Viral Illness Survey Case Summaries: Severe Lung Issues Without High Fever
May 11, 2020
By Lisa Petrison, Ph.D.
This page provides a summary of the case reports from some of the first individuals to respond to the Paradigm Change Coronavirus Covid-19 and Viral Illness Survey.
Individuals included on this page are those who reported that they had severe lung symptoms without a fever of 100F or more.
Patient summaries are arranged in chronological order by illness onset date. Patients with onset dates prior to December 1, 2019, are listed in the “Earlier Cases” section at the bottom of the page.
An overview of the initial summary results is provided on a separate Paradigm Change blog page.
Overview
Number of cases: 11
Average Severity Score: 51
Severity Score Range: 24-73
Recovery Status (21+ Days):
10 cases
40% – Totally Recovered
20% – Mostly Recovered
20% – A little better
10% – Not feeling better but the situation seems stable
10% – Acute viral-type symptoms basically resolved but chronic illness issues are worse
Illness Onset:
9% – November 2019
27% – December 2019
18% – February 2019
45% – March 2019
Chronic Illness History (ME/CFS/CIRS/Lyme/etc.):
37% – Severe
49% – Moderate
6% – Mild
9% – None
Severe Symptoms:
Muscle aches, 64%; Tiredness, 64%; Sleepiness, 64%; Difficulty breathing, 63%; Lung pain, 55%; Weakness, 55%; Generally feel terrible, 55%; Shortness of breath, 46%; Lung pressure, 45%; Wet cough, 36%; Feverish feelings, 36%; Dry cough, 27%; Bronchitis, 27%; Headache, 27%; Diarrhea, 27%; Nausea, 27%; Chills, 27%; Runny nose, 27%; Pneumonia, 18%; Sore throat, 18%; Difficulties swallowing, 18%; Dehydration, 18%; Bone pain, 18%; Joint pain, 18%; Pain when moving body parts, 18%; Sore voice, 9%; Vomiting, 0%; Loss of appetite, 0%; Loss of smell, 0%; Loss of taste, 0%; Abdominal pain, 0%; Blue lips or face, 0%; Elevated temperature, 0%; Sneezing, 0%
Moderate or Severe Symptoms:
Shortness of breath, 91%; Tiredness, 91%; Sleepiness, 91%; Generally feel terrible, 91%; Difficulty breathing, 82%; Lung pressure, 82%; Headache, 82%; Runny nose, 82%; Weakness, 82%; Lung pain, 73%; Muscle aches, 73%; Dry cough, 64%; Feverish feelings, 64%; Wet cough, 45%; Pneumonia, 45%; Bronchitis, 45%; Chills, 45%; Joint pain, 45%; Pain moving body parts, 45%; Abdominal pain, 36%; Bone pain, 36%; Sore throat, 27%; Difficulties swallowing, 27%; Dehydration, 27%; Diarrhea, 27%; Nausea, 27%; Vomiting, 18%; Loss of appetite, 18%; Loss of smell, 18%; Elevated temperature, 18%; Sore voice, 9%; Loss of taste, 9%; Blue lips or face, 0%; Sneezing, 9%
Mild, Moderate or Severe Symptoms:
Difficulty breathing, 100%; Lung pressure, 100%; Tiredness, 100%; Sleepiness, 100%; Shortness of breath, 91%; Lung pain, 91%; Headache, 91%; Weakness, 91%; Generally feel terrible, 91%; Dry cough, 82%; Feverish feelings, 82%; Runny noise, 82%; Sore throat, 73%; Nausea, 73%; Muscle aches, 73%; Dehydration, 64%; Joint pain, 64%; Wet cough, 55%; Bronchitis, 55%; Abdominal pain, 55%; Elevated temperature, 55%; Chills, 55%; Sneezing, 55%; Pneumonia, 45%; Sore voice, 45%; Diarrhea, 45%; Bone pain, 45%; Pain moving body parts, 45%; Loss of appetite, 36%; Loss of taste, 36%; Difficulties swallowing, 27%; Vomiting, 18%; Loss of smell, 18%; Blue lips or face, 0%
Laurie
Patient Number: 108
Current Condition: A little better
Severity Score: 70
Time Since Onset: 133 days
Onset Location: Southeast NH
Prior Locations: Southern Maine
Chronic Illness History: Severe
Mold Avoidance: Yes
Onset Date: 11/29/19
Lung Date: 4/10/20
Lung Symptom Lag: 101 days
Lung Severity: Severe problem
High Fever: 99-100F (usually low)
Bedridden During Illness: Mostly bedridden.
Relapse: I got somewhat better and then had a substantial relapse
Duration: Very severe – 2 days; Moderate – 30 days; Mild – 90 days
Initial Symptom: Unproductive dry cough
Very Severe Symptoms: Wet cough; Muscle aches; Bone pain; Joint pain; Weakness; Tiredness; Sleepiness
Severe Symptoms: Shortness of breath; Lung/chest pain; Lung/chest pressure; Dry cough; Difficulties swallowing; Nausea; Feverish feelings; Generally feeling terrible
Moderate Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Headache; Vomiting; Abdominal pain; Chills; Runny/stuffy nose
Mild Symptoms: Bronchitis; Sore/painful throat; Dehydration; Diarrhea; Elevated temperature; Sneezing
Not An Issue: Pneumonia; Sore voice; Loss of appetite; Loss of smell; Loss of taste; Blue lips or face
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): Different symptoms, harder to get over.
