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Here I am feeling better after being treated for COVID. People have asked for details, so let's do it. Based on what I've heard I could have experienced, I got off easy. I spent only three days in the hospital. I've heard of others who's hospital stays lasted weeks. Yes I was isolated but did not enter the ICU. Just over a week after returning home, I came back to work.
I survived the first year and a half of the pandemic with barely a sniffle. I was a very conscientious mask wearer and hand washer that whole time and I got tested at least once with negative results. I did not get the vaccine, much to the disappointment of family members and co-workers. I'm not here to argue the pro's and con's of getting one. Still, up until recently I felt fine. That is until I didn't.
Here's a timeline of my COVID experience:
Day 1 - Body aches and lack of energy
Day 2 - Body aches, fatigue, weakness, nausea, cough, laryngitis
Day 3 - Body aches, fatigue, weakness, nausea, cough, laryngitis, losing appetite
Day 4/5 - Body aches, fatigue, weakness, nausea, cough, fever, loss of appetite
Day 6 - Body aches, fatigue, weakness, nausea, cough, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea
Positive COVID Test
I was told by the Walk-in Clinic Doctor it was the Delta Variant. He also recommended, since I have other risk factors, to go to the ER. Recommended antibody infusions.
Day 7/8 - Body aches, fatigue, weakness, nausea, cough, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea
Day 9 - Received Anti-body infusion
Admitted to the hospital and began treatment for COVID, pneumonia
They were very concerned about my oxygen levels.
Treated with anti-COVID drug I-V, Immunity support, Oxygen
Day 10 - Body aches, fever, nausea, loss of appetite were the first symptoms to fade
Hospital food is not that bad. :)
Day 11 - Early evening release
Still experiencing weakness and cough
Sent home with several prescriptions
Sent home with portable Oxygen equipment
Day 12 - Weakness and cough continue
Lost at least 20 pounds
Day 13 - Surprise! Huge in-home Oxygen unit arrives
Day 14-19 - Recovery at home, using Oxygen
Weakness continues, cough fading
Day 20 - Back to work, mask on.
Slight cough lingers
So to recap, 19 days out of commission, three of those days in the hospital, seven of those days of work missed, another five of those days missed that were supposed to be vacation. Could it have been worse for me? Most definitely! Should I have gotten the shot? Maybe. It's impossible to know whether or not I would have caught the virus had I been vaccinated. Will I get the shot? Well, it's a long wait until I am eligible to get one because of the anti-body infusion. What I do know, policies like having proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test in order to attend shows or events might influence my decision.
I'll say this, I have not received any bills yet. This adventure is going to cost me thousands of dollars. I would have liked to have avoided that.