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I get so many questions about my COVID -19 experience, and lately, I've had many people asking how it started and how I got through it, so I figured I would outline my symptom timeline and some things that helped me feel better. Let’s #SpreadHopeNotCOVID!
Looking back, I started to show symptoms on a Sunday. I was having trouble breathing, but I thought it was just allergies. Little did I know it would be downhill from there. I have an autoimmune disease, I am at risk, so if you are at risk or worried about contracting COVID-19, I hope sharing my story can help you!
Monday, I woke up and wasn't feeling myself, but I still went to work again, just thinking I was having some sinus issues because of my allergies. As I walked into the building I started to feel worse by the minute. I wasn't in the building an hour before I told my boss I needed to go home because I was starting to feel sick to my stomach. On the drive home, I ended up vomiting on the highway all over my car (let's not talk about the cleaning bill). I had to pull over on the side of the road and I'm honestly surprised I made it home. From then on out, I was bedridden for 3 days. Thankfully the vomiting only lasted a day, but it moved to diarrhea shortly after. I couldn't eat, and I couldn't even lift my head to watch TV or move out of bed. It was the sickest I've been in forever.
The only things that got me through the first 3 days were white & blue Gatorade, saltine crackers, bone broth, and my mom calling to check on me every 5 minutes.
The exhaustion from having COVID lasted for 2-3 weeks after my symptoms started. I didn't have the energy to do anything, and luckily that was when the lockdown first started so I didn't need to go back into the office. It was important to stay hydrated and get lots of rest during that time.
I called my doctor to see if I had COVID and to get a COVID test but since this was back in March and we didn't have enough information on the virus and they told me it sounded like I had a stomach bug so I should stay at home. Now looking back I definitely had COVID -19 since we now know more, 9 months into this pandemic.
Now that I've had COVID-19, I understand the importance of wearing your mask. Masking up and continuing to stay 6 feet from others are our best chances to avoid bringing the virus home. While there are a lot of things we can’t do right now, there are still a lot of important things we can do! Continue to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if a sink isn’t available. Cover your mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze, as these can spray droplets up to 27 feet. Scientists and doctors agree wearing a mask can help reduce the spread by 70%. I'll continue to do my part and wear my mask for as long as needed to keep businesses open and help keep myself and others protected during this global pandemic.
Stopping COVID-19 may be as simple as picking up the phone. I know getting a positive result can be scary, but it’s important to share that information as soon as possible with those you have come into contact with. To stop the spread of COVID-19, Michiganders must work together, and contact tracing plays a critical role. Contact tracing is the process of contacting everyone in Michigan who has had contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. If you get a call from 866-806-3447, MI COVID HELP or your local health department, please answer and give any information that could help keep your community safe.
Have you had COVID-19 and if so, what were your symptoms?
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