I have Tested Positive — and I am doing better than expected!
About nine days ago, on Saturday during a regular workday I began feeling unwell. As a frontline healthcare worker we are currently placed in the line of fire each and everyday. I will go out on a limb and state that our PPE (personal protective equipment) is nowhere as protective as it should be.
The infection control nurse is the one called upon to interpret the CDC’s guidelines and she does a poor job of it. Her verbalized interpretations leaves us quite confused. We are often not in agreement when reading standard English. Of course she is also never the one in front when the battle lines are drawn.
About nine days I got home after a 12-hour shift feeling very tired. By the next morning I felt fairly ill. I checked my blood pressure several times throughout the first day at the urging of my hubby. He has been in New York at the acme of the pandemic and we we began the process of ruling out what could be ailing me.
My blood pressure was just slightly elevated while my heart rate and oxygen saturation were within normal limits. So using the process of elimination we were heading into scary territory.
I was hesitant to follow where the signs were leading because no one looks forward to contracting COVID-19. The second day, Monday I spent in my bed mostly napping.
I never developed a fever.
We are screened every day at work based on an outdated CDC model of screening for elevated temperatures but that is rarely a major presenting symptom. This stipulation was birthed when this dreaded disease was in its infancy and I believe that some of the guidelines should be obsolete. COVID dances to the beat of its own drum and may present with any symptom, from gastrointestinal to “I just don’t feel well”!
By Tuesday I began to feel a lot better and so I chalked it up to me catching a light summer cold. I had slept with a fan blowing directly at me in addition to the air condition being on “cold”. I was congested but got up and even went bike riding. I did find myself panting a little more than usual on the uphill climb but told myself I was no longer a kid.
Wednesday I was mostly fine with a little residual fatigue and on Thursday I went back to work. Each day we are screened at the front door and given our masks before entry, my temperature has never gone above 97.8.
I then began working my 12-hour shifts and would go home at the end of the day and crash. By the third day, Saturday I was quite tired in the morning and for the first two days I had been plagued by a headache on and off and was taking Tylenol to keep it at bay.
On Saturday I made myself the usual cup of French vanilla coffee but it seemed even more bitter than usual. Later we had a patient and the other nurse asked if I smelled alcohol. I had not smelled any alcohol … and then voila … the light bulb went off and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt… COVID-19!
I could not taste or smell my food or anything else. I had developed anosmia!
The evening before I had gone home and ate my dinner. I thought it was quite brackish, but I was more tired than hungry and off to bed I went. The next day, Saturday I would later realize that I had lost my sense of smell and taste. Anosmia along with a tension-like headache are among some of the classic symptoms of COVID-19.
On Monday morning I texted my boss (she is also the employee health nurse) to let her know that I needed to be tested for COVId-19 and within a few hours received the results … a resounding COVID positive.
I am to quarantine for the next fourteen days, keep a daily log of temperatures and symptoms, and will present myself to be tested for two consecutive negative results and then and only then will I be released to go back to work.
It has been about nine days since I first began feeling unwell. My symptoms thus far:
- I have fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Body aches
- Loss of smell and taste
- Some chest soreness with I take a deep breath
The Pièce de résistance — these excruciatingly painful headaches that never really goes away but waxes and wanes. The ache marches anxiously in the periphery covertly awaiting its next mode of attack. The pain feels like a pickaxe made of ice that systematically circles my brain piercing cells with tiny sharp shards of ice.
Though I consider myself healthy, I am feeling weak and I could tell that my body is battling hard in this fight. I have lost the strength I had just two weeks ago. I feel so unsure of myself, I would not even walk away from my home by myself. I venture into the backyard for some sunlight.
COVID-19 is nothing to play with, currently Texas is teeming with this disease as well as ignorance.
Mostly because many persons did not and still refuse to practice social distancing and protecting themselves and others by wearing a damn mask. These same non-masking wearers then become infected and present to the ER putting myself and all other frontline workers and our families at risk.
Be mindful of others and wear a mask and practice basic hygiene! If not for your sakes, for the sake of others!
God is good, I remain faithful!
You can also read more about COVID here .
https://wordpress.com/post/justpene.com/3733
I am sad to hear of this diagnosis.
Please know that I am praying for you to recover quickly.🌷
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Thank you M.s Sally. I appreciate that very much.
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I just read your posting and walk away from the computer to go and pray for you. I command that virus to dry up from the root and leave your body now in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank God you are a fighter and you shall have the victory. Get well soon.
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Amen. You know it.
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You wrote a very important post, telling people about the huge variety of symptoms and telling how important it is to obey the rules.
I hope you will soon be well again.
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Thank you.
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Thank you for your diligence and your sacrifice of helping others! God Bless You!
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So sorry for to read this news. I pray that it goes quickly and you are back to full health soon.
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Thank you so much for the prayers.
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Oh I’m so sorry to hear this news!
You are amazing and I’m glad you shared your experience in such educational and vivid detail so I’ll know what’s happening “if” I were to contract it. I’m taking responsibility precautions but fear it’s not 100% other than never leaving the house, ever.
Praying for you to make a full recovery and the strength to endure ❣️❤️🤗
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Thank you. You are so right. Each time we go out it’s a chance.
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So grateful for our health professionals. Praying for your recovery and safety in the future❤️
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Yes and thanks a million.
