Rob Streeper - a USA member here - got the C19 virus

Yesterday I sent Rob an email to see how the situation was affecting him. I was somewhat shocked at his reply of "My wife and I caught the virus in mid-January. She has pretty much recovered, but I'm still not well".

Rob lives in San Antonio TX, and went to a conference in CA for 3 days. To quote some of his email (with his permission, and bear in mind that this is 15-16 weeks after catching it):
"Unfortunately I've been unable to do anything related to tools or woodworking, too damn sick or busy. We went to San Francisco on the 13th of January and returned on the 15th. We attended a couple of receptions related to a healthcare conference. People were sneezing all around us.
We got home and both fell sick the next day. It came on like the flu. The first week was pretty much similar. Not too bad but not good.

The second week was Hell. Flu symptoms intensified and then came the coughing. I was awake three days straight coughing my lungs up. Lots of phlegm and some blood. Body pain was really bad. Intermittent fevers and chills. I had one episode of tachycardia. I remember being in a dream state half asleep and there was a sound like a lawn mower running. I thought 'who's the fool mowing?", then I realized I was hearing my heart beating, too fast to make out the individual beats.

Extreme weakness and unsteadiness set in. Brain fog too. Only a little nausea. Every joint hurt as if sprained. No appetite or sense of smell and my sense of taste was so distorted nothing tasted decent so I stopped eating for a week. After two and a half weeks I was finally able to leave the house. Lost 20 lbs.

The following week optic neuritis set in leaving me functionally blind in my right eye. Interestingly my night vision in both eyes improved so whatever was happening must have affected only the cone cells. Finally resolved this by taking our drug by mouthy and using steroid eye drops. Vision now is fine, in fact it may be a little better than it was.

For the past two months I've had GI/digestive issues. Currently struggling with pancreatitis/gastroenteritis and concomitant hyperglycemia. Using oral steroids and our drug for intestinal and systemic inflammation, hyperglycemia is getting better. Energy and motivation are starting to return but still nowhere near normal. Despite all this I am feeling better now than I have since catching it."



So pretty much your standard cold then? Definitely not! One round of debilitating symptoms after another for weeks and weeks on end. That is certainly the worst first-hand account I have read.

For those of us here in Oz that are feeling somewhat insulated from this virus, it gives pause for thought. The situation here could have been a helluva lot different. Just because it didn't happen that way doesn't mean it isn't real, and frightening. Perhaps we've been a little laissez faire?

Just a point of interest, for perspective:
Texas, the largest of the contiguous 48 states, is a little smaller than New South Wales, fits into Queensland nearly three times over, and not quite four times into Western Australia, and about 1.5 times into South Aust. It's 3x bigger than Victoria.
It has a population of 29mill, 3mill more than Australia's entire population.
TX has ~28,000 cases and 782 deaths. Australia has 6781 cases and 94 deaths. We definitely dodged a bullet.

Wishing you and your wife all the very best Rob.

That scary list of symptoms bears consolidating and repeating:
1-2 days after exposure: both fell sick the next day.
The first week was pretty much similar to the flu. Not too bad but not good.

The second week: Flu symptoms intensified, coughing for days straight , lots of phlegm and some blood.
Body pain was really bad. Every joint hurt as if sprained.
Intermittent fevers and chills.
One episode of tachycardia, too fast to make out the individual heartbeats.
Extreme weakness and unsteadiness.
Brain fog too.
Only a little nausea.
No appetite or sense of smell and sense of taste so distorted nothing tasted decent.
Lost 20 lbs.

The third week: optic neuritis set in, functionally blind in one eye. Vision now is fine.

For two months: GI/digestive issues. Pancreatitis/gastroenteritis and concomitant hyperglycemia.
Intestinal and systemic inflammation, hyperglycemia now getting better.
Energy and motivation are starting to return but still nowhere near normal.


That's a damn tough set of symptoms to go through for three months or more.

Thanks for sharing Brett

Rob all the best to you and your wife and I hope things return to a state of normality soon.