Practitioner: 1) ER said it was anxiety. Urine was clean. 2) Primary agreed I should stop NSAID when I became aware that I might have the virus. After a month, when I told him pain and mobility were issues, he wanted me to carefully try to get back on NSAID. (He prescribed Skeaxin 4x a day and I kept having more pain on it.) My primary is encouraging me to isolate and use guaifenesin, rest, hydration, and call him in a few days to see if I get pain relief from NSAID. Also to call if my O2 goes down to 88.
Decade Born: 1940’s
Gender: Female
Living: House
Previous Colds/Flus: Rarely or never
Flu Shot: Definitely not
Chronic Conditions: Asthma, Chronic/Post Lyme, IBS, MCAS, MCS, Toxic Mold Illness. Also chronic bronchitis (mold exposure); obesity; breast cancer, two closed head injuries, low thyroid, skin cancer
Worst Neurological: Moderately severe
ME/CFS: Very severe – PEM, Cognitive, Muscle/Joint Pain, Unrefreshing Sleep, Sensitivities; Severe – OI; Mild – Headaches
Most severe activity level: Totally bedridden and rarely could participate in conversations
Recent activity level: Rarely could go out but not bedridden
Mold Avoidance: Made big effort, improved somewhat
Mold Avoidance Skill: Extremely good
Medical treatment: Because of chest pain breathing in, O2 of 89 and severe back pain, they offered me Toradol and Valium. I refused. I was much worse the next day.
Critically Important: Stay out of moldy buildings;
Very Helpful: Elderberry, Garlic, Ginger, Onions, Raw honey, Cough drops, Vicks VapoRub, Rest, Spend time outdoors in good locations, Sun exposure
Somewhat Helpful: Vitamin C (2000 mg), Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Quercetin, Curcumin, Probiotics, Citrus fruits, MCT or coconut oil, Other antibiotic drugs (doxy), Antifungal drugs (fenbendazole), Antiviral drugs (Ivermectin), Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Bathe and change clothes frequently, Reduce stress, Stay warm
Additional Symptoms: My normal temp is 94-98(low thyroid). My temp has gone to 98.9 and i felt feverish. O2 is normally 99 it gradually got lower over 4 months for past 2 weeks it is 83-95 and I cant get it higher with breathing exercises. I have severe back pain…some may be from osteo arthritis but some is from lungs especially when i breathe in. This pain got worse when I stopped dicolfenec (nsaid) that controls arthritis. (I chose to do this when I read there were reports of adverse results when Covid-19 patients were on nsaids). I have been on nsaids highest dose for over 40 years beginning with Lyme. i am trying to get back on diclofenec half dose for 3 days. The pain and mobility issues without it are not safe for me
Relapse: It sometimes gets worse after shopping or more physical exertion than normal (such as walking dog 20 minutes instead of 10)
Other health issues: My low thyroid is not controlled right now. I believe I have had a fever when my temperature is 98.0 or above. I’m sweaty, weaker and a different achy than my arthritis.
Illness Course: Pain and mobility improving with diclofenac. Cough becomes productive for approx 6 hours after 3 guaifenesin 800mg during day. I feel a lot better for 6-12 hrs then cough comes back. I’m repeating this with a few rest days in between. It seems to be my best chance at getting better.
More comments: My feeling is that I have the virus and people I respect from chronic illness groups think I have it. The cough that started with remediation is exactly like cough I get from mold exposure, but I tested for mold during this whole 4 months and there were 4 kinds (2 toxic and 2 non toxic), but they were in very low numbers and the materials they were on were removed the first day. The cough never got bad enough for me to think I needed treatment, until I took large doses of guaifenesin and the cough became productive and I had a six hour episode of coughing up mucus. I also used steam in bathroom to help with this. That was the second week of April, I think. I was a lot better the next day but now am getting worse. I plan to use the guaifensin regularly to hopefully get all mucus out and get better.
Vivian
Patient Number: 102
Current Condition: I feel totally recovered
Severity Score: 71
Time Since Onset: 119 days
Onset Location: Graham, NC
Prior Locations: Burlington/Haw River, NC
Chronic Illness History: Uncertain (but heart disease, lung disease, neurological issues, 80+ yo)
Onset Date: 12/12/19
Lung Date: 12/18/19
Lung Symptom Lag: 6 days
Lung Severity: Very severe problem
High Fever: 99-100 F (usually normal)
Bedridden During Illness: Mostly bedridden
Relapse: I’m not sure
Duration: Severe – 2 days; Moderate – 4 days; Mild – 1 day
Initial Symptom: Congestion, Cough, Malaise, Fever, Chills
Very Severe Symptoms: Wet cough; Generally feeling terrible
Severe Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Shortness of breath; Lung/chest pain; Diarrhea; Nausea; Feverish feelings; Chills; Muscle aches; Weakness; Tiredness
Moderate Symptoms: Pneumonia; Bronchitis; Headache; Sore/painful throat; Dehydration; Vomiting; Loss of smell; Abdominal pain; Elevated temperature; Bone pain; Joint pain; Pain when moving body parts; Runny/stuffy nose; Sleepiness
Mild Symptoms: Dry cough; Sore voice; Loss of appetite; Loss of taste; Sneezing
Not An Issue: Difficulties swallowing; Blue lips or face;
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): Different symptoms
Practitioner: Discussed via phone or Internet.
