My COVID Experience: I felt like I was dying

My Mom's funeral was on June 22, a few days later, half of our family had COVID. I started having symptoms on Sunday night, June 26. By Monday morning, I had an extremely sore throat and headache. I am documenting this because I don't want to forget how much I suffered, because even while I was suffering, I knew there were lessons  to be learned.
  
Despite being vaccinated and boosted, I got hit hard. Every time I swallowed, I felt like my throat was being cut by razors. I had to take 1000mg of acetaminophen to get that pain down to a 8/10 so I could tolerate eating and drinking.  I had about a 2 hour period of slight relief and had to wait 8  hours for the next dose,. Knowing I could not take more than three doses a day (or I' could damage my liver).  some days I only took 2 doses.  I dreaded every swallow. I was exquisitely aware of every swallow. I realized I had taken my health for granted, down to the seemingly smallest gift of being able to swallow without thinking about it.

The body aches were impressive - everything thing hurt - even my teeth! I developed a deep productive cough that was constant despite taking Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Zinc, and Benzonatate. Sinus pressure was intense - I was taking medicine for that too. There was a high pitch in my ears and I felt as if I was experiencing every thing through a very thick substance, like thickened broth -translucent and murky. I was exhausted by the slightest task.

By Thursday night, things were not getting any better, and I realized that there was no guarantee that I would live through this. That was very sobering and shocking. I told my husband Steve and my sister, that I felt like I was dying.  I wasn't trying to be dramatic, it was just what I felt.

This morning, I woke up and felt as if, on top of everything else, I was starting an infection in my left ear - pressure and pain was building. OMG, really?  I DID notice that my throat was ever so slightly better.

The pain in my ear got better a few hours after I took some ibuprofen. I can swallow now without pain. I have hope that I will live a bit longer. I was able to spend 20 minutes outside, sitting on a stool, trimming back my tomato plant. I am on the road to recovery.



Here are the lessons I learned from my physical suffering that I know can help you to live a delicious life:

1. Suffering makes you live in the present, and teaches you to appreciate each moment you have, especially the easy ones. So why not be exquisitely aware of the sweet spots in life? The adorableness of your baby, the purity of flowers, the sherbet rainbow of colors in a sunrise? 

2. Take time to count your blessings, don't take what you have for granted. i.e. give thanks for being able to breathe freely and swallow easily.

3. Friends and family are a great blessing. One friend made us a big pot of chicken soup (there was no way I was up to cooking!) One friend took our daughter to the airport, we didn't want to increase her chance of getting COVID by being in a small shared space. She made it back to school, and so far, so good.

4. There is never a guarantee of how long you are going to live. Put your things in order now.

5. Enjoy the simple things.

6. Your health is your wealth. 

7. Sickness causes you to contemplate the meaning of your life and evokes some great questions that only you can answer. Like: What do you want to accomplish? What is your purpose? How do you want to be remembered? What legacy are you going to leave behind? And many more.

8. The importance of feeding your soul with uplifting and inspiring stories.  I binged "The Chosen" and watched each episode of Season 1 and 2 for the third time. It helped me get through my suffering, and touched my heart all over again.

9.  God is always in the picture, even if you can't or don't see Him.

10. The darkest hour is right before dawn. Trust and believe - make it a habit.

11. Feed your body good food, because real food is medicine.

12. What seems like a bad thing, may be a blessing in disguise.

May this serve you.  I'd love to hear lessons you have learned through an illness or one of life's difficult times.  Leave a comment, or drop me a line at [email protected]

Update 7-17-22

Here it is three weeks later and I am still experiencing symptoms. My husband felt sick for half a day. He had his 2nd booster, and I didn't.  I will be sure to get mine!

This has been a trial of patience and faith. My sinuses are still clogged, my hearing is decreased and my cough and fatigue are still present. I'm on my second round of antibiotics.  I am s l o w l y getting better, but I want to be healthy NOW!  This truly is an excellent reminder to value my health.  Truly, our health is our wealth. It reminds me of a saying I heard: A person who has their health has many wishes. A person without their health only has one.

I have noticed that I have more or prolonged symptoms if I eat sugar. So if you are in the middle of COVID, decrease your sugar intake, increase your fluids and eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies.

The following link offers a delicious recipe that has several antivirals in the ingredients:
www.feastingathome.com (Laksa Soup - Malaysian Coconut Curry Noodle Soup).

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