Take Care Matt.

Thanks Matt and Brett.

In describing my symptoms I forgot to add the difficulty taking breath. Even slight exertion left us gasping even after several weeks. My feeling of breathlessness is just now pretty much resolved.

Trust me, this disease is not a trifle, it's not the flu. If you get a good nose full of it as we did it will be something you'll remember for a long time.

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Originally Posted by rob streeper

If you get a good nose full of it as we did it will be something you'll remember for a long time.

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That seems to be the thing with this virus: the more exposure, and therefore more virus particles entering the system, the worse the case. I'm not sure if that's the case with regular colds and flu, but it doesn't seem that way. Maybe as a result of not many people with a cold of flu in one place to load up some other poor bugger? Presumably in January, when it was virtually unknown, all those people at the conference just thought they had a cold, but wouldn't you think it would strike them as odd that SO many people were sneezing (especially as they were medical and allied professionals)?

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

That seems to be the thing with this virus: the more exposure, and therefore more virus particles entering the system, the worse the case. I'm not sure if that's the case with regular colds and flu, but it doesn't seem that way.

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Total Exposure/dose is a critical factor (even for regular flu) only one of several factors, the others appears to be "general state of your health", and the way your immune system reacts (to either the flu or COVID19).

SO, you may be very healthy and have a good immune response but have such a big dose - BANG. This is why healthy health professionals can get it
OR
You have may be very healthy and have a low dose but your immune response is poor or over active - BANG.
ETC
.
.
.
you may be in poor health, have a poor immune response, and have a very low dose - BANG.

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Originally Posted by BobL

BANG
BANG
BANG.

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Rob's in Texas, not Michigan.

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Originally Posted by rob streeper

Thanks Matt and Brett.

In describing my symptoms I forgot to add the difficulty taking breath. Even slight exertion left us gasping even after several weeks. My feeling of breathlessness is just now pretty much resolved.

Trust me, this disease is not a trifle, it's not the flu. If you get a good nose full of it as we did it will be something you'll remember for a long time.

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Very sorry to hear this. I hope you can make a full recovery soon.
Best regards

Hey Rob

So sorry to hear this news. I had meant to contact you several times and somehow I didn't (I had put your low profile down to being busy with business ), although by the sounds of it you were hardly in a fit state to reply: Too sick in fact to contribute to GraemeCook's Coronavirus thread, which now is also in lockdown.

CoronaVirus ==> Empty Shelves

It became a little controversial, but it might have been good to have heard from an actual sufferer as many comments were made that nobody knew of a person who had contacted the disease. First hand input would have been excellent: For us more than you!!

Your description that Brett has conveyed to us emphasises, for me, the insidious nature of this particular Covid-19 strain, how little anybody really knows about it and now following your comments, the far reaching repercussions that few of us even imagined.

Brett's comment that we have dodged a bullet here in Australia is most appropriate. We need to make sure we don't mess up this advantage.

I'm glad to hear you are well on the way to mending (and that your wfe was less traumatised by the illness) and look forward to some of your excellent Forum posts in the future.

Get well.

Regards
Paul

January 13th.

Thats very... very interesting.

CA you say?

I'll find a post I saved in my archive. This whole affair is beginning to look... suspicious.

Rob, get better mate. There is nothing more important.


EDIT 1 - I've been following this from the very start. Here is some official data, it can be seen that the first cases didn't officially start in the USA until later.... Corona Virus is spreading: Excel sheet : Coronavirus

I'll find some more. The early reporting is incredibly illuminating as to just how much Psy-Ops is being employed on us now.

Rob,
Not good news. Hope things improve.
On reading your email you don’t mention getting tested for C19. Did you actually get tested and what test did they do?
I got tested last Saturday and had to totally isolate until I got the results back 5 days after the test.

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Originally Posted by woodPixel

January 13th. Thats very... very interesting.

I'll find a post I saved in my archive. This whole affair is beginning to look... suspicious.

