I fell ill with COVID-19 in the USA. This is how I was cured

Recently, in Medonet, we published an article describing the treatment of Joe Biden, who fell ill with COVID-19. For five days, the US president was given a drug to inhibit the multiplication of the coronavirus. Marta described her experiences with this preparation in a letter to the editorial office, who recently returned with her family from a trip to the United States. “It was one of the toughest trips we’ve had,” he admits. All because of COVID-19, which attacked them overseas. How did they do?

1. Marta and her family recently returned from the States, where she was visiting relatives
2. During their stay overseas, they all contracted COVID-19. While she, husband and son had no or mild symptoms, her daughter developed a high fever
3. At the emergency room, the doctors gave the girl paxlovid, an antibiotic, a steroid, an antihistamine and vitamins.
4. “After 24 hours, apart from fatigue, it was not visible that my daughter was diagnosed with COVID-19 and she felt so weak” – writes Marta in a letter to MedTvoiLokony
5. As our reader describes, the cost of treatment was $ 800. (about 3,7 thousand) – “after discounts on drugs, with a coronavirus test and outpatient advice with the first administration of drugs”
6. “Unfortunately, I had to pay out of my own pocket, I am at the stage of submitting an application for compensation on this account” – wrote Marta, explaining why
7. More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page

We have not been able to prevent coronavirus infection

We recently returned from the States where our family lives. There we fell ill with COVID-19. We started exploring New York and I think that’s where the infection got. 8 million people live in the city in a small space, it is not difficult to get infected.

Although there is a so-called self-isolation after infection and freedom of decision to wear masks, there are more people wearing masks than in Poland. You can see that after removing the masking order, there is no such social odium as in our country – people in public spaces still wear masks.

Nevertheless, it is not difficult to accidentally contact someone suffering from COVID-19. And we did not manage to protect ourselves – despite the use of masks, disinfection and guarding ourselves. There are crowds everywhere.

COVID-19 symptoms: weakness, runny nose, fever, pressure drops

My eight-year-old son and mother had a runny nose, but it was enough to give them an antihistamine and the coughing disappeared quickly. Initially, we thought it was a sign of an allergy to cladosporium (it was raining at the time, the mycelium then fly through the air like crazy). A few days later, my mother’s positive coronavirus test coincided with a fever of 40 degrees C in my 14-year-old daughter.

For me, COVID-19 showed a slight weakness, but I was still fully functional. After two or three days the runny nose and stuffy nose “let go”, the son stopped having any ailments, the husband didn’t have them at all.

In addition to the fever, the daughter was significantly weakened, her blood pressure dropped. I suppose it’s due to age and lack of booster. The last, second dose of the vaccine was taken in September 2021, and my husband and I received a booster dose in February this year.

The doctors in the emergency room took very good care of my daughter

My daughter got the paxlovid described by you, which is divided into a “daily” and “night” dose, each in different tablets. After 24 hours, apart from fatigue, it was not apparent that the daughter was diagnosed with COVID-19 and she felt so weak.

The doctors in the emergency room took very good care of her, apart from paxlovid, she also received an antibiotic, a steroid and an antihistamine. Medics also suggested taking vitamin D3 (2000 units), zinc and vitamin B12 (my daughter also got it intramuscularly with the first dose of the antibiotic).

Unfortunately, I had to buy this drug (paxlovid) because we are not insured in the USA. Its price is about $ 300. (about PLN 1,4 thousand – ed.). With a discount coupon that we got from the doctor, we paid about $ 134. (about PLN 630 – red). So the total treatment was $ 800 in total. (approx. 3,7 thousand) – after drug discounts, with a coronavirus test and outpatient consultation with the first administration of drugs.

I had to pay out of my own pocket, I am currently submitting a claim for compensation on this account. Our insurer, despite information about the operation of the auxiliary hotline 24 hours a day, did not consider the application on time (time difference of six hours, hotline work in real time from 8 am to 18 pm Polish time, lack of competence and slowness of service). Practice and theory have gone missing.

A strange quarantine

We tried to sleep as much as possible and not visit too much, which was very difficult when you already have paid attractions, hotels and a car. However, if there is an ideal time to be ill, we just used it – my mother was already at her home without our loud crowd, my daughter had the opportunity to rest at the worst time in a hotel that was rented for the few needed to recover, days.

Unfortunately, some of the interesting attractions we had paid for earlier were eliminated, and we tried to wear masks until the end of this strange quarantine and avoid places closed with crowds of people. Luckily, it wasn’t New York anymore.

Return to Poland. It was hard to figure out what was allowed

We were worried about going back. Television has warned that this BA.5 coronavirus sub-variant is highly contagious. There have already been cases of multiple infections one after the other, and that after the boosters. Therefore, when I gave my family a test before departure, we breathed a sigh of relief.

In the United States, tests for coronavirus are very sensitive, you can buy them at a pharmacy, they cost about $ 34. (about PLN 160), in the infirmary it was the cost of 50 or 90 dollars. depending on the sensitivity. I had no impression that – as in Poland – the results would come “from Sas to Las”. Importantly, the antivirus must be taken up to five days after the first symptoms.

On a plane to Poland, you must wear a protective mask all the time, it is only taken off for eating. Even while you sleep, the flight attendant will wake you up to remind you. It was hard to see what was allowed and what was forbidden and on which airline board. Each line had its own guidelines, different masks allowed, but the tests did not have to be done if we had covid passports. Just in case, we wore masks throughout the flight.

Honestly, it was one of the toughest trips we’ve had. The number of unpredictable events and the additional expenses associated with it, plus the inflation that has reached overseas, have strained our pockets and our peace of mind. However, I am glad that we managed to avoid complications, probably thanks to the vaccine and the quick reaction of the doctors on the spot. After our return, we saw the doctor, none of us had any changes or other problems.

We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time Joanna Kozłowska, author of the book High Sensitivity. A Guide for Those Who Feel Too Much »says that high sensitivity is not a disease or dysfunction – it’s just a set of characteristics that affect the way you perceive and perceive the world. What are the genetics of WWO? What are the perks of being highly sensitive? How to act with your high sensitivity? You will find out by listening to the latest episode of our podcast.