Patchwork Times by Judy Laquidara logo

The Rest of the Covid Story

I haven’t told the entire story here because Vince didn’t want me to share it until he felt sure he was going to be ok.

As I mentioned already, Mom tested positive on December 26. Then Dad tested positive on December 27. You know how close daughters are to dads . . when I talked to him and he told me, the minute we hung up the phone, I started crying and I cried pretty much that entire afternoon. They’re 86 and 87 .. not the age group you want to be in with Covid. If Mom and Dad having it wasn’t enough, Vince tested positive on Monday. So .. three days and three positive tests. Vince had not been around my parents so he didn’t get it from them. He flew from Joplin to Dallas, and then on to Abilene on 12/15; then started feeling bad on 12/26 so that trip is within the time frame but he had been out several times and Brorwnwood seems to have so much Covid now. Vince never went out without a mask and he wears N-95 masks, and as far as he knew, he wasn’t around anyone who had it but at this point, I feel like every time we go anywhere and are around people, whether it’s 1 or 100 people, we’re exposed.

Before Vince left, we sat down and talked about what we would do if one of us tested positive. We decided we would stay where we were – not go to the other one and risk infection and we promised each other we knew when to seek help and we would do it. So, close to two weeks after Vince left . . there we were . . him with Covid.

I was so tempted to load up Boots and Rita and start driving but the roads between here and there were a huge mess with ice and snow and by the time the roads were ok, Vince was determined that I was NOT going there. His two friends in Brownwood both have wives who are nurses and they were checking on him by phone several times a day.

The first couple of days, he didn’t feel too bad – like he had a cold, and he was sure his test had been a false positive but then he lost his taste and smell, then had a headache for several days and he’s very tired and has little energy. He never ran fever, never had trouble breathing. He checked his oxygen level and occasionally, it dropped to 96 but most always, it was 98. He never felt he was in danger, but with Covid, I’ve heard of people being fine one minute and in trouble the next.

The doctor told him that typically, understanding there’s nothing typical about Covid, the worst problems begin on Days 5 – 8. By the time Vince got to Day 9, we were feeling a bit better about it, but I have heard plenty of stories where people appeared to have mild cases and some even thought they were over it and then it came on with a vengeance. So, I wasn’t doing a happy dance on Day 10. We’re now on Day 12 from when he first started feeling bad. He did get the intravenous antibody treatment, which seemed to help a lot. I’ll be glad when we’re on Day 20 and 30 and then I’ll start to feel like he’s dodged a bullet.

About the headache – he quit drinking coffee. Who does that while they have Covid? He said he couldn’t taste it so it wasn’t fun to drink a hot, tasteless liquid. That makes sense but it could possibly have contributed to the headache, though I know a lot of people have headaches with Covid.

I know that some people have mild cases and either he had a mild case or some of what he was doing/taking helped. I am NOT giving medical advice but I’m simply telling you what we did.

Every single thing I’m saying is what we’ve read or heard from medical expert videos. I am not giving advice . . please do your own research and talk to your health care provider about this.

I think the foremost thing that helped Vince is that before he left here on December 15, he got back on the keto diet so he was hardly eating any carbs, was consuming no corn syrup and was eating very healthy food and he was doing intermittent fasting every day and continued during his days with Covid.

We had been taking zinc, Vitamin C, D-3 and K-2. As soon as Vince got sick, he increased the amount of D-3 he was taking for three days. You will have to research how much of all these vitamins to take.

Every night he took a hot bath for several hours. You can read about increasing your body temp and how that may be helpful. I’m guessing that if you have a fever, you probably shouldn’t take a hot bath.

He watched several videos with various concoctions for tea to make that were supposed to help with breathing/coughing so he was making and drinking that religiously. I was really proud of him – he cooked healthy meals for himself even though he was tired, and couldn’t taste anything. He baked chicken, made a roast, ate lots of healthy veggies. Had it been me, I would have lived on Blue Bell ice cream and Dr. Pepper!

Whatever it was that has gotten him through this – prayer, vitamins and supplements or a mild case, I will forever be thankful.

My parents are fine. My dad never missed a beat . . he was fine. Mom is still having some problems.

My uncle didn’t get it, thankfully.

It’s pretty safe to say that the first week of 2021 was a bit stressful. I can also say that I’ve maybe prayed more in 2021 already than I do most years for the entire year.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Very glad to hear your parents are doing well. And glad that Vince has done ok also. Very frustrating that you were seperated from everyone (although that is a good thing) and unable to help them. Prayers that Vince continues to recover – and in a timely manner! I am sure he is frustrated that things are not getting done per his schedule!

  2. I am very glad that Vince is doing better. It sounds like he took good care of himself doing what he needed to do to get better. They have learned so much more about this disease than they knew last spring. Also glad that your parents are doing well. Keep praying it is working.

