I continue to have trouble "finding words". In my previous post about chemo brain, I suspected that my "loss of words" might be similar to the "brain fog" associated with long covid, and it remains a big part of why I am covid-cautious; if getting covid means this problem could potentially get worse, then to me it's worth it to take steps to try to prevent getting covid.
Recently, I came across this study, which basically reinforces my resolve to stay covid-cautious. The abstract says:
These findings reveal significant word retrieval difficulties in PCS [post-COVID-19 syndrome] patients, suggesting that cognitive impairment related to language may be more pronounced than previously understood.
Of course I haven't had any cognitive testing, and I haven't been diagnosed with PCS a.k.a. long covid, but now I'm even more inclined to believe that maybe my 2022 bout with covid did exacerbate my chemo brain, at least in regards to word retrieval. I also wonder if this type of brain function might improve on its own over time, or not. The study does note that "intervention" may help:
The findings suggest that patients with PCS may benefit from tailored interventions focusing on improving lexical retrieval and semantic processing.Unfortunately, it also occurs to me that if one covid infection might have aggravated my brain fog symptoms, then even if they do improve on their own, they could still get worse again if I get another covid infection.
Which I did. I had my second known covid infection a week before Christmas 2024, so I'm 2-for-2 for covid ruining Christmases. For the record, the course of my illness was very similar to last time, except the duration was shorter. Instead of having a fever for 3 days, this time my fever lasted only 1 day; instead of finally rapid testing negative on Day 11, this time it was on Day 8.
I will now take this opportunity to gripe and rant about the pitiful state of public health. I take precautions to try to prevent infection, but ultimately the transmission of viral illnesses comes down to public health requiring widespread public action. Individual action just isn't enough. I got infected because someone else was infectious and didn't stay home or wear a mask. Current CDC guidelines for covid are based solely on symptoms; there is no longer any isolation period nor any recommended protocol for using rapid tests to help gauge infectiousness, and masking is only tepidly suggested as optional. (The guidelines surprisingly do include "Steps for Cleaner Air" - conceding that respiratory viruses are airborne - but it feels disingenuous because there are no required building standards and as an individual, I have no way to assess or control the ventilation or air quality in schools, at work, in stores, or in any indoor public places at all.)
Since it's already known that symptoms are not an indication of infectiousness, these guidelines literally encourage people to spread covid. Even this mainstream media article states:
With COVID-19, you can expect to be contagious for about one to two days before symptoms appear, and stay contagious for up to eight to 10 days after symptoms start.Previous CDC guidelines, available now only in archives, were much clearer about infectiousness. As far as I know, nothing has changed in terms of rapid tests or the virus itself that would make these recommendations invalid:
Note: If your antigen test results are positive, you may still be infectious. You should continue wearing a mask and wait at least 48 hours before taking another test. Continue taking antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until you have two sequential negative results. This may mean you need to continue wearing a mask and testing beyond day 10.
I know not everyone can afford rapid tests, so don't get me started on how I think the government should make rapid tests free and widely available in unlimited quantities. Why are we still paying roughly $10 per rapid test in the U.S. when they can be purchased for less than $1 per test from this German retailer?
Considering the fact that we eliminated a flu strain with precautions designed for covid, it's clear that mitigations work to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, covid or not. Yet, still people will not wear a mask even when they know they are sick. They are happy to spread their viruses to others, and I just find that lack of consideration so disheartening.
