Hi Everyone;
I just wanted to send out a heartfelt thanks for all the kind comments on my last post, and an apology for not catching up on everyone’s blogs this week. This is my first time being on my computer since last Sunday… I’ve been so out of it this week, it seemed the best I could do was try to keep up with emails on my phone.
To be honest, I feel a little foolish posting that “I’ve got Covid” blog. When I shared my news about getting covid last Sunday, I was feeling pretty sick but thought it wouldn’t get worse. “I’m vaccinated, I got a booster.”
The simple truth is, it DID get worse. I wound up spending most of the week in bed with a fever I couldn’t seem to manage and a constant cough. I’m still dealing with both but I’m 75% on the mend I think. However, I awoke yesterday with a zero sense of smell, zero taste. I learned this when I made a cup of coffee and thought I was drinking hot water. I’m not kidding, I cannot smell or taste ANYTHING.
I don’t understand, I never had a stuffy head or sinus condition, so why this?
When I told my sister, she said “But that’s a symptom of the ORIGINAL covid, not the delta or omicron variants!”
If I wasn’t still under the weather I would’ve laughed at that. (FYI, my PCP says that people with the variants are still reporting this loss.) I just hope I get mine back, as eating is pretty much my biggest reason for living.
I sound like I’m having a big pity-party, so I’d better shut up! I really just wanted to let everyone who reads my blog to know how much your kind words were appreciated.
When you live alone like I do… oops, here comes that pity party again.
Doug, thanks for updating us, we have all been worried. Wow, you had a rough go of it. You are not having a pity-party, you have been really sick!
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself!❤️❤️
Robin
Oh gee Mr. Dug, that's a bummer after you were so careful and compliant. Be sure to check in with your doc by phone for any ways to treat your symptoms. Keep drinking water, even if it's coffee, cuz your body needs the fluids around your fever. Keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteAs a single person, I always keep cans of chicken noodle soup and Gatorade around in case I get sick. Water, drink some water. Always wear a good mask when you leave your apartment.
Covid is not just droplet, but smaller than aerosolized. It hangs in the air for up to 3 hours. If someone has it, and walks down your building hallway, then you walk the same hall later, you can catch it. Every little damn trip outside my apartment, I've worn my N95 mask. I don't go to my mailbox in the lobby every day anymore, and only go when zero people are around.
Have some supplies delivered! Drink water.
Linda in Kansas
Doug, It is so good to hear from you. Been worried and seems all the blogs I visited had the "has anyone heard how Doug is?" question. You have been thought about a lot young man. So glad you are better but wish you were 100%. You might check with Djan, she had or has the loss of taste and smell. Keep improving and hope your sniffer and taster heals quickly. Prayers and hugs still coming your way.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was an original symptom of Covid too! I would also hate it. I'm glad that you're on the mend and hope this is your last tango with the coronavirus. I suspect that mine is still coming.
ReplyDeleteOMG, Dug... so glad you posted. Knowing you live alone and were sick with Covid had me worried. You're always so quick to respond to comments and when you didn't, it had to mean you were really sick. And losing you taste and smell was one of the main signs of the original virus, but who knows? They are still learning about Covid and it's mutations. Had to laugh at your comment about eating... so true with many of us. But I have heard that this loss returns after a while. Will continue to pray for you and hope you feel a lot better soon!
ReplyDeleteIt is so good to hear from you Doug but I understand you not feeling up to blogging. You are not having a pity party! You've been quite sick and we are your friends and we understand. Please continue to take it easy and rest until you feel like you are more than 100% better. It sounds like you've had a bad case of this and you sure don't want a relapse!
ReplyDeleteIf it helps, I did hear today that if you've been vaccinated and then still caught it you will have better immunity than those that were just vaccinated. But of course you still want to take all precautions!
Please take care and know many people care about you!
I was without smell and taste for the better part of three months and I've heard it is not uncommon for up to six months. It was pretty much the worst experience of the whole Covid ordeal for me. I hope you get the lighter side of that range as I apparently did.
ReplyDeleteOne thing they don't talk about much on the media is that your symptoms really depend on your viral load. What I mean by that is the amount of time you spent being exposed to the virus. For example, someone up above mentioned about it being aerosolized for up to 3 hours and that merely walking down a hall 2.5 hours later you can catch it. While technically true, your exposure is fairly minimal and you would most likely not get very severe symptoms. However, if you spent all day in the same room with someone that was exhaling Covid and you breathing it in all day long, you are much much more likely to have a much more severe case of Covid.
So the moral of this story is that even vaccinated and boosted, if you spent a large amount of time around someone infected, that might explain why your symptoms are more and not just some sniffles as many others seem to get in the same vaccination scenario. Of course, you may just have the immune system of a newborn.
Glad to hear you are on the mend though.
Been wondering how you were fairing, Doug. So glad to know you are on the mend. Aside from the deadly serious aspect of the virus, losing the fragrance and flavour of my morning coffee would be tragic! Better days ahead my friend!
ReplyDeleteIt was in March 2020 when I got what seemed like a stuffy cold, but my husband was very sick and coughed for hours at a time for a couple weeks. We figured it was Covid, but we didn't know back then for sure. However, my first clue was the loss of taste and smell. I couldn't tell the difference between a fudge bar and broccoli, except by texture. It did come back, I'm not sure how long it took, but gradually one day I realized I could taste things again. My smeller seems to have mixed up some aromas, and things are definitely different than they were. I am also vaccinated and boosted, but I worry about bringing it home to my immunocompromised husband, so I'm very careful. And now wearing an N95 mask under my cloth mask! Glad to know you're better, Doug. We are all hanging in there through this awful period in the history of the world. Thanks for letting us know you're on the mend.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of being inappropriately flip ... hey, at least it'll help you lose those pounds you said you wanted to lose! But seriously, glad you're feeling at least a little better, and from all reports your taste and smell will come back after a while.
ReplyDeleteI need to lose Weight, about 60 lbs. of it, so if loss of smell and taste were some of my symptoms, it might do me some good while I have The Rona, alas, not my symptoms. It is a difficult thing to move thru tho', even when vaxxed and boosted like us, so I couldn't imagine what it must be like without the added layers of protection. I do Hope you feel better soon my Friend and have people checking in on you since you do live alone. I think this is going to take me way longer than my Quarantine period to recover from, it has kicked my Ass too.
ReplyDeleteYou guys, THANK YOU for these caring, informative & uplifting comments. Your feedback means more to me than you know. Bohemian I'm sorry you're dealing with your own illness and I hope you let me know when things improve. Ed I appreciate you sharing your story but I pray that isn't mine, and DJan thank you for yours too, it helps. You all do. Thanks again. 🙂♥️♥️♥️♥️
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update, I was beginning to winder if you had landed yourself in the nearest hospital. We DO get told that if we catch it after being vaccinated and boosted it won't be as bad. But it seems they lied and some do get it bad. But you shouldn't get the "Long Covid" aftereffects.
ReplyDeleteThank you River--yes it's exactly what you said! Hit hard but not lasting... I hope you're hanging in there okay.
DeleteThank you so much for this post, Doug. I keep wondering how you're doing. I just read online that there is a percentage of people who are losing their sense of smell and taste for a while with Omicron also, but that it should come back. Please keep us updated when you can.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Kay! I know you live with this all the time, but it has really bummed me out (not smelling or tasting anything). I appreciate you sharing what you know!
DeleteI just know it will come back for you, Doug. Just stopping by to let you know we're thinking about you.
DeleteI don't call this self-pity at all. Do take care and know that David and I love you!
ReplyDeleteMy gosh Gigi, thank you!
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