Covid is like an onion...

I am reading a lot about Covid now from a whole new perspective. Of course, there was a reason why Andy got tested in the first place -he felt lousy, and then one morning he had a temperature. In the days following I have been checking off the symptoms as they have arrived.

We both started off with temperatures and that has remained steady for all of Andy's 7 days. We check it in the morning and again at night. 100.5 is pretty average. It goes up and down a little. I suspected that it wouldn't stick around. We've done cold showers, Tylenol. 

The burning chest. Ah! That's been hard for me but Andy hasn't had any of that. He describes it as a "heavy chest" but it didn't last long. I feel like a human water heater. I need that part to stop. Why won't that stop? Feels like I'm having heart attack all day long. 

The next symptom is a sore throat, ears and glands. Painful. Andy has pushed through most of that and I'm a few days behind. I sound better today. You know when you swallow and stretch to try to pop your ears to relieve pressure? I try to do that all day. 

Andy lost his sense of smell and taste on day 3. Still gone. 

The exhaustion is hard for Andy. I've been able to move except for yesterday. I even did the dishes a few days ago. The joint pain is weirdly specific to areas that I already have arthritis like my hands and ankles and it's strange to have painful elbows! So weird!

Yesterday's big symptom was/is the confusion. The brain fog is...foggy. Thank goodness for spell check.

 

Today the nausea came in. The fire has moved lower in my torso and I connect this with how I feel when I get migraines and I throw up. It feels like that today. Surprise! My temperature is 100.1 right now.

Everyone suggests that you sleep on your stomach to take the weight off your chest - but I have tried to do this and I just can't breathe. My sinuses are so impacted that I have to sleep half sitting up. Just seems like something new every day. I don't think there is anything else on the list, though. Tomorrow will be a better day. I feel like we have been through the worst of it. We didn't get a bad case (we aren't hospitalized), nor a mild case - we just got it. And it isn't one-bit fun because it's a new symptom every day.

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Speaking of pain...I have been reading about going back to school. I want to know if once we go through this we are immune. Some of the things I've read say "yes," and some say "yes for a couple of weeks" and some say "You will need to be tested for antibodies periodically." I'm hoping for 100% immunity, baby! I would love to have that freedom. But I also get a flu shot every year for the traditional flu "just in case." So as soon as they have a vaccine, I'm also willing to be vaccinated as many times as I need to be. Hahaha... I worry that there are those in society that aren't willing to be vaccinated for anything...ever. Hmmmm. Freedom has many layers. 

I know that with any new disease our scientists are doing their best to figure it out as quickly as they can. The traditional deadline for school to start again is coming. I don't feel like teaching theatre online is optimal. Haha. The things we teach - teamwork, listening, focus, courage, problem-solving, critical thinking, etc... isn't done from a computer screen. We need to perform. We need characters to develop - stories to build and tell. 

And if I'm immune - I'm lucky, right? We've paid the price to have some kind of sense of safety. But are we? My classroom is big. Really big. I can scrub my tables down after each class period. I can be careful. But I was SOOOOO careful NOT to get Covid. I was the poster child for mask-wearing and hand washing. And what about my colleagues that teach in half my space? 

If I decide to do a traditional performance assessment (a play) and my audiences come with their homemade masks on, how can I be certain they will keep those masks on for two hours? Is that a new job I want to take on, "mask police?" How will I sustain my program? Can I live with the chance that Covid could get to one of our beloved sets of grandparents or someone that is compromised in any way? Is that their fault, or mine? Sheesh...so much to think about. 

Hmmm...how are we going to do this?

Last thought...now we know for sure that if a teacher got sick during the school year they would be out for about 2 weeks. First, you have to get enough symptoms to be able to be tested, then you go through it, then you have to test negative to get back to work. This is a great time for any of you that would like to try substitute teaching to give it a try. I think we will need a lot of subs this year and it won't be just for just a day or two. 

BUT - if you take a drama class at Salem or Spanish Fork - you can be assured that you won't get Covid from your teacher. Hahahahaha.... at least that's what they're telling us...today. 

Covid 19 - Day 4, Exhaustion and Brain Fog

When I had the very first sign of Covid, I thought "come and get me - let's get this over with." 