    • Yes! I wish no one else would get it but having it now has to be better than having it in the spring.

  3. My sister had it in June. Doesn’t really know where she got it but backtracking it had to be when they drove from Ohio to Florida with their Grandson. She’s the only one if their family who got it! We live on the left coast so not in danger from her. Just do what you have to do. Glad Vince is doing good. And good thing he wasn’t in need of pushing the moving issue either.

    • I know! If we had been on a tight schedule, and HAD to be out because someone else HAD to be in, we could have had a problem. No one could go over and help because he was quarantined and had no other place to stay. I’m just hoping he doesn’t try to do too much too fast once he’s feeling a lot better.

  4. I am so thankful that all your family is much improved and that you have stayed well. Can’t imagine being apart from hubby that long, especially under those circumstances.

  5. I’m so sorry! It’s definitely one thing to be there to make sure all is as well as possible, and a whole other thing when all you know is what’s been told, even if you trust the news 100%. It’s our nature to want to see for ourselves. Longest sentence ever written? Maybe. I’m sure the anxiety has been awful. Glad to hear everyone is on the mend and hoping for full recovery as soon as possible. Y’all are in our prayers.

  6. so happy that all seem to be on the back side of this, prayers that all continue to improve

  7. So glad that everyone appears to be on the mend. My daughter (respiratory therapist) said they have had good results from that antibody treatment in the hospital she works in. The doctors are really encouraging folks to donate blood if they have the antibodies so they can increase the numbers of folks they treat.

  8. Wow, what a few weeks you have had? Glad to hear that things are improving and you’ve stayed well. Thinking of you and sending hugs.

  9. I am so happy to hear everyone is on the mend but how difficult it was for you with Vince having it too!! My MIL is still recovering, basically tired and feeling weak. But she must be doing okay because she worries about how her hair looks during FaceTime since she hasn’t had her hair done in weeks….lol Hope things get settled soon for you and Vince so you can be together sooner rather than later.

  10. So glad to hear that all are doing so much better…..My BIL has been in the hospital with covid since a week before Christmas – was put on a vent, but thankfully, only for 3 days – so far he’s doing better and hopefully he’ll continue doing well. His wife also had it but was able to get the infusion right away and she’s feeling much better. It is definitely a very scary virus.

    • It affects everyone differently it seems and often, when you think it’s over, it isn’t. Glad your BIL seems to be doing better and hi wife is better. I’ll be so glad when this is behind us.

  11. Oh my, how scary. How thoughtful and considerate both of you were, to sit down together and talk about what to do if one of you got sick while living apart. And then to keep to what you had agreed to do! I’m very glad that Vince is doing better, and had good neighbors to keep checking on him. Best Wishes!

    • We always try to plan ahead and stick with our decisions because making decision in the midst of turmoil almost always prove to be the wrong decision.

      Thanks!

  12. So glad Vince and your parents are on the mend! So much stress for all of you. I’ve been praying for your folks and will add Vince to the list.

    • Thank you. Prayers are always appreciated but especially during times when everything seems to be going wrong.

  13. I am so sorry to hear that Vince got covid in addition to your family members. Relieved to hear that you are safe. Sounds like you both knew just what to do to decrease severity of the illness. Will be praying for Vince to feel better soon and make the move to Missouri.
    I am glad you have knitting and needlework to do during this stressful time. I know it calms me when times are tough. Take care of yourself and know a lot of people care about you, Vince and your family.

    • Thank you! Comments like these are much appreciated and usually make me cry! 🙂

      I know that many, many people have been through way worse than we ever have, not only with Covid, but with all other aspects of life. I’m always amazed when going through something that’s stressful that the days seem to last for weeks but looking back, it seems like yesterday this all started for us.

  14. Thank God for your parents and Vince doing better! Will continue to pray for a complete recovery for all and that you, Chad, Nicole and Addie escape the illness?

  15. So glad everyone is in the mend. My husband tested positive after Christmas and although I tested negative, I had symptoms first and eventually lost taste and smell. My parents are getting over it and we’re guessing that either my husband picked it up at therapy or we got it from our niece who had it about the same time. The good news is that we’ve all survived it!

