The President's COVID-19 Treatments, Joy Ride And Tweets...

 On Thursday night, 1 October, Donald Trump suddenly Tweeted that he and his wife had (surprise!) tested positive for COVID-19, and they were going into "self-isolation."  The following morning saw a single Tweet, and then a flight aboard Marine One to Walter Reed Medical Center for the man who lives in the White House.  As an elected president, he gets the very best care at the expense of the US taxpayer... and he gets to choose his own doctors.  His present "personal physician" is not a medical doctor;  Commander Sean Conley is a Doctor of Osteopathy.

    The Commander is obviously not used to public speaking - or his script writers are very bad.  He gave incorrect information when reading from his public statements to the press; he gave confused and contradictory answers to questions asked.  -  Apparently he gave permission for 45 to go out in a hermetically sealed Presidential Secret Service vehicle for a photo opportunity to wave at supporters outside the hospital, less than 48 hours after admission, and putting Secret Service agents at great risk of contracting the virus (they must now be quarantined for 14 days, thanks to 45's photo-op). - And now he is contemplating a release from the hospital 72 hours after admission, while the President is - supposedly - in the middle of a 5-day-course of experimental injectable medication for treatment of COVID-19.  

   If this was not so horrifying, it would be hysterically funny.

 - The orange blob's treatments?  -  First, he got an 8-gram dose of the experimental antibody therapy cocktail made by a biotechnology company named Regeneron.  (Trump owns stock in the company.) To make its monoclonal antibody therapy, Regeneron scientists selected two antibodies that best neutralized a version of the novel coronavirus in a laboratory. The scientists copied those two antibodies to make a treatment for COVID-19.  The investigational cocktail, known by the name of REGN-COV2, has been in clinical trials since June.

  Second, the Donald is being given a five-day course of the antiviral drug remdesivir; the treatment is intended to shorten the recovery time for COVID-19 patients.  (The Trumps and Kushners own stock in the company that makes remdesivir, too.)  "Yesterday evening (Friday, 2 October) he received his first dose of IV remdesivir and our plan is to continue a five-day treatment course for remdesivir," said Dr. Brian Garibaldi, one of the 10 doctors caring for 45.  In May, remdesivir became the first therapy drug issued an emergency use authorization for COVID-19 in the US by the Food and Drug Administration.

  Third, the corticosteroid drug dexamethasone - which is typically given to patients who need supplemental oxygen and/or who need to go on ventilators.  Dexamthasone can cause what is commonly called " 'roid rage."  Side effects of dexamethasone include: aggression; agitation; anxiety; irritability; mood changes; trouble thinking, speaking, or walking; fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse. 

  Fourth, supplemental oxygen.  After previously telling reporters on Saturday that Trump "is not on oxygen right now," White House physician Conley said during a briefing on Sunday that the president had been given supplemental oxygen.  Trump had two episodes of low oxygenation of his blood on Friday and one on Saturday, according to reports.  Fifth, in a White House letter Cmdr. Conley also stated that the White House occupant is taking supplements of  (1) zinc, (2) vitamin D, (3) heartburn drug famotidine, (4) melatonin, and (5) a daily aspirin.

  (1)  Zinc is a nutrient naturally found in the human body that helps the immune system fight off outside bacteria and viruses - but while zinc supplements are often taken to reduce the length of colds, there is no evidence that they can be used to treat COVID-19.

  (2)  Vitamin D is good for bone health and can be absorbed through food, sunlight, and supplements.  It is appropriate to take for people who have a vitamin D deficiency, but there is no evidence that it can combat anything related to COVID-19.

  (3)  Famotidine is commonly used to treat ulcers, heartburn and indigestion by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach.  Ten COVID-19 patients who were taking the drug while treating their (mild) cases of COVID-19 at home, found stomach pain and indigestion relief, according to a study published in June in the medical journal Gut.  However, there is no true evidence (a 10-person study does not meet "study" criteria) that famotidine helps fight or alleviate COVID-19 in any way.

  (4)  Melatonin is a hormone primarily released by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

One research group states, "The ability of melatonin to decrease viral infections in obese and diabetic patients is attributed to its characteristics such as potent antioxidant effects, improving the endogenous antioxidant system, immunomodulatory, and the strong anti-inflammatory capability."

