Woman Shares Advice On Handling Covid-19 Once You Get It, And Her Thread Goes Viral

Covid-19 is like politics—everyone has an opinion and believes that theirs is the only correct one. So it’s no wonder that with so many facts and ‘facts’ flying about, people get confused and lost in the info storm surrounding the pandemic. An overabundance of information can be just as bad as a lack of it, after all.

One person who tried to cut through the noise and help others get to the truth by streamlining coronavirus-related info was Megan McNally. She shared how to handle Covid once you’ve got it and her Twitter thread went viral with a massive 198k likes and 61k retweets. The writer, living in the borough of Queens, in New York City, went through some basics and gave her recommendations on what she believes people who catch the coronavirus should do.

Megan told Bored Panda that her symptoms first showed up as what she thought was a head cold, with a stuffy nose, as well as a sore throat. "My parents were experiencing the same, and I wanted to be extra cautious and see if it might be Covid, even if my symptoms didn’t line up exactly."

Check out our interviews with Megan, as well as with a Covid ICU nurse who makes helpful coronavirus-related videos, goes by the name Galactic Gardener online, and told us what helped her while recovering from Covid.

"I was not expecting the thread to get this much attention at all. When I first tested positive, I felt a gigantic amount of fear (for good reason) and wanted other people to see what they could immediately do to take care of themselves in an accessible way," Megan shared with Bored Panda.

According to her, even though she's already had Covid-19, she still plans to get vaccinated "as soon as possible" because of the possibility of reinfection.

"I hope other people stay safe and think the same! I’m also so thankful for all of the healthcare workers and nurses who have pitched in on this thread; I am not a doctor by any means so it means a lot to have so many resources coming together. If my thread can help just one person feel better or less alone, that’s all I’ve wanted."

Among the things that Megan recommends is taking plenty of vitamins and minerals and getting lots of rest. She also suggests proning (i.e. lying on your stomach), letting fresh air into your home, and getting gear like a thermometer, humidifier, and a pulse oximeter. Let’s go through these point by point, shall we?

According to researchers, proning can help temporarily elevate oxygenation levels. However, it’s not yet confirmed that it gets rid of the need for ventilators in extreme cases.

Taking vitamins and sleeping lots are obvious but necessary bits of advice. You can’t expect to recover from any illness quickly if you spend all day glued to your laptop or phone while in bed. Make your rest count. Just remember that vitamins aren’t a valid alternative for a proper diet.

And while vitamin D can be great during the Winter months, getting some natural sunlight is wonderful, too, if you can do so without exposing others to your infection.

Ventilating your home is also self-explanatory. It helps protect other people who live in your household while also giving you fresh air to enjoy.

Meanwhile, what Megan says about using a pulse oximeter to measure oxygen levels is mostly true. While different patients can have different baselines, the rule of thumb is that if your oxygen saturation drops below 95 percent, you should contact a health professional.

Megan’s also right that zinc can (the keyword being ‘can’) help with recovery from Covid-19. That’s because it has antiviral properties. While zinc deficiency has been linked to a greater risk of viral infections.

Overall—well done with the tips, Megan!

Meanwhile, Covid ICU nurse Galactic Gardener told Bored Panda that proning was one of the things that brought her relief during her "Covid journey" and she greatly recommends it for other patients.

"Studies have shown that early proning, often as soon as patients arrive at the ER reduces oxygen requirements, and improves outcomes. A simple maneuver can get people off of their back ( which contributes to PNA and eventually ARDS), and allowed fuller lung expansion! I think, given that it is one of the few things statistically proven to improve Covid-19 outcomes that people should ask their doctor about trying it! Free and as easy as a simple position change," she said, adding that you can find a guide for proning at home right here.

The ICU nurse also said that she took vitamin C and D and Zinc early on during her Covid infection to help boost her immune system function. "Other things that improve overall lung health were also vital to my recovery from Covid! Focused deep breathing and utilizing an incentive spirometer daily were also steps I took to improve my lung capacity and keep them nice and open and clear! There were days that I could feel them trying to close at the bases and become painful, deep breathing really helped me."