Decade Born: 1930’s
Gender: Female
Living: House
Previous Colds/Flus: Several per year
Flu Shot: Definitely received
Blood Pressure: Normal (taking medication)
Chronic Conditions: Heart disease; Lung disease
Worst Neurological: Very severe
Medical treatment: I have severe COPD and am a heart attack survivor (date of attack 3/7/18). I am prone to pneumonia so was advised to keep watch for labored breathing or oxygen saturation drops. Had a bout of bronchitis in November 2019 and was given azithromycin. My COPD is managed with oxygen supplementation, bronchodilators, and inhaled steroids. Heart disease is managed with blood pressure med., ACE inhibitor, and fluid intake mgmt. At 81 yo and with severe lung function, it was determined that while bypass surgery was warranted, the outcome was questionable so I was stented.
Karen
Patient Number: 15
Current Condition: I feel totally recovered
Severity Score: 24
Time Since Onset: 110 days
Onset Location: Mecan, WI
Prior Locations: Middle Wisconsin
Chronic Illness History: Mild
Onset Date: 12/18/19
Lung Date: 12/20/19
Lung Symptom Lag: 2 days
Lung Severity: Severe
High Fever: Mildly problematic elevated fever
Bedridden During Illness: Not bedridden
Relapse: I’m not sure
Initial Symptom: Runny nose, Sneezing, Fatigue
Moderate Symptoms: Lung/chest pain; Lung/chest pressure; Dry cough; Headache; Runny/stuffy nose; Sneezing; Tiredness; Sleepiness; Generally feeling terrible
Mild Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Wet cough; Sore/painful throat; Elevated temperature; Feverish feelings; Weakness
Not An Issue: Shortness of breath; Pneumonia; Bronchitis; Difficulties swallowing; Sore voice; Dehydration; Diarrhea; Vomiting; Nausea; Loss of appetite; Loss of smell; Loss of taste; Abdominal pain; Blue lips or face; Chills; Muscle aches; Bone pain; Joint pain; Pain when moving body parts;
Practitioner: Not seen (illness not severe enough)
Decade Born: 1950’s
Gender: Female
Living: House
Previous Colds/Flus: Rarely or never
Flu Shot: Definitely received
Blood Pressure: Normal (not taking medication)
Chronic Conditions: ADD/ADHD, Autoimmune, Food sensitivities, Celiac
Worst Neurological: Not experienced
ME/CFS: Moderate – Headaches, Sensitivities; Mild – Cognitive; Muscle/Joint Pain, Unrefreshing sleep: Not a Problem – PEM, OI
Sally
Patient Number: 97
Current Condition: I feel totally recovered
Severity Score: 24
Time Since Onset: 112 days
Onset Location: Dillsburg, PA
Chronic Illness History: Mild (plus diabetes)
Mold Avoidance: Yes
Onset Date: 12/28/19
Lung Date: 1/8/20
Lung Symptom Lag: 11 days
Lung Severity: Severe
Duration: Life-threatening -14 days; Mild – 28 days
High Fever: Under 99F
Bedridden During Illness: Not really bedridden but slept a great deal
Relapse: I have experienced improvements without substantial relapse
Initial Symptom: Dry cough; Breathing mildly difficult
Severe Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Shortness of breath; Pneumonia
Moderate Symptoms: Lung/chest pain; Lung/chest pressure; Dry cough; Bronchitis; Generally feeling terrible
Mild Symptoms: Sore/painful throat; Nausea; Loss of appetite; Tiredness; Sleepiness
Not An Issue: Wet cough; Headache; Difficulties swallowing; Sore voice; Dehydration; Diarrhea; Vomiting; Loss of smell; Loss of taste; Abdominal pain; Blue lips or face; Elevated temperature; Feverish feelings; Chills; Muscle aches; Bone pain; Joint pain; Pain when moving body parts; Runny/stuffy nose; Sneezing; Weakness
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): More severe, harder to get over
Practitioner: Saw practitioner. Diagnosed with severe respiratory condition/pneumonia.
Decade Born: 1940’s
Gender: Female
Living: House
Previous Colds/Flus: Rarely or never
Flu Shot: Definitely received
Blood Pressure: Normal (taking medication to lower)
Chronic Conditions: Diabetes
Worst Neurological: I have not experienced these kinds of symptoms
ME/CFS: Moderate – Unrefreshing Sleep; Mild – PEM; Not A Problem – Cognitive, OI, Headaches; Muscle/Joint Pain; Sensitivities
Most severe activity level: I could go out a few times a week
Recent activity level: I could be active 10 hours a week
Mold Avoidance: Big effort, health improved somewhat
Mold Avoidance Skill: Not that great
Mold Exposure: Not that clear
HH Member #1: 1940; COPD, High BP; Moderately severe acute illness with lung symptoms
Medical treatment: Used inhaler every 2 hours for 3-4 weeks
Very Helpful: Azithromycin; Other antibiotics
Somewhat Helpful: Prescription cough syrup; Acetaminophen; Ibuprofen; Rest
No Effect: Cough drops
Don’t know: Vitamin C; Vitamin D; Vitamin E; Berberines ; Bathe and change clothes frequently; Reduce stress
Additional Helpful Treatments: Used SN inhaled and a humidifier
Additional comments: I have had pneumonia 2-3 times and yet I never coughed and lost my breath. I did with this so many times it frightened me when it happened.
