My Covid-19 started two weeks ago on Dec. 6th, and it's now Dec. 21 today. I want to share my experience now because maybe someone else will get something out of my sharing. I'm usually a very private person and sharing this much about myself is from concern for all the good people here.
I do have compromised lungs (older, and an ex-smoker 4 yrs.) I use home oxygen when needed, but I have been doing so well that I don't normally need to use my oxygen often. I live in a building and there's elevators. Some wear masks, some don't, and I avoid them all. I do go out and use Walmart as an exercise place... that's where I'm convinced I got it... from the Return Customer Service Lady - we stood close and she talked forcefully through her mask. I got restless after self-isolation during Thanksgiving, and the next week hit Walmart where everybody wears a face mask. Anyways--
First few days thought it was mild.
- dry cough, slight headache, and pain in middle of chest from having to burp constantly and heartburn. Temp was 99.5F and never got higher throughout entire sickness.
- The dry cough was not that hacking, the headache was only bad for a couple days, some mild nausea, that slight fever, taking Tylenol helped relieve these symptoms.
Then...
- CHILLS, lots of chills the entire week and a half. Stayed in bed, didn't seem to urinate much even tho' drinking water.
- I could still taste and smell fine, and never lost taste or smell, but had a horrible taste in my dry mouth for over a week. I felt constantly dehydrated and my stomach kept burning like I developed an ulcer. I tried to eat, but too weak to care actually eat the food.
- Fatigue and weakness made it impossible to worry using any energy to go for a test. I thought I was working through it and improving some, but new symptoms kept cropping up.
Then, it took a turn for the worse.
- Middle of week is when it started to affect my already compromised lungs. My oxygen saturation kept dropping, going from 97% to 92% or lower, so I started using my home oxygen 24/7 constantly, but would wake up feeling suffocation. It increased where I was getting really out of breath and my lungs were giving me a scare every night.
Got to
Day 12, and it didn't seem mild or improving. I was afraid.
- Got a hold of my doctor, she ordered a drive thru test and Prednisone and an antibacterial that works on lungs. I managed to get myself there. Test results came back Positive the next day.
- The Rx's helped. I went from not eating hardly at all and having that burning stomach to eating a bunch on the Prednisone. Getting stronger from that for sure.
- Lungs still weak, must use oxygen to do everything, but no suffocating feelings anymore. When I started to have a productive cough it has always been a clearer phlegm not like a green color like with cold or flu.
- Living alone, I kept trying to get advice, but my online provider posted "Go to ER if Lungs affected". Well, the ER's are filled and ambulances backed up they say on the news. I finally called an Advice Nurse and she had helped get my doctor to call me that day. That may have saved my life actually. My advice now would be to act faster.
I hope this doesn't turn on me lulling me into thinking I'm improving when I really have a pneumonia. No fever though, and eating and sleeping better now.
Please know how sorry I am that people here are losing family members. I don't want to make light of how bad Covid-19 can get. My son, a trucker, and my 8 yr. old GD had mild cases a couple of months ago.
It's a Shape Shifter, and everybody needs to be as aware as possible. Forgive me if I've run on too long, but maybe one member here will get something out of my experience. Today my doctor's office staff called to tell me to stay in Quarantine until Dec. 27th (20 days) and any changes to be concerned over. Hope you all stay healthy and safe. Don't push it to be social for the Holidays, just do what you can to stop the spread.
I wonder which person(s) was contagious at the get-together.