  16. Judy, We traveled in November, returning early December, and even though I thought we were both being so very careful, I tested positive when we returned at the airport, so I had to have contracted it before I was on the plane. My husband did not get it and we were up close in the car and elsewhere. The family who drove us to the airport were negative too. I isolated upstairs for 2 weeks, had body aches, headache and chills but nothing scary. I am a RN and had input from 3 friends who are Doctors and I added a number of supplements and a regular aspirin to my plan, figuring they couldn’t hurt and I trusted the advice, but everyone has to make their own decisions. Vitamin D seems to be important. I am so glad Vince seems to be doing ok. The positive test does make you pause and really think about what might happen. I am so very grateful I seem to be all back to normal without any lasting problems and I pray that will be the case for Vince and your parents too.
    Now that you have taken up cross stitch, are you ever going to go back to quilting again? I really miss your quilting designs. 🙂

    • I do plan to quilt but I find that being by myself, I’m more comfortable on the main level and don’t enjoy being in the basement. I think I should bring all my stuff up to the main level! 🙂

      Once Vince is back full time, I’ll probably look forward to the solitude of the sewing room.

  17. So glad every one is doing better. You stay healthy yourself Judy. Continued prayers for all.

  20. Oh, Judy. What a hard time you and your family have been going through! I am so sorry that you and Vince are separated by all those miles right now. I know how careful you two have been throughout this plague year and how frustrating it must be to have your loved ones get sick despite all the extra efforts to protect yourselves. I am glad that Vince seems to be on the upswing.

  21. Thanks for the update! I will continue to keep you, Vince and your family in my prayers.

  22. I’m glad everyone is recovering. Most of the people I know who have had it complain that the fatigue lasts a long time even after they are officially over it. Don’t be surprised if it takes some time for Vince to get his energy back. I keep hoping I can continue to avoid it until I can get the vaccine.

  23. I’m so happy to hear that your parents and Vince are on the mend. With so many possible symptoms it’s hard to tell what you’re coming down with. I came down with Covid right around Dec. 20 or it may have been 2-3 days before. The first time I had chills I started taking my homemade elderberry brew. It wasn’t strong enough to knock it completely out and by the 22nd I knew it was Covid when I lost my sense of smell and taste. Like Vince I upped the Vitamin D3, took zinc & quercetin, Tylenol with aspirin for the fever, Mucinex to keep lung congestion to a minimum which worked. I never made the 50 mi. round trip to get tested. I was tired enough as it was. Don’t know exactly what my oxygen level was doing but was a little short of breath a few times, especially going up the basement stairs. Didn’t go to the doctor because around here they don’t want to see you unless you’re having serious trouble breathing, and then they are reluctant. I feel fine now, taste is pretty much back to normal, smell is a little slower, energy improved. My husband says he was never sick though he did start taking all the things I was taking. He did spend quite a bit of time wrapped in his big fleecy blanket snoozing in his recliner in front of the downstairs TV, so I don’t know. We had our family Christmas the 20th and nobody got it. Two work in medical establishments, everybody went to work, they’ve all socialized during the entire pandemic. I guess being young and healthy goes a long way. We eat pretty healthy and take vitamins & supplements so maybe that helped me just like it probably did Vince. Sure hope everyone continues to recover and that you avoid it entirely.

    • Vince actually had chills when he was here but I doubt it was related because that was probably December 12 – 14 that he was freezing and couldn’t get warm, though I was about to have a heat stroke but he didn’t have fever. Who knows with that crazy disease?? Early on, they talked about elderberry possibly producing a cytokin storm so we had topped taking our elderberry.

      Glad you’ve recovered and yes, I do hope I avoid it.

  24. So glad Vince is OK! And your other family doing better… I’ll be happy when you and Vince are back together for good. I’ve been worried about him for a while, being out in the country by himself with some of the heavy-duty work that he does. Reminds me a lot of my own DH.

  25. Sorry to hear about Vince, but I am glad that everyone is on their way to recovery.

    I think I had C19 in early November based on fever, chills, cough, but my doctor did not send me to get a test since she knew I was safer at home. She checked the cost of the antibody tests and told me to donate blood since our system checks for the antibody (Oklahoma Blood Institute). So, I’ll be scheduling it soon.

    I also have been taking D3, C, zinc, quercetin, famotidine (Pepcid generic), melatonin for a while so my symptoms were probably mild. But, the logic to taking these supplements is based on research. An early group was the East Virginia Medical Center which has moved to the “covid19criticalcare” group website. They have info on what to take as well as the WHY to take the stuff. The site has info on what to take before you are exposed as well as what to do if you are sent to the hospital. Good info to take along to the doctors, just in case they haven’t read up on the latest treatment options.

    BUT – in case you are not sure of the amounts of medicine to take, GET TESTED! There are tests for Vitamin D and zinc levels. I am always low on D, so my doctor has me taking 10,000 iu a day (vs 1,000-3,000 a day). My latest numbers were 64 on a scale of 30-100, but I’ve been as low as 18! Last spring, my doctor sent an email with recommended supplements in case we started feeling bad and it included zinc. I continued to take the zinc at the higher dose since I noticed that my skin was doing better (softer, faster healing of cracks). But the doctor was concerned about the levels of zinc, so I got tested and found out that on a range of 60-130, I came in at 83 – another supplement that I don’t seem to get enough of through food and regular vitamins. The Doc has since recommended zinc to another patient with an uncontrollable skin problem and the higher doses resolved it. Note- the doc knew that I probably researched zinc and she also did the research before telling her patient to take zinc.

