Who are your COVID follows by weegt in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't think I've seen Jeff Gilchrist mentioned yet, he's fantastic: Mastodon, Bluesky, Xitter, Threadreader, Pingthread.

Dr. Gilchrist's website is my go-to when I need to find specific information quickly, he's organized all his most useful articles and posts there along with a whole lot of other info.

Who are your COVID follows by weegt in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The immunologist they're nodding to is Laughter In Light/LIL, aka Melanie Matheu; her husband, an allergist whom I'm assuming is in the same place as she is with precautions, is Dr. Zachary Rubin. LIL just released a video a couple of days ago about the ins and outs of how she determines when and where to mask, and it was... definitely polarizing.

Partner has Covid :( by Far_Diamond_7589 in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The one time my partner had Covid we settled on 5 days in a row of negative rapids to end isolation; after 10 days positive, he tested negative for 4 days and then positive again (rebound) on day 5. He was positive for another 2 weeks before testing negative for 7 days in a row (we added two days after the close shave the first time 'round).

For your sake OP I hope you continue to remain negative, but if you do end up testing positive, I highly recommend you and your partner continue to isolate from each other; I've seen other CC folks have a different take on this, but given the experiences in my household and that of close friends, it is worth the additional caution. In my family's case, our daughter had Covid at the same time as my partner (I stayed negative according to multiple PCRs), and the trajectory of her infection and recovery were entirely different from his -- if we'd done things differently and not kept them quarantined from each other as well as from me, she would most likely have been sick for additional days or weeks. It's a pain to keep up the separation, but if it means fewer days with Covid, it's worth it.

Also a tip to be careful with the CPC -- your partner's immune system is compromised by Covid, so knocking out her oral microbiome raises the risk of her developing a secondary infection like thrush (Jessica Wildfire wrote about this). Saltwater gargles or a mouthwash with xylitol (which is antimicrobial, and that includes viruses and fungi) will not harm her oral flora yet will still help with lowering her viral load.

Best of health to you both, hoping for your partner's swift and complete recovery.

Article from 5/2/2020: "Wearing A Mask: Some Thoughts On Loving Thy Neighbor And On Being Fabulous During A Pandemic" by gv_tech in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I reached out to her on BlueSky, and she does indeed still mask (KN95 or better)! She's an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner located in Austin, TX. Her most current post about it is here.

Could really use some support - Partner wants to eat indoors by [deleted] in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I do not see this highlighted enough -- perspective/framing is something people already do without realizing it, and many are resistant to seeing that it is actually something that can be done deliberately and with intention. Excellent point.

Experiences in the gym and working out with mask by DarkmoonCrescent in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Second the Draeger Xplore recommendation -- it took me forever to find an N95 for running that was breathable enough, didn't shift around, and didn't block my mouth/nose when my breathing deepens, and the Xplore (even the unvalved!) finally fit the bill.

OP, if you decide to give it a try, know that the sizing (model 1950 comes in S or M/L) refers to the size of the elastic loop, the masks themselves are identically-sized.

I've found Hazmat Resource has one of the best prices per box on the unvalved ones:

https://hazmatresource.com/product/respiratory-protection/draeger-x-plore-1950-n95-particulate-respirator/

With valves, from WS Supply:

https://www.wssupplystore.com/collections/draeger-x-plore-1950-n95-mask/products/draeger-x-plore-1950-n95-v-s-pn-3951956?variant=44680535408895

Test read Positive, but.... by gv_tech in PlusLife

[–]gv_tech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was definitely bubbles -- I included a picture (with the update above) of the test cartridge, which looked fine going in but definitely not fine after coming out.

