My COVID Diary

Shannon's COVID diary from 2022

It began with swollen salivary glands (like mumps) and a lack of saliva but an increase in nasal secretions, which were hard to clear because of the lack of saliva. There was some ear pressure in and behind my right ear, but no fever or chills. I had a virtual visit with #MedExpress on the 8th and he did not seem alarmed but told me to see my doctor.

A few days later, on the 11th, there was a "tickle" in my throat and a low grade #fever of 99.7. The #glands went back to normal though.

The very next day it was like a bomb had gone off in my throat comparable to #strep/mono and I was struck with the sensation of #exhaustion. Temperature went up to 100.3. I was not able to "sleep", but just closed my eyes and was neither awake nor asleep if you understand how that feels. On the 14th I asked my doctor's office to call in an #antibiotic for what I was certain was strep - they refused and told me I had to come there and be #swabbed. I legitimately could not drive and didn't want to expose anyone in my house to being in a car with me. They said call an #ambulance. My response was a little rude.

For the next three days the sore throat was unrelenting and during this period of time I lost my sense of taste and had #pharyngitis, hoarseness and fever that exceeded 101. Still could not rest well. I took ONE #doxycycline on the 15th that I had left over from a #prescription and within a few hours the temperature dropped and the sore throat was completely gone.

The next day the temperature was back up, leaving me to conclude since it responded to antibiotics it must be bacterial . No worries, I began amoxicillin 500 mg q.8, still very tired and not sleeping well. Still having no sense of taste but smell was ACUTE and everything seemed to nauseate me. No vomiting or GI symptoms at all though. Persistent headache and tickling. The amoxicillin held the temp down to 99 and under, but I could not kick the dizziness and fatigue.

The very first increased temp was on the 11th of February, two hours after a visit with my PCP (who did not swab me for #COVID because neither of us had a clue). 11 days later I went to the walk-in clinic thinking I had strep that wasn't responding to amoxicillin and was swabbed positive for #SARS-COV-2, negative for flu or strep. The doctor gave me a prescription for a Z-pak, prednisone, and cough syrup (to help me sleep, I haven't had much of a cough).

Today, Feb 24, 13 days after my first elevated temp, I am still at 99.0 and am still dizzy and having trouble getting decent sleep (but I'm sleepy). I have increased nasal secretions but no sore throat. I do not have the urge to cough but occasionally clear my throat. I have an annoying headache but not throbbing, just a lot of pressure in my head and ears.

I'd like to encourage EVERYONE to order these while they're available https://special.usps.com/testkits Every household is entitled to receive four free COVID rapid tests. I did take a Binax on the 8th and it read negative, but I was not feverish on the 8th. I'm not sure if #Binax would read positive now or not because I haven't spent the $20 to find out. While I'm still having the elevated temp, however, I'm going to continue isolating.

Oh and for the record, I got COVID from my 100% completely #vaccinated and boostered husband, who was sick as a dog on the 5th through the 8th, and still showing elevated temperatures on the 15th. Neither of us really considered COVID because I have had it before and this was NOTHING like the first time.

My parents both have COVID also and I believe they either got it from my sister who was not aware she had it (she didn't have any symptoms the first time she got it either) but was sick and went to the doctor the same day I did, or from Sam's where they went to pick up a few items the week before they got sick. They are also fully vaccinated and boostered. My mother's symptoms are like the original strain of coronavirus that I had in the beginning of this mess. Pop barely has any other than he's really tired and can't seem to get enough sleep.