Thought I Had COVID-19, How I Tried To Cope With The Possibility

As part of the precautionary guidelines at my work associated with COVID-19, we are all required to take our temperature in the morning. If we have a temp, we are required to report it and not come into work. After taking mine, last Friday like required, I realized I had one, but I felt fine. By Sunday I was flat on my back with fever, chills, aches, nausea, extreme fatigue, severe headache and diarrhea. I felt miserable.

That day, I sent a text to my Nurse Practitioner and she said I should get tested for COVID-19. She said it was probably just the usual virus trying to get out of my body, but since my son is immune-compromised and not enough is know about this novel virus, she wanted me to play it extra cautious and safe.

I understood why she wanted me to get the test, I had no problem with that. I’ll admit I was a little scared of the test. By a little, I mean a lot. There were some tears. I’m in a fragile state. Tears come daily.

I was sacred, confused and in a bit of denial because I have had all of these symptoms before at different times in my life. We all get viruses, COVID-19 seems to have ALL of the symptoms that everything else does. I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do. I’ve followed all of the rules. She explained to me that we are learning new things about the virus everyday. How to try to stay safe, precautions we should be taking, and what to do if we experience symptoms. What we are finding out is that, even though you might not be at high risk for the virus because of age or underlying health issue, you can still experience some serous, and even fatal complications from the coronavirus COVID-19.

Mentally, it's about all about to break me. I really don’t want to hear or write about COVID-19 ever again. But, if my son gets it, he has a greater risk than most to suffer serious complications. My biggest fear is that I will bring it home to him and last week I thought my fears were happening. It scared me so bad. And, don’t tell my its because I’ve played into the media hype, I am the media. This is real to me. It's not political or propaganda. Me being informed, staying home and wearing a mask, YES, wearing mask, could be the difference between life and death for my son and so many others who are high risk for suffering severe or even fatal complications from the virus.

I realize that all of this is getting really old and you would rather me write about something else, but I feel we need to learn all we can about this virus so we can be best prepared if we or someone close to us contacts the virus.

When it came right down to it, I knew I HAD to get that giant cotton swab stuck up my nose for my son. So, I went to get a test. (BTW- the test isn't that bad, just ask the nurse to bend the tip a little before inserting it into your nose. My nurse shared that comfort hack with me) If I tested positive, he would also have to get tested and time is of the essence. Because for us, acting fast is the key. If he would get the virus, he needs to be monitored and receive treatment ASAP. The good news, my test came back negative.

But, that is just this weeks hurdle. Everyday, I worry. Everyday, I do everything I can to protect him. After this scare, I feel like I have do even more. It's so hard to be the parent of a high risk child right now. It is a whole other level of anxiety. If you are experiencing anxiety because of the pandemic, multiply that by at least two. That’s almost how we are feeling right now. Please be patient and understanding with us. We are doing the best we can right now. In fact, make it a point to be patient and kind with everyone. These are difficult times.

One thing that helps me stay centered is staying informed and staying calm. Sometimes, the two are hard to juggle together. Just by knowing the current scientific information about symptoms and warning signs, from trusted sources like the CDC, makes me feel a little better. A little more in control.

According to the CDC, symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19.

Continued symptoms and warning signs.

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Bluish lips or face

The CDC points out that the above lists are not a list of ALL possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider if you experience the above symptoms or for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

And, please remember, anyone can get COVID-19 and anyone can experience mild to severe symptoms. If you notice that something isn’t normal for you or your kids, get checked. Call your medical professional, explain your particular symptoms to them so that they can hep you with the right course of action.

Be safe.

[SOURSE: CDC]