I woke up, having been a bit suspicious for a couple of days. I’d had that funny feeling in my throat before a cold hits. This was my first cold in over a year.
You know that expression, “Pride goeth before a fall”? Well, pride wenteth. I had Covid-19. I just didn’t know it.
I stayed home that day from my youngest grandson’s birthday party. Gene moved to the other bedroom, something we do when one of us gets a cold. And four days later, when a friend suggested I get tested for COVID, I took her advice and did a home test. It was positive. The next day I went to urgent care and had another test: also positive.
If you’ve had both your vaccinations and still get COVID, the CDC recommends you “isolate” for 10 days and immediately call everyone with whom you spent at least 15 minutes during the two days before your symptoms began. I made 11 phone calls: my son, whose family I had been with; my daughter, whose two younger boys had been to our house; my trainer; the neighborhood gatehouse garden team (3); three people from Church, where I had been the day before to be trained to work in the office; my dermatologist’s office, where I’d had Mohs stitches removed; and our housekeeper, who had cleaned the day before I got my “cold.” We’re out and about more than we think we are!
Then I had the pleasure of calling and emailing people I was planning to be with over the next 10 days. Three of those emails were to groups I belong to. I felt as if I had a microphone and was yelling, “I have Covid! Stay away from me!”
Most people were wonderful. But I thought it might be helpful to share my list of things not to say when someone tells you they have COVID:
- “How do you think you got it?” That’s a very personal question. And even if I knew, I’m not going to blame someone who may or may not have made me sick. After all, most of us go to the grocery store. Maybe it happened there.
- “Have you been vaccinated?” Yes, I have, but if I haven’t, I’m going to feel judged if you ask.
- “Did you get your booster?” No, I haven’t gotten it, and I wish I had, but please don’t make me feel worse by asking.
- “Have you been around unvaccinated people?” Yes, I have two family members who don’t believe the vaccination is a good idea, and I see them anyway. But I don’t want to have to defend myself, especially when I’m sick.
- “Oh, sorry you’re sick! But I have this problem. Could you help me?” If you know someone has COVID, please don’t ask them to do something for you. I had two neighbors do this to me during the first few days, when I just wanted to sleep all the time. Yes, I’m on our HOA Board and that may have been stupid, but it’s too late now. Have pity.
So, it’s been two weeks, and I have a little stuffiness, but was never very sick. I do get tired, though, and need to pace myself. All in all, I’m feeling lucky – lucky that I have such a caring and responsive family, lucky to have dear friends who worry about me, and lucky I’m vaccinated and didn’t get a worse case. And yes, I’m very grouchy; COVID will do that to you.
pearlsofpauline 