Angela
Patient Number: 49
Current Condition: I feel mostly recovered.
Severity Score: 73
Time Since Onset: 44 days
Onset Location: Anaheim, CA (Went to Disneyland on 2/14 and 2/17)
Prior Locations: Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, CA
Chronic Illness History: Severe
Mold Avoidance: Yes
Onset Date: 2/19/20
Lung Date: 3/12/20
Lung Symptom Lag: 21 days
Lung Severity: Severe problem
High Fever: Don’t know (Mildly Elevated Temperature)
Bedridden During Illness: Not really bedridden but slept a great deal.
Relapse: Experienced improvements without substantial relapse
Duration: Life-threatening – 2 days; Very severe – 4 days; Severe – 3 days; Moderate – 3 days; Mild – 7 days
Initial Symptom: Sore throat, Swollen Glands, Burning chest pain, Night sweats
Life-Threatening Symptoms: Bronchitis
Very Severe Symptoms: Difficulty breathing, Lung/chest pain, Pneumonia, Headaches; Sore/painful throat; Difficulties swallowing; Diarrhea; Generally feeling terrible
Severe Symptoms: Dehydration; Muscle aches; Runny/stuffy nose; Weakness; Tiredness; Sleepiness
Moderate Symptoms: Shortness of breath, Lung/chest pressure; Pneumonia, Loss of smell; Pain when moving body parts
Mild Symptoms: Dry cough; Sore voice; Nausea; Loss of taste; Abdominal pain; Feverish feelings; Joint pain; Elevated temperature
Not An Issue: Wet cough; Vomiting; Loss of appetite; Blue lips or face; Chills; Bone pain; Weakness
Additional Symptoms: Secondary bacterial infection. Adrenal and mito crash. Achy, tired. Swollen glands which produced lots of sticky mucus after a couple of days. Night sweats. Stabbing lung pain. Awful ME/CFS symptoms – viral flare. Terrible kidney pain. Muscle tested and had bacterial infection in kidneys, other lung infections.
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): Different symptoms, more severe, harder to get over.
Practitioner: Discussed via phone or Internet (Various results for muscle testing)
Decade Born: 1960’s
Gender: Female
Living: RV with plumbing
Previous Colds/Flus: One every several years
Flu Shot: Definitely did not receive
Blood Pressure: Normal (no medication)
Chronic Conditions: ADD/ADHD; Asthma; Autoimmune; Chronic/Post Lyme; Fibromyalgia; Food sensitivities; Lung disease; ME/CFS; MCAS; MCS; POTS; Toxic Mold Illness; Frequent Bronchitis/Pneumonias
Worst Neurological: Moderately severe
ME/CFS: Very Severe – Cognitive, Unrefreshing Sleep, Sensitivities; Severe – PEM, OI, Muscle/Joint Pain; Not A Problem – Headaches
Most severe activity level: Could be active for 20 hours a week
Recent activity level: Could be active for 20 hours a week
Mold Avoidance: Made big effort, health improved somewhat
Mold Avoidance Skill: Very good
Mold Exposure: Very clear
Critically Important: Vitamin A; Stay out of moldy buildings; Gargling (ACV, hydrogen peroxide, warm salt water)
Very Helpful: Electrolyte beverage; Garlic; Vicks VapoRub; Spend time outdoors in good locations; Stay warm; Sun exposure
Somewhat Helpful: Zinc (5-15 mg); Echinacea; Other essential oil (oregano oil on feet; On Guard oil in diffuser); MCT or coconut oil; Ginger; Onions; Reduce stress; Rest; Rinsing sinuses (X Clear)
No Effect: Probiotics
Harmful: Vitamin C; Elderberry
Don’t know: Selenium
Treatment Details: Sliced onion next to bed for opening since and reducing drainage and oregano eo on feet at bed very helpful. Gargling 4x day imperative. Awful sticky alien like mucus. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced!:( week three still dealing a bit with fungal infections and metals and parasites issues in lungs. Mast cells going crazy. Indirectly related I believe. Couldn’t take much so relied on energy healer who clear many layers of issues in lungs and other organs. Beliefs, emotions, old infections etc. including a staph infection in lungs from age 10. Only other thing not mentioned was eating pineapple and no cold foods or beverages. Adding orange peel to herbal tea to thin mucus
Details: Two days after Disneyland while driving back to desert I got a bad sore throat with swollen neck gland on one side. Burning lung pain on and off with these symptoms for 4 or 5 days afterwards. No other symptoms. Found it odd that upon walking in a LabCorp with mask on- nearly a month after original symptoms- I literally felt the virus envelope my body. I was very ill just a few hours later.
Margo
Patient Number: 105
Current Condition: I feel totally recovered
Severity Score: 32
Time Since Onset: 45 days
Onset Location: Reading, PA
Chronic Illness History: Severe
Mold Avoidance: Somewhat
Onset Date: 2/26/20
Lung Date: 2/28/20
Lung Symptom Lag: 2 days
Lung Severity: Severe problem
High Fever: Not a problem
Bedridden During Illness: Totally bedridden
Relapse: I got somewhat better but then had a substantial relapse
Duration: Severe – 10 days; Moderate – 5 days
Initial Symptom: Coughing; Post-nasal drip; Exhausted but jittery; Insomnia. Before that, I had lower back pain since 2/10 – very stubborn pain and not usual for me.
