Looking back, I was wrestling with a lot of oral inflammation and only eating very bland things when my gallbladder ruptured 2 weeks later on June 5. That week in the hospital, after the two surgeries and on a liquid diet, I had to keep asking for low sodium broths because my covid-related BMS (burning mouth syndrome) was making me hypersensitive to any spices or salt.
A week or so after I returned home on June 20, the symptoms began to let up. And when my friend Kim went with me to Mercy Hospital for a post surgery follow-up on June 25, my covid symptoms had greatly reduced. I confided to Kim I was feeling pretty optimistic. I posted a photo of us on my blog, and my sister told me I looked like my old self.
Of course, the long covid symptoms returned that weekend. They lasted a week, winked out a couple days (allowing me to meet up with some friends from the senior center for lunch, my first outing in 8 months) then returned again on July 17.
These last couple weeks have been tough. Lots of inflammation in the eyes, burning in the left side of head and mouth, and that heavy, strange smell of diesel fuel and decayed flowers.
For the past year, I've been avoiding all videos and articles pertaining to long covid. But these past couple weeks left me wondering if there's any kind of answers yet. Nope. Medical experts claim the US has 10 million documented cases, the UK has 2 million. They said the real numbers are probably double that. They also claim LC comes with 300 different symptoms and relapses are most common, giving many sufferers false hope.
Most sufferers remain in isolation, and say they've lost their jobs, family, friends. At least I can't lose my social security. Still, I read my blogger friends weekly adventures and wonder when I'll be back out there again.
My senior center has a restaurant outing scheduled for August 12, fingers crossed...
When I was first hit with this in early 2024, I had a busy calendar and hated the thought of canceling a Titanic exhibit. I never dreamed I'd still be talking about it 2 1/2 years later.
For now at least, I'm blessed to still have people in my life I enjoy spending time with on the phone. My friend Diana in West Virginia, my sister Shawn, my friend Pen who I've known since grade school, my dear friend Kim (who I refer to as Kimba, she's a cancer survivor and white lion). They've all spent hours with me on the phone, and I would be lost without them.
To the readers out there who read my posts and leave comments, thank you. You really matter too. I feel bad, I came in here to do some reading on my tablet and the next thing I know... I need to wrap this up, my bottom is sore. Until next time. 😌
I still hold hope, Doug. I know you can't compare cases, I know three people locally dealing with LC and each of them is different too. I just remember the depths of misery with my son in-law and how he is doing so much better. Still not back to pre-covid but so much better. I keep wishing and hoping for you. It's miserable and frustrating and not fair. And I wish the magic wand to erase it all could be found. (virtual hugs).
ReplyDeleteMy son in-law contracted covid right after dental work. I still wonder if there is a correlation between dental work and long covid.
Thank you Miss Merry, I've thought of your son-in-law often thru this. And I appreciate those virtual hugs. A lot of people wonder about the dental correlation, btw. I went into remission last summer and was absolutely great for 3 months. Went to the dentist twice. My LC returned FULL after 2 injections of Novocaine. That was Sept 11, almost a year ago.
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