· Monday, March 16- I felt a tightness in my chest and felt I tired. Thought I might be anxious so I tried meditation to help with tightness in chest. Developed a dry cough. Felt like I might be getting a sinus infection, too.
· Tuesday, March 17- The cough feels as if it is settling in my chest. Monitoring symptoms- no fever, yet.
· Wednesday, March 18- Still the same. Chest is feeling tighter and cough remains the same. Went outside- the air tasted metallic. I noticed that I’ve lost my sense of taste and smell.
· Thursday, March 19- High fever of over 102 begins. Terrible headache and body aches. Chest is still tight. Miserable and unable to get off of the couch. No appetite. Still can’t smell or taste anything. Breathing is getting more difficult.
· Friday, March 20- Still high fever...over 103 now. Skin hurts to touch. My head is aching so badly. Breathing is still ok but chest is tight. The cough feels deep in my chest.
· Saturday, March 21- Feeling a little better during the day. Went outside for fresh air. Fever & chills at night. Still feeling crappy. Headache is awful!
· Sunday, March 22- Fever, aches, pains- tightness in chest is worse. Difficulty talking without coughing. Head still awful!
· Monday, March 23- Called the doctor. She prescribed cough medicine and an inhaler. Cough is so bad I can hardly speak without causing a coughing spell. Still can’t breathe deeply.
· Tuesday, March 24- Still the same- Medicine is not helping me breathe. Feeling anxious about the breathing. Meditation is not helping. Inhaler is not helping.
· Wednesday, March 25- Still the same. Spoke with the doctor on call. She prescribed Prednisone and a different inhaler. Told me to stay home...Not to go to the hospital. Very difficult time breathing. Coughing fits where I can’t catch my breath.
· Thursday, March 26- Still the same- developing a hot, red, raised rash all over my cheeks and on my chest and back. Still unable to breathe. Made a checklist to make sure that I’m taking my medicine correctly. Now using 2 inhalers, prednisone, and cough medicine with Codiene and taking Tylenol. Not getting any better.
· Friday, March 27- More of the same. Can’t go up the stairs. Can’t get off of the couch. Can’t breathe very well. Have coughing fits. High fever. Called to go to the hospital…Hospital said do not come in.
· Saturday, March 28- I’m so tired I feel dizzy and so weak. I can’t breathe. I can’t walk around. I am so sick. I’m afraid to go to sleep- afraid that I might not wake up. I’m scared. I’m not getting better. High fever. Rash all over my face and body. I’m done!
· Sunday, March 29- I know that if I fall asleep, I will not wake up. I am exhausted, weak and scared. After a severe coughing spell, we call the ambulance. My oxygen level is 82 with supplemental oxygen. I can't control my breathing. Rapid, short breaths. I am sick!I am intubated within an hour of arriving at the hospital.
*Sunday, March 29-April 2- I am in a drug-induced coma, on life- support. I am on 100% oxygen to try to support my body so that my lungs begin to heal.
* April 2- The hospital informs my family that I have in fact tested positive for COVID-19. They ask my husband for approval to have me transferred to St. Joe’s Medical Center- COVID19 Campus so that I can receive better care.
*April 2- I am transported by ambulance and placed in the ICU at St. Joe’s Medical Center. I remain on a ventilator until April 13th.
*April 13- I am off the ventilator and breathing on my own. I am transferred to a private room in the hospital. I suffer from delirium, extreme weakness, and unable to talk, eat or feed myself.
*April 15- I am transferred to post-acute care rehabilitation. I receive Physical Therapy twice a day, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Respiratory Therapy. Over the course of 6 days, I learn to walk, feed myself, and talk again. I am learning how to control air so that I can laugh, too. I am still too weak to take more than a few steps or stand unassisted for more than a couple of minutes.
*April 21- I am released from rehab and my family picks me up. My healing really begins NOW!
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