COVID-19

No, not in school yet. He plays AAU basketball so I’m guessing that’s where he got it. The only other place he went in the last several weeks was the dentist.

Ivermectin therapy:

http://covexit.com/we-know-its-curable-its-easier-than-treating-the-flu-professor-thomas-borody/

Article regarding controversy over RTCs:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/science/articles/randomized-control-tests-doidge

I haven't looked through it too thoroughly myself but really just put it there for anyone who is interested in looking at it since there has been the discussion regarding HCQ and RCTs. I may go back and look through it more thoroughly later when have time. Some in healthcare and government putting emphasis on RCTs ("gold standard") in order to promote a treatment while others promote a more evidence-based approach I guess you would say personalized for each patient.

Here's one paragraph I noted:

"Evidence-based medicine hasn’t studied some of the most basic treatments with RCTs or observational studies, never mind these kinds of individual complexities. So, the most prudent option is to allow the professional who knows the patient to have as much flexibility as possible and access to as many medications as possible. If we are to be honest, evidence-based medicine is, in large part, still aspirational. It is an ideal. Clinicians need latitude, and patients assume they have it. But now the RCT fundamentalists are using the absence of RCTs for some drugs to restrict access to them. They have gone too far. This is epistemological hubris, at the expense of lives, and brings to mind the old adage, “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” As long as we’ve not got the best studies for all conceivable permutations, medicine will remain both an art and a science."

It's possible what's going on with COVID now will in a sense help Lyme patients and their doctors in that there are more doctors out there fighting for the patient/doctor relationship w/o as much government interference.

Aww CWL you've got to at least read them before you post them... From the paragraph you noted:

Somebody said...
So, the most prudent option is to allow the professional who knows the patient to have as much flexibility as possible and access to as many medications as possible.

There still needs to be a balance there. When we err on the side of giving docs too much flexibility, they could then cave-in to non-expert market forces, or even corrupt market forces.

Somebody said...
But now the RCT fundamentalists are using the absence of RCTs for some drugs to restrict access to them.

Has this really been a problem in the US during the pandemic? Doctors are still prescribing HCQ despite RCT's (some would argue flawed RCT's) showing it as ineffective.. and I haven't heard about any restrictions being put on other FDA approved drugs for off-label use. I could be wrong but I gotta wonder if the so-called "RCT fundamentalists" are being scapegoated to protect those who are vulnerable in the upcoming election.

ChristianWithLyme said...
It's possible what's going on with COVID now will in a sense help Lyme patients and their doctors in that there are more doctors out there fighting for the patient/doctor relationship w/o as much government interference

As Lyme patients our problem is more generally with insurance coverage. If government is interfering, it is interfering on behalf of the insurance industry over us patients.

Post Edited (potsnpans) : 8/16/2020 12:29:56 PM (GMT-6)

WBF - at least its out side. But if you have one cough or sneeze on you in that busy area...good luck and hope hey are not a carrier.

One of my co-workers got it from a restaurant/grill /out door 4th July concert - small town.

Related: the largest multi-day outdoor event in 2020 was the continuation of the annual Sturgis (Black Hills) South Dakota two week biker (Harley) rally. They had 2/3 less people (good!), so even some bikers were weary and did not go (the smart ones). Those there were shoulder to shoulder at the event bars ect. I watched the live cams, no masks obviously. One of the classic rock bands supposedly tried to have 6' apart seating.....good luck with that with drunk bikers lol. They are from all across the country. Those who got it, will spread it to every gas station/convenience store going back home.

Minnesota:

https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/04/29/reality-check-who-in-minnesota-hoarded-an-unproven-coronavirus-drug/

Executive order:

"I authorize the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, established pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 151.02, to enforce the following medication dispensing limitations, until termination of the peacetime emergency declared in Executive Order 20-01. A prescription drug order for chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine must contain a diagnosis appropriate for the use of these medications and be dispensed for no more than 30 days at a time."

Reason for executive order:

"These medications are routinely used for treatment of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic medical conditions. Increased demand of these medications may result in shortages. To mitigate potential shortages, I have concluded that during this peacetime emergency the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, must have authority to exercise appropriate discretion to limit dispensing of these medications."