Severe Symptoms: Wet cough; Bronchitis; Muscle aches
Moderate Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Shortness of breath; Headache; Feverish feelings; Chills; Runny/stuffy nose; Weakness; Tiredness; Sleepiness; Generally feeling terrible
Mild Symptoms: Lung/chest pain; Lung/chest pressure; Sneezing
Not An Issue: Dry cough; Pneumonia; Sore/painful throat; Difficulties with swallowing; Sore voice; Dehydration; Diarrhea; Vomiting; Nausea; Loss of appetite; Loss of smell; Loss of taste; Abdominal pain; Blue lips or face; Elevated temperature; Bone pain; Joint pain; Pain when moving body parts
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): Harder to get over
Practitioner: Didn’t discuss (Avoid healthcare providers in general; I am a homeopath and treated myself)
Decade Born: 1950’s
Gender: Female
Living: Townhouse
Previous Colds/Flus: One or two per year
Flu Shot: Definitely not
Blood Pressure: Normal (not taking medication)
Chronic Conditions: Food sensitivities; Toxic Mold Illness
Worst Neurological: Moderate
ME/CFS: Severe – PEM, Cognitive, Muscle/Joint Pain, Unrefreshing Sleep, Sensitivities; Not A Problem – OI, Headaches
Most severe activity level: I could be active 20 hours a week
Recent activity level: I could be active 20 hours a week
Mold Avoidance: Made some effort, not able to be avoiding mold recently
Mold Avoidance Skill: Very good
Mold Exposure: Not very clear
HH Member #1: 1950’s; High blood pressure, cancer survivor, Carotid artery blockage in the last year; No illness
HH Member #2: 1990’s; Autism; No illness
Critically Important: Stay out of moldy buildings
Very Helpful: Cough drops; Ibuprofen; Reduce stress; Rest
Somewhat Helpful: Electrolyte beverage; Vicks VapoRub
Additional Helpful Treatments: Homeopathy – Bryonia was extremely helpful for painful cough, Antimonium Tartaricum was helpful for exposing mucus from the lungs; Belladonna was helpful for chills and heat.
Additional Comments: I just remember feeling like it was a very intense flu with substantial lung issues and a huge amount of mucus and wheezing. That was scary.
Victoria
Patient Number: 107
Current Condition: I don’t feel any better and can’t tell if it’s going to get worse or if it’s stable.
Severity Score: 46
Time Since Onset: 42 days
Onset Location: Eugene, OR
Prior Locations: Las Vegas, NV
Chronic Illness History: Severe
Mold Avoidance: Somewhat
Onset Date: 3/2/20
Lung Date: 3/2/20
Lung Symptom Lag: 0 days
Lung Severity: Severe problem
High Fever: Not a problem
Bedridden During Illness: Not really bedridden but slept a great deal
Relapse: I’m not sure
Initial Symptom: Sudden onset shortness of breath; Lung capacity significantly reduced; Thick sinuses; Fatigue.
Very Severe Symptoms: Tiredness
Severe Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Shortness of breath; Feelings of lung/chest pressure; Sore voice; Dehydration; Muscle aches; Pain when moving body parts; Sleepiness; Generally feeling terrible
Moderate Symptoms: Headache; Difficulties swallowing; Feverish feelings; Joint pain; Runny/stuffy nose; Weakness
Mild Symptoms: Lung/chest pain; Nausea; Bone pain
Not An Issue: Dry cough; Wet cough; Pneumonia; Bronchitis; Sore/painful throat; Diarrhea; Vomiting; Loss of appetite; Loss of smell; Loss of taste; Abdominal pain; Blue lips/face; Elevated temperature; Chills; Sneezing
Additional Symptoms: Tightness in throat, like some had their hands around it. Feeling of thick upper sinus congestion but no mucus. Intense muscle/joint pain that comes and goes ever 2-3 days; Lungs feel like someone clamped a cage around them so that I can only expand them 2/3.
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): Different symptoms; more severe; harder to get over
Practitioner: Saw a practitioner. Said, “Could be a milder Covid.” Chest X-ray clear. Doctors doesn’t recommend CT scan because of the relatively high radiation hit. Said eventually he might send me for pulmonary function testing.