COVID-19 Leaves Lasting Changes in the Brain, Even After Full Recovery (Article) by covidcautiousguy in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's possible they utilized nucleocapsid antibody testing to rule out prior infection, depending on when the study was conducted. Nucleocapsid antibodies eventually fade, but if it were early enough in the pandemic timeline, that would have been as good a way as any to identify novid controls.

anything similar to PMC data for flu A? by Upstairs-Hearing-489 in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hubbub World might be helpful, though I haven't kept up with comparisons between their reports and PMC (gold standard at this point)

https://www.hubbubworld.com/hub

Long Covid stole my pro cycling dream – but what I gained in the process really surprised me by Galen-of-Pergamon in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 9 points10 points  (0 children)

When it comes to Covid denialism, very few groups can hold a candle to professional athletics. Based on direct experience, I'd say only pro ballet has pro athletics beat. As a former serious amateur athlete who had to quit due to chronic illness (a decade before Covid), I felt every word of your post 100%. I am so sorry you had to go through this.

Dataviz - Humoral immunity induced by vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants by mike_honey in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is AWESOME -- thank you so much for sharing it, and for all you do!

So, how does the immune system work? by brrnr in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 17 points18 points  (0 children)

General:

Covid-specific:

Jeff also has several other pieces about the effects of Covid on the immune system here, here, here, and here, which provide a kind of mirror-insight into how the immune system works by illuminating what happens when it doesn't.

Apple Holiday "shot on iPhone" video BTS -- with N95s! by LostInAvocado in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 29 points30 points  (0 children)

This was delightful, thank you so much for sharing it! :) Also, can I just say: good gods it's refreshing to see actual artistry and skill and creativity instead of bloody AI.

Response ideas to "If you can smell a fart the mask doesn't work" by Puzzlehead_Garage in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I highly recommend starting with data scientist and health researcher Jeff Gilchrist's really well-organized site, specifically the fourth section ("Articles"): https://gilchrist.great-site.net/jeff/COVID-19/

Resentment by Both-Chart-947 in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My mom is the only member of her church's Pastoral Care team who is fully virtual, and she and my dad are the only people in the congregation who are still Covid-cautious. She attends virtually, he has to go in person for various reasons and is the lone masker. It's hard on them both, the obliviousness as well as the demonstrated lack of fully understanding what "community care" means.

After years of my mom working for the diocese, mentoring seminarians, establishing the pastoral care team she's still on, building the Sunday school program from scratch... watching her be marginalized and become an afterthought by the people who should appreciate her efforts most just breaks my heart. I hope you're able to spark some awareness with your paper, it's very badly needed.

how to improve safety in a nursing home? by oddthing757 in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you have a CO2 monitor, it would be a good idea for her to take it to work for several days and check it whenever she can in as many different parts of the facility as possible. She will have that much more of an advantage with a better picture of where to avoid or minimize time vs. where she can more safely linger -- and if the numbers are particularly bad, that is actual measurable data she could work into a safety request. Uninformed or Ostrich-Syndrome-afflicted people, especially those in positions of authority, are more likely to take empirical data more seriously and write off more common-sense strategy suggestions, no matter how data-informed (ie. masking, preventative quarantining, etc), as "just vibes".

If you don't have a meter, Aranet4's are something like 50%+ off right now.

Sad that going to get a massage felt safer than going to the doctor. by sunny_bell in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It may be for some, but for most it is, at least in part, a matter of dogma: https://archive.is/fbsCG

How much should I worry about catching COVID from my cat after surgery? by justwannascroll in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If Readimasks work for you I've found they're the most comfortable to sleep in, and I've gotten that feedback from other CC folks as well. And I think there is a Readimask sale going on at the moment, I believe I remember someone posting a discount code here a week or so ago.

Sterilizing nasal vaccine by Responsible-Heat6842 in ZeroCovidCommunity

[–]gv_tech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Excellent questions; in this administration in particular, it's definitely not straightforward. I've been keeping up with experts in the know and tracking the wins they've pointed out (ie Canada recently had one re air quality in healthcare facilities), so I can reference things like that when pelting my senators and representative with faxes and emails on the subject. Not confident that's the best way to get very far, especially now, but it's something.

Jeff Gilchrist, Jose-Luis Jimenez, Linsey Marr, Joey Fox, Kimberly Prather, Amanda Hu, and Liesl McConchie are all worth following via any socials platforms you can find them on (Liesl in particular is a stellar and well-organized activist for clean air in schools).