Surviving COVID
This is what I did
In July I tested positive for COVID-19. I was shocked and scared shit-less! To this day I try to trace my point of infection and I come up empty-handed. Perhaps the mask-less shopper. I simply have no idea, my travels take me from work to home and not many places in between.
I occasionally stop for gas and groceries. When I do, I take all precautions, believe me!
The Clorox wipes in my car and I have developed a very strong bond!
That being said, somehow the evil of COVID found me a worthy host.
I spent the first week feeling “not well”. I thought nothing of it.
A fever or a cough is not “always” the major defining symptom of COVID-19. I never had either of those symptoms, not even in my worst of times.
My journey began with a stuffy nose and a mildly sore throat. I went to work those first three days.
Each day we are screened at the door and my temperature had never gone above 97.6 degrees.
I was not taking any pain or fever medications at the time. I did not know I was ill nor do I like taking medications.
I had three days off so I laid around my house not doing much of anything. Breathing freely all over my home where my 73-year-old mother resides.
On the third day, I awoke to feel much better (or so I thought) and went riding my bike. That did not go so well as I felt severely winded and had to push the bike half the distance back home. I had been riding that same path regularly with no prior issues.
The next day I went to work still not feeling my best, but I drank some coffee and the day passed.
The second day I became conscious of a splitting headache. In the medical field, we often ask patients, “Is this the worst headache of your life”?
That day I was having the worst headache of my life.
Being a nurse, I thought of all the possible reasons why the pain pounded my brain so relentlessly.
Knowledge may not always be power, as sometimes ignorance can keep the mind quiet and calm!
I made it to work and told my co-worker how close I came to calling off work that day.
Still feeling lethargic, I pushed through and the day moved on.
On day three I went to work again and this is the day that realization would dawn on me that I was infected. I could not taste or smell anything! Without a doubt, I had the dreaded COVID-19.
Two days later, tests confirmed my fears!
These are the techniques I employed to help my recovery:
- Vitamin C twice a day during the infection.
- Folic acid two times daily
- Vitamin D two times daily
- I kept moving — do not just lay in one position, get up, and make yourself move about. Walk in the sunshine. If you cannot walk long distances walk frequent short distances. I walked around the backyard and sat in the sun.
- Sit up at 130 degrees or 90-degree angle — sitting allows for maximum lung expansion and therefore a greater surface area to facilitate air exchange — a crucial component in respiratory infections.
- I drank warm water and teas to stay hydrated — staying hydrated will allow secretions to be looser and aid movement while allowing you to cough them up.
- I got up from bed each day, took a shower, and sat up in a chair (a slow process, I was weak).
- Positive affirmations, I told myself I would beat this evil and I would be well no matter what. (Though my color was grey whenever I looked in the mirror). Each day I awoke expecting to feel better than the day before.
- I went to sleep each night, sitting up as my lungs were on fire.
- I listen to healing scriptures and wrote, read, and did any and all things to keep my positive feelings up.
- I was quarantined for over three weeks, my mental health was not good. My hubby was in NY working COVID and would stay on the phone with me practically all day and well into the night. As a nurse with COVID experience, he was filled with knowledge and support for my state of being.
- My kids would call me on the phone or go outside and see me through the bedroom window.
- Tough it out and keep fighting, you can do it!
Being well is sometimes a state of mind.
When I was released to return to work, I felt nowhere near ready. I was weak, my headaches were relentless, and stayed around for days continuously without relief. I could not concentrate on much or really care for myself.
I took an extra 2 weeks off and began to walk in earnest to rebuild stamina. My mom, my daughter and I would get up each morning at 5 am and walk about 2 miles gradually increasing distance and pace.
It took about 2 months for me to feel like myself and that journey remains a work in progress.
The takeaway
Keep positive thoughts, build and maintain your immune system. Keep moving, seek the sunshine, keep positive thoughts, and — fight!
When you have done all that you can do…keep fighting!
You can win,
…you just have to keep fighting!
Here are some related posts below to aid the fight against COVID
