15 hours ago, hs118 said:

and got on the anti-viral meds within 24 hours

 

You get nothing in the British Isles. Unless its changed lately. Me and my daughter just had to get on with it. Luckily it was only two days and not too severe. It was back when it was first around. 

 

4 hours ago, stans said:

but the at-home tests were negative

 

The at home tests can miss it. I believe. You may not have had it, of course. Its always tempting to assume we have. 

 

46 minutes ago, tdflightsim said:

Exactly!  Thank you Martin.  They NEVER said the vaccines/boosters would prevent you from getting Covid, just reduce the severity of the symptoms and increase your chances of survival.

I knew two young men in their 40s, both is good health, that contracted Covid in the beginning stages of the pandemic, unfortunately they both died from it.  I've also known several people who were not vaccinated, got Covid and only had mild to moderate symptoms.  You just don't know if you'll be one of the lucky ones or one of the millions who died and are still dying from it.

The vaccines/boosters are a personal choice, nothing political.

 

Before I came to the Channel Islands, my hairdressers husband caught it and he was in a dreadful state. She told me she was scared she'd lose him, luckily he recovered. Some of her elderly clients came off very badly. After I moved to Guernsey, my daughters friend on the island was a former nurse. When she worked as a nurse, dealing with infected patients all day, she got one hell of a dose of it and was quite ill. She ended up with long covid. Fit and healthy too, an athlete. 

I think its a very good idea to make sure your Vitamin D level is good. 

Edited September 27, 2025Sep 27 by martin-w

Glad you're OK, Noel.

Like Martin said, make sure to get enough vitamin D, at least 800IU daily or 2000IU every other day.  Medical researchers only recently discovered just how important vitamin D is for the immune system.  Also ensure you get enough vitamin C and Zinc. 

Also, wash your hands frequently and use disinfectant hand wipes or liquid to clean your hands as soon as you get in your car when going out and touching things.

Masks are ineffective unless they are N95 type masks which seal tightly against the face.  Cloth masks do nothing to protect one against transmission, but may help if an infected person wears one to minimize transmission when coughing or sneezing.

Dave

 

Here is what a true healthcare/medical grade N95 1860 mask looks like.  I had to wear one for nearly a year.  Trust me, they are no fun to wear, but perhaps offer the best protection a simple mask can provide.  They have two straps, one behind your neck and head.  You have to be sized for the properly fitting mask.

On 9/26/2025 at 6:47 PM, HiFlyer said:

I was feeling terrible, laying down and not even thinking about the hospital, when my cat, who had been staring at me all day and hovering nearby suddenly went wild, meowing like crazy and ran into my side at full speed, then jumped off the bed, raced in a u-turn, then jumped back up and slammed into me again, yowling the whole time..."Alright, alright!" I told her, "I'll go to the hospital! Jeez........."

And then you made the hero cat your avatar! Well done!

Edited September 28, 2025Sep 28 by Fielder

6 hours ago, dave2013 said:

Like Martin said, make sure to get enough vitamin D, at least 800IU daily or 2000IU every other day.  Medical researchers only recently discovered just how important vitamin D is for the immune system.  Also ensure you get enough vitamin C and Zinc. 

 

D3 with K2, Dave. So calcium goes where its supposed to. 

On 9/27/2025 at 2:47 AM, HiFlyer said:

"Alright, alright!" I told her, "I'll go to the hospital! Jeez........."

So I went, and..... Yup, Covid.

Lasted forever.

 

Im wondering what your prior Vit D status was. Did they do any blood tests? Did you take VitD3 prior?

Same question for everyone else who had it bad?

There seems to be a connection, apparently. 

Vitamin D is important for the support of your immune system.  It is also the vitamin that your skin produces when exposed to sunlight.  During the cold weather months, most people stay indoors, so their vitamin D levels drop.  Also, staying indoors in something like an apartment building likely means inhaling communal air that may be laden with viruses.  These are a couple of reasons why we see more viral infections from late fall to earl spring.

