Ivermectin for COVID-19: A living systematic review protocol (Chile, 2020-06-27, PDF)

[-] thaw4188 | 7 points | Jun 27 2020 23:15:49

I am utterly convinced ivermectin+dexamethasone has saved my life. My only regret is only finding out and starting it at week four instead of week two because very likely the suffering and damage could have been dramatically shortened.

Today is the first day in nearly six weeks without continuous oxygen assistance. It is amazing, nothing else was working and I was slowly counting down to doom.

I really hope that combo gets to every hospital without hesitation this summer and radically reduces deaths until something even better emerges.

[-] makesomerubber | 1 points | Jun 28 2020 04:17:05

Could you please share your dosage you took and how often?

[-] thaw4188 | 1 points | Jun 28 2020 10:26:58

basically iver was 12mg once daily for 10 days (experimented with 36mg megadose which was a HUGE mistake) and dex was added a few days later after Oxford study for ten days at 6mg daily.

It's going to be a very long road to 100% recovery but the important point is without both of those I'd very be in a coma or dead this week because spo2 was ticking down daily after 4 weeks to low 80s even on 24/7 5L oxygen assistance and that's not survivable.

My amateur belief is Dex isn't a cure at all but forces your body to stop overreacting and stop making a useless toxic shock of immune/white-blood cell flood response, meanwhile Iver reduces the viral replication just enough that your body can stop exhausting T cells fighting it and slowly make enough antibodies to win the fight.

[-] pezo1919 | 1 points | Jun 28 2020 07:19:26

Can you tell please:

when did you use iver first and when dexa? Did you use them together even at the first time?
How fast it worked?
What did you feel, what changed?
Were they prescribed?

[-] thaw4188 | 2 points | Jun 28 2020 10:38:13

I only found Iver and then Dex after the first 4 weeks of sickness, over the past 10 days or so after research emerged and I found an old doctor who was willing to look at the studies with me and prescribe the medication (which then became another problem because our FDA starting locking out access to these drugs because of the new reports and I had to find a willing pharmacy).

Basically iver was 12mg once daily for 10 days (experimented with 36mg megadose which was a HUGE mistake, not recommended outside hospital) and dex was added a few days later after Oxford study for ten days at 6mg daily.

My amateur belief/experience is Dex isn't a cure at all but forces your body to stop overreacting and stop making a useless toxic shock of immune/white-blood-cell flood response, meanwhile Iver reduces the viral replication just enough that your body can stop exhausting T cells fighting it and eventually, slowly make enough antibodies to win the fight.

It's going to be a very long road to 100% physical recovery but the important point is without both of those I'd very likely be in a coma or dead this week because spo2 was ticking down daily after 4 weeks to low 80s even on 24/7 5L oxygen assistance and that's not survivable. I was out of time.

They did not work "fast", it did take many days to realize I was getting 1% better and not 1% worse but Dex really hid a lot of the exhaustion and respiratory distress even from the first day I took it as long as I sat really still and didn't even try to walk, it basically is like an incredibly powerful version of Aleve (naproxen). Iver actually feels like it is putting a small strain on your system which may be from toxic dieoff (aka "Herxing" Herxheimer reaction) not sure, but the Dex balances out that strain.

The experience may be far better/easier for someone starting one/two weeks into illness rather than a "last ditch" effort at four weeks.

[-] pezo1919 | 1 points | Jun 28 2020 11:34:51

Sorry, just to make sure: you used ivermectin after 4 weeks too, right?

Wish you fast recovery, but I think you shall not do literally anything for at least a month. Not even going to groceries if you can manage it. Ppl say their is system is exhausted and they relapse (maybe not to the viral disease, but the body is not recovered yet and might cause harm)

Sorry: may I ask for gender/age?

[-] thaw4188 | 2 points | Jun 28 2020 11:41:40

yes, only started after 4 weeks (day 27 of symptoms)

and yes, I realize from experience from even just the flu it will take many weeks, maybe even 100 days to feel like this is completely over

I know I still have some virus even now, still more antibodies are needed, sometimes virus can also hide in the lining of the heart for awhile

I know things won't be "normal" until spO2 is at least 96 when rested in the morning without any machine help, right now it is still only 91

https://i.imgur.com/xqgKHJG.mp4

(low heartrate is from Dex, today is my last day on Dex and all medication done)

[-] pezo1919 | 1 points | Jun 28 2020 11:45:09

For O2: Prone + do the (repressed?) lips technique. But dont force your lungs. Might still hurt it.

