COVID-19 Chronicles Cont.

Satan’s gumballs are still after me but I’m still here.

Writing these in the evening, auto post in the morning, so you are reading a day later in the timeline. I tend to dip in energy in the afternoon and perk up a bit after dinner.

Energy level about the same as yesterday, vertigo slightly better, no chills, no coughing so far today!

New symptom: ears ringing

Have you ever had that feeling where all the blood rushes to your head, your face gets hot, ears start ringing and you feel like you might pass out? Yeah, that one. I wonder if that’s what other people mean when they describe their symptom as “light-headed.”

Another thing I have noticed is speech errors, some aphasia and some spoonerisms, word order substitution.

Also making me derpy, forgetting what I was doing, losing train of thought. Got wrong pill for myself because they both come in a blister pack. But remembered before I actually swallowed it.

Both of those types of things for past couple of days.

Total nap attack today, crashed hard after having trouble breathing for an hour or so, thinking, If I wind up in the hospital by next week this will be why. Wouldn’t rule it out. In general I feel slightly better but not thrilled about the breathing thing.

Trying to sit upright as much of the day as possible rather than lie flat, avoid fluid buildup in my lungs, gotta tell you it is exhausting. Couch potato, more like couch mashed potato

Oh hey! I TOOK A SHOWER! And washed my hair! Sense of smell has mostly come back and I can’t even tell you how wonderful it was to smell tuberose and coconut. Mmm. If I get through this the first thing I will do when quarantine is over is buy scented candles and body wash.

Taste a few things now but not others, surreal. I can taste BBQ sauce and raisins but strawberry soy yogurt just tasted plain and tangy. Opened my sandwich and put my tongue right on the mustard, nothing! Pickles, just taste wet. Can feel my mouthwash burn but it still doesn’t taste minty. Makes me wonder if it has to do with where the tastebuds are or something.

Okay. Today let’s talk about staging for if you haven’t had this yet. If you live alone I’m so sorry honey. Don’t be scared.

Decide if you’re going to be on the couch or your bed or...? Imagine you will be weak and dizzy and will need stuff within reach. Get your charger set up so you don’t have to lean over.

Clear path to bathroom, make sure you have safe things to lean on

Is there a flat surface right next to you? Nightstand, dresser top, end table, coffee table?

That’s where you will set up your Tylenol, energy bars, any fluids or snacks that are easy to open. This thing wants to EAT and you have to keep calories up even when you can’t taste or smell and have no appetite.

Chills are no joke, get a stack of extra heavy blankets close enough to haul on yourself. If you have a heating pad, hot water bottle, heated mattress pad, anything else to help that’s good too.

I haven’t had the fever that I know of, other than the other night when I stood up and started pouring sweat, but I don’t think I’ve had a fever since grade school. If you do tend to get fevers do you have Gatorade or electrolytes or juice boxes or anything, try that.

I have been taking Mucinex twice a day, like 10 am and 10 pm, and I really think it has helped avoid lung congestion. Also paired with two acetaminophen. For general inflammation. Haven’t really had body aches or fever and that may be why.

One thing I did in the lead-up to this was to cook an extra pot of soup every night. (Privilege) It’s one thing to have a full pantry right now but it’s something else entirely to have complete meals prepped that you can just heat up.

I found out the enhanced “chills” I was getting are called “the rigors.” Not like ‘rigger’ but RYE-gors. *cue Young Frankenstein joke* Watching Chris Cuomo talk about his symptoms. Makes total sense to me that a strong guy like him would chip a tooth during that. Not fun.

My husband finally cleared his cough after four weeks. Bronchial cough not dry spiders like I have. Why did he get that and I didn’t, and now I have this and he seems fine even though he’s been sick all month? No clue. He took a nap today and his nose was whistling, scared me half  to death thinking I might have made him sick. Imagine falling off a ship and realizing nobody saw you, treading water in the dark watching it sail off. Can’t do this without you babe

But he claims to be fine!

He has like ten million hubby points right now, if he ever gets sick again I’m making him five-course meals on a tray with a bud vase. Actually I might do that without the sick part, just for fun.

We will have fun again one day. It’s okay to laugh and stuff if you can, you don’t need permission. Hang in there, we will get through this somehow!