I Got Covid for Christmas. . . !

by Tom Conger

As is our custom, my kids, grandkids, and I converged in Seattle to spend the Christmastide with their stepdad at his lovely place in Issaquah. This time we all flew in—nine of us from different locations, all on separate flights, arriving just before a substantial snowstorm. They all stay at his home, and I with old friends in Bellevue, thus were only able to actually get together for a few hours on Christmas Eve plus some “quality time” the next day. Then off we all flew like the down of a thistle.

On December 28, I awoke with a very sore throat, mild headache, body aches, and a low-grade fever (101°). Inasmuch as I had spent 10 hours the prior day waiting for my (1-hour) flight back to Medford, then marching back & forth on the tarmac, in the rain, as the airline shuffled planes on us, eventually flying almost to MFR before diverting back to Portland because “a cargo door had not latched properly,” I figured I had the flu, or possibly strep throat. We had all been vaccinated, and the kids boostered, so thoughts of Covid were vague at best. But during the day, I learned that the kids’ had each tested positive before reporting back to work or school. And I suddenly found myself so sick I couldn’t even get out and get tested. Somehow, another day went by – lost forever, a blank. Or was it two days?

A friend called. “Are you OK?”

“No.”

“Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

“NO!”

“OK. But I’m going to call every day to make sure you’re alright.”

“Just let me go back to bed.”

And so she did. Every day. I had to d-r-a-g myself out of bed to answer the phone.

One day, I just couldn’t make the effort when the phone rang. Mistake. The troops arrived in the form of Bob. Muttering imprecations and holding on to the walls for support, I wobbled slowly and carefully to the front door. Blearily, I motioned for him to go away through the screen door, and I staggered back to bed.

On New Year’s Eve, I dragged self out of bed and drove to the Fred Meyer parking lot, where I heard drive-by testing was being done. Once I finally located the test site (reportedly “amply signed”—there were no signs whatsoever) and drove around until I found what appeared to be the end of the line, it was obvious that, at the rate the line was moving, there were several days’ worth of cars waiting to be tested. I drove home and took a nap.

Next day (New year’s Day) I learned that Valley Immediate Care was offering test with no wait, so drove to the VIC facility at Barnett & Ellendale, and received prompt service—and equally prompt results: I had Covid. These tidings were promptly relayed to Melissa Preston and Belle at the front desk.

The report forms did not identify which strain/variant of the infection I had. And by then my temperature had returned to 98.6°. But I was far from “cured.” The sore throat had dissipated with the fever, but several MD friends had suggested Mucinex, to relieve any congestion I might be experiencing (had an occasional little hack—what I’d call a “nervous cough”); so, when dear friend Nancy called from her PT session and asked if there was anything I needed from the Manor Mart, I requested Mucinex. Seemed to get some relief from that OTC Rx, and eventually consumed the entire packet plus about half of a refill.

By then, symptoms were mostly a relentless sense of fatigue—no energy whatsoever—and I found myself dozing off repeatedly. As I was mostly just lying in bed reading, the spontaneous naps were facilitated. This did not seem to interfere with night-time slumber, so I figured there was no harm in nodding off at will. But it was damned annoying. I kept having to reread to figure out where I had been before I dropped off.

But time was passing. It had been over two weeks since the symptoms had first appeared and I had tested positive. During this interim my neighbor Cleve, who had gathered my mail while I was out of town, was also fielding items from my box in the Manor; this help was greatly appreciated. Hope you have a neighbor who would do likewise.

Slowly I began to notice that I was feeling less ”foggy” with each passing day, and was able to perform small household chores. I could fix myself something to eat and wash up afterwards without needing to lie down and rest afterwards. I was still not taking my accustomed daily walks, especially as I like to go early in the day—but it’s been cold out…! Some brilliant soul suggested I walk later in the day. 

My medical service is at the VA clinic in White City, and they did not receive their booster serum until December, my shot scheduled for 1/18. By last Tuesday, I was feeling as close to normal as I could recall, and the booster itself had no side effects. I now face the ordeal of getting back onto my walk regimen—am going to have to start slowly, and adjust the to time frame to the afternoon, at least until we get out of the 20s in the mornings.

Other than that, there’s not much advice I can offer: if you somehow get exposed, and actually contract the infection, there’s little you can do other than rest—and keep isolated from others = easy in the independent cottages, but more of a task in the towers. Malama pono!