What a roller coaster of emotions the past few days have been. I am not only physically exhausted but mentally drained. I have gone back and forth a million different times on what I should write, and say. I am not here for sympathy – I am here because I want to educate you on my experience as a 23 year old with COVID19. I have been practicing social distancing, wearing my face mask, constantly using hand sanitizer, not out at bars – I was doing EVERYTHING in my power to stay clear from COVID19. Everyone’s journey with this virus is different but here is mine… Late Thursday night I was made aware that I had been exposed to COVID19. Early Friday I drove to the nearest clinic where I could get tested. After waiting an hour in line, I was able to put my name on a waitlist – I was told I probably wouldn’t receive a call for 6 hours. Luckily – I was able to get into another facility right away. The facility did three different tests, a rapid, a blood sample, and nasal swab. The rapid test came back within 15-20 min and said I was NEGATIVE! (Sigh of relief! So I thought…)
As the weekend began, I noticed that walking up the stairs to my apartment felt like I had weights attached to my feet, and I was tired. I have two jobs so I figured that my body was telling me I was overly exhausted and needed to slow down. My rapid test came back negative, so I didn’t have anything to worry about except that I needed to rest and relax over the weekend. I spent the weekend getting house chores out of the way and preparing for the week ahead. Saturday evening I felt like I had a fever, (ended up being low grade), some body aches and a slight burning sensation in my nose (which I figured was from the nasal swab). Sunday afternoon, I received the call that my nasal swab came back POSITIVE for COVID19!! I asked the person on the phone, how could this be… my rapid test on Friday was negative. She explained that in fact that test was a false negative and it sometimes happens. My heart instantly sank, my head started spinning and I started to cry…YES… cry!! All of a sudden I felt an immense amount of guilt for my family, my roommate, my friends and all my co-workers.
It’s day three since testing positive for COVID19, and my symptoms are like a rollercoaster, constantly up, down and changing, mild to severe. I have some hours where I feel okay and have bursts of energy and then other moments where I feel absolutely horrible. I currently have no sense in smell or taste; a constant headache, body aches on and off, and overall feel very weak. At times, I am able to stand and get right out of bed, and sometimes so weak I can’t lift my head off the pillow.
My Best Advice: YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BEST! If you start to feel like you’re getting sick – go get tested. DO NOT WAIT! This virus is serious – and you want to keep yourself and others around you healthy. PLEASE stay home if you do not need to be out, wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and continue to use hand sanitizer whenever you have an opportunity. At the present time there is no cure and no vaccine, COVID-19 does not pick and choose, no one is immune and we all need to do our part. My grandmother always says in world where you can be anything, be kind and think of others. THIS IS the time to think of your grandparents, older adults in your life or those who have severe underlying medical conditions in your family.
We are all in this fight together and we WILL get through this! I continue to send my thoughts & prayers to all those affected by COVID19.
-Morning Show Producer Chloe