    The most important thing to remember is to record what medicines and supplements you take on a regular and irregular basis. Let your doctors and pharmacists know. And, get a pulse oximeter to check your oxygen levels since “happy hypoxia” is an issue – low oxygen levels while still feeling ok. I was sending emails to my doc with daily temps, O2 levels and how I was feeling. I still check O2 and temp on a daily basis. Do not assume that 98.6 is your normal temp – do your own study of temps at different times of day. I found out that I am usually in the 97 range, but it increases during the day. I guess I am not normal in anything!

    Stay healthy everyone!

    • My normal temp is also around 97 but I also read that in general, the body temp of Americans has dropped a bit through through the years. Good info, Liz.

  26. Those monoclonal antibodies seem to help a lot to prevent more serious infection, unfortunately it’s one of the treatments we have the least of to go around and difficult to implement wide scale. I’m glad he was able to get them and is doing so well! Kat (FNP)

  27. The blacksmith and I both got COVID right about Thanksgiving. We still can’t taste and smell everything. The fatigue is pretty much gone. The brain fog is gone. He says his sinuses still aren’t the same and I still have a very little cough occasionally.
    Funny thing someone told me if your blood type is O positive, you get a less case. Wrong, I’m O positive, and I had it worse than hubby.
    So glad Vince is getting better.

    • I’m glad you’re better but that’s a long time to not have your taste and smell! I’ve heard such varying amounts of time from people.

  28. I am so glad Vince is better. That is a big load off your mind. And your mom and dad as well. I loved my daddy also! He was the best man ever! He was my hero! So I understand your feelings. Now everyone has to completely get over this and with the shots maybe we can be back to somewhat normal sometime soon!

  29. I’m sorry for the stress and worry you have had, and glad that things are looking better AND you haven’t gotten sick!

  30. I’m so happy that things are going well for all three. I’ve prayed for them and hoped your uncle wouldn’t get it, too.

  31. Jumping for joy here! Will continue to pray for them all, and especially for your sweet mama. And also for you.
    Thanks for the update.

    • Thank you, Sandi, and thank your sweet husband. It was very comforting to know that you two would have been here as soon as possible if I had needed you.

    • Thank you, Bon. I don’t trust that virus and am remaining cautiously optimistic that they’re all on a good path to recovery.

  33. Oh Judy, I am so sorry that you have had this cloud of worry hanging over you. Hopefully it will be over soon and everyone will have recovered and you all can rest a little easier.
    Kind regards
    Kellie

    • Thank you. It’s been a rough couple of weeks but I always reminded myself that many people are dealing with much worse.

  34. What scary scary times… So happy Vince seems to be doing well and will add him to the prayers for your parents. By the way, I just read an article yesterday about a European study… that claims the vast majority of those that lose taste and smell are the milder cases. Have only seen this one study, but, if true, that is a good sign. Prayers for continued good news for you all.

    • Someone had told me that. My parents never lost taste or smell. I honestly think my dad had a false positive test because he never showed one symptom and he’s 87 with underlying health concerns.

  35. Judy, sorry to hear that Vince has had it. But, glad to hear he is better and your parents are better. Your news and the responses seem to tell me paying attention and taking the necessary steps in fighting this problem is a big step in recovery. Thanks to everyone for all the info.

    • I’m sure it works differently for everyone but I’m so thankful that we had spent a lot of time researching things that might help and, for whatever reason, Vince seems to be doing good.

  36. Oh, dear, that is a lot to handle all at once. I’m glad Vince and your dad seem to be over the worst of it, and hopefully your mom follows suit soon! It’s fortunate you had Boots and Rita with you rather than them being with Vince in Texas. They can offer so much comfort and company, and I’m positive it would have been harder for you if you were completely alone.

  37. I am glad to hear that your loved ones are recovering from Covid. My daughter, a nurse, thinks she had it and her husband tested positive recently. He couldn’t breath and was having heart issues and the ER docs told him he sprained his shoulder. I guess they were surprised when his test came back positive. My son in law is a young, healthy, active man and is still having heart complications a few weeks later. The doctors don’t want to see him in person. I am concerned about permanent heart damage, which can be one of the long term effects of Covid. I pray that your family recovers completely from this virus.

    • I would be concerned too. It has to be frustrating to not be able to get the help you feel you need. I hope he recovers completely with no lasting problems – especially no heart problems.

Discover more from Patchwork Times by Judy Laquidara

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading