I contracted Covid-19 the weekend of November 28th I believe. I had made the trip to Boston for a date and grabbed dinner at a local restaurant in Chelsea. The next few days that followed included intense fatigue, massive headaches and slight stomach distress.
I thought I had a sinus infection up until Wednesday, December 3rd when the stomach distress happened. Oh no. The symptoms were all lining up. But I COULDN’T have Covid, I thought! NOT ME! I was SO CAREFUL! I wore my mask, I used hand sanitizer….bla, bla, bla…..
By Friday, December 4th I was coughing and just NOT well. I ran some errands with my mother and less than an hour later I had to rush home because I was so exhausted I couldn’t keep my eyes open driving!
I remember rushing through the door, throwing my jacket on the table and literally falling into my bed.
I usually sleep in 2-3 hour increments. It’s part of long term insomnia I suffer with, however, when sick with Covid I would sleep more like 5-6 hour increments and would only get up to feed the pets and go to the bathroom. Then it was back to bed.
I finally took a Covid test on Monday, December 7th (an at home test you mail back to a lab). The morning of Thursday, December 10th I received confirmation that I indeed had Covid-19.
Well, damn.
I was laying in bed when the email came through. My heart dropped. I instantly was worried about my mother who I had spent time with the Friday before (I am happy to report she was fine!)
From that Thursday, December 10th, until Saturday, December 19th — I was so fucking sick. Oh my God. I mean, I had technically been sick from November 29th but it had reached it’s PEAK of hell during this time.
I had this annoying cough that luckily didn’t turn into any sort of congestion, lung infection or pneumonia. The cough would get better when I laid down, I found this odd considering most coughs are worse when you lay down.
I had this pressure between my eyes that felt like Iron Man himself was squeezing my temples!
Then came the chills.
I would get so cold. Luckily I not only had my heat turned way up I also had my heated blanket on and the love of two very dedicated (warm/cuddly) pets (who NEVER left my side). I would fall asleep and wake up drenched in sweat, hot…..and then — boom — I was cold again.
I was super consistent with checking my temp (highest it got was 102.5), oxygen level (always stayed in normal range) and drank tons of liquids. However, no amount of liquids was every enough. I ended up getting severely dehydrated. So much so I could barely walk from my bedroom to the bathroom. I had to use a hiking stick I had bought to balance myself on – OR – I would literally crawl – OR – use a chair to lean on. The dizziness was so bad I would have to sit at my kitchen table from the (extremely) short walk from my bedroom to the bathroom.
It was fucking scary. Not going to sugar coat it.
At one point I remember my lips going numb. I consciously talked myself down realizing if I made myself more nervous – it would get worse. I am not sure how I had the mental clarity to do that, but it worked. That was one of the scariest moments of this entire ordeal for sure!
For two weeks I hardly ate. I remember thinking – YAY, AT LEAST I WILL LOSE SOME WEIGHT (lol)! All I wanted was canned (ice cold) peaches and saltine crackers. It wasn’t that I was nauseous or anything — I was just so “out of it” and tired, eating was the last thing on my mind.
The strangest occurrence happened when I walked into my bedroom one afternoon. I had wax melts going and a candle and couldn’t smell anything. I leaned up against my dresser to grab my thermometer to take my temp. I noticed this WEIRD ODOR. It was an odor I had never experienced before. Imagine that for a second. A foreign smell. I kept thinking there was a weird odor outside that was somehow working its way inside my house. I was truly dumbfounded for about 5-10 minutes when suddenly my heart went in my throat and I realized, “HOLY CRAP – I LOST MY SENSE OF SMELL!” I grabbed anything I could sniff and NOTHING — absolutely NOTHING smelled like anything! It was the freakiest feeling! I utilize essential oils, candles and wax melts to SOOTH me during times like this and, well —- now that was gone! This wasn’t like losing my smell from a cold or flu….where your nose is plugged…no…..this was complete loss of one of my senses!
The worst part about losing my sense of smell was the UNPLEASANT ODOR that was there every time I breathed in. EVERY. TIME. I couldn’t escape it. It made me feel claustrophobic and anxious. Again, thanks to years of practice, I was able to self sooth myself, but nothing freaked me out more than that.
Luckily I didn’t lose my sense of taste. Yes, it was effected by the lack of smell, but I could still taste what I was eating — “enough”. But things DID taste different.
When I started eating again my appetite came back tenfold! I was STARVING! It was the most intense hunger I had ever experienced. This was around Christmas so I mostly ate Christmas Cookies (so healthy, I know – lol) and lots of tiramisu!?!? It’s all I wanted. Eventually I started eating salads and chicken, and the hunger leveled out, but wow — what an experience to feel THAT hungry!! Still not sure how or why that happened.
Another thing about Covid was the inability to shower. I take a shower and wash my hair literally every day. Well, I mean maaaaaaybe I will skip a day if I am staying in, but that is the cutoff. I was unable to shower for a portion of the illness because I was EXTREMELY lightheaded and dizzy. I was simply too afraid to shower by myself (I live alone). I felt like Pig-Pen! LOL! I contemplated putting a chair in the shower etc., and eventually just said – fuck it! I wasn’t going to see anyone – so I toughed it out….and let me tell you, after a week of not showering —- it was the BEST SHOWER OF MY LIFE!!! I did not want to get out. I never felt so at the mercy of a virus than Covid. Even with the flu I was still able to shower after a day or so. It’s scary feeling out of control of your body.
