Not all COVID-19 patients require hospitalization. In fact, many are diagnosed and sent home to recover. If you are recovering at home, it’s important to stay away from other members of your household to reduce their risk of contracting the virus.
It can be tough to know how to best treat yourself but there are some important steps you can take to help your body heal.
UofL Health offers antibody infusions, including bamlanivimab, to some high-risk COVID-19 patients. The monoclonal antibody can help patients in the early stages of COVID-19. Bamlanivimab is not authorized for patients who are hospitalized or require oxygen therapy due to COVID-19. The treatment requires a physician’s order and is something you should ask your provider about. The hour-long infusion is intended to help people avoid hospitalization but will not automatically take away your symptoms. The Food and Drug Administration recommends receiving the infusion within 10 days of your first symptoms.
COVID-19 recovery is not one size fits all. You should work with your health care provider to determine what treatments are best for you.
Here are some simple steps you can take while you recover at home:
- Keep monitoring your symptoms.
- Purchase a pulse oximeter to measure your oxygen levels at home. If your oxygen levels dip below 90%, you should call your doctor.
- If you have an increase in shortness of breath or it becomes more difficult to breath, call your doctor.
- Get enough sleep.
- Sleep is extremely important when fighting COVID-19. Make sure you’re getting at least eight hours of sleep a day.
- If you’re experiencing extreme fatigue, sleep for as long as you need.
- Keep moving.
- Get up and walk around when you can. When you’re not sleeping, you should try to get out of bed every two hours and move around.
- Stay hydrated.
- Drink at least eight glasses of water each day.
- Stay away from caffeinated drinks.
- Eat healthy.
- Even though you may not feel like it, you need to eat.
- Fruits and vegetables are best. Avoid sugar, fat and red meats.
- Treat your symptoms.
- If you have a stuffy or runny nose, nasal spray can help.
- If you have a headache, use Acetaminophen (Tylenol®). Stay away from ibuprofen, Motrin® and Aleve® because they can cause bleeding and clotting issues.
- If you’re having trouble breathing, talk with your doctor about prescribing an albuterol inhaler.
If you do not currently have a health care provider, it’s OK to establish care when you are sick. If you’d like to find a provider through UofL Physicians, visit https://uoflphysicians.com/providers/.
If you would like to talk with a doctor via Telehealth, schedule an appointment by calling 502-588-4343.
