I used to be a COVID denier. I knew it was a virus, but I didn’t take it as seriously as I probably should have at first. I had the “it’s just a flu” mindset and “it’s going to just be like the SARS outbreak of 2003.” I joked about it a lot.
Then I actually got COVID. It started with a cough-that l originally thought was from my bronchitis back in early February-and a sore throat and runny nose. Then the shortness of breath and weakness followed. I couldn’t go more than 10 steps without feeling like dying. I couldn’t even handle going up and down the stepladder at work. Nasal congestion came next and there were also sporadic fevers. I could feel myself burning up. I’ve had colds and flus and strep and etc etc. I knew this wasn’t any of those. Colds didn’t make me cough to the point of almost vomiting. Colds/flus don’t last as long as this was. Eventually, I was sent to Urgent Care and that was the day I was the sickest I ever felt. Due to it being too early into the pandemic, I couldn’t get tested, so the doctor clinically diagnosed me with COVID and sent me home to rest for a few days as mandatory isolation wasn’t a thing yet. Less than a week later, I was in quarantine as my symptoms hadn’t improved and I was useless at work…couldn’t do anything strenuous as it triggered a coughing attack…my throat was on fire…had no energy as I wasn’t eating due to no appetite…my fever was coming and going…I was literally a hot mess
After I was out of quarantine (32 days to be exact), I figured I was all good and I didn’t have to worry about COVID again. I didn’t know about long COVID or what being a long hauler was so
Late May is when I first started to realize this was going to be a journey I got sick again (a cold, thankfully) but had to be tested just to be sure. After that, 2020 was filled with numerous COVID tests and me isolating at home because I had a cough or a runny nose or any combination of cold and flu-like symptoms. I now know this was me relapsing. I also developed a chronic cough and shortness of breath which I still have to this day. During the summer of 2020, I started having some heart issues…tachycardia and palpitations. My heart rate would spike to 140+ for no reason. In November, I was put on a 48 hour Holter monitor, but it showed no abnormalities
Fast forward to 2021. I thought all my issues were behind me. Sure, I still had a cough and SOB, but I figured that was nothing in comparison to what I had to deal with in 2020. Boy was I wrong! COVID wasn’t done with me yet. Late January, I started getting the same symptoms I had in March. I had a fever and it was in the 100’s. My throat was extremely sore and I could barely swallow. My cough had worsened and I could walk from my futon to the fridge before being out of breath. And oh yeah, this time around I ended up losing my taste. As of this post, I still can’t taste cheese or Mini Eggs. Some things have a weird taste to them now and every once in a while, my taste will just disappear for a day just because
I ended up seeing my doctor in February after my isolation was over and he ordered chest X-rays and lab work. Chest X-rays showed scarring which confirmed a previous COVID infection. The lab work ruled out mono or another Epstein Barr virus as the source of my recurring upper respiratory infections. My blood showed no abnormalities either. I was diagnosed with COVID-induced asthma and prescribed two puffers-one for emergencies and one that contains corticosteroids and is taken twice a day.
I noticed new and different long haul symptoms after this COVID infection: constant headaches, loss of hair, rashes/hives/itchy skin, muscle and joint pain, tingling in the hands, fatigue, frequent urination, GI problems. After getting vaccinated (specifically the second dose), the majority of my long haul symptoms resolved/lessened in severity.
I wasn’t nearly as sick (respiratory system wise) in 2021 as I was in 2020, but I was dealing with long haul symptoms more than anything. I had headaches everyday…I couldn’t eat anything without feeling sick. There were even a couple times where I missed work due to what I believed was the stomach flu, but was actually my body negatively reacting to gluten. All this prompted ANOTHER visit to the doctor (October) where ANOTHER round of blood work was ordered. This one had a celiac test on it. My celiac’s test was negative, but I still decided to cut gluten out of my diet and go gluten free-my doctor also fully supported my decision when I told him. After switching to GF, my headaches went away as did my tummy problems and the rashes I was getting. Turns out COVID has made me gluten intolerant. As well as alcohol intolerant.
The omicron variant reared its ugly head late 2021 and even though it was labeled “mild,” it was spreading like wildfire. I thought I’d be safe from it, since I already had COVID twice. Surely I couldn’t get it a THIRD time, right?! Wrong! Just after New Years 2022, I developed a really, really sore throat, a phlegmy cough, and a stuffy nose. Again, I knew it wasn’t a cold, because I know when I’m sick with a cold vs flu vs COVID. This was COVID and it was the omicron variant. Luckily I had mild symptoms and I felt better in less than a week. Unfortunately, because my immune system is , I got bronchitis shortly after recovering from COVID.
COVID has wrecked my lungs and they will never be the same, unfortunately. COVID has also wrecked my immune system in other ways. My immune response is not what it was pre-COVID. I am more susceptible to respiratory infections now. I also have MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) type symptoms. COVID has also reactivated the HSV in me and so I get cold sores A LOT again.
It’s been a roller coaster of a ride since March 2020 and I am hoping this ride ends soon.
Prior to getting COVID, I was a healthy 30 year old and had no underlying health conditions.