  (5) Aspirin is a well-known over-the-counter plant-based drug in use for centuries to fight fever and to help reduce the risk of blood clots. Evidence has shown that COVID-19 cause fever in many ranges, as well as triggering the formation of blood clots in organs and throughout the body of certain patients.

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   But the question still is: Does Trump actually have COVID-19?  -  Only he, himself, announced that "fact."  And he is a LIAR of the first degree.  No results have been shown to prove the claim.  No actual doctor has said that Trump has the virus.  Unless he dies from it, in respiratory arrest - or a doctor with an MD behind his name his name verifies the diagnosis as a fact, I will not believe it the claim as a fact.

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  Trump decided to go on a joy-ride photo opportunity to wave at his fans outside Walter Reed Medical Center.  IF he has COVID-19, he put the lives of his Secret Service team at risk, and they must quarantine for at least 14 days.  If he's well enough to pull that stunt, he needs to be sent back to te White House without medical attention for the rest of 2020.

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  People in Trump's sphere who have tested positive for COVID-19 as of this time:

(1)  Donald J. Trump                                   

(2)  Melania Trump

(3)  Hope Hicks, aide

(4)  Kellyanne Conway, aide

(5)  Nicholas Luna, Trump's "body man" personal assistant

(6)  Chris Christie, ex- New Jersey Governor, who prepped Trump for 29 October debate with Biden

(7)  Ronna McDaniel,  Chairperson of the Republican National Committee

(8)  Bill Stepien, Trump's campaign manager

(9)  Kayleigh McEnany, White House press secretary

(10)  Senator  Thom Tillis

(11)  Senator  Mike Lee

(12)  Senator  Ron Johnson

(13)  Chad Gilmartin, aide to Kayleigh McEnany

(14)  Karoline Leavitt, aide to Kayleigh McEnany

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Some of Trump's Tweets today, 5 October 2020, starting at 6:19 am EDT - Remember, these are "Official statements from the White House" according to the US Department of Justice:

   -  at 6:19 am EDT:  "I'm voting for Donald Trump. My father is a Union Worker and his 401K has tripled under President Trump," USA Voter. @foxandfriends Thank you, and remember that the STock Market is getting ready to break its all time high. NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE BEST EVER. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!!!"

  -  at 6:30 am EDT:  "IF YOU WANT A MASSIVE TAX INCREASE, THE BIGGEST IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY (AND ONE THAT WILL SHUT OUR ECONOMY AND JOBS DOWN), VOTE DEMOCRAT!!!"

  -  at 6:45 am EDT:  "Virginia Voters! Your Governor wants to obliterate your Second Amendment. I have stopped him. I am the only thing between you and your Second Amendment. Working hard in Virginia. It's IN PLAY. Better Vote for your favorite President, or wave goodbye to low taxes and gun rights!"

  -  at 6:47 am EDT:  "STOCK MARKET HIGHS. VOTE!"

  -  at 6:49 am EDT:  "STRONGEST EVER MILITARY. VOTE!"

  -  at 6:50 am EDT:  "LAW & ORDER. VOTE!"

   -  at  6:51 am EDT:  "RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. VOTE!"

   -  at 6:54 am EDT:  "BIGGEST TAX CUT EVER, AND ANOTHER ONE COMING.  VOTE!"

   -  at 6:57 am EDT:  "401(K). VOTE!"

  -  at 7:00 am EDT:  "BEST V.A. EVER. 91% APPROVAL RATING. VOTE!"

  -  at 7:02 am EDT:  "SPACE FORCE. VOTE!"

  -  at 7:04 am EDT:  "MASSIVE REGULATION CUTS. VOTE!"

  -  at 7:05 am EDT:  "PRO LIFE. VOTE!"

  -  at 7:07 am EDT:  "BETTER & CHEAPER HEALTHCARE. VOTE!"

  -  at 7:08 am EDT:  "PROTECT PREEXISTING CONDITIONS. VOTE!"

  -  at 7:10 am EDT:  "FIGHT THE CORRUPT FAKE NEWS MEDIA. VOTE!"

  -  at 7:12 am EDT:  "SAVE OUR SECOND AMENDMENT. VOTE!"

  -  at 7:14 am EDT:  "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH (BRING OUR SOLDIERS HOME). VOTE!"

******  Apparently after the last above post, his phone was taken away from him  ******