Warning given:

"The FDA is aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with azithromycin and other QT prolonging medicines. We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions. Therefore, we would like to remind health care professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. We will continue to investigate risks associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for COVID-19 and communicate publicly when we have more information. hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19."

Dr. Jensen (Minnesota) made a recent video. He said he called two pharmacies to ask if they would fill prescriptions for HCQ (implication was for Covid patients). They told him probably not. I've heard another doctor (in another state) say that she just gives a different diagnosis (other than Covid) to the pharmacy in order to acquire HCQ for her Covid patients.

Post Edited (ChristianWithLyme) : 8/17/2020 8:01:37 AM (GMT-6)

I'm not sure that the fear of shortages is warranted if states act responsibly. If you look at article below, it makes me question the "fear of shortages" idea regarding HCQ for Covid.

On the other issue, I was responding to what skinny_joe said here:

"Most doctors can not think for themselves and have zero problem solving skills Lyme doctors included in this as well. This is true in every profession you have a few brilliant folks who can figure things out, you have another set who just types things into google or seek help from the brilliant folks. Then you have a set of folks who just dont care."

and to what you said here:

"There still needs to be a balance there. When we err on the side of giving docs too much flexibility, they could then cave-in to non-expert market forces, or even corrupt market forces."

My argument was that I would rather have less government control and give doctors more flexibility. If the government has control of health care and is corrupt, we will all suffer because of the corrupt decisions that are made. If a doctor is corrupt or incompetent, we can have the freedom to find another doctor who is more moral and competent.

https://www.startribune.com/u-s-states-build-stockpiles-of-malaria-drug-touted-by-trump/569925202/?refresh=true

Post Edited (ChristianWithLyme) : 8/17/2020 10:11:58 AM (GMT-6)

Recent development in Minnesota. Article put out today.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/08/17/mn_governor_quietly_reverses_course_on_hydroxychloroquine__143978.html

My mistake. Sorry for the quote mix up, potsnpans. I corrected it.

Post Edited (ChristianWithLyme) : 8/17/2020 10:12:23 AM (GMT-6)

I have just sent in medical certificates for my girlfriend and Lyme and mold tests for me to my university. I hope they will arrange it so that I can take the classes online. I'm studying 50 % for the first two months and it’s a programming class, so it should be possible as we did it online only before summer. I think universities are the worst places for COVID-19, as most people at that age don’t care as much and want to party. No mask in Sweden either.

Post Edited (Deep_sleep) : 8/18/2020 3:22:26 AM (GMT-6)

Mpost: I agree with what you said about the communication around mask usage, but I don't think it's dishonest to suggest that kids may be less likely to transmit the virus.. maybe the younger they are the better...

WVMike's grandson was only 1 or 2 yrs old when he was positive for covid and slobbered in WVMike's eye. Just an anecdote I know but it's what prompted my initial comment.

The study I then posted was of primary schools in France (kids 5-12 yrs old):
"COVID-19 in primary schools: no significant transmission among children or from students to teachers"

The study you posted was of a high school in Israel (kids 15-18 yrs old):
"A large COVID-19 outbreak in a high school 10 days after schools’ reopening, Israel, May 2020"

If it's true that younger kids are less likely to transmit the virus, then this would be another very good reason to open primary schools for the younger kids.

WalkingbyFaith said...
It’s crazy how politicized this virus and everything surrounding it have become, at least in the US.

Totally crazy. Some would argue that it's just the nature of US culture but I think there's more to it than that. I don't believe it's natural for us to be this divided. I suspect a lot of the information we're getting is less than organic, and a lot of the organizing going on isn't pure grassroots organizing.

WBF “ It’s crazy how politicized this virus and everything surrounding it have become, at least in the US.“

I wonder why that is - it’s not that way here over the border.

Sure we have the rebels that are gathering in large groups (generally 20-39 year olds) but for the most part everyone is on the same page - our provincial leaders and our Prime Minister.

The schools opening - looks like the decision is put on hold here - we’ll see what happens with that...