So I tested positive for covid on Friday and have had all the symptoms ie fever, chills, aches, cough, headache.. dr said given I’m a healthy 61 yr old it’s up to me if I want to take paxlovid … only issue is I don’t do well w meds.. many make me sick etc and have a condition called neurocardiogenic syncope that causes me to faint when I feel sick etc .. biggest concern is I’m taking care of frail 91 yr old mom and trying to prevent her from getting covud again .. wear 2 n95 masks around her and gloves …wondering if taking this drug reduces viral load as to protect her further .. if it was just me, I would ride this out…im calling around to see if i can get any aides to come to house until i get better but who would come if covid is in the household? and mom needs care.
As said, by the time you showed symptoms and got tested, Mom was exposed. It can take 5 days from exposure for a test to show positive. I would say mask if you feel its necessary. Wash hands frequently. Get as much rest as u can. If she contracts it again, not much u can do about it. Its the situation ur in.
I have had my vaccines and one booster. In 2 years from when Covid started my DH and I had never had it until our cruise in June. We started symtoms at the end, flew home thinking we caught a cold from niece. Only to find out we had COVID. DH ran a fever, I didn't. It was like a bad head cold. Protocol then was Quarantine for 5 days, mask for 5 days.
You've written in the past about holiday parties with relatives. And you have a brother. Can NO ONE take care of your mother while you get better?
As far as whether or not paid help would come in, that's a very good question. Does anyone even care about covid anymore? Most people don't seem to. A very low percentage have gotten the bivalent booster. Not many people have gotten the flu shot, either. People are traveling. Not many are masking. There is a tridemic out there, but people just don't seem to care.
Please do some research on Paxlovid, including taking into account the condition you get (meds make you sick?) and whether that could be worse than neurocardiogenic syncope. I know that if I get covid, I will be getting an RX for Paxlovid, as I am very convinced about its benefits.
Given your circumstances (sole caregiver to mom) I would opt for taking the drug in hopes that it will prevent the severe symptoms that some folks have.
Heal quickly. Have a low threshold for calling emergency services if you start to feel very ill.
https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-double-masking#double-up-to-enhance-mask-fit
Interesting your doctor a medical professional offered you no guidance on taking paxlovid. Many who take it get a second round of covid after recovering from covid. Perhaps that's why he isnt encouraging you to take it but he is to much of a coward to tell you that up front.
Paxlovid does not stop the spread of covid. Basically it's claim fame is that you won't die from covid or get hospitalized if you take this drug. Sound familiar just like the vaccines. You can still get and transmit covid but you wont die from it (just like 99.9% of people who got covid before vaccinations were available) But you may get a rebound case of covid after taking a course of the medication paxlovid. Which you can transmit to your mother. You are already living with mom with covid so if she's going to get it she's going to get it.
Maybe your doctor should prescribe ivermectin or advise you to take a vitamin regimen to boost immunity.