I was up all hours googling for relief while I was having major symptoms of COVID-19, so hopefully this helps someone who needs knowledge, history and documented experiences (like me) for a moment of comfort.
Contracting this virus was a whirlwind of chaos. I am thankful that I did not contract the virus when it was in the first stages of research and I cringe knowing that other people experienced the panic and feeling of unknown. Especially during the first half of 2020 when televised media and social media was in a constant turmoil of conflicting and scary information.
Disclaimer
I am not invalidating anyone’s experience with Covid-19. I am not insinuating that the virus is not a possible death that can happen, because it is and people ARE dying in the world. I’m am only writing about my own personal experience to contribute to the conversation that is circulating in media. I hope that this can ease the anxiety of someone that is researching after a COVID diagnosis.
I personally searched for documented experiences about it but was unable to find many posts that laid out timelines without something in the article putting me in a panic. There are some decent videos on YouTube though.
How It All Happened
I had been spending time with my mother the night before she went to get tested. She had no symptoms, we were having a great time AND as she was part of my inner circle of people I was associating with during this time. I felt safe from exposure.
I had to take my medication while I was with her, so I took my medication and I also took some water from her water glass.
Yes…..I’m sure you can see where this is going. Since I was a child, sharing a drink with my mother was not an uncommon occurrence. It’s an action that is commonplace in the South, and that was how I had been raised. Neither of us thought anything of the action.
The next morning she awoke with sniffles, nothing more or less and a small fever of 99.1. She was needed in the office for a meeting but her employer sent her to get tested that morning instead.
Yes, She Tested positive…
I had a feeling, and my intuition is rarely incorrect. I went straight to my boss when I got to work, let her know my mother was in the process of getting tested…..and that I had a feeling she was going to test positive.
Our office is in incredibly short staffed and it is also an essential position. I don’t think she realized that I was serious, but she put a call in for a laptop and VPN so I could work from home in the event that the test did come back positive.
I isolated in an extended office until half an hour later I received a call…..she was positive. It was a whirlwind from that moment.
I work at the hospital and my mother works at a clinic that is under the same umbrella of the hospital. We have the same occupational health department, so when I received that call, she informed me that occupational health was on their way to my office to ensure I went straight to a rapid test and that I left the premises and isolated for 14 days.
My First Rapid Test
As I am an essential worker, I was provided with a rapid test that produced results in three hours. I was told to perform my own self swab of the nose with the nurse verbally instructing me. It was not uncomfortable nor did it hurt.
If anything it was just a gross experience.
This first test, I took one day after exposure. It came back negative. I was told that I would be contacted in about five days to retake the test.
Where Did It Start?
My mother is NOT a social person. So the likelihood of her contracting the virus was statistically lower as compared to me or my father who both are unable to fully work from home. My whole family works in healthcare, and my mother is the one that has been mostly working from home as she works as a manager in a business office. It’s easier for her.
She rarely goes out with friends and is just a homebody most of the time. I did NOT think I would be exposed by her out of anyone I associated with. I miscalculated though, as my mother is a creature of habit and when voting day came, she went and voted in person.
She wore a mask and was as careful as she had been since the beginning, but per her recall, there were a significant amount of individuals NOT wearing masks. During this time in Alaska, it had not been mandated or enforced for the community to wear masks and as I’m sure everyone knows, Alaska is a conservative/Republican state. Many of the individuals in the community have had the mindset of COVID-19 being a hoax or part of the election hype (sadly).
I had been so careful since the beginning of the virus, but missteps happen and while I know this could have happened to anyone, I was so angry at myself for getting comfortable.