Decade Born: 1970’s
Gender: Female
Living: House
Previous Colds/Flus: Rarely or never
Flu Shot: Definitely not
Blood Pressure: Normal (no medication)
Chronic Conditions: Autoimmune illness; Food sensitivities; IBS; Toxic Mold Illness
Worst Neurological: Very severe
ME/CFS: Very Severe: Cognitive, Sensitivities; Severe – Muscle/Joint Pain; Unrefreshing Sleep; Moderate – Headaches; Mild – PEM; Not A Problem – OI
Most severe activity level: Rarely could go out but not bedridden
Recent activity level: Could be active 30 hours a week
Mold Avoidance: Made some effort
Mold Avoidance Skill: Not that great
Mold Exposure: Not very clear
HH Member #1: 1950’s; Asthma; Moderate acute illness with lung symptoms
Very Helpful: Essential oils; Rest; Spend time outdoors in good locations;
Somewhat Helpful: Curcumin; Echinacea; Oregano oil; Colloidal silver; Probiotics; Electrolyte beverage; Garlic; Ginger; Hot peppers; Sun exposure; Take warm/hot baths; Gargling; Nebulizer; Rinsing sinuses
No Effect: Elderberry; Melatonin
Don’t know: Vitamin A; Vitamin C; Vitamin D; Zinc; Berberines; CBD
Additional Helpful Treatments: Essential oil inhaler (thieves and peppermint); Walking outdoors at a moderate to fast pace helps expand lungs; Castor oil/essential oil pack on chest/lungs; Essential oil diffusion; Young Living Deep Relief roll-on on chest at bedtime
Additional Comments: Onset was the day after returning from Las Vegas, 2/28-3/1. Planes were not being cleaned.
Salliann
Patient Number: 63
COVID Test – Negative
Current Condition: I feel mostly recovered
Severity Score: 56
Time Since Onset: 31 days
Onset Location: British Columbia, Canada
Prior Locations: New Mexico (Taos/Ojo Caliente/Espanola); Arizona; Nevada; Idaho
Chronic Illness History: Severe
Mold Avoidance: Yes
Onset Date: 3/3/20
Lung Date: 3/15/20
Lung Symptom Lag: 12 days
Lung Severity: Severe problem
High Fever: 99-100F (usually low)
Bedridden During Illness: Almost totally bedridden
Relapse: Have experienced improvements without substantial relapse
Duration: Severe – 14 days; Moderate – 7 days; Mild – 5 days
Initial Symptom: Runny nose
Very Severe Symptoms: Weakness; Tiredness; Sleepiness
Severe Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Lung/chest pain; Lung/chest pressure; Feverish feelings; Chills; Muscle aches; Runny/stuffy nose; Generally feeling terrible
Moderate Symptoms: Shortness of breath; Dry cough; Pneumonia; Loss of appetite; Abdominal pain; Elevated temperature
Mild Symptoms: Headache; Sore/painful throat; Sore voice; Dehydration; Diarrhea; Nausea; Joint pain; Sneezing
Not An Issue: Difficulties with swallowing; Vomiting; Loss of smell; Loss of taste; Blue lips or face; Bone pain; Pain when moving body parts
Additional Symptoms: Worst vertigo I’ve ever had – couldn’t walk
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): Different symptoms, more severe, harder to get over.
Practitioner: Saw practitioner. COVID, Influenza both negative.
Decade Born: 1970’s
Gender: Female
Living: Vehicle without plumbing
Previous Colds/Flus: Rarely or never
Flu Shot: Definitely not
Blood Pressure: Normal (not taking medication)
Chronic Conditions: Food sensitivities; ME/CFS, MCS, Toxic mold illness, Psoriasis, Endometriosis
Worst Neurological: Very severe
ME/CFS: Very severe – PEM, Cognitive, OI, Headaches, Unrefreshing sleep, Sensitivities; Severe – Muscle/joint pain
Most severe activity level: Basically bedridden but could participate in conversations
Recent activity level: Could be active 50 hours per week
Mold Avoidance: Made big effort, health improved a great deal
Mold Avoidance Skill: Extremely good
Mold Exposure: Very good
Critically Important: Stay out of moldy buildings
Very Helpful: Vitamin C; Fresh Garlic; Medicinal mushrooms; Electrolyte beverages; Garlic; Cough drops; Rest; Spend time outdoors in good locations; Stay warm; Sun exposure
Somewhat Helpful: Zinc; Reduce stress
No Effect: Quercetin
Harmful: Ibuprofen
Additional Helpful Treatments: Osha tincture
Additional Comments: Worst vertigo
Ginger
Patient Number: 69
Current Condition: Almost a month later, still have extreme exhaustion, off and on sore throat, mild cough, always sleepy, painful chest jabs
Severity Score: 57
Time Since Onset: 32 days
Onset Location: Central Florida
Chronic Illness History: Severe
Mold Avoidance: Somewhat
Onset Date: 3/8/20
Lung Date: 3/9/30
Lung Symptom Lag: 1 day
Lung Severity: Severe
High Fever: 99-100F (usually low)
Bedridden: Almost totally bedridden
Relapse: I got somewhat better but then had a substantial relapse
Duration: Very severe – 7 days; Severe – 7 days; Moderate – 10 days
Initial Symptom: Extreme exhaustion; Lightened and dizzy feeling; Dry cough; Constant headache; Pressure in ears and sinuses; Brain fox; Mild fever (100.2); Eyes itchy and irritated; Air hunger; Mild sore throat; Swollen lymph gland (L neck); Nausea; Loss of taste
Very Severe Symptoms: Wet cough; Bronchitis; Weakness; Tiredness; Sleepiness; Generally feeling terrible
Severe Symptoms: Dry cough
Moderate Symptoms: Shortness of breath; Lung/chest pressure; Headache; Loss of taste; Feverish feelings; Muscle aches; Bone pain; Joint pain; Pain when moving body parts; Runny/stuffy nose;
Mild Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Lung/chest pressure; Sore/painful throat; Sore voice; Dehydration; Nausea; Abdominal pain; Elevated temperature; Chills; Sneezing
Not An Issue Symptoms: Difficulties swallowing; Diarrhea; Vomiting; Loss of appetite; Loss of smell; Blue lips or face
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): Harder to get over
Practitioner: Saw a practitioner. Tested for flu which was negative so said it must be upper respiratory infection, here, take these antibiotics (Z-pack). I did not take them.
