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> Stage 1. You’ve had debilitating symptoms for a few days, but now it is so hard to breathe that you come to the emergency room. Your oxygen saturation level t

> Stage 1. You’ve had debilitating symptoms for a few days, but now it is so hard to breathe that you come to the emergency room. Your oxygen saturation level tells us you need help, a supplemental flow of 1 to 4 liters of oxygen per minute. We admit you and start you on antivirals, steroids, anticoagulants or monoclonal antibodies. Your chances of survival and healthy recovery greatly increase if you begin treatment early in the symptomatic phase with antivirals, corticosteroids, and antithrombotics. Mistake number 1 is having severe symptoms and waiting for days before seeking treatment. Most people are seemingly unaware of this advice, but many front line doctors have been using these techniques to significantly reduce hospitalization and death since the beginning of the pandemic. [1] Multifaceted highly targeted sequential multidrug treatment of early ambulatory high-risk SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1139&context=infectiousdiseases_articles https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?a... [2] Timing of Antiviral Treatment Initiation is Critical to Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/psp4.12543 https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/psp4.1... [3] Clinical outcomes after early ambulatory multidrug therapy for high-risk SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection https://rcm.imrpress.com/EN/article/downloadArticleFile.do?attachType=PDF&id=5074 https://rcm.imrpress.com/EN/article/downloadArticleFile.do?a... [4] Early multidrug treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and reduced mortality among nursing home (or outpatient/ambulatory) residents https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987721001419 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S03069...

jdhn 5y ago
I don't know why you're getting downvoted. I remember reading a story about a woman who thought she had worsening allergies before getting a covid test, and then going to the hospital. With the way this spreads, if you have any breathing symptoms, it's worth getting a covid test, and then trying to start treatment if it comes back positive instead of just waiting for it to get worse.
- criticaltinker 5y ago
  Yes it’s extremely important that people are aware of the benefits of beginning treatment early. Waiting for a positive test isn’t even strictly necessary. Apparently some people here find that to be disagreeable? I would love to hear their perspective and reasoning.
- 1shooner 5y ago
  >trying to start treatment This is contrary to the directions given by the healthcare system, which generally tells covid-positive patients to wait until they have trouble breathing to seek medical care. So they may be getting downvoted because they're essentially recommending cutting in line ahead of people that need more immediate care from strained ED / ICU infrastructure.
  - criticaltinker 5y ago
    You don’t need to go to the ED / ICU, just about any clinic will write you a prescription. In fact early ambulatory treatment is one of the best ways to avoid straining healthcare infrastructure. No cutting in line necessary.
    - 1shooner 5y ago
      That's great to hear, it's just not what GPs are telling their patients.
nradov 5y ago
The first symptom of many diseases is denial.
blub 5y ago
But how can one tell that they need treatment, just by o2 level? I’ve heard of cases where they felt terrible and then it cleared up and they were fine.
- nradov 5y ago
  A decreased SpO2 doesn't necessarily indicate that you need treatment. It means you should get a diagnostic test and then consult with your physician on what if any treatment is needed.

jdhn 5y ago

I don't know why you're getting downvoted. I remember reading a story about a woman who thought she had worsening allergies before getting a covid test, and then going to the hospital. With the way this spreads, if you have any breathing symptoms, it's worth getting a covid test, and then trying to start treatment if it comes back positive instead of just waiting for it to get worse.

criticaltinker 5y ago
Yes it’s extremely important that people are aware of the benefits of beginning treatment early. Waiting for a positive test isn’t even strictly necessary. Apparently some people here find that to be disagreeable? I would love to hear their perspective and reasoning.
1shooner 5y ago
>trying to start treatment This is contrary to the directions given by the healthcare system, which generally tells covid-positive patients to wait until they have trouble breathing to seek medical care. So they may be getting downvoted because they're essentially recommending cutting in line ahead of people that need more immediate care from strained ED / ICU infrastructure.
- criticaltinker 5y ago
  You don’t need to go to the ED / ICU, just about any clinic will write you a prescription. In fact early ambulatory treatment is one of the best ways to avoid straining healthcare infrastructure. No cutting in line necessary.
  - 1shooner 5y ago
    That's great to hear, it's just not what GPs are telling their patients.

nradov 5y ago

The first symptom of many diseases is denial.

blub 5y ago

But how can one tell that they need treatment, just by o2 level? I’ve heard of cases where they felt terrible and then it cleared up and they were fine.

nradov 5y ago
A decreased SpO2 doesn't necessarily indicate that you need treatment. It means you should get a diagnostic test and then consult with your physician on what if any treatment is needed.