As I write this, I have been in quarantine for 24 hours, and it is not my idea of a good time. One week ago, I had a little headache and cough, and my body hurt. Because we are in a hotel room for my husband’s outpatient medical care, I thought I should get a COVID test. Even though we’re in the middle of several massive medical centers, I had to find a testing site because I am not a patient. The search took two
days.
I made an online appointment at a drive-through CVS within walking distance. Yes, I walked. There was only one car ahead of me, and once at the window, the sweet young woman gave me a swab, a vial of clear liquid, a bag for trash, and a smaller sack with orange letters. She told me to put two inches of the swab into each nostril and twist it around for 15 seconds. Then I was to put the swab into the vial and move it up and down, remove the swab and place it into the trash bag, screw the vial lid on tight, and then place the vial in the orange sack and return it to the swab receptacle box in front of the pharmacy window. I understood.
Since I was walking and couldn’t figure out how to stand in the misty parking lot and complete the directions, feeling contagious and guilty, I went into the store’s bathroom. All went well, and I looked forward to getting the negative results.
Two days later I received an email. A red POSITIVE was the first line in the message. After reading it over and over, I thought, Oh, no, now what? I knew the CDC protocol for isolation, but what about my poor husband?
The next day, we found out. He wasn’t allowed into the hospital for treatment. My husband now needed a COVID test and was redirected to another building with Yellow (been exposed) and Red (has COVID) zones. I cannot begin to describe my angst. A typical day flipped to quarantined, stressed, afraid, depressed, and victimized.
I received several text messages and answered a 25 minute interview from the Colorado Department of Health.
When the hotel manager quarantined me to the room, I asked, “What do I do if I get incredibly sick?” He didn’t know. He said they would probably call the EMT’s.
“What would they do with me?”
He didn’t know. “You are the first one to ever quarantine in the hotel.”
‘Where did the others go?”
He answered in a long-drawn-out flat tone, “Home.”
I hung up, stared at the wall, and mumbled, “In my dreams!”
I ordered a salad from room service, and a mystery person set it outside the door, knocked, and ran. Housekeeping was the same—bags of sheets and towels magically arrived.
I then lost my taste and smell, but the good news, my husband’s test came back negative. Whew!
For all of you, dear friends, caught by the COVID — what’s YOUR story?
Until the next time: Live while you live.
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I am so so sorry to hear you have the virus. I hope you get over it soon! I have a number of friends that also have the virus and they also had the same adverse reactions when they got it. Just please take good care of yourself and get better soon. We all have to be so, so careful. Even if the people we are around don’t have it we can’t believe we’re safe because we don’t know who they’ve been around and what they’ve touched.
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Thanks, Geri. I know, we are all so interconnected as we live disconnected. I am doing fine. Still no taste or smell, but that is doable. I glad to hear you two have dodged the virus. Keep up the good work. I hope you have been able to get the vaccine.
We get our first Vaccine on Valentines Day. What a great Valentines Day gift! Hope you’re improving day by day or even faster. And yes, we have to be extremely careful as Paul has Pulmonary Fibration. The virus would literally kill him
Sorry! Prayers are with both of you!!!
Thank you. All prayers appreciated. In the whole scheme of things, we are doing okay. The hardest part for me is sitting all day–and night:(( That doesn’t deserve a lot of sympathies 🙂
That was an intense story, as it has seriousness and unknowns that we all struggle with, but have not had to experience. Based on symptoms, I assume you did have it, but the sample procedure was probably not preformed correctly, You would need to get an antibody test to see if you did, which may be good to know so going forward you will have more accurate information, and know if you have more protection. May you and Cal have all the confidence and prospective going forward. Hope Cals responding to his treatments. This is a strange world we are in, all these problems and no one has any information.
I had the 2nd test done at Mayo Clinic, so I have no doubt it was accurate. Now, the one at the drive-up could be another story but I definitely had symptoms and still can’t smell or taste. Mayo told me it could take 90 days to get a negative test. They said I was no longer contagious, but it can take that long for our bodies to sluff off the dead cells. All I know is everyone has their own rules and the dermatology office says I have to show them a negative report. So, I hope my nose doesn’t rot away in the meantime://
So sorry to hear this Jennifer. What a scary ordeal! Sending lots of love and hugs. 🤗❤️
Hope you’re feeling well soon.
Shelley, thanks. I am doing better…Life is an adventure, for sure!