Thread by @i2ichardlin

I contracted #COVID #Delta variant in early Nov, 2021 which resulted in a #cytokine storm that nearly almost killed me. Here’s how it went.

In late Oct, I took the family to Kentucky for a 5-day vaca. Upon returning in early Nov on a Friday, I was feeling fine.

By Sunday, I started to get mild symptoms (chills, headache, fever, fatigue). I chalked this up to be a cold / flu which I could sleep off and get better. So I popped a couple of Advils and Tylenols and went to sleep. Temp stayed around 100-101

As the days progressed, my headache started getting more intense. It went from a mild annoyance to full blown, pulsating, full-body, pain that was relentless 24/7

By day 4 of initial symptoms, my fever started rising and hit a peak of 104 degrees. Still trying to trek it out, I kept with an at home process, but this headache would not let up.

Finally, on the 5th day of symptoms, I started to get major GI issues and decided it was time to head into the ER. I was checked in, vitals all looked well (blood pressure 118/67, o2 saturation 96%, heart rate 88). I looked pretty miserable upon arriving lol

Suspecting COVID based on the symptoms presented a PCR test was conducted. It came back positive.

I met with the ER doc, they put me on IVs for Sodium Chloride (hydration) and Acetaminophen 1000mg aka. Tylenol (pain relief). Felt better after that grenade of pain relief and was sent home.

Following my ER visit I started having a mild cough. However, what started to concern me was the tinge of blood being coughed out in the mornings. Disclaimer: nasty looking picture below

Worried, I decided to head back into the ER about my Hemoptysis. This was 2 days prior to my last visit.

A quick examination was done. X-ray conducted which showed infiltrates in my mid and lower lung. ER doc felt, no big deal let’s discharge the low risk fellow (young, healthy, no reduced O2)

Concerned I called a family friend who is a physician. He was concerned about the coughing of blood potentially indicating risks of pneumonia, cytokine storm, and thrombosis and encouraged me to get back into the ER to run labs (D-dimer, Ferritin, and CRP).

I called up the hospital to see if I could schedule these labs. The physician on the other line said they weren’t “necessary” because every COVID and scripted a CT scan with contrast to see take a deeper look at my lungs.

I waited for a day before going in. Around the same time my mom caught COVID from me. She wasn’t feeling in the early AM the next day and I started getting very Short of Breath and having trouble doing basic movement so we both decided to go into the ER.

Upon arriving my O2 levels were 88% and I was immediately moved and admitted into the hospital. Multiples labs were run, CT scan was performed, and I was put on 2L of oxygen.

Here are the results of the CT scan. Thankfully, no pulmonary embolism, but that still didn’t rule out the potential for Thrombosis as early stages of it can’t be detected by radiography. Safer bet is D-dimer levels. Pneumonia seemed likely considering my symptoms.

Thankfully, the ER doc decided to run a CRP and D-dimer test. A Ferritin test was run a day prior and results were completed on the same day. The results of my inflammatory markers were highly concerning (D-dimer / 2x higher, CRP / 3x higher, and Ferritin 4x higher).

If this was any indication, my body was going through a cytokine storm (when your immune system releases too many inflammatory signals which results in damaging your own organs with the risk of death if not handled quickly).

I was immediately prescribed dexAMETHasone a corticosteroid used to calm the immune system down. Normally reserved for the middle stages of COVID progression. Giving it early is damaging as it stops your immune system from clearing out COVID. Given late has no benefit.

Upon admittance I was also given remdesivir via IV. However, after doing some research on renal failure and lack of efficacy decided to opt out of treatment after a day. Thankfully, the dexa was working and I was able to get off oxygen and I was later discharged and sent home.

My last ER visit was on Nov 19 (my birthday). Essentially, I celebrated being 32, isolated, alone, and in pain. Thankfully, I had family and friends who were notified about my condition and had loved on me, which I’m eternally grateful.

Upon discharge, I started a taking ivermectin, hydroxy, zinc, mag, calcium, vitamin stack (D, E, C, B12), and dexa. My #Hemoptysis (coughing blood) started improving and completely stopped on day 5 of treatment. My fever stopped and follow up labs showed decreased D-dime and CRP

It’s been 2 weeks since COVID and I’m better now.
I have idiopathic symptoms (dry arm skin, minor breathing problems, malaise, fatigue, insomnia). My guess is some form(s) of autoimmunity trigger by the cytokine storm. I started back on working out (feeling stronger everyday)

My take on the progression of my COVID disease: contracted COVID > initial viral replication (mild symptoms) > GI infection (increased viral load) > pulmonary infection (more viral load) > immune system overload > cytokine storm > pneumonia triggered > treatment initiated

If early treatment was initiated Ivermectin, Hydroxy, Monoclad Antibodies perhaps viral load would’ve been minimal, thus an uneventful COVID exp. That said, Praise God I’m alive, thanks to the doctors for their timely actions, and family & friends for the love & support.