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I haven’t really spoken much about my COVID-19 experience because I didn’t tweet during most of it.
So, here’s a long thread about what happened:
So, here’s a long thread about what happened:
Shortly after my diagnosis, my symptoms became much more aggressive, rendering me unable to do much more than wander around my apartment.
I was zapped of all my energy, and I had consistent cold sweats throughout the day.
I was zapped of all my energy, and I had consistent cold sweats throughout the day.
The mild headaches I was having became migraines, my once mild fever skyrocketed and topped out at 105 and I became unable to keep any food or fluids down. I didn’t eat anything for eight days.
Eventually, I was unable to stand up or walk on my own. I leaned on walls to balance.
Eventually, I was unable to stand up or walk on my own. I leaned on walls to balance.
At the urging of my family, I went to the hospital seven days into my illness. At that point, I could only breathe in about half as deep as I normally would with a resting heart rate, and I was had been unable keep fluids down for three days.
I felt half alive, or half dead.
I felt half alive, or half dead.
The doctor I spoke to told me that I was severely dehydrated (and malnourished). By then, I just was half awake - drained of whatever little energy I had left.
The doctors hooked me up to an IV and gave me a number of painkillers, as well as a Benadryl injection.
The doctors hooked me up to an IV and gave me a number of painkillers, as well as a Benadryl injection.
I ended up on the IV for about three hours. The Benadryl immediately put me to sleep.
They deemed that I was fit to go home, and I was told my lung x-rays looked good. I was instantly relieved to hear that. They said biggest issue for me would be staying hydrated until it ended.
They deemed that I was fit to go home, and I was told my lung x-rays looked good. I was instantly relieved to hear that. They said biggest issue for me would be staying hydrated until it ended.
They told me to go home and sleep, so I did.
I slept from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. the next day. 26 straight hours.
I could still smell something I was injected with at the hospital in my nostrils occasionally for the next couple of days. I don’t know what that was about.
I slept from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. the next day. 26 straight hours.
I could still smell something I was injected with at the hospital in my nostrils occasionally for the next couple of days. I don’t know what that was about.
I continued to be unable to keep fluids down for another three days - six in total. I figure that if I didn’t go to the hospital on my own that day, I would’ve ended up there in an ambulance later.
I isolated myself more than physically, too. I didn’t call my parents, my girlfriend, anyone. I was alone.
I responded to texts I got every few hours about once a day to let them know I was still alive.
I wanted to suffer alone. I didn’t want company or to be checked up on.
I responded to texts I got every few hours about once a day to let them know I was still alive.
I wanted to suffer alone. I didn’t want company or to be checked up on.
I learned that for whatever reason, when I become extremely sick, I go into emotional isolation. It’s probably not healthy, but it’s how I coped.
I don’t have any pets. I stayed in bed with the lights off and the blinds shut for two weeks.
I cut myself off from social media.
I don’t have any pets. I stayed in bed with the lights off and the blinds shut for two weeks.
I cut myself off from social media.
The people I loved were worried about me because I was not only suffering physically, but mentally as well.
This was the worst sickness I have ever gone through, and I learned a lot about myself during it - not all of it comforting.
I felt like a dying dog.
This was the worst sickness I have ever gone through, and I learned a lot about myself during it - not all of it comforting.
I felt like a dying dog.
Finally, one day about two weeks into my sickness, I woke up and immediately noticed that I felt more energetic. I still could only breathe at about 50%, but I felt noticeably better. My temperature was down to 102 and I actually felt THIRSTY. What a great feeling!
In the coming days, I was eventually able to consistently eat and drink again, but my respiratory issues remained. I gradually regained my strength. I began walking slowly with shaking legs, but I didn’t have to use walls to balance anymore.
Within the next few days, my breathing became normal again. Once I regained most of my strength and felt good enough to go out again, I scheduled a new COVID-19 test and came back negative after 20 days of symptoms.
I’m telling my experience for a number of reasons.
Firstly, most people I know who had COVID-19 had mild symptoms. The horror stories I heard about it came from articles about people I didn’t know.
I’m 24. I have no underlying health conditions. It destroyed my body.
Firstly, most people I know who had COVID-19 had mild symptoms. The horror stories I heard about it came from articles about people I didn’t know.
I’m 24. I have no underlying health conditions. It destroyed my body.
Secondly, I decided I definitely wanted to talk about my experiences while in my car coming home from work the other day. At a red light, I saw a large group of people in Stillwater protesting the mask mandate.
They held signs that said “We’re not scared” and “End the mask mandate” as well as banners calling for the mayor and city council to be “recalled.” There were some other signs about tyranny or something, too.
I chuckled. Clearly, none of them knew anyone who had it.
I chuckled. Clearly, none of them knew anyone who had it.
Next to them was a larger group of counter protesters. One sign said “‘Masks save lives.”
Another had an arrow drawn on it pointing in the direction of the original protest group that said, “Proof Oklahoma is 48th in Education.”
That one got me.
Another had an arrow drawn on it pointing in the direction of the original protest group that said, “Proof Oklahoma is 48th in Education.”
That one got me.
My point is that when I see people say “It’s just the flu,” or bring up death rates, I take it personally.
If I was 30 years older, I could be dead. If I had asthma, heart disease, cancer, I could be dead.
And even so, COVID-19 has killed healthy people, young people.
If I was 30 years older, I could be dead. If I had asthma, heart disease, cancer, I could be dead.
And even so, COVID-19 has killed healthy people, young people.
This pandemic is not going to end any time soon. This is going to be an issue for a while.
We need to be compassionate and think about our fellow humans who might not be as lucky, those whose bodies cannot afford to be infected with COVID-19.
We need to be compassionate and think about our fellow humans who might not be as lucky, those whose bodies cannot afford to be infected with COVID-19.
So when you think to yourself about how annoying the mask feels on your face, or you complain about how you couldn’t get a ticket to a football game because of capacity limits, just know that those things are in place because they save lives.
Please think about others. Be safe.
Please think about others. Be safe.
