My COVID-19 Journey

I expected the coronavirus would find me eventually. I also expected the vaccines would protect me. Although I got sick as could be, and at one point thought I was going to lose my mind or die, I didn’t. So all those vaccines — and I had every one of them — served me well.

The memoir I am writing will end with the coronavirus pandemic, in which we continue to be. This post is to record my experience of getting sick with COVID-19 so that when I get to writing the end of An Iowa Life, I will have these notes.

It started about a month ago with a mild, persistent cough.

I didn’t think much of it, that it would go away on its own. It was only after attending the August 24 special convention in North Liberty that I began to cough more frequently and to cough up phlegm. After I tested positive on August 29, I found at least three other people who attended the convention tested positive about the same time. Because I had symptoms for so long, it is hard to pinpoint the beginning of the infection on a time line.

For the most part, it doesn’t matter how or when I contracted the virus. I’m no longer on the board of health where staff studied these things looking for societal solutions. In aggregate, public health requires data to combat the spread of the coronavirus. What matters more is I, as an individual, do have it and it persists. I thought I was going to die.

For this instance of COVID-19, emails, text messages and medical reports tell a story.

To T. (Aug. 28, 2024, 5:44 p.m.): “I have gotten sick since we met and could not hardly get out of bed today. I wanted to tell you in case I’m contagious. Symptoms are coughing, headache, dizzyness and loss of appetite. Hopefully this will break soon. Take care of yourself.”

To E and M. (Aug. 29, 2024 7:22 a.m.): “I went dark on the internet the last 36 hours because I have been bedridden with a terrible cough and general malaise. I looked up the symptoms and the search result was influenza, which I doubt. So the forecast for me speaking on Friday is partly cloudy. Will advise if I can make it.”

This 36-hour period of coughing and feeling bad included not eating for the duration, no coffee, and mostly lying in bed. Toward the end of the period I began to dream psychedelic images and when I attempted to wake, I did wake, and the dreams continued in real life. I couldn’t tell the difference between dreams and reality. I felt as if I had lost all memory. At this point, I felt death must be imminent. I was able to gather my wits, take a home COVID-19 test and telephone the local clinic.

To T.: (Aug. 29, 2024, 4:27 p.m.): “I did get a positive test for COVID 19 today.”

To E and M. (Aug. 31, 2024, 2:23 p.m.) “I forgot to tell you I tested positive for COVID on Thursday. At least three others who were at the convention tested positive about the same time. I saw an MD Thursday afternoon and appear to be on the mend with couple scripts of cheap medicine plus acetaminophen. Blood count is good, lungs clear. I spent an 90 minutes in the garden today and it worked wonders.”

To T.: (Aug. 31, 2024, 6:04 p.m.) “I think the worst is over. The medicines seem to be working and once I began eating and taking acetaminophen my headaches went away. The x-ray turned up a partially collapsed lung, but clear otherwise. Clinic gave me breathing exercises to hopefully reinflate that part of my lung. Blood work showed tracks of COVID in a couple of tests but my blood counts are good. Doc offered paxlovid but I declined because my symptoms began outside the window in which it is effective. (Why is the doc asking me what I want to do for meds?) I worked 90 minutes in the garden today and it was a huge benefit, the best medicine. So focusing on the positive, eating tacos and listening to Dylan tonight.”

Following are some edited extracts from my medical records:

H.R. at 8/29/2024 1:43 PM (Via telephone)
Pt calls to state that he’s been coughing for about 1 month, 1 week ago, cough started producing some white, yellow, clear and a few streaks of red 3-4 x total; and had a home test turn +COVID today 8/29/24. Nose with occasional clear to white secretions; has decreased appetite; has body aches; has fatigue and sleeping a lot. Wondering what to do? Per Dr. – OK to see pt today.

A.C. at 8/29/2024 2:30 PM (In person)
History of Present Illness
Patient presents secondary to having cough that has been ongoing for the past month. The past week the cough has gotten worse since changing color. It is now brown discoloration. He has had a few episodes where he has coughed up some blood. He has not been take anything OTC for his symptoms. He has had myalgias and overall has not been feeling well

Diagnosis: COVID 08/29/2024
Prescriptions: Benzonatate 200 mg; Prednisone 10 mg.

S.H. at 8/29/2024 4:51 PM (Via telephone)
Patient was informed that Hemoglobin and white blood cell count were normal.

A.C. at 8/30/2024 10:02 AM CDT
CRP level highly elevated secondary to COVID, glucose level elevated secondary to illness, liver enzymes elevated secondary to same.

A.C. at 8/30/2024 10:06 AM CDT
Some atelectasis noted, take deep breaths as often as possible, no pneumonia noted.

On Thursday, Sept. 5, I finished the course of prescription drugs and most of the symptoms are in remission. I continue to be tired during the day and somewhat restless at night. My stamina is diminished. I read a study indicating the coronavirus can persist in tissues for as long as 14 months after being infected. It is uncertain whether continuing to take COVID home tests will produce anything other than a positive result.

I’m not sure when I’ll return to regular writing here. Thanks to everyone reading along. I feel like the coronavirus has been living with me and distracting me from what I want to do. I suppose it has been.

UPDATE: On Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, my COVID home test result was negative.