The first few days were uncomfortable, heavy chest, sore throat, but I didn't have a fever. 

The fever is everything. 

I haven't had a fever in my adult life that I remember. And it's not a high fever -just a steady 100. But three days of it is wearing me down and now I'm having a hard time finding a full sentence and spelling simple words, just typing this...taking unbelievable concentration.

I have had a hard time sleeping the past few days but I have been asleep 17 hours today. Andy said my mom called. Don't remember it. Sorry mom. A nurse from the state called us both to remind us to stay inside. That's nice. I can barely climb the stairs. I don't think she asked us how we were. She didn't gather any information Andy said. 

That's the funny thing about something new, the only instructions we have gotten are "take Tylentol and stay home. If it gets bad, you can go into an ER" What does bad mean? 

I would not wish this on anyone - except Trump. I don't want him to die - just to know. 

We are watching "Alone" on Hulu. It's pretty good. I'm in and out. But when I'm actually awake I just keep wishing I could stand up and shower. I stink.

Day Two of Covid 19 - It's Confirmed

Just got the test results back. That was just a 36-hour turnover. They told me it would be 3 - 5 days and it was much sooner. So that's good. I'm so grateful for those people on the front lines. We are so lucky that we have a way to find out if we really have this stupid prickly virus 

Seeing the test result "SARS-COV2 POSITIVE" really takes your breath away. Too soon?

I mean, I saw Andy's result and I felt wiped out but seeing my own is conflicting because I want to take care of Andy. It's so shocking even though I sort of knew. I kept saying, all night, "maybe it's a false positive for Andy and we just have bad colds." Then 2 for 2. Whaaat?!

Let's talk about the quick evolution:

Andy - Andy is only 41 so maybe his reaction so far, when he got tested on July 2 haven't been too scary (except for seeing the initial test results! Ha!) His biggest complaint is that he can't move. He also can't smell anything. His insides are imbalanced. He is dizzy. His eyes hurt. That's interesting. I have that too. He has a dry cough but it isn't too bad yet. We are actors and vocal teachers and we tell our kids all the time - "don't cough if you can help it!" So that is our habit - but there is a point where you just have to let it out - however, with Covid, nothing happens and the pay-off is that it BURNS like a son-of-a b***h. 

I am 55. I am in good health, and Andy and I have been running around the junior high track every day. I feel stronger than I have ever been in my life. However, the little stoker's in my chest are just like "you should have taken care of yourself BEFORE you hit 50, you idiot." 30 years of teaching, never going to the doctor. My lungs are shot. This is day two or three - I think - my chest feels like an inferno and I sound like a 75-year-old lady who sits on the porch of her single-wide and smokes cigars all day. 

One thing is that has been just incredible in the last 24 hours is the ARMY of support that our neighborhood, friends and co-workers have assembled. We were given a list of neighbors that are taking over dinner and yesterday we had incredible teriyaki chicken and tonight we had hot homemade rolls and chicken noodle soup that melted in our mouths. So if you want to eat well - just get the virus! (I'm not serious here) I should videotape the opening of the front door after the doorbell ditch. It's like Christmas. Just minutes ago another beautiful neighbor doorbell ditched a pulse oximeter AND warm brownies. S.T.I.L.L. W.A.R.M. Shut. the. front. door. (Quickly.)

Because we feel oxygen deprived it was great to know, through the pulse oximeter, that we are not. When I first got tested it was 87% - "a solid B+" Andy said. I went as low as 82% but then figured out that if I took a deep breath I could get it to 95. SOOOOO... I will do the breathing exercises that several friends have sent me. I need to keep moving. It makes me take deeper breaths. There has been so much incredible advice. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

We have also been able to Venmo our friends and send them to the store for us. THANK YOU FRIENDS and THANK YOU VENMO, we didn't have to touch a single thing. The texts and outpouring of assistance you have all offered is humbling. We will take care of our debts when this is all over. Be sure of it.

More reasons to wear a mask, wash your hands, stay at home, don't touch anything:

     1. I really want to get things done around the house - but don't have the energy. My summer is wasting away while I cough. I tried to cut out a sewing project today and I gave up after five minutes. 

