After 2 years of avoiding getting COVID-19 with multiple months spent on COVID wards, ICUs, and the emergency department, we have finally tested positive for Omicron. Given how many of you have also tested positive, are concerned you may be positive, know someone that tested positive, or just generally want a better grasp on Omicron we decided to provide you with a doctor's reflections, thoughts, perspectives, and experience having Omicron. We discuss exposure, vaccine status, rapid test negativity and then PCR positivity, incubation period, contagious period, symptoms and progression including Omicron headaches(?), isolation period, long COVID, and more.
FOLLOW UP VIDEOS:
I Have Omicron - UPDATE On Symptoms And The State Of Things (Hospitalizations, ICU Admission Rates)
   • I Have Omicron - UPDATE On Symptoms A...  
I Have Omicron - Final UPDATE On Doctor's Experience With Omicron
   • I Have Omicron - Final UPDATE On Doct...  

Our exposure is unknown. We presume we have Omicron given that more than 95% of current new cases nationwide are Omicron. Although there is not a specific test that will tell you which variant you have. Now we are one of the more than 1,000,000 new cases per day.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-trac...

We are a young-ish, vaccinated, not previously infected, not comorbid individual. Despite our booster, we still got Omicron. Vaccine effectiveness even with the booster wanes over time as low as 45% at 10 weeks post booster.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov...

We actually tested negative the second day of symptoms with a rapid antigen test and then tested positive with a PCR test the next day. False negatives and the timing of the antigen test can be incredibly important to be aware of.
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-t...

Our symptoms started January 4th. One of the reasons we feel like our exposure may have been on New Year's Eve given the average incubation period of 3 days (ranging 0-8 days for most people studied).
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/cont...

Our symptoms are primarily cough, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, and headaches. The fatigue and headaches seem to be the most severe. We have heard from many about significant headaches with Omicron.
https://joinzoe.com/learn/omicron-sym...
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/cont...

Isolation guidelines from the CDC recommends 5 days of isolation and then 5 days of disciplined mask wearing if no fevers and improved symptoms. Our institution has slightly different guidelines. We discuss the difference and why.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-...

One question many have asked is if we are concerned about Long COVID, or Post-COVID Syndrome. In previous studies before Omicron, as many as 80% of those recovered reported at least 1 persistent symptom. We dive into this a bit more.
ttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95565-8

Learn more about Omicron in the videos below!
I Have Omicron - A Doctor's Experience And Perspective
   • I Have Omicron - A Doctor's Experienc...  
Omicron UPDATE - Current Numbers, Trends, And What To Expect In The Coming Weeks
   • Video  
Omicron - Affects On The Lungs Seem To Be Less
   • Video  
Omicron Reinfection - Protection, Symptoms, Severity
   • Video  
Omicron - Protection And Immunity Against Other Variants (Vaccinated And Unvaccinated)
   • Video  
Omicron - How Good Are Vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca)
   • Video  
Omicron Symptoms – What To Look Out For And Expect
   • Omicron Symptoms – What To Look Out F...  
Omicron Severity of Disease in Unvaccinated, Vaccinated, and Previously Infected: New COVID Variant
   • Video  

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THIS VIDEO DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read, watched, or listened to on this video, or any other videos.