What is ur age/gender? :)

[-] thaw4188 | 2 points | Jun 28 2020 12:14:42

just a warning that prone benefit is not guaranteed for everyone, in fact for some people like me it made things much much worse the first few weeks of illness

my biggest problem, even through today, is some invisible extreme load that is placed on my lungs when I shift from horizontal to vertical position - I was unable to lay down horizontal for the past two weeks it was so very bad, getting up would drop spO2 in to 70s temporarily until my lungs would recover an hour or two later

I was (barely) sleeping in a chair the past two weeks for an hour or two at time when I got too exhausted

last night was the first night I lay down horizontal in bed for 4-5 hours, my spO2 was surprisingly very good, but the very second I sat upright in bed afterwards, spO2 immediately dropped into 80s and it took an hour to get back to 91

I believe there are still many many dead white blood cells and other mucus in my lungs left over that make them very heavy, when I change position - the "slime" (aka "cheese") slowly changes direction and then has to shift back when I got vertical/horizontal/vertical

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/how-coronavirus-kills

"microscopic air sacs in their lungs fill up with “cheese” – white blood cells, mucus and bits of dead lung – and they become stiff and fibrous"

[-] pezo1919 | 2 points | Jun 28 2020 14:31:49

Thanks for that info. Do you know there are some techniques out there to get the "mucus" out from your lungs ?

Postural drainage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxFUPdFc1eM

https://www.healthline.com/health/postural-drainage

https://www.intelligentliving.co/postural-drainage-clear-fluid-lungs/

One of my friends was doing this. She said it made her almost "drowned", but when she made it out it was better. So take care!

[-] TrumpLyftAlles | 1 points | Jul 02 2020 22:41:22

Hey, thaw! Didn't see this until just now. SO GLAD you're feeling better!

It's been 4 days since your update. How are you feeling now?

[-] thaw4188 | 1 points | Jul 02 2020 22:56:04

unfortunately I am much worse now

it seems dexamethasone while very powerful and can make you seem almost completely better is pretty much just hiding everything and has some very serious consequences of physical addiction to where it shuts down adrenal function in your body

once I started to withdraw from it, all my symptoms came back almost worse than before and my spO2 most days is now in the 80s even with full oxygen assistance

even if I survive I'll have significant health problems the remainder of my life but survival right now is still dubious since I am still quite ill 42 days later and my system is not making any antibodies while T cells are probably exhausted

[-] TrumpLyftAlles | 1 points | Jul 02 2020 23:25:47

I've very upset to hear that.

Apparently you studied dexamethasone, and decided not to take any more? I know zip about it. A quick google turned up:

Long term use of high doses can lead to thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

So, not very nice -- but given how you feel, doesn't it make sense to get back on it? Need to get that 02 back up ASAP!

IIRC, you didn't want to go to the hospital because you thought that would bankrupt you. You do not have health insurance, right? Maybe it makes sense to fork out big $$$$ for a private health care insurance plan; you can cancel it after you're all better, right?

You could drive to Broward County and go to one of the hospitals that the ICON study is based on. Ask Dr. Ratjer for an appointment! Here is his contact information. He'll be happy to give you ivermectin, if you still think that's a good idea.

I'm pretty sure that if you turn up at the ER, esp. with your 02 levels, they have to take you regardless of your ability to pay.

Your 02 isn't portable, right? That can be fixed: call your 02 supplier and tell them you need a smaller bottle you can carry, get a couple maybe so you don't run out en route.

My Mom was on 02, with the big heavy tank at home. She and Dad were snowbirds and it fell on my to help them migrate very year, Florida to Michigan and back. A couple bottles sufficed during the 6-8 hours or so that the flights and drive took.

The portable 02 would also make it possible for you to pick up prescriptions, etc. If you are too sick to drive, call Uber or Lyft.

You're miserable and at high risk. Do something new to get better!

Sorry if this is terribly annoying. You know how men are: we try to fix stuff.

Again, GOOD LUCK! I'm pulling for you!