My last blog entry was October 5th which now seems like years ago. We are all very tired from what Covid has done to our families and us. In all my recent blog entries, I stressed the need to follow the 3 W’s of Covid-19 precautions: wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your social distancing. Additionally, at the request of our hospital’s CEO, I interviewed 3 doctors and a health professional on Macomb’s tv channel outlining specific Covid facts and precautions.
Diane and I have been compliant through all of this and follow all prescribed guidelines. We practice what we preach. Diane has almost been a hermit since we returned to Macomb from Florida at the end of March. Her last trip to Hy-Vee was December 2019. The mask is not my cup of tea, but I wore it. This is our story:
November 7th: Diane didn’t feel right—nothing to pinpoint. She went to bed very early. I decided to watch TV and treated myself to a delicious Dove ice cream bar which strangely I could not taste. I could not smell. How come?
8th: Diane had a headache in her sinus areas, felt like her head weighed ten pounds, couldn’t taste or smell anything, didn’t want to eat anything. Now I’m not feeling well at all: chills and night sweats, cannot taste or smell, and feeling lousy.
9th: Now I have a lack of energy, coughed up mucus, chest feels heavy. Before I could see my doctor, I was told to get a Covid-19 test which I did at the McDonough District Hospital drive-thru—no waiting at all! That was good news. In addition to the previous symptoms, Diane adds intestinal issues to her list and so do I. Neither one of us has ever had a temperature.
10th: Diane’s symptoms continued. I slept quite a bit during the day which I never do. I felt worse with each passing hour. I’m expectorating more mucus and a rough cough shows up.
11th: I woke up with more chest congestion and had a rattling in my lungs which concerns me. My doctor tells me to get a chest X-ray at the hospital. The ER staff prescribes an antibiotic and a steroid. With each passing day, I feel worse and worse with lots of mucus. Do I have pneumonia?
13th: Not a lucky day—McDonough County Health Department called with my test results—POSITIVE. What? You have to be kidding me. I follow all the rules and Diane seldom leaves the house. Diane had a virtual appointment with her doctor to get an antibiotic for her “sinus” issues. Now she has to get a Covid test.
14th: I continue my downward spiral; Diane is on the mend.
15th: Diane is fine but is fatigued. I am worse—more mucus.
16th: Oh my God, Diane tests positive! Really? Can this be happening to her too? Guess she should have been more careful who she sleeps with. But she is ok! She really thought it was going to be a serious sinus infection but NO.
18th: We get daily text surveys from the health department in order to inform them of our overall symptoms. Gordy and Diane are officially cleared of isolation and are released back into the general public. Diane had a mild case; my dance with the virus has been much worse because of my compromised immune system from chemo and radiation 10 years ago and a chronic bronchial condition. Our age is also a factor but we have numerous positives with our overall health status.
19th: Finally, I feel better. I have not left our home for 10 days; this has been absolutely excruciating for me BUT that reveals the severity of this insidious virus. When I’m ok, a part of my daily regimen is to walk about 4 miles—haven’t done that in over a month. On November 24th, I am scheduled for a follow-up chest X-ray and hopefully will be able to put this behind me. I did a couple of errands and then picked up some sticks in our yard—nothing strenuous. But I was nevertheless fatigued. I don’t like this at all.
20th: Covid-19 likes to remind me that I’m not 100%. Today is not a good day but it is not a bad day. I’m told fatigue could be a factor for weeks. I don’t know if I could be a “long hauler.” In medical surveys of recovering Covid patients, loss of taste and smell and fatigue are still present in people who are not contagious but recovering.
So why are we telling our story? The answer is simple: Covid is real, it is not the flu, it is not a joke, it is not a “hoax,” and it is not fake news. Don’t ask us because we don’t know how we got the virus. But we did. The virus is extremely contagious. If you suddenly cannot taste or smell, you might want to get a test. Our symptoms were different from each other; the reality of Covid-19 is the same. When people hear that their tests are positive, they are scared. We were no exception. Both of us have had our share of anxiety and sadness with the virus. The unknown variables are worrisome. As Thanksgiving approaches, we wish you well and encourage everyone to be vigilant, careful, and safe. When we have our health, we want other things. When we don’t have our health, it is all we want.
Gordy and the Fourth Quarter 