Decade Born: 1960’s
Gender: Female
Living: House
Previous Colds/Flus: Rarely or never
Flu Shot: Definitely not
Blood Pressure: Normal (No medication)
Chronic Conditions: Autoimmune, Chronic/Post Lyme, Fibromyalgia; Food sensitivities; IBS; ME/CFS; MCS; POTS; Toxic Mold Illness; Pneumonia; Shingles; COPD
Worst Neurological: Moderately severe
ME/CFS: Severe – PEM, Sensitivities; Moderate – Cognitive, Muscle/Joint Pain, Unrefreshing Sleep; Not A Problem- OI, Headaches
Most severe activity level: I was totally bedridden and rarely could participate in conversations.
Recent activity level: Could go out a few times a week.
Mold Avoidance: Made some effort, not able to be avoiding mold before illness
Mold Avoidance Skill: Extremely good
Mold Exposure: Not clear at all
HH Member #1: 1950’s; Diabetic; No acute illness
HH Member #2: 1940’s; Stomach issues; No acute illness
Relapse: I had two times thought I was almost back to my normal, only to be struck again. Each time was milder than the first.
Acquisition: I told doc of my pedicure with around 20 Asian workers in the room, who fly back and forth to Asia taking turns working with other family members. She said, But did you ask them if they had flown recently! Since I did not ask, she said I do not meet the criteria to be tested.
Comments: Although I was practically bedridden for almost 2 weeks, I did not think it was Covid 19 because it was milder than other flus I have had in the past. The exhaustion was severe..fever and body aches were about half as bad as other flu-like illnesses I’ve had. I thought it would be much worse because I have had pneumonia many times in my life starting as an infant (we lived in a moldy home then).
Mary Beth
Patient Number: 73
Current Condition: I feel basically recovered from the acute viral symptoms, but other chronic illness issues are worse than before I got the suspect illness.
Severity Score: 70
Time Since Onset: 24 days
Onset Location: Cottonwood, AZ
Prior Locations: Sedona, AZ
Chronic Illness History: Severe
Mold Avoidance: Somewhat
Onset Date: 3/10/20
Lung Date: 3/11/20
Lung Symptom Lag: 1 day
Lung Severity: Very severe problem
High Fever: Lower than 99F (usually low)
Bedridden During Illness: Not bedridden
Relapse: I have experienced improvements without substantial relapse
Duration: Very severe illness – 5 days
Initial Symptom: Alternating hot and cold feelings throughout body; Extreme fatigue; Chest congestion; Trouble breathing; Sore throat; General feelings of just awfulness. The worst part was the shortness of breath, unlike anything I have ever experienced, which leads me to believe it was not a general cold or flu.
Very Severe Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Shortness of breath; Lung/chest pain; Lung/chest pressure; Headache; Sore/painful throat; Feverish feelings; Chills; Muscle aches; Bone pain; Joint pain; Pain when moving body parts; Runny/stuffy nose; Weakness; Tiredness; Sleepiness
Moderate Symptoms: Dry cough
Not An Issue: Wet cough; Pneumonia; Bronchitis; Difficulties swallowing; Sore voice; Dehydration; Diarrhea; Vomiting; Nausea; Loss of appetite; Loss of smell; Loss of taste; Abdominal pain; Blue lips or face; Elevated temperature; Sneezing
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): More severe
Practitioner: Not seen (Don’t have a primary care provider at all)
Decade Born: 1970’s
Gender: Female
Living: House; Vehicle (without plumbing)
Previous Colds/Flus: One or two per year
Chronic Conditions: Food sensitivities; MCS; Toxic Mold Illness
Worst Neurological: Very severe
ME/CFS: Very Severe – PEM, Headaches, Muscle/Joint Pain; Unrefreshing Sleep; Sensitivities; Severe – Cognitive, OI
Most severe activity level: Rarely could go out but not bedridden
Recent activity level: Rarely could go out but not bedridden
Mold Avoidance: Made big effort, Not able to be avoiding mold recently
Mold Avoidance Skill: Extremely good
Mold Exposure: Not clear at all
HH Member #1: 1940’s; ME/CFS, Mold poisoning, bedridden with Stage 4 Breast Cancer; Not sure if acute illness
Critically Important: Berberines; Elderberry; Other essential oils (eucalyptus in simmering pot)
Somewhat Helpful: Vitamin C (6000 mg)
No Effect: Vitamin D; Iodine; Zinc (Liquid Zinc from Vimergy 2 mg); Probiotics
Don’t know: Raw honey
Additional Helpful Treatments: Eucalyptus essential oil in pot of hot simmering water helped me to breathe.
Treatment Details: Lots of prayer and asked my mom to pray, also energy work with Rob Wergin’s call-in-series. He is from the Heal Documentary available on Netflix
Worsened Chronic Illness Symptoms: Extreme fatigue (much more than my normal), my normal abdominal pain (long-term SIBO) is worse, and general overall feelings of “blah.”
