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I Test Positive For COVID-19

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate & Author
Published: November 2, 2022

For the first time since the pandemic began, I tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday.

So you know, I did get the Pfizer vaccine. I also got each of the three boosters. Interestingly, I got the Bivalent Omicron COVID-19 Booster just two weeks ago.

As for symptoms, I had been feeling very tired and achy last Wednesday and Thursday. Then, on Friday, I woke up at 4am with a horrible headache, extraordinary congestion, and body chills. We had a home COVID-19 test from Abbott. Within seconds of using the BinaxNOW test, the "sample" appeared positive.

I wasted no time getting a 5:45am appointment with a virtual, primary care physician thanks to Plushcare. By 8:30am, Robyn (my wife) had picked up my Paxlovid prescription from our local CVS pharmacy. Over the next 24 hours, my symptoms started to go away. Within 48 hours, I was 99% normal. The only side-effect from Paxlovid was a metallic taste in my mouth.

It's Wednesday now... I feel completely normal. Most importantly, I just tested negative for COVID-19. Woo-Hoo!!!

I understand there is a possibility that I might have a "COVID-19 Paxlovid rebound". So, I'll test again in a few days to monitor the potential re-emergence of COVID-19.

Fyi... While this is my first time testing positive for COVID-19, my gut tells me that I may have had COVID-19 several times throughout the pandemic. That said, this was my first time testing positive which put me on the Paxlovid prescription.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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