Hidden Lake, one of the many lakes in my area was where I used to go to meet up with what I called the old masters, guys who were out there pretty much every day fishing during the summertime.

I was pretty new to fishing and started out with a kid's reel, and they told me what sort of equipmentI needed to buy and then how to use it and then where the best spots where etc..

For about 4 years I would bump into them every year.

Then covid hit, and they all disappeared!

It's been years now, and I've not seen a single one of them ever again.

I keep hoping that it's a coincidence and they're alright out there.....  

I think I'm getting enough Vitamin D already.

Every morning I take a Centrum for men over 50.  It contains 125mg of Vitamin D.

Before I go to the dining room for breakfast I eat a small fruit bowl containing a half an apple, a tangerine, and a half dozen grapes.

Then at breakfast I drink a double glass of orange juice.

Noel

How's your A1C blood sugar level, Noel?  I love O.J. but even the half sugar one has too much in it!

On 9/27/2025 at 5:23 PM, dave2013 said:

Glad you're OK, Noel.

Like Martin said, make sure to get enough vitamin D, at least 800IU daily or 2000IU every other day.  Medical researchers only recently discovered just how important vitamin D is for the immune system.  Also ensure you get enough vitamin C and Zinc. 

Dave

 

Hey, google AI, how many IU of vitamin D in 15 minutes of  sun?

Answer:

15 minutes of direct midday sun with arms, hands, and face exposed can provide approximately 10,000 to 20,000 IU of vitamin D, but this amount varies significantly based on factors like skin tone, time of year, location, and the amount of skin exposed. Lighter skin produces vitamin D faster, while darker skin takes longer, and a bathing suit-clad person can generate 10,000 to 20,000 IU in just 15-30 minutes on a summer day. 

Factors influencing vitamin D production:

Time of Year: The sun's angle is higher and more effective for vitamin D production during spring and summer months. 

Location: Midday sun in Miami produces vitamin D more quickly than in Boston. 

Time of Day: Peak UVB radiation, which triggers vitamin D synthesis, occurs around noon. 

Skin Tone: Lighter skin types produce vitamin D more quickly due to less melanin, the pigment that blocks UV rays. 

Amount of Skin Exposed: Exposing more skin, such as wearing a bathing suit, generates a much larger amount of vitamin D. 

How it works:

Your skin synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to UVB light from the sun.

This process converts a form of cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D3.

The body can produce large amounts of vitamin D and has mechanisms to prevent overdose from sun exposure by converting excess into inactive forms. 

18 hours ago, birdguy said:

125mg of Vitamin D.

 

Did you mean mcg? Even mcg, that sounds wrong, way out. What is it in IU?

 

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2025Sep 30 by martin-w

Yeah, it's 25 MCG Martin.  1,000 IU

I'm supposing my blood sugar is OK Charlie.  Whenever they pricked the tip of my finger in the hospital to measure it the nurse said it was normal.

I don't pay much attention to those numbers.  As long as I'm feeling good I suppose I'm OK.  If I'm not feeling good I visit my doctor.

Noel

https://www.amazon.com/Zeaxanthin-Absorption-Certified-Verified-Softgels/dp/B07DFRQFQT

Lutein 20mg and Zeaxanthin 4mg (I take this much every other day). 

This is for anyone over middle age to prevent eyesight gradually reducing. 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2025Sep 30 by Fielder

Good advice on the K2 to help get calcium into the bones and away from the arteries, and Lutein/Zeaxanthin for eye health.

I take a multivitamin every other day that contains K2.  K2 is abundant in cheese, and Lutein and Zeaxanthin are abundant in leafy greens.

I don't trust the FDA or European equivalent.  These agencies have very cozy relationships with Big Pharma who need people to become sick and dependent on their drugs for big profits.

Dave 

Edited September 30, 2025Sep 30 by dave2013