     2. With Covid - I can't sleep - it's like there are bugs in your brain. I have had the world's strangest dreams. Andy too. There just isn't good sleeping or good napping and even our Ambien is standing there with its hands up in surrender. If only I could rest.

     3.  Guilt. Who did I give it to while I didn't know I had it? Gah! This is the worst part. Don't live with that. STAY HOME. Invent fun stuff to do at home. We need to say "I might be a walking weapon of disease." COVID IS REAL. 

Things I have googled today:

"If you have Covid-19, what does your oxygen level have to be at before you go to the hospital"

"What over the counter drugs will help people with Covid-19" (So many different answers - we tried Dayquil - didn't touch it. We're popping cough drops, Tylenol and Vitamin C) 

"Best of Netflix July"

Covid 19 Arrives - Day One ITS REAL FOLKS

When the world-wide pandemic first became a daily news item I figured it would be something that we watched from the center of the country as the coastlines dealt with it. I was fascinated by it. Having seen live animal markets in Southeast Asia on my mission, it didn't take me a full second to believe that the virus could be passed through zoonoses. Those markets are just frightening.


Then school was postponed for two weeks "out of an abundance of caution." Weird. But hurray? On that day I pulled a stack of newspaper from the faculty recycle bin to take home for the dogs (which I do sometimes) and the headline was "Utah Confirms Third Case of Covid-19." Can't say it hasn't been a pleasure to watch my dogs pee on those papers for months.


The day we left school we were smack in the middle of learning the choreography for The Drowsy Chaperone and I figured we could learn it from home with the videos we had taken. Brilliant cast. Just incredible. Region was the next week and we had just performed The Crucible and we were ready. We weren't in big trouble - dates would be pushed back. I could use the time to make costumes, get the posters printed, the program...etc...etc...etc... the quiet would be nice.


Then it seemed that every 24 hours the instructions changed. We got used to listening to the governor's daily press conference at 1:00. We learned to hang on every word of a woman named Angela Dunn who looks like she drinks lattes and shops at L.L. Bean.


Then they closed church. CHURCH! WHAAAAAT?!?!? Jesus take the wheel, I was convinced that The Man Himself was going to be presiding at the April General Conference of my church. He did not. Disappointing. But I'm still convinced that the Prophet, Russell M. Nelson, knows more than he can say. All the buttons to scriptural prophecies of wars, rumors of wars, plagues, and diseases were being done up.


As the numbers accelerated across the country I looked around and wondered why we weren't really taking it seriously here in the central part of the U.S. Of course, Utah is one of those fishy middle-ish states like Kentucky. Are we West? Central? North? Surely we would be fine - but I bought my toilet paper like everyone else.


Then they closed school until the end of the year. Then I filled my freezer. Thanks, Stokes in Payson. I felt as though the best use of my time was trying to get in touch with my kids and especially the kids that absolutely had not checked in online. That's a whole different post. Teaching theatre and film online...gah!


Instead of making 1920's fringy dresses, I made 150 masks for the Navajo Nation and some for my neighborhood, family, friends, colleagues...I was starting to get freaked out. I stole all the elastic out of the props room at the school after the stores ran out. Not going to apologize. We can give back. I used weird chunks of scrap fabric from the costume shop too. Those were some funky masks! I took everything the Governor and Dr. Dunn were saying to heart absolutely.


Andy and I have a cold storage room - we shelved it, re-organized it, and filled it little by little as I could find items. We also have a freeze-dryer and gardening is my crack cocaine so I now consider myself an honest to goodness "prepper in training." If anybody finds themselves dying for some strawberries or green peppers during Armageddon - we are stocked, come on over.


I digress.


Our good friend Olivia and her sweet family were moving out to Virginia and we offered to drive their extra car out there for them. SWEET ROAD TRIP. Just the two of us. Dreamy. We prepared by taking 14 masks - one new one for each day, 24 oz of hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes and spray...I felt a little nutsy, but I wanted to be prepared. Along the way, we noticed that people were here and there about mask-wearing but the further East we got, the fewer people were out. It seemed more real as we went along.


In D.C. we were basically alone. I have never been there, so it wasn't a great time to go, everything was closed, but I got to see the monuments and the incredible architecture of the Capitol, the White House (from a great distance and through chain-link fencing - he is holed up in there). We stayed in a hotel that was next to Dupont Circle and the mile-long road of international mbassies. That was amazing. Still good things to see. Mt. Vernon was open - sort of. Incredible.