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Yes, I was surprised at how early Rob's infection was in the whole affair. I'm losing track of all the time lines now.

I'm glad you are getting better.

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Originally Posted by Lappa

On reading your email you don’t mention getting tested for C19. Did you actually get tested and what test did they do?

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We were never tested. At the time of our illness there were no tests available locally. Our diagnosis is based on symptoms. The symptoms fit to a T. We both watch the medical literature closely and have found that as time passes and the physician community catches up the fit to our symptoms becomes even more perfect.
Back in January we speculated that we were suffering from the virus but mostly dismissed the possibility as unrealistic because at the time it was present only in China. Now we're all but certain that we had it. As serological tests become more widely available we plan to get checked. I did have the foresight during the worst of our disease to take a nasal mucous sample which I have stored frozen for PCR. The United States was caught completely flat-footed in this instance, a totally unprepared clown show.

Roche test sounds good, let's see how expensive and available it is. Pharma giant Roche gets US go-ahead for Covid-19 antibody test | World news | The Guardian

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Originally Posted by rob streeper

The United States was caught completely flat-footed in this instance, a totally unprepared clown show.

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Not sure why you'd say that Rob.

Attachment 472951

Just caught up with this thread.

Let me add my best wishes for a good recovery, Rob and Mrs Rob

Hi rob, hopefully everything works out mate.

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Back in January we speculated that we were suffering from the virus but mostly dismissed the possibility as unrealistic because at the time it was present only in China.

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That is what I suspect happened here, although we had a milder strain of the virus, which was reported in Wuhan at the time. The symptoms were as described for a mild case and lasted for quite a few weeks. I'd like to note that I don't know anyone who hasn't had it. I would also like to note that I know of a family, first hand, who contracted a virus with exactly the symptoms of mildish Cov19, they all got tested. The results revealed an unknown upper respiratory tract viral infection, that was in mid January when Cov19 was largely a Chinese thing albeit we recorded our first on the 6th of January.

I heard DT say America was the envy of the world. Not sure why though? Perhaps because of more cases and deaths?

Thank you for the first hand in sight.

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Originally Posted by Handyjack

I heard DT say America was the envy of the world.

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At face value, that statement is correct. Not sure what era he was referring to though.

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Originally Posted by Feckit

..... I'd like to note that I don't know anyone who hasn't had it. I would also like to note that I know of a family, first hand, who contracted a virus with exactly the symptoms of mildish Cov19, they all got tested. The results revealed an unknown upper respiratory tract viral infection, that was in mid January when Cov19 was largely a Chinese thing albeit we recorded our first on the 6th of January.

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This fits in with the date of one of our early high profile cases. Tom Hanks arrived here in early March, and was diagnosed a couple of weeks later with Cov19. Just saying, coming from LA where it might have already been circulating widely is suspicious.

Get well and stay well all!

Attachment 473104

I just came across this. The original is dated 5/4. Looks like things may get considerably worse.Attachment 473105

I haven't read this yet, but the headline is somewhat concerning:
Researchers find new coronavirus strain '''more contagious''', potentially impacting COVID-19 vaccine search - ABC News


Rob, I've been meaning to ask you about your exposure at the conference. You said there were people sneezing all around you at a function. How widespread was the sneezing - can you roughly estimate a number and within what distance proximity?

The reason I ask is because it seems a little unusual that so many people would be at the same stage of their infection at the same time. That would indicate that they all more or less got infected at the same time too. That would then raise the question of where they had all been to get infected at the same time, and also qury the incubation period.

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Originally Posted by rob streeper

Attachment 473104

I just came across this. The original is dated 5/4. Looks like things may get considerably worse.Attachment 473105

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Yes I saw that graph. There has been no explanation as to why the number of deaths in the USA is going to dramatically worsen to perhaps 3000 per day. All I've heard is the fact, not the reasoning. Do you have any clues?

You know, I often laugh and poke jest at the people of the USA - but this is getting serious and is no longer a joke.

