new antiviral medications out there that are being used to treat active COVID infections, her family doctor will now which one or ones would be appropriate for her to take. PAXLOVID is the main one.
The Vitamins that are currently being used, VITAMIN C, D, ZINC and the Cold EASE are perfect, that is the standard approach and please continue them.
The OMICRON is still considered vascular and able to produce clotting disorder, but it is far less than the XXXXXXX variant. So, there is going to be some increased risk here, the exact amount is hard to determine but this is going to at least be some increased risk. The antiplatelets agents like PLAVIX is good to continue.
Please reach out with follow up questions and I will do my best to assist.
Dr. David G, Emergency and Hospital Medicine
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
She is entering day 4 and her symptoms are still mild. As far as the clotting issue, does this threat end when she tests negative or it something that lingers after the infection is over?
Brief Answer:
The thread declines quickly
Detailed Answer:
So, with COVID, particularly with mild symptoms the risk is greatest within the first 5-6 days then slowly, from my experience the risk here tends to steadily decline, essentially going back to normal usually within 10 days at absolute most
The thread declines quickly
Detailed Answer:
So, with COVID, particularly with mild symptoms the risk is greatest within the first 5-6 days then slowly, from my experience the risk here tends to steadily decline, essentially going back to normal usually within 10 days at absolute most
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Saisudha Kotla
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