I am Still Anti-mandate
And I have COVID.
Last Thursday began much like any other Thursday. My husband got up at two am to go to work, and I too began my day.
For me, writing is much easier in the quiet hours of the morning when the rest of the world was still sound asleep, and silence envelopes the world. No distractions and just the peaceful sounds of an occasional sprinkler system.
Thursday afternoon began the spiral into chaos. After dinner, my husband, who never gets sick, informed me he wasn’t feeling well and was going to bed. It was just shy of 3 PM in the afternoon. (We have dinner when my husband gets off work, which usually coincides with when school gets out).
He never gets sick. But since the symptoms were minor, I didn’t really think much of it. By minor, I mean a stuffy nose, and scratchy throat, all of which could. He went to bed.
But when he got up Friday, we knew he was sick. And because his job requires it, we went to urgent care to get a covid test. And it was a quick positive.
Chaos ensues.
My brain is now in overdrive. Because I have one kid at home, and one kid that is stuck at his dads, where he is not going to want to stay for two weeks.
Thankfully, my asthmatic child was at his dads.
But that brings me to supplies. I know we don’t have supplies to lock down for two weeks.
And last but not least, MY HUSBAND HAS COVID.
What if he’s one one that gets super sick? How bad will he get? Will he need a hospital? He used to smoke for many, many years. That problematic.
My mind is just frazzling.
But I have to hold it together, because I still have a kid at home that I don’t want to scare. And I have a husband that needs care.
Oh yea, and I forget to mention. Due to years of chemo, I have no immune system and I am currently on immuno-suppressive and asthma meds.
So, by all accounts, my husband should be as far away from me as possible.
But who can do that? Who could watch their loved one be ill and not care for them? My logic is that we sleep together every night, breathing in each other’s face. That week was no different. I either had it or I didn’t.
Oh, I took all the precautions that I could. I wiped everything down before I touched it, and after he did, too. I sprayed and wiped door knobs, fridge handles, toilet seats, and anything that I could think of was wiped, sprayed, and sanitized.
It made no difference. Saturday I was sick.
And our symptoms were vastly different.
For him, day one felt like the very beginning of a head cold. Kind of stuffed up, with a slight cough. Nothing concerning. We have poor air quality right now because of wildfires, so we thought it was that. Friday it was starting to really hit him (and test day). A dry cough, the body aches had begun, and the exhaustion was setting in.
Saturday was day three, and for him, his worst day. The exhaustion was so intense that all he did was sleep. When he was awake, he was in excruciating pain. The body aches were unbelievably painful. And this is coming from a man that fell out of a window, and landed on his head. He’s known pain in his life.
Since Saturday, it has been a very slow improvement. The body aches went away after a few days. The exhaustion and weakness still lingers but its diminishing daily. The oddest symptom is that he has lost his taste for anything spicy, like pepper or salsa. He can’t taste it at all. And that didn’t happen until about 5 or six days after his test.
Mine was quite a bit different. My day one started with a slight cough and a headache like I have never felt before. It felt like a really heavy weight was sitting on my head while someone was stabbing it. I’ve had migraine since I was a teen. Nothing compared to the covid headache, which lasted three days and was excruciating as his body aches.
Day three, the headache decreased to a normal headache and the body aches and cough kicked in. And worse, my sense of smell was increased and everything made me nauseated, and often made me throw up. So I couldn’t eat, resulting in an 11 pound weight loss that I couldn't afford. The exhaustion and muscle weakness was kicking my a$$.
Day three: my beloved dog went into early labor. I can barely haul my weak body down the stairs to the master bathroom and now I have to summon the energy to help my baby become a momma. It went well. Eight beautiful boxers. No stress, right?
Day six I could finally hold food down, but it tasted weird. But since it was just soup, I didn’t really think much about it. Until I made my “I have a head cold” hash browns. Something I make when I get sick, full of onions, peppers and black pepper. Meant to help clear your head. Works every time.
Except this time. I couldn’t taste a thing. I knew what those potatoes should taste like. I knew how much pepper was in it. So now I’m just eating random things: gummy bears, chocolate, cream cheese, Dr. Pepper, Squirt, OJ… I’m literally just trying random things. All nothing.
Then it occurs to me..
Wait? Can I smell?
Tea tree oil, Nope.
Vics vapor rub, nope.
My conditioner, normally a very strong coconut smell. Nothing.
It’s now day 10 for him and eight for me. He’s still a bit weak and tired. But other than that, he’s completely on the mend. I still have a cough and can’t taste or smell anything. I still get tired super easy as well, but it could have been so much worse considering all the health issues I have.
And even with everything that my family went through with covid, and how terrifying it was.
I am still 100% against mandates. Both mask and vaccine.
My health is Bad. That’s not your fault/concern.
It’s not your job to worry about me.
Every one needs to do what’s right for them.
If you want to wear a mask, then wear one.
If you don’t, then don’t.
If you want to get vaccinated, great. Talk to your doctor and figure out if that's what's best.
If you don’t, that’s great too, because that’s no one’s concern but you, and your doctor.
And my health does NOT dictate what other people do with their bodies. Nor should it.
My body, my choice, goes for everything, and everyone.
Rowen is a mother, Wife, Domestic Violence Victims Advocate, community volunteer, and nature lover. Most of her time is spent with her family or volunteering in her community. Rowen has a degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Family Counseling and Minoring in criminal justice. Writing has been her passion since high school, and she enjoys using it to help others.
Dear Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Staff: | by Rowen Quinn | RESONATES | Aug, 2021 | Medium