The people of the USA need to wake up to themselves and take a strong and considered look at its leadership.

It is about to throw people over a cliff.


It doesn't take much imagination to think through the implications. Looking back in a generation and it would be clear that this could be the beginning of the end for them.

Does this empire end, not with a bang, but whimper?

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Yes I saw that graph. There has been no explanation as to why the number of deaths in the USA is going to dramatically worsen to perhaps 3000 per day. All I've heard is the fact, not the reasoning. Do you have any clues?

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Hi Brett,

The data at this point appear to show that a number of demographics have enhanced liability to death because of Sars2. Among them are the usual suspects of age, cardiovascular and respiratory disease sufferers of course but somewhat surprisingly it appears that mortality correlates strongly with BMI and, this being America, there is also a strong racial mortality bias disfavoring African Americans. Socioeconomic status also appears to increase morbidity and mortality. In the US we have something like 60-70% of the population falling into the overweight or obese ranges of BMI. Race, SES and BMI are also strongly correlated. The population of the southern states, especially those comprising the former Confederacy, has a very large population of people that have one or more of the demographic characteristics that are inversely correlated with survival of Covid-19. At the moment there is a large outbreak in the Four Corners area (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona), an area with a large Native American population.

The ineluctable truth of this epidemic is that those closer to the bottom of the various social hierarchies are suffering disproportionately and will in the end likely bear the majority of the brunt of the scourge. This situation is disgusting.

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Originally Posted by woodPixel

The people of the USA need to wake up to themselves and take a strong and considered look at its leadership.

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In my experience most don't have the education and basic understanding of how society works to be able to make such a decision. All of the partners (including SWMBO but excepting me) in our current business enterprise are first generation immigrants and most of them have expressed surprise at how poor the educational system is here. The international educational attainment rankings don't lie.

The top tier educational institutions are world class, the rest (the majority) are not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Rob, I've been meaning to ask you about your exposure at the conference. You said there were people sneezing all around you at a function. How widespread was the sneezing - can you roughly estimate a number and within what distance proximity?

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Whilst I am mindful that symptoms and indeed lack of symptoms are not fully understood with this virus, I had not thought that sneezing was a prime indicator. Coughing (dry cough) certainly is one.

Regards
Paul

The sneezing wasn't a chorus but there was quite a bit going on and the venues were packed shoulder to shoulder, a couple of hundred people present at each. At the time SF was having a flu outbreak and I remember thinking "Great, now I'm going to get the flu". Unfortunately it was much worse. Among the sneezers the younger people (<35 y.o.) were notable for their failure to cover their mouths while sneezing or coughing. Same on the plane out there, young slobs snotting over everything.

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Originally Posted by rob streeper

Among the sneezers the younger people (<35 y.o.) were notable for their failure to cover their mouths while sneezing or coughing. Same on the plane out there, young slobs snotting over everything.

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Yuk!

Regards
Paul

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Originally Posted by rob streeper

The ineluctable truth of this epidemic is that those closer to the bottom of the various social hierarchies are suffering disproportionately and will in the end likely bear the majority of the brunt of the scourge. This situation is disgusting.

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Hi Rob, not good to hear you have been through this, but great that you are now in recovery and hopefully helping to build the "herd immunity." I too have suspected that CV-19 has been about in the wider population, especially in areas with high international tourist visitor numbers, for a while before WHO and other authorities responded. My 93 yo father-in-law passed whilst in hospital for a heart issue in late Feb with very similar symptoms to CV-19. We are yet to be tested, but medical authorities familiar with his case say it was not CV-19.

As for the situation in the USA it is a very sad situation to see so many avoidable deaths occurring. Yes the situation is disgusting, and a very sad indictment on federal leadership, but also a strong correlation to "unequal" access to health care. Sadly the US's obsession with "freedom" also places your population at huge risk. With freedom comes responsibilities and obligations to the welfare of the wider community.

