I had COVID-19, now what?

In a previous article I have written, I have explained certain measures to take when you get positive COVID-19 results. I understand that getting the news of a COVID-19 diagnosis can cause feelings of sadness. Upon talking with patients, I have heard about their sentiments. How they worry, how scared they are, and how they anticipate whether or not they are going to survive.

Are you immune?

After recovering from a disease, your immune system has developed antibodies that can protect you from the same infection. With that being said, you are supposed to be immune for months. However, the coronavirus is a new virus, and scientists do not know if you are immune after contracting it. News articles are claiming that there are certain individuals who have tested positive again even after being previously cleared. This novel coronavirus still has lots of areas to be discovered; hence we cannot guarantee immunity at the moment. 

However, this should not keep you from living your life to the fullest. In fact, you can do marvelous things after surviving COVID-19.

Donate plasma

You may have witnessed different campaigns to help solve this dilemma that all countries are facing. Some are asking for monetary donations, some for food or personal protective equipment. You can give your biggest contribution without exerting too much effort by donating your plasma. 

More and more patients are starting to rely on convalescent plasma therapy. This intervention has been proven to be effective as it has a good physiological explanation. Plasma is a blood component that contains the antibodies that helped you fight the coronavirus. By donating this, you are also giving others a higher chance to survive the disease. Imagine yourself being able to save lives!

This can be done by contacting an accredited blood donation stations like AABB or American Red Cross. You will be interviewed, screened, and then undergo an invasive procedure. 

Join a trial

If you are not a fan of getting needle pricks, you still have other options to help.

Clinical trials have been very useful for a lot of decades but it has gained tremendous attention with the rise of confirmed COVID-19 cases. These are scientific experiments that aim to solve different aspects of the pandemic. There are studies that focus on how people can be protected from the virus, others are investigating ways to stop or prevent the spread of the infection. Some published papers would like to test the effectivity of an already existing treatment like a number of drugs that were made for malaria, HIV, SARS, and Ebola. Other clinical tests evaluate proven interventions like convalescent plasma therapy which I have shared with you previously.

Joining a clinical trial can be a win-win situation. You will get to know more about what you have gone through and you will be able to be a part of a possible solution to this worldwide problem. There are different types of trials. There are studies asking for volunteers while others are giving compensation to their participants. You can choose from a wide range of available studies according to the effort and/or time you would like to spare.

Recover at home

Whichever you decide to do, if you are a positive COVID-19 patient, it is important to prioritize yourself first. Make sure that you get a chance to properly recuperate at home. There are certain over-the-counter medications that you can take to alleviate the discomforts brought about by the symptoms. Hydrate and get enough sleep. Practice respiratory hygiene at all times.

Make sure you have kept open communication with your physician. Observe your symptoms carefully and if it worsens, report at once.

The main goal is for you to recover and protect your family members at the same time.