Summary

Marla Bishop recounts her experience with potential coronavirus symptoms, including a mild fever, headache, and sore throat, and her subsequent actions to manage her health while self-isolating at home.

Abstract

Marla Bishop woke up in the night with symptoms that could indicate coronavirus, such as a sore throat, headache, and fever. After taking paracetamol, she measured her temperature and found it to be slightly elevated at 37.2 degrees centigrade. She communicated with her husband and children, managed her responsibilities remotely, and followed NHS guidelines for self-isolation. Over the next day, her temperature fluctuated slightly, reaching a maximum of 38 degrees centigrade, but responded well to paracetamol. Throughout her experience, she maintained a sense of humor and gratitude, especially upon learning that her grandson's artwork was displayed at a hospital.

Opinions

Marla expresses uncertainty and concern about her symptoms possibly indicating coronavirus.
She values preparedness, as evidenced by having a digital thermometer and a protocol for potential coronavirus symptoms.
Marla shows consideration for others by self-isolating and taking steps to prevent the spread of illness within her household.
She appreciates the support of her family, particularly her husband's care and her daughter's willingness to take over her reading group.
Marla maintains a positive outlook, finding joy in her grandson's artwork being displayed and humor in her situation, despite feeling unwell.
She is diligent in her work, completing stories and fulfilling her duties as a moderator and writer, even while ill.
Marla is conscientious about following health guidelines, spending time reviewing NHS self-isolation advice.
She is aware of the potential impact of her illness on her household, anticipating that her self-isolation might not be well-received by others in her home.

My Normothermia Hit Thirty Seven Point Two Last night

I think I have the dreaded C

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling a bit strange. My throat hurt and I had a throbbing headache. Plus, my skin felt decidedly warm. Did I have a fever?

I went to the bathroom and took two paracetamol from the medicine cabinet, which I swallowed with a big glass of water.

I was climbing back into bed when it hit me; aren’t those all symptoms for coronavirus?

It was 04:34. Was this serious enough to wake my DH (Dear Husband) for?

I decided that it was.

‘Hey Hon, are you awake? I think I have a fever…’

‘Have you taken your temperature?’ He asked.

I hadn’t.

I turned on my night lamp and fumbled in the semi-dark for the box of things we might need in the event of a coronavirus attack which I’d hoped we would never use, and located the digital thermometer.

I read the manual, wondering where was the best place to stick the thermometer? Under my tongue? In my armpit? Up my bum?

The instructions were very helpful:

Your body temperature can be measured in many locations including, mouth, ear, armpit, forehead, and rectum? However, please note that your body temperature reading will vary depending on where the measurement is taken.

The armpit is about 0.5C lower than the human body’s core temperature (temperature of the internal organs) – the time of day, your age, and activity level, and, in women, the stage of menstrual cycle can also affect your temperature reading.

I stuck it under my tongue and one minute later, the device beeped ten times.

Normal.

The reading said 37.2 degrees centigrade.

I cleaned the thermometer with an antibacterial wipe and put it away.

As I lay down again, I nudged my gently snoring husband: ‘I don’t seem to have much of a fever.’

‘Mmmmmm’ came his reply.

I re-awoke this morning at 07:30 am with my headache still raging. But my throat felt better. I took my temperature again: 36.3 degrees centigrade.

Normal.

But I definitely did not feel normal. I felt shaky and achy and my head hurt something awful.

I took two more paracetamol, drank a mug of tea and went back to sleep for a couple of hours.

10amish

I woke up again feeling ravenous and went downstairs and had a bowl of muesli, and another cup of tea.

10:35 am

I sent my eldest daughter a text asking her if she could take my 12-noon Zoom reading group today, comprising four of the cutest six- and seven-year-olds in North London, including her son.

She said she would.

I check medium and facebook; there was a mini-storm in teacup brewing in a Facebook group in which I am a moderator. I message my fellow moderators excusing myself from the fray. They send me back get well soon wishes.

I read a series of texts from one of my favourite editors, which make me laugh out loud and I realise I need to pee. I am clearly drinking enough.

I return to my room and check my texts and emails and send out responses to various parties who might be expecting to hear from me today, telling them not to, and go back to bed.

1:45 pm

I awake feeling hungry ago. I text my wonderful DH and ask him to please bring me a large bowl of chicken soup; luckily I’d made a big pot yesterday, full of nourishing vegetables like pumpkin, Irish potato, sweet potato, plantain, and sweetcorn. Oh, and dumplings.

I fall asleep listening to My Cousin Rachel (du Maurier, 1951) on audiobook.

2:50 pm

My alarm wakes me to remind me a member of our household has a 3 pm zoom session with their counsellor. I set them up and take my temperature again. 37.3

It’s creeping up, but I’m feeling better than I did this morning.

DH keeps popping in and out with cups of tea and words of cheer; I love him so much.

3 pm

I receive news from my daughter that a painting my grandson made for NHS workers is on display with ‘thousands of kids paintings at the Royal London hospital.’

It makes my day.

Art tributes from UK children displayed at the Royal London hospital including (bottom right) my grandson’s / photo: Misha Patel

3:15–4 pm

I spend 45 minutes perusing the NHS guidelines on self-care if you think you have contracted coronavirus. It says to self-isolate in your own room for seven days or until the fever has gone. No outside exercise unless it’s in your own garden and no shopping trips.

Also, avoid sharing anything with other members of your household including towels, plates, cups, and utensils.

Other members of my household need to isolate for 14 days.

I’m not going to be popular, I think glumly.

4–5 pm

I finish off two stories I’ve been working on and get them ready to be published. One needs a sexier title.

I take another look at the pamphlet that came with our thermometer.

Did you know normal human body temperature is also known as normothermia or euthermia?

Great, now I have a title for my story.

But all I really, really want is for my euthermia to be normal again.

The next day

The highest my temperature goes to is 38°c; I take two paracetamol and it goes back down again.

Marla Bishop is a relationship coach and writer: On medium.com she is the creator of Lilith and an editor of The Bad Influence, and The Narrative. She lives in London UK with her husband and youngest two children. Follow me here