My Covid Timeline:
- November 4th 2020 – Exposed
- November 5th 2020 – Tested Negative
- November 6th 2020 – Headache/Fatigue
- November 7th 2020 – Headache/Runny Nose
- November 8th 2020 – Dry Cough/Headache
- November 10th 2020 – Headache
- November 11th 2020 – No symptoms (weirdly, definitely a calm before the storm)
- November 12th 2020 – Tested Positive – No symptoms in the AM but in the PM Dry Cough/Body Aches/Headache/Nausea AND Diarrhea/Sinus Pressure/Runny Nose/Fatigue/Extreme Thirst
- November 13th 2020 – Dry Cough/ Sore Throat/ Body Aches/Headache/Nausea and Loss of appetite/Sinus Pressure/Runny Nose/ Fatigue/ Extreme Thirst
- November 14th 2020 – Sore Throat/ Body Aches/ Runny Nose
- November 15th 2020 – Body Aches/ Headache/ Nausea/ Loss of Appetite/ Sinus Pressure/ Fatigue/Ear Ringing
- November 16th 2020 – *Loss of Taste and Smell*/ Sore Throat/ Body Aches/ Headache/ Nausea/ Loss of appetite/ Sinus Pressure/ Fatigue
- November 17th 2020 – *Loss of Taste and Smell*/Dry Cough/Sore Throat/ Body Aches/ Fatigue
- November 18th 2020 – *Loss of Taste and Smell*/ Body Aches/ Nausea/ Loss of Appetite
- November 19th 2020 – *Loss of Taste/ Minor return of hints of smell (one nostril only)*/ Congestion/Fogginess (Heavy Head)
- November 20th 2020 – *Loss of Taste/ Minor return of hints of smell (one nostril only)*Congestion/ Fogginess (Heavy Head)/ Difficulty Breathing (taking deep breaths—I will further talk about this below)
- November 21st 2020 – *Loss of Taste/ Minor return of hints of smell (one nostril), (Heavy Head)/ Difficulty Breathing (taking deep breaths)
- November 22nd 2020 -*Loss of Taste/ Minor return of hints of smell (one nostril, (Heavy Head)/ Difficulty Breathing (taking deep breaths)
- November 23rd 2020 *Loss of Taste/ Minor return of hints of smell (one nostril)
- November 24th -*return of slight taste/smell
- November 29- *some of taste/smell has returned but food does not taste right. I’m almost convinced that my slight ability to smell is tricking myself into believing I can taste something. Soda right now tastes like absolutely nothing.*
- December 4th 2020 – Ok, so taste is highly muted, things that should be flavorful are not computing and I was definitely using my nose to trick myself
- December 9th 2020- taste is still muted, I get hints of taste and smell is almost like I am smelling something that is covered in plastic so it’s not full effect.
- January 5th, 2021 – Smell and taste is finally back to normal
Loss of Taste and Smell
(Read if you have anxiety)
This symptom is the one symptom that EVERYONE has been inquiring about. During my recovery time, I had thought that I had dodged this symptom. As you can see above I had been having pretty significant symptoms for about a week before it finally occurred – 11 days after I was exposed to COVID-19.
This symptom I have heard is usually the first indicator, but that did not happen for me. My mother lost her senses about five days after being exposed and my father had this AS his first symptom. It’s hard to tell what date he was actually exposed so I am unable to provide an accurate timeline for him.
Let me first acknowledge that I utilize my senses daily to assist with my anxiety. I have been on medication in prior years to help my anxiety but I try to stay away from manufactured medication as much as possible and use my coping skills. This means centering and grounding myself as often as I can with deep breathing, meditation, essential oils, relaxation, etc.
I utilize essential oils in my humidifier to help relax and sleep. I went to bed the night of the 15th at 1 :00 AM, and woke up at 2:30ish AM quite suddenly in a panic. I could not smell ANYTHING. It was just like that and suddenly. My sudden awakeness tells me how much I genuinely rely on my sense of smell to assist with relaxation, especially at night.
Just please note, if you have anxiety and you lose your sense of smell and taste – It is going to suck so much. Period. Centering yourself with taught coping skills is ridiculously difficult without smell, atleast it was for me. I had to find other coping methods, one being the feel and sound of running hot water (RIP my water bill). I am sorry for anyone, especially with anxiety, that has to go through the experience.
I do not know how to really explain, but my experience was significantly different from my family. It sucked for them, but they were not in a constant state of anxiety because of this symptom and they could function. I could barely force food down my throat, it was a chore. I could tell they genuinely thought I was overreacting, but I have not ever really opened up about my mental health with my parents so I think they were unable to understand what was happening.
The Bright Side?
I did go to the ER- but not because of COVID. COVID brought to light underlying conditions I carried and had no idea about.
Remember the breathing problems in my timeline? It had nothing to do with my lungs and everything to do with my vocal chords and a swollen lymph node (that made me feel like I was being choked).
Also, turns out I have had a Hiatal Hernia for YEARS and had no damn clue. I had been diagnosed with asthma when I was 21 and consistently had the revolving door of ‘it’s just minor asthma’ when in reality my vocal chords have been getting fucked up because of constant acid from this hernia causing them to restrict/swell and make it difficult to breathe.
No wonder the inhaler never worked….
I hate to say that there was a bright side to COVID (because legitimately the entire experience was miserable and I’m still suffering), but if I had not contracted it, I never would have known about the hernia. The hernia is a little scarier for me as my great grandmother actually passed away from an untreated hiatal hernia.
I could have continued on never knowing as I do not notice the acid reflux or heartburn, but apparently it is there and effecting my vocal chords and breathing (the sudden raspy voice since I was 21 makes so much sense now.) the lack of noticing the heart burn, per my doctor, is contributed to my high pain tolerance 🤷🏻♀️
Conclusion To My Banter
Be careful even amongst your inner circle. I had never thought I would get this virus from my mother who never leaves the house.
Wear a mask, sanitize, wash your hands, social distance and stay safe. 💜 Hopefully this information is helpful for someone, and leave a comment if you have any questions that I may have not answered (I will respond, promise).
My one comfort is that this will all be a fever dream by the end of the year (hopefully not next year).
Britt
Britt's Daily Banter 