The DU Lounge

(Most of my notes and links are on a machine that's temporarily crashed, so this is from memory and some web searches.)

Rest, of course while you feel the active infection. But then at least six weeks more. Covid can hit most any system in the body, and especially the circulatory system. People who try to exercise their way out of it are at risk for "long covid."

Re Paxlovid (ouch), check out the PAXCESS Patient Support Program. Says it's possible to get it for free until 2026. I got this info from https://www.paxlovid.com/paxcess (May not matter since you already bought it.)

You may get your PAXLOVID prescription for free† through the USG PAP operated by Pfizer. Please reach out to 1-877-219-7225 to see what options may be available for you. You can also discuss with your healthcare professional or pharmacist.

† Eligible government insured and uninsured patients can access PAXLOVID for free through December 31, 2026. The US Government Patient Assistance Program (USG PAP) operated by Pfizer is an independent program with separate eligibility requirements offered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is not owned by Pfizer. Terms and conditions apply.

If you can use that program to get another 5-day course, or some friends have some laying around, I'd take it for longer, even if a couple days. Some health care systems around the world are starting out with a 10-day course. Could reduce the rebound effect and give you more time to clear it out.

Beyond those two things, the top #3 thing is to use a Netti Pot. Costco, CVS, lots of places have them. I've seen studies (published on PubMed, fwiw) that show that physically clearing gunk out of your sinuses reduces your body's viral load, for both Covid and other sinus infections. When I had Covid, it was an incredible feeling to blow a huge amount of gunk out after that first Netti, and it helped reduce my sore throat, iirc. Certainly helped me breathe.

IMO, rest is a must, a Netti Pot is a must. So glad you got Paxlovid. We need Omaha Steve to feel better soon!


I had Covid in September 2024 (just as I was selling my house, haha; had to isolate in a hotel room). I have a set of medications I need and I added the medications and supplements below to the mix, after considering them against my conditions. I'm laying them out here as a list of things to consider. Some can help with recovery, some can help reduce the incidence of long covid. If something's not suitable, your body is still going to do the best it can.

Here's a two papers discussing a study using Metformin to reduce the incidence of long Covid. Patients who followed their protocol had a long covid rate of 6.3%, those who got placebo had an rate of 10.4%. When I had Covid, my doctor took the time to read the article and prescribed it. Their metformin protocol was titrating it over 6 days: 500 mg on day 1, 500 mg twice daily on days 2–5, then 500 mg in the morning and 1000 mg in the evening up to day 14.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00355-9/fulltext
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00299-2/fulltext (Not double-blind study, a quadruple-blind study comparing metformin with ivermectin and fluvoxamine. Not surprisingly, only metformin was helpful.)

Well known that Covid can cause blood clots. Folks recommend taking a baby aspirin. I already take two (per doctors orders), so when I had it, and for several weeks after, I took three. (At different times of the day.) I was paranoid and felt like crap, probably one is fine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34754983/

Covid virus uses the ACE2 receptor to infect mammals, and to travel around the body. I'm remembering that I also took Berberine as an ACE2 inhibitor. It's a supplement you can get at a health food store and has other anti-viral properties.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7320912/

Nattokinase, another supplement, is thought to help clear the Covid spike protein from a person's body. Also used this, from a health food store. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10663976/