Thread by @doctorasadkhan

🧵 on repeat infections, negative lateral flow & #PCR tests, and the use of #COVID19 antibody tests. An n=1 experience #OmicronVariant #LongCovid #MedTwitter #TeamGP #psychtwitter #LongCovidKids #COVIDisAirborne #CovidIsNotOver 1/n

I had acute #COViD19 in Nov 2020, PCR +ve. Developed #LongCovid a month after. Had one dose #Pfizer Feb ‘21 which gave me new symptoms. Out of interest I had my anti-spike antibodies done May ‘21- they were above the upper limit the assay could measure 2/n

With the passage of time my antibodies dwindled. I had them rechecked in Dec 2021- both nucleocapsid & spike antibodies were below the protective limit. Therefore I had no protective antibodies. 3/n

Soon after returning to the U.K. from Germany over New Year, I had what I thought was a really bad crash. I had a horrendous week of autonomic collapse- constant palpitations, sweating, temperature dysregulation. Had multiple LFTs & a PCR- negative
4/n

In March ‘22 I had a similar episode albeit milder. Two people I knew had similar symptoms- also, one of us had been exposed to someone who was PCR +ve. The 3 of us, on the other hand, were PCR -ve. I did several LFTs- all negative. 5/n

We were lucky to be able to access microclot detection. All 3 of us had significant clots- whereas a few weeks prior there were none. Diagnosis- presumed reinfection. Was able to access Paxlovid this time. 6/n

2 weeks ago I had another episode- not as mild, several days of GI upset & temperature. Again, LFTs & PCR negative. Unable to access Paxlovid. 7/n

I have just had my spike and nucleocapsid antibodies taken. Here are the results. Anti-spike sky high, anti-nucleocapsid above the highest detectable value. Implication- reinfection(s) since December. (Nucleocapsid only goes up with infection, not with vaccine) 8/n

I’m sharing this because-
- I have heard similar stories of COVID19 symptoms but negative tests. I’m not saying every deterioration is a reinfection, but the symptoms were different/more severe compared to my #PESE. So if you think you’re infected, you probably are 9/n

-It’s already known there is no protection against reinfection if you get #Omicron. This case is another example. Yes in most cases the infection may be mild, but I’m not the only one who has struggled to get back to their pre-Omicron baseline. 10/n

In early Dec I stayed in an apartment in Cyprus alone for 2 weeks for a break. I was able to manage independently, go for short walks, & even managed a supermarket shop. After the episode over NY I haven’t been that well even for a single day. I’m housebound, & mostly in bed 11/n

Others have also reported shrinkage of their energy envelope. Reinfection is bad news. The dropping of mitigations & the ‘let it rip’ approach are going to have catastrophic implications. This virus has an affinity for the nervous & immune systems. 12/n

In a few years’ time don’t be surprised if we see premature dementia, opportunistic infections & cancers on a mass scale. I did my best to protect myself with #ffp2, but a slight loosening of the mask in the presence of an unmasked case is all you need to catch it. 13/n

This is a super contagious organism. Also remember it lingers in the air of enclosed spaces for a while after an infected individual leaves. This is why in addition to masking, air purification has to be an urgent priority. We need to treat air quality like water quality 14/n

With the dropping of the requirement to test when symptomatic & the end of free tests in U.K, #COVID cases are already underreported. Add to that the apparently higher false negative rate of tests now & numbers could be falsely v low whilst the virus rips through society 15/n

Unfortunately antibody tests aren’t that easy to access outside commercial labs, which have arbitrary & variable cutoffs. If they were, they could be one way of demonstrating infection in the last few months (although not everyone mounts a response, so false -ves possible) 16/n

Finally, another reason to avoid infection- if you needed one- is #LongCovid. This vile illness tortures, disables & kills. There is no cure. The symptoms are so unremitting & cruel it has driven people to suicide. You really don’t want to join our club…. #MECFS #POTS #MCAS END

#TeamClots