I am writing this prematurely as this is only day 2 of symptoms for me. However, I’m a firm believer in mind over matter - so I’m going to log my journey here.
Mostly I wanted to log this journey because I, personally, have been frustrated with the lack of real journalism. Covid, vaccine/no vaccine, hospitalizations, death, survival rates, the list goes on. I’m not here to give an opinion but rather to share my experience each day as it comes.
Sunday, September 5th, Liam woke up unable to walk down the stairs with a 102 fever and I immediately ordered a test and tested him for Covid. He was positive. This poor kid was immediately terrified (thanks to the fear-mongering found on every news channel).
I immediately reminded him that God created our bodies to build immunity to viruses. He’s a science kid so we used the flu (due to its years of studies and data) as our study case. I explained what happens within our bodies, when we contract a virus, and explained that we have to up our vitamins, water, sleep, minerals, mindset, and treat the symptoms as they come. But I made sure he knew that he’d be just fine.
I tested positive as well, and I felt worn down - a little meh - and my brain kept telling me to do what I needed to do before the week progressed. So I made some chicken so it wouldn’t go bad in the fridge (no one ate but me), hopped on some work, and started laundry.
DAY 1
Monday morning we woke up and Liam was crying in bed telling me he couldn’t get up. He spent most of the day drinking white cherry Gatorade, taking Tylenol, vitamins, showering, and watching his computer.
DAY 2
Tuesday, I began feeling a little more worn down but still not “out of commission”. Aryanna developed a fever with a persistent cough (mostly at night). Liam complained of an unbearable headache but it was the first day I watched him consume an entire meal. Happy kid, happy momma. Around 4 pm. Wednesday I got this “oh shit” feeling as the aches started creeping in and my temperature began to creep up.
DAY 3
Wednesday morning I woke up and knew the storm had reached the shoreline. The body aches were all-consuming, persistent headache, swollen throat, ear pain, and the cough began. Liam had his first day of not feeling so bad - but he still continues to peak a fever of 102 in between doses of Tylenol.
DAY 4
It is 3:19 am Thursday morning and I cannot sleep.
I have the most painful body aches I’ve ever felt in my life.
My ears are killing me, along with my painfully swollen throat.
THIS HEADACHE IS DEAFENING
I can’t get enough coconut water and I’ve been craving popsicles like it’s no one’s business.
I’m doing my very best to rest (as much as I can with two sick kids) and mentally overcome this nasty virus thanks to funny tik tok videos and hot baths.
DAY 5&6
Liam began to feel better, Aryanna is back to her wild self. The kids went outside for a bike/scooter ride together. I got to have 20 min of total silence.
Today, my breathing is labored and my fever won’t go away. The body aches are otherworldly. I have the most random, sharpest pains running from my calves up through my hips.
COVID is wild. I really don’t have much more left in me to write today. My energy is shot and I’ve ordered more take out in 48 hours for the kids than I care to admit.
DAY 7
This morning I begged the doctor for an inhaler and some steroids. I feel less than human today and I need relief. Mom life isn’t stalled by any ailment - not even COVID.
First-day taking steroids and I committed to sitting outside for 20 minutes today and folded some laundry. I felt a little more energy as the day continued.
I’m not sure if it was pure boredom or looking to fill a void, but I ordered some festive Yankee candles online - no less than two hours later and I am typing this with no sense of smell or taste.
COVID is the type of virus that won’t quit until it fully pushes the host over the edge.
2:45 AM - My oxygen is low - 90 to be exact and I’m feeling the effects of the Prednisone wearing off. Thank you, God for this inhaler. I don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep tonight.
DAY 8
Turns out, I didn’t get any sleep - I was up until 6 am - finally fell asleep and woke up at 8:15.
My cough is relentless and I feel like I’m never going to feel any better. All I want to do is sleep but I have two recovered little ones running wild throughout my house.
I feel like not enough people talk about the COVID fog/depression. Let me be the one to say - it’s real. I’m tired of being sick and sick of being tired. I hate being so isolated. Feeling extra lonely and sad today. I just want to feel normal again.
My patience is thin and my chest hurts like it’s never hurt before. I’m praying we are approaching the home stretch.
My fever is back.
The lack of taste and smell has demolished any chance for a brief moment of bliss. I’m eating food that literally tastes like - NOTHING. I need to sleep.
I went 12 days testing positive with COVID. Day 10 I finally went to the hospital to find that I had a brutal kidney infection and I finally got some antibiotics.
Today is the first day I tested negative. My brain is foggy, I’m exhausted, but I feel like a new human.
I will follow up with my experience venturing through this COVID situation at a later date.
COVID depression is a thing and I think it’s so important for me to share my experience with other people in the mental health/recovery community.
I just want to say that I am extremely grateful for the ups and the downs that came with all of this and I can’t wait to share a little insight that I gained from this whole experience.
I love all of you beautiful humans and I’m happy to be back.
Glad you are back as well!!