We had weathered the pandemic from its beginning in early 2020. All the way through to the end of 2021, we had been reasonably careful, following medical advice, watched our exposures and were feeling confident that we were crusing along safely.
Then just around Christmas 2021I began to have recurring bouts of feeling unwell. Upset stomach - not to the point of spewing, but unsettling nevertheless. Headaches, and some coughing. Enough that we canceled some plans with friends, so that we did not expose them to our "colds". Finally a friend provided a rapid test kit for us to try. I thought, well, I may as well do the test - so I can assure anyone who asks that it is not covid. So I took the test - and it came back positive. Bummer!
Now the question was: could it be a false positive? Lots of people were saying the rapid tests were not so accurate. So we booked a PCR test at a local pharmacy. That was simple - did not even need to go in the building - they came out an swabbed my cheek in my mouth, and then my nose. I thanked the technician that she did the swabs in that order - mouth, then nose. She laughed. She stated that due to the backups in the health labs, it would be about 6 days before I would hear of the results. We drove back home and realized the round trip, including test, was only 15 minutes. Then the waiting.
The next day my family physician's office called me. She asked: how are you feeling. I gave the standard Canadian answer: "I'm fine." She countered, "no, not really - you have Covid". "What? I thought they would not have the results for 6 days". She said - "Oh sometimes they are faster". She then went on to tell me I had to isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms. I should be locked in my room, food shoved under the door, no contact with any family members, basically describing a life of solitary confinement for the next week and a half. "After all, you don't want others in the house to get it too!". I think by the time I explained what she had told me on the phone, my family members had already been exposed. And of course, by the next day, both Sue and her mom had it as well.
So we began our "offical" journey through Covid. In our case, it was all very simple, much like a bad flu. Headaches, upset stomach - although no one actually was heaving. Loss of appetite, and even loss of taste and smell. In certain rooms of the house, the loss of smell was not so bad. But all meals seemed bland - if one even wanted to eat at all. Lots of soup. Some toast. Not too much else for a week, except for several doses of ibruprofen for the head. When friends called to ask how we were feeling, my ususal response was "lying at death's door!" No one really believed me. But I am sure it was close. At one point I called to my wife and asked her to bring me pills. "What kind?" she replied. I said "Cyanide". She answered "Oh, if I had those on hand, I would have given them to you long ago!"
It did seem that this virus is somewhat cyclical. We would feel better in the morning, but through the day start to feel worse. By bedtime, the sore throat would return and perhaps a stuffy nose, making sleep more of an issue. One day we would get up and feel like it was all over, and life is back to normal. The next morning, it seemed as if a relapse was happening. Through all of the 10 days of isolation, it often felt like all energy had been sucked out of my body.
Praise God, after my 10 day period of isolation, we are pretty well back to normal. Symptoms are gone, although some tiredness remains. I am thankful that God has spared us, and allowed us the good measure of health that we have. Ultimately, all of our healing comes from Him, and He is the One who gets the glory. Please pray for those who get this virus. It can be nasty, and some have experienced much worse symptoms that we did. In all cases, our lives are in the hands of God. There is no safer place to be.
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