Additional Comments: I have been through a lot in my forty-three years, but this suspect illness terrified me because I had such trouble breathing. I did not seek medical help because I live alone and am poor in rural Arizona. My MCS is so severe, I have great difficulty in medical establishments, and I do not have a trusted healthcare provider to assist me or advocate for me.
Erica
Patient Number: 80
Current Condition: I feel somewhat recovered
Severity Score: 41
Time Since Onset: 10 days
Onset Location: Portland (OR)/Vancouver (WA)
Prior Locations: I had family visit from Bellevue, WA (Seattle) beginning 3/11. My husband was in Hebron/Cincinnati the week of 2/24 and Charlotte, NC the week of 2/10. He also has exposure at work to lots of people traveling to/from Germany.
Chronic Illness History: Severe
Mold Avoidance: Somewhat
Onset Date: 3/13/20
Lung Date: 3/13/20
Lung Symptom Lag: 0 days
Lung Severity: Severe Problem
High Fever: 99-100 (Don’t know usual)
Bedridden During Illness: Not really bedridden but slept a great deal
Relapse: I have experienced improvements without substantial relapse
Duration: Life-threatening – 1 or 2 days; Very severe – 5; Severe- 2; Moderate – 2
Initial Symptom: Dry, shallow cough. Tight chest/restricted breathing. Nausea/dizziness.Tired. Headaches. Feeling super full after eating a small or normal amount to the point where I thought I’d throw up (but didn’t) on multiple occasions.
Very Severe Symptoms: Dry cough
Severe Symptoms: Difficulty breathing; Lung/chest pain; Lung/chest pressure; Headache; Diarrhea; Feelings of Nausea; Sleepiness
Moderate Symptoms: Shortness of breath; Wet cough; Loss of Appetite; Abdominal pain; Weakness; Tiredness; Generally feeling terrible
Mild Symptoms: Dehydration; Loss of taste
Not An Issue: Pneumonia; Bronchitis; Sore/painful throat; Difficulties swallowing; Difficulties talking (sore voice); Vomiting; Loss of sense of smell; Blue lips or face; Elevated temperature; Chills; Muscle aches; Bone pain; Joint pain; Pain when moving body parts; Runny/stuffy nose; Sneezing
Additional Symptoms: Really hot feet at night to the point of sweating profusely through the soles of my feet. Extra sensitivity to high PM 2.5 counts, which have been a major issue here lately at night, especially.
Suspect Illness (compared to colds/flus): Different symptoms; More severe; Harder to get over
Practitioner: Not seen. (Concerned about being quarantined; Concerned about infecting others; Doubt practitioner would be able to help.)
Decade Born: 1980’s
Gender: Female
Living: Apartment
Previous Colds/Flus: Rarely or Never
Blood Pressure: Normal (no medications)
Chronic Conditions: Food sensitivities; Parkinson’s; Toxic Mold Illness; Hypothyroidism
ME/CFS: Very Severe – Muscle/Joint Pain, Sensitivities; Severe – Cognitive, Unrefreshing Sleep; Moderate – PEM, Headaches; Not a Problem – OI
Most severe activity level: Rarely could go out but not bedridden
Recent activity level: 40 hours a week
Mold Avoidance: Big effort, improved a great deal
Mold Avoidance Skill: Extremely good
Mold Exposure: Somewhat clear
HH Member #1: 1970’s; Hypertension; Moderately severe acute illness with lung symptoms
HH Member #2: 2010’s; None; Mild acute illness with lung symptoms
HH Member #3: 2010’s; None; Some sort of unknown acute lung/breathing issue
Critically Important: Rest
Very Helpful: Vitamin C (liposomal 1000 mg);
Somewhat Helpful: Melatonin (3 mg at night); Garlic; Onions; Raw honey; Antiviral drugs (Byron White formula for EBV/Herpes); Bathe and change clothes frequently; Reduce stress; Spend time outdoors in good locations; Stay out of moldy buildings; Sun exposure
No Effect: Quercetin; Cough drops; Stay warm
Harmful: Alcohol
Don’t know: Vitamin A; Vitamin D; Zinc (zinc lozenge and zinc drops In water); Elderberry; Probiotics;
Other Very Helpful Treatments: Forsythia suspensa fruit tincture; Lonicera japonica tincture; Scutellaria balcalenis tincture; Organic green tea with manuka honey; High quality air purifier; Liposomal glutathione
Additional Comments: Forgot to mention that I have a rash, as of the start of this illness…severe itching above my armpits. Unfortunately, this coincides with a move from a moldy apartment to a good one, so I have no idea if it’s illness-related, mold detox related, different water-related (chloramine treated water now instead of chlorine, which I had for years), or maybe something like the Vitamin C. I had big oxalate issues in the past, so it could be that. I’ve had rashes in the past but nothing quite like this. I went through this illness in a mold-free apartment, though we were still in the midst of moving out of a moldy apartment and are wrapping up with that this week. I really wish I could have been in better air…it’s hard to know what lingering issues are related to a virus vs air quality. When the PM 2.5 counts nears 50, I start to feel it (not related to the illness). Last night, I checked it when I was particularly struggling, and the PM 2.5 count was 148. So, perhaps I am recovered from the virus but can’t tell because I’m held back by the air quality.
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