On November 1, 2020 I started feeling bad. I was really tired and feverish. Since my work crew often did not mask I was a bit worried. I arranged to get a Covid test. It was positive. At first it wasn't too bad. I had a virtual doctor appointment and hid in my bedroom. I kicked my husband to the spare room. I didn't even let him in to shower. I was hopeful I could quarantine successfully. I live with my 64 year old husband, youngest son (28), a dog, a cat, and a 4 week old kitten who needed to be hand fed.
About a week into the disease I noticed that after a nap my oxygen was 87. I had my husband drop me off at the ER. They told me I had some of the ground glass pneumonia but my case was mild. I was sent home. My son is a computer science graduate student. While I was in the ER he ordered a new oximeter via Amazon that would record my night time oxygen. I think it arrived on a Monday.
I went to sleep. Sleeping was easy (I couldn't have stayed awake if I tried). My son monitored my oxygen on his phone. Several times he came in and told me to breath. The next day I called the sleep doctor and he ordered an oximeter trial. Norco brought over an oximeter. Things were even worse. They ordered nighttime oxygen. The next day my oxygen was below 90 awake. My people were beginning to cough and feel bad. Josh had taken over the kitten since I was not up to it. Heck I could barely stand to get to the bathroom. Hubby came in with me. They screened me and I got first class treatment. Always a bad sign. They wisked me away and told hubby that I was sick and they would take care of me.
I think they put me in the same room as 5 days ago. I was sweating but my fever seemed to have broken. I was coughing. I was weak. I felt like I had the cold from hell. I was not really competent. I was slightly confused. My feet itched badly. They drew blood and I had increased dimers and C reactive protein. They were worried that I could have thrown a clot to my lungs. They put me on oxygen and my oxygen went to acceptable levels. I was told that I needed to keep my mask on when people were in the room but I could have it off when by myself. Everyone was gowned and masked. One guy seemed a little afraid. I don't blame him. I was told I would be admitted. They took a chest CT and I hadn't thrown any clots. About 2 or 3 I was still in the ER and I snuck a granola bar. I am diabetic but the staff were not worried about that and I was hoping it would make me feel better since I hadn't eaten anything all day.
Around 5 they took me to a single room in the Covid ward. The staff were very nice and very competent. They put an alarm on my bed. They gave me blood thinners and steroids. A nice nurse gave me some anti itching stuff for my feet. The itchy feet are not a known symptom of Covid but it was really annoying. I lasted 2 days. I must admit that it was nice to be able to call and ask for food. I couldn't taste or smell it but I knew I needed it. Besides I was losing about 1 pound a day. Not a great diet plan.
That day my hubby developed a fever. The next day my son did. My work partner and his wife had come down with Covid about 5 days before me. The painter did too but I was not exposed to the painter They got tested on a Friday.
Meanwhile back at the hospital. With the steroids and blood thinners the scary numbers improved. I was dizzy on Friday. I attended Zoom services Friday night from my hospital bed. I think I scared my friends. I slept and sort of watched TV. The ratio at the downtown St Lukes hospital was 3 patients to every nurse. My care was excellent. The doctors saw me via telemedicine. There was also a tele nurse as well as the normal staff. Sometimes I would get up to pee and set the alarm off. I did not like the alarm.
On Saturday they told me my numbers were improved and they would send me home. They felt that I did not need daytime oxygen anymore (and for the most part they were correct). I was in a special program where I took my weight, blood pressure, glucose, fever, and oxygen level and reported twice a day. There was always a nurse via the telephone if I needed one. I was week as my little kitten. My son picked me up because he felt better then hubby. They put me to bed. We decided to err on the side of caution and use the nighttime oxygen. Sometimes my oxygen would go low during the day and I would use it for a while. On Monday we found out that my hubby and my son had Covid.
The Synagouge and other friends started feeding us. They would leave wonderful food on our doorstep. They did this for a month. It was good because we were not up to cooking. At one point I decided I wanted eggs. I cracked the eggs into the fry pan and my husband had to finish cooking them because I got dizzy.
Very slowly I got better. So slow that from day to day I did not see an improvement. But I would realize I could do more than before. The first thing I needed to do was get rents into the bank. I did that around Nov 18. It took all I had to do this. I slept for hours. I was masked, gloved and went to the drive through window. I told them to wash there hands and use the sanitizer. Then it took me a couple of days to pay off my landlords. Everyone was very understanding. Then I payed off the bills. Some of them were late. It took me days. Usually this whole process takes me 1 to 2 hours per month. Everyone was understanding. Many late fees were waived when I told them I had been in the hospital with Covid.
The lockbox on my listing stayed for and extra 3 weeks. The ladies from the Synagouge cleaned up my front yard. We feel very loved. My hubby and son were sick but they always could breath. It took my son 2 months for it not to hurt when he breathed. I was on nighttime oxygen for 2.5 months.
We are all better now. We are not long haulers. I work among unmasked people so when I could get the vaccine I jumped. Having the disease and the vaccine gives me the courage to go to work.
My fervent wish is that everyone get the vaccine when they can. I want my life and world to return to normal. To do this we have to reach herd immunity. If we do this through illness we will lose at least 2 million Americans. Before I was a Realtor I was a physical chemist. I also almost have a MA degree in molecular biology and immunology. I know how to interpet data and read scientific papers. I assure you Covid does not care about you politics.
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