We flew home. Plane was only 50% full on purpose. The restrictions and precautions we had taken to go across the country and fly home were second-nature. I'm to the point where I forget I have a mask on and when I don't have one - I'm panicked that I need one. It's like the seat belt feeling.


Andy has been taking his temperature every single day since school got out. He's obsessed a little over making sure we are not giving my 80-year-old parents COVID. We got home, and I spent the very next day making bite-sized treats for my niece's wedding shower and for the 4th of July party. My house would be full of my siblings and their families. I was pumped! I love it when there are people in the Hunsaker Hotel. It's my favorite!


Then on Thursday - Andy said he felt like crap and his temperature was 100.1. I was still non-symptomatic but life stopped. I literally screamed out loud. He drove immediately to get tested and they said it would take three to five days for results. Everything was canceled...my siblings stayed in a hotel and we waited.


Because Andy's only symptom was a temperature, I didn't get tested immediately. I had no symptoms and I thought maybe he just had a cold. Kept making food for the weekend and then while we waited, Andy got sicker.


At first, he felt weak and tired. Then his temperature went up. And down. And up again. Then more weakness and now he is couch-bound. He has a sore throat and a heavy chest. He is popping Tylenol because that is what he was told to do. And that is it. There hasn't been any more dialogue about it. We got a pamphlet from the testing site, but other than taking Tylenol, drinking water and staying home, there is nothing else we can do. I would consider it pretty mild right now. I hope it stays that way. I'll let you know!


I got tested this morning, Sunday. I woke up with a temperature of 99.5. I think everyone ought to be checking their temperatures on their own EVERY DAY. This would be very helpful. Because even if your spouse has Covid - they won't test you until you exhibit symptoms. I have had a sore throat and a heavy chest but no temp until today and I couldn't get an appointment until today.


What's hard about it? Seems like it would be fun to have a reason to shut out the world for two weeks? Are you still trying to convince yourself that it's not real, you flat earthers? Just kidding. But I know there are people that don't think it's real and to you I say - ALL THE GOOD STUFF ON NETFLIX IS OVER.


Couple of things:


1. We have been running our Couch to 5K App nearly every day this summer and now we can't go up the stairs without stopping half-way to take a breath. (And the good TV is downstairs damnit!) That is REAL. That part is, quite honestly, terrifying. If that gets worse for me tomorrow or the next day, I will get to see a doctor about getting on a steroid. I heard that's a thing. My chest, from my ears to my stomach feels like it's full of little stokers from the Titanic just flaming the fire. It is getting worse by the hour. I have two earaches and my throat is an inferno. I have a fever and it goes up and down, up and down.


2. Andy has had the varying temperature too - steady now. He tells me he feels like he has "bugs crawling on his insides." That's fun. I don't have that. (Oh please, if I can avoid that...).


3. Every joint in Andy's body aches. I'm a few days behind him, but I am noticing that my arthritic hands and feet are tightening up. So far though - I'm good there.


4. All that food storage that we organized? That will be great when we can't get food - but when you have no energy to make food - what use is it? We did let our neighborhood know about it because we are a tight group of people and they already have a meal schedule set up. Of course they do! They are incredible! At first, I felt embarrassed by it - but by 6 o'clock tonight when the Cleggs brought us gourmet teriyaki chicken, I cried.


5. We don't have our own children so we feel blessed that we aren't having to take care of other people right now and we can just take turns re-filling our water bottles for each other - but can you imagine how whole families are dealing with it? OH MY GOSH PEOPLE - we have to stay in, wear masks and check our temperatures every day. PEOPLE ARE DYING and grieving. It's just a tragedy no matter what.


We don't notice everything we touch. We have to be CRAZY AWARE of what we touch, how close we are when we are speaking to someone or how clean a restaurant table is before we sit down and put our hands on it and then rest our hands on our face. YIKES!


The flip side is - IF this Covid is a definitive one-time thing -we will get to go back to school as IMMUNE TEACHERS!!! WOOT! Have no fear signing up for a Jandy class... but that's a big IF.


Let's pray for that and for a vaccine.