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I am praying for you dear friend. God’s healing grace be with you. He is able to keep you. ❤❤
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Yes I believe it and thank you Ms Suzette.
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Prayed for you little sister
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Thank you dear brother.
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Thanks for sharing this. You are in my prayers for full recovery.
Carole
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I appreciate your prayers. Thank you.
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Praying you’ll soon be well. 💖
Thanks for sharing this helpful information.
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Thank you.
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Everything is going to be alright, all is well!!
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Amen to that, God is good! Thank you.
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Sorry to hear about the news. I’m praying for a full recovery!
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Thank you.
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I am sending prayers for your quick recovery. Hugs of support to help you through this time and for your beautiful children. And many, many thanks for sharing this. You have always been an inspiration to me, since I started following your blog. The work you and your husband do is commendable and it breaks my heart that you have to go through this because so many will not abide by the precautions. You will be in my prayers as always.
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I appreciate your heartfelt good wishes.
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Awww. So sorry to hear this sis.
My heart prays for you. Please get well soon sis.
Hugsssssss. And keep the hope alive – you will get through this, cos we have Him. ❤
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Pene, I am sad to hear you have COVID😢. You have my prayers for healing. Please keep us updated on your condition. Your blogging friends care about you❤️
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Thank you Ms Deb, I will update.
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On my, Pene! I’m so sorry you have Covid 19. Thank you for sharing your experience. I have wondered about the fever symptom myself because I run a low normal. On the flip side of that, when I’m out in the heat, my body absorbs the heat and my body temperature rises quickly and is slow to cool down. My doctor thinks it’s because whatever causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has affected my hippocampus. Therefore, when I have to go to something like a dentist appointment next week, I’m afraid in the July NC heat I’ll test with a fever and not be allowed in. It looks like this will be our new normal as we proceed with out-dated medical guidelines and a large segment of society in denial there’s a pandemic. God bless all the medical professionals like you and your husband! I hope you will soon feel stronger and get rid of that awful-sounding headache. I’m praying for you and that your husband will stay well.
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting. It is quite ironic that he went to NY and i stayed in the safer place and contracted COVID.
But he has always told me they are not seeing a rise in temperature from many COVID patients either.
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Pene I have the same symptoms as you. No fever though. Waiting for test results to come back. I got tested on Friday. Get well my friend.
Violet
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Call me later when you are up.
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Pene I’m so very sorry to read that you are ill. All my sincere and heartfelt wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. Much love 💛
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Thank you my dear.
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I wish you a quick recovery. God bless you !
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Sincere thanks for your well wishes.
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May God heal you!
Amen.
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Thank you kind Sir.
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You’re more than welcome! 😇
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Oh no ! Thank you for the detailed report, I learned more from your observations than I have from from the total of all the stuff shown on the news and radio and news feeds on the computer……..Be sure to write a super-detailed critic of how the system is failing, and, how to improve it, and send it to as many authorities as possible. That is a must…….I will pray for you, too
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Thank you for your well wishes. I will certainly record a lot of information during this time.
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Oh no! I’m so sorty to hear of your diagnosis. You’re in my prayers!
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I appreciate you and thank you so much.
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Not a problem! I’m so happy you’re okay. Please keep us posted on your progress.
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Pene, this is the most distressing news I’ve heard in a long while. I feared for you when I found out you were a nurse — I called you a hero, remember? You are fighting to save others and now you fall ill. I wish I could say I’m a praying man but I do send your way all the positive psychic healing energy I can muster. Your faith in God will get you through this. Bill
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Oh poor thing!
I am so sorry for all that you had to deal with
Praying for you sis
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Thank you my dear. God is faithful. I am beginning to feel better day by day. The headache is a pain but I feel I have turned a corner. Praise God.
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Blessed be the name of the Lord.
I continue to remember you in my prayers!
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💕💕💕
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Praying for your speedy recovery.
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Thank you so much!
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Awww. So sorry to hear this sis.
My heart prays for you. Please get well soon sis.
Hugsssssss. And keep the hope alive – you will get through this, cos we have Him. ❤
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Our health care workers deserve our full support and plenty of prayers. I have family who work at hospitals as doctors. God’s speed!
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Thank you for your prayers for me and all our healthcare workers.
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God is the Almighty and cares about you ❤
Warm hugs
Vicky
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I am so sorry to hear the diagnosis. Thank you for your sacrifice as a frontline worker. Pray for you! God bless you!
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I appreciate you.
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I was saddened to read your post …. I pray for your speediest recovery. Please know that my family will include you in our daily prayers. May God embrace you in His Love. Thank you for all the love you have given the world. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
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Thank you. I am so grateful. I am feeling better everyday and I thank God I did not have to be hospitalized.
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Oh thank God indeed!!! God is so good! Please take care. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
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Praise God for your life and His mercy to sustain you during this difficult time. I am finally able to catch up reading blogs. You are in my prayers.
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ON the mend, God is good. I am claiming no residual deficits from this evil. Thank you my sister.
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I stand in prayer with you “no Residual deficits”
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Amen and thank you.
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Praise God sis, Thank God for your life and thank God that you now have some first hand knowledge of what it fells like.
Go through it with grace and let the holy spirit use this experience to say what he wants me to say to you.
You are in my prayers.
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