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Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,936
Registered: ‎07-02-2015

Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus

[ Edited ]

 Someone copy/pasted this from a nursing site and passed it along, so I'll pass it along, too, for what it's worth.

 

I have seen a lot of recommendations for how to try to avoid getting coronavirus in the first place -- good handwashing -- but what I have NOT seen a lot of is advice for what happens if you actually get it, which many of us will. So as your friendly neighborhood RN, let me make some suggestions.

 

You basically just want to prepare as though you know you’re going to get a nasty respiratory bug, like bronchitis or pneumonia. You just have the foresight to know it’s coming.

 

Things you should actually buy ahead of time (not sure what the obsession with toilet paper is?): Kleenex, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) in 325 mg tablets, Ibuprofen (Advil) in 200 mg tablets, Mucinex, Robitussin or whatever your generic cough medicine of choice is (check the label and make sure you're not doubling up on acetaminophen - some brands like DayQuil have it included and you don't want that). You want a cough medicine with both a cough suppressant and expectorant. Vix vaporub for your chest is also a great suggestion.

 

If you don’t have a humidifier, that would be a good thing to buy and run in your room when you go to bed overnight. (You can also just turn the shower on hot and sit in the bathroom breathing in the steam). If you have a history of asthma and you have a prescription inhaler, make sure the one you have isn’t expired and refill it/get a new one if it is.

 

This is also a good time to meal prep: make a big batch of your favorite soup to freeze and have on hand. Whatever your favorite clear fluids are to drink (Sprite, juice, ICE waters, Fresca, whatever floats your boat), stock your pantry with those. Maybe get some nice soothing tea too!

 

For symptom management, use the meds I mentioned. For a fever over 101, alternate Tylenol 650 mg and Advil 400 mg so you’re taking a dose of one then the other every 3 hours.

 

Drink A TON, hydrate hydrate hydrate. Rest lots. You should not be leaving your house except to go to the doctor, and if you do, wear a mask (regular is fine, you don’t need an N95).

 

You DO NOT NEED TO GO TO THE ER unless you are having trouble breathing or your fever is very high (over 103.5 F/39 C) and unmanaged with meds. 90% of healthy adult cases thus far have been managed at home with basic rest/hydration/over-the-counter meds. We don’t want to clog the ERs unless you’re actually in distress. The hospital beds will be used for people who actively need oxygen/breathing treatments/IV fluids.

 

If you have a pre-existing lung condition (COPD, emphysema, lung cancer) or are on immunosuppressants, now is a great time to talk to your PCP or specialist about what they would like you to do if you get sick. They might have plans to get you admitted and bypass the ER entirely.

 

One major relief to you parents is that kids do VERY well with coronavirus— they usually bounce back in a few days, NO ONE under 18 has died, and almost no kids have required hospitalization (unless they have a lung disease like CF). Just use pediatric dosing of the same meds.

 

Just be calm and prepare rationally and everything will be just ducky. 👍"

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,017
Registered: ‎06-09-2014

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus

Thank you @novamc1.  I've had symptoms which I'm pretty sure are allergies but how would you ever really know today? They never quite lived in my chest before. Still not coughing so I'm still thinking I'm good as far as this  but I am going to run through this list and add that our libraries are closing after today.  

 

So, after my company is headed home, I am going to run to grab some books to read just in case my workplace closes.  I'm also stopping in there to clean up a few things before work resumes on Tuesday.  Fingers crossed we get closed and I can just use my PTO I am about to lose.  May also make a run to another supermarket for the cough medicine.  Never have that because I never get chest colds.

 

Thanks for the article.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 538
Registered: ‎12-30-2019

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus

Thank you thank you.Like Laura, we don't have anything on hand( that probably hasn't expired).Headed out with my list.
.Everyone take care.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,017
Registered: ‎06-09-2014

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus

Just thought I would add, if you never buy cough medication like me and you're small like me, check out the kid's cough medication if you're someone who doesn't like to feel drugged.  Works the same for allergy meds if yours have started up.

 

Most children's medication is for a "child" up to 125 pounds.  If you are well under that or near that weight, you may want to consider picking it up instead of the "adult" dose which is meant for a person much heavier than that.  

 

It's one reason why some of us can't function after a Benadryl tablet.  It's too much medication for our body size.  Bonus is you get a choice of flavors not really seen in adult meds.  Smiley Very Happy  

 

 

 

 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,498
Registered: ‎03-26-2010

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus


@Laura14 wrote:

Thank you @novamc1.  I've had symptoms which I'm pretty sure are allergies but how would you ever really know today? They never quite lived in my chest before. Still not coughing so I'm still thinking I'm good as far as this  but I am going to run through this list and add that our libraries are closing after today.  

 

So, after my company is headed home, I am going to run to grab some books to read just in case my workplace closes.  I'm also stopping in there to clean up a few things before work resumes on Tuesday.  Fingers crossed we get closed and I can just use my PTO I am about to lose.  May also make a run to another supermarket for the cough medicine.  Never have that because I never get chest colds.

 

Thanks for the article.


I know what you mean, I've been feeling the same, but I have allergies, so it's probably that...you don't get a fever with allergies.  There's also the flu still going around and my kids brought home regular old colds this week, so a lot of these symptoms are similar of course.  

Take time every day to enjoy where you are without a need to fix it
Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,017
Registered: ‎06-09-2014

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus

@Karie2022 I'm not spiking a high fever but I am slightly warm from time to time.  Still don't think it's this without a definite cough.  Maybe a slight cold coupled with allergies.   I know when I get the flu.  Definitely not that.  At least not yet.

 

I really wish you could do drive by testing just to be sure.  I've got senior citizen parents about to drive back to their retirement community that I spent the better part of a week with.  It'd be nice to know for sure for their sake but I get not overwhelming the system when it's probably nothing.  And yes I warned them the first day I had a touch of a sore throat.


Anyway, I have my lists made and my company is packing up.  I will be out the door soon and then in hibernation for two days until work resumes on Tuesday.  Whenever I feel a touch of something, putting myself on a quiet restful day usually kicks it right out.  

Stay well all!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,794
Registered: ‎11-16-2014

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus

The NY Times and The Guardian said NOT to use NSAIDS for the corona virus. It makes the virus worse. Information from France. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,889
Registered: ‎08-20-2012

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus

@Trinity11  Did they say what TO use instead?

Valued Contributor
Posts: 794
Registered: ‎05-25-2016

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus


@candys mine wrote:

@Trinity11  Did they say what TO use instead?


Tylenol is not an NSAID, so that would be fine to use. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,611
Registered: ‎10-25-2010

Re: Nurse's advice if you get sick from the new virus

@candys mine Tylenol is not a NSAID and safe for most people to use.