Another tough aspect of Covid is the isolation. Even if I was living with someone I would’ve isolated myself so they wouldn’t get sick. You are truly “on your own” with this virus. In ways it toughens you up and gives you some “life lessons” to add to your list, so, as crazy as this sounds, I am glad I got through this on my own! It made me feel emotionally and physically strong! Sure, the countless texts, messages and phone calls helped too — but ultimately I was the one who had to get myself up out of bed each day and nurse myself back to health.
And that’s just what happened…..
Slowly – very slowly.
It was Saturday, December 19th when I finally ventured out. I had completed my isolation faze and was “safe” to leave the house. It had snowed the night before so I had to first clean off my car. I didn’t anticipate how worn out this would make me…..BUT, I DID IT! I remember feeling so happy that I was able to clean off my car after going through the worst of Covid! BTW, I was heading out to get a Covid test to see if it came back negative (and also to pick up more Christmas cookies – lol!)
My Covid test (I ended up doing another at home one) came back Negative on Monday, December 28th. The virus was officially “out of my system” after one month—- but some of the symptoms were far from over.
Today is March 8, 2021 and my sense of smell still hasn’t returned to normal. Some days I think it is close to 40% better, but that is pushing it. Maybe more like 30% better. I can smell things if they are close to my nose or VERY strong odors, but for the most part I smell this constant bland, “paste like” odor. Its truly awful. I miss my sense of smell and can’t believe it isn’t back yet. Almost 3 months later!! I am hoping it is back by the summer so I can smell the ocean, burgers cooking on a grille and coconut suntan lotion….ahh.
Unfortunately, I seem to be a “long hauler” of post Covid symptoms because I recently discovered another issue —- Telogen Effluvium —- aka hair loss. For me personally it is presenting itself as “shedding”. I am fortunate that I have thick hair that grows fast, so basically it is like thinning my hair out. According to most articles, like THIS ONE, it should get better in 3-4 months at most. It definitely stops, so that’s good, but ugh. Such a weird experience! It’s been roughly a week since it started. At first I didn’t think anything of the little bit of hair in my shower drain. But that NEVER happens. Still, I just shrugged it off. But then after the 3rd and 4th time — I knew — I just knew something else was going on. A friend of mine had gone through this too, post Covid, so I was aware of this being a possibility. It’s a strange feeling to know the thickness of your hair and then feel it SO different. It’s as if I went to a salon and had it thinned out professionally (which I often do – lol). Oh well! This too shall pass!
Overall, as a person who had a “mild case” of Covid-19, I consider myself SO BLESSD, LUCKY – FORTUNATE to only have these memories to share.
Half a million + people aren’t so lucky. That just gave me chills to write.
I cannot wait to get vaccinated. My mother is going for her 2nd shot on March 12th. I am still a nervous wreck and just want to make sure SHE is safe from all of this. I can’t fully breathe until that happens.
My own personal opinion is to get vaccinated. Too many people have died from this virus. So many people suffer long term from it. This is not your typical flu or cold. I can’t stress this enough. Covid-19 literally effects everyone differently. It seems as if there is no way of truly knowing how getting this virus will effect you until you actually get it.
I will wear a mask as long as necessary if it means I can protect one person from this hellish virus. I will use hand sanitizer forever. I will get vaccinated yearly. Whatever I have to do to not only protect myself – but OTHERS.
Ironically, as I write this, it is almost the year anniversary of when “the world shut down” — or at least Rhode Island (and most of North America for that matter). The day was March 16th. The day before St. Patrick’s Day.
My online businesses and social life hasn’t been the same since.
Not that it is entirely all negative mind you.
No.
2020 was actually a pretty great year in some ways.
If you put my business/work woes aside and the fact that I had Covid, this year was very life altering for me.
I learned that I am extremely self efficient.
I don’t mind spending time with myself.
I am braver than I thought.
I am resilient when it comes to finances.
I never lose my sense of humor.
I never lose hope.
But, the best thing that happened this year is becoming more of MYSELF and meeting some incredible people, including my amazing girlfriend.
This year has also taught me how ANYTHING can be enjoyable/fun when done with the right person. I mean, I kind of always knew that, but this year I lived it!
There hasn’t been any travel.
Hasn’t been many outings.
Not many dinners out.
No seeing movies in a cinema.
No concerts.
No festivals….etc., etc., etc.,
And yet — I have had some of the best experiences this year with my girlfriend.
Witnessing beautiful sunsets/horizons.
Adoring puppy cows.
Walking on a beach.
Taking the dog for walks.
Venturing out for dinners before locking down this winter.
Apple picking etc.,
But it is the fun nights at home together — doing whatever — together — and having the best time regardless of what that is.
Sure, I am looking forward to enjoying other adventures outside the confines of our home together, but in the meantime — I am just as happy, as long as we are together. Doesn’t matter what we’re doing.
I will always look back on 2020 as bittersweet.
But the sweetness definitely outweighs the bitter and best of all, that sweetness has spilled over into 2021 (and hopefully beyond).
THAT is what’s getting my full attention and energy.
In hindsight — 2020 was one of the best years of my life.
Thanks global pandemic.
-Des
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