Rob, thanks for your informative posts, not just about your first hand experience of the disease, but your commentary on the social factors.
Talking to my daughter in Boulder, CO, it seems that the actions of the various governors early on have had a large effect on the seriousness or otherwise of the outbreaks in each state. Would you care to comment please?

Hi Alex,

The loosening of strictures on social movement will increase both the number of cases and the number of deaths. There have been comparisons of the dynamics of spread in Kentucky and Tennessee showing that early quarantine measures suppress spread of the virus. https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...essee-kentucky
As municipalities around the country and world relax these rules the numbers will increase. It is possible that the increasing temperatures as summer comes on will tend to limit transmission but the rate of infections will catch up in the fall.
At this point each person needs to make their own choices, government has abandoned us to our fates.

Reading about the endless troubles within the USA Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) seems like the USA is a failed state.

The actions of every level of governance are unbelievable. The reactions of the population are mind boggling. The way companies are fleecing both government and employees is scandalous. The absurd unfairness dished out to the people is incredible.

Have to admit - I think there is a collective insanity.

It's like watching a huge 5000-car train wreck.... it keeps going and going and going.

.... and going....

Can it be that the people actually think this is good? Its like watching those videos of North Korea where everyone is smiling while Glorious Leader is present, but they are emaciated and sweating with fear.... except the people of the USA actually have True Believerism... they actually believe this fraud? They can't see the reality of what is about to hit them?

Here I know one person that has had his rent go up by 35% and the goverment do nothing.

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Originally Posted by woodPixel

seems like the USA is a failed state.

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I wouldn't call the US a failed state. In my estimation the elements of state power rest on three legs.

The first and most important is possession of 'the bomb' and the means to deliver it. Going along with this of course is a powerful military as a necessary but not sufficient condition.

Next is financial power. The US dollar is still the default currency of the world and will likely remain so for some time due to the size of the US economy.

Finally is the technological base. In this area the US still is supreme but the competitors are much closer and are surpassing the US in many important areas. Since the 80's the US has disinvested in support of broader higher education with the result that there is now a notable shortage of technical people in many areas of science and technology.

As US superiority in the intellectual areas is surpassed the power of the state will depend more and more on 'the bomb' and the money sector. Recent events have shown the money markets have numerous weak points - black swans have been showing up with increasing frequency in recent decades, many foreseeable but some not. The military arm depends critically on science and technology and as the scientific capability of the nation erodes due to under-investment the competitors will eventually surpass the US.

Ultimately though demographics will win and the new focus of world power will be in the East, can't say when but it will be a while.

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Originally Posted by rob streeper

Ultimately though demographics will win and the new focus of world power will be in the East, can't say when but it will be a while.

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That is exactly what we have to be wary of.

The other thing I can't believe, woodPixel, is their gun culture.

They really have come to believe that their gun culture is their effective guarantee against tyranny. There seems to be fond imaginings of some scenario where the US military will be persuaded to turn against its citizens (what?) but beaten back by civilian militias.

Really, if you got to the scenario where the military or police were willing to enforce a dictatorship, how much of a resistance do you think your average crowd of civilians with AR-15s would last against tanks, helicopters, trained snipers, drones, and generally a modern military. Look what they did to the Iraqi insurgents. IEDs were the only thing that were effective in that scenario. Firing a firearm just identified your location. The gap is getting greater all the time between what a modern military can do and your average civilian.

Although I would like to see much in America, their gun culture just terrifies me on an intellectual level. I can't see myself ever travelling there. After Sandy Hook, geezus, mass shootings of toddlers and primary school kids, it became clear the USA will not change for at least a generation.

I communicate with my sister in California regularly and it appears the Governor is doing a great job - ignoring Trump and keeping the restrictions in place.

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Originally Posted by Cgcc

...... There seems to be fond imaginings of some scenario where the US military will be persuaded to turn against its citizens (what?) but beaten back by civilian militias.
.....

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Now let me see. A government led by Donald. What could possibly go wrong?