Behind the Allergy

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Isolation Diaries: I had Corona

Lindiwe Lewis

Never Never Never did I think I would actually get it. I lasted until December 2021, with 2 vaccines and the booster until the rona got me. I didn’t share this on socials at the time because I didn’t want any advice but I shared with some people. At the time that I had it a lot of people in my life and online got it too. At the beginning it hit me harder mentally than physically. I felt guilty for the people I might have unknowingly infected, and I felt scared for my health and the health of my loved ones. BUT I felt embarrassed that i got it. Over the last 2 years, being exposed to everything I have never got it, so I was ashamed. That is why I wanted to document it for anyone going through the same in the future.

Diaries

Sunday Patient 0:

Tested myself on lateral flows. 2 came up positive immediately - I told my boss, and scheduled my PCR test for the next day.

Monday Day 0:

Woke up feeling horrible. Flu like symptoms and feeling sick. I went to the PCR, came home and felt very out of breath. I went back to bed. My mum brought me soup and chicken.

Tuesday Day 1:

Positive test on my PCR. I filled in all the forms for work, added to my NHS covid app and went back to bed for 5 more hours. This day i felt very faint, almost passed out multiple times I kept having to sit down. I had some chicken broth from the freezer and it cured me. I also had therapy in the evening and it really helped me deal with the mental struggles i was going through. Just very tired and a MASSIVE headache.

Wednesday Day 2:

At 3 am my upstairs neighbours were yelling in the hall for about an hour, but I couldn’t go out because I didn’t want to infect them. I ended up sleeping until 11am - 12 hours (apart from that hour). A friend told me he was positive which sent me back into a shame spiral because I saw him before I tested myself. I had a really bad headache and my tummy was awful. I tried to do a workout but I almost fainted so i feel asleep on the sofa! I was not hungry (which is not normal for me). My headache was so bad my mum wanted me to call 111. I drank 4l of water and drank soup and it felt better. I really wanted someone to take of me today. My mum brought me shopping with food i needed. i took paracetamol but it didn’t help. I had a shower, where I washed my hair and I felt 10X better!!! I ended up finishing the workout slowly.

Thursday Day 3:

I woke up feeling much better. Not 100%, but better. A slight headache, and drinking all the water. I reorganized the kitchen, i danced around a little, and I was hungry!! Today I was really worried that my mum would get it. I did a workout and walked more steps. I feel like was on the mend from today.

Friday Day 4:

I woke up feeling the same as yesterday. I had a big headache in the morning which got better throughout the day. I drank a lot of water but not as much as days prior. I was able to reorganise and tidy my flat, which I haven’t been able to do for the past 3 months. I wrote out a to do list for the remaining days and I was finally hungry - although felt sick after eating. I feel better about the next few days though.

Weekend Day 5 & 6:

I felt okay this weekend. Sunday was my day 7 and I was still testing positive, but the line was super faint. That was my last lateral flow, which meant I had to wait until my mum brought me more on Wednesday.

Monday Day 7:

I was 99% Thank goodness. I really felt back to normal. I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I had a movie night (distanced) with my mum and godmother (all the things I watched are down below). I. also worked out today.

Tuesday Day 8:

I lost my Internet until 630. So I pretty much did my puzzle the whole day.

Wednesday Day 9:

Isolation got cut to 7 days from the UK Gov, as long as your had negative LTR on day 6 and day 7 (which I did not). I took two tests that day and they were still both faintly positive. I did a lot of my to do list - like calling people I have been putting off and budgeting 2022! My first test I thought was negative and then after an hour it was positive, but REALLY faint. Try again tomorrow. I watched another movie with my mum and it was amazing. I did another test and it was negative, finally. slightly faint but definitely negative.

Thursday Day 10:

FINAL DAY! I took a test this morning and it was definitely negative. I deep cleaned my flat, wrote my essay and worked out. Then I took another test and it was negative again. thank goodness - I can be free tomorrow.

What did I eat in Iso

  • WATER - hot tip: drink it out of a straw (you drink a lot more- especially if you have a headache)

  • Honey

  • A lot of chicken soup

  • Salad

  • VEGGIES

  • Berries

  • Everyday Allergen Free recipes

  • Apple pie

  • Quiche

  • Duck L’orange

  • Salmon

  • eggs

  • Avocado

  • Banana

  • Pancakes

  • Pasta Chips

  • Creative Nature banana bread donuts

  • Homemade brussel sprouts

  • Christmas Oats

  • and more veggies.

What did I watch in Iso

I hope none of you get covid, but if you do I hope that by seeing my day by day accounts it will help you. I have asthma, so I was scared that it would effect my lungs - at times I was breathless, but the main symptoms were headaches and tummy issues. I took my temperature and oxygen rates everyday- I suggest you do the same. I also took my steroid inhaler twice a day.

Whether you have covid or not I wish you health, happiness and happy holidays! Now I am going for a walk.