Knowing of the Unknown:

I got the test result phone call on my birthday. "You have Covid." Not the words I wanted to hear. Not me. What awaits me in the unknown? Knowing I have this virus that has killed thousands including people I know and have known for years scares me to no end. My Husband was lucky to get through it alive and he is way healthier than I am. Or so we thought. We found out through a turn of events that he had something serious going on. To protect him, I will not disclose details but the events have altered his life forever. He still beat covid. I am extremely thankful that he survived all that has happened to him these past two weeks. I knew it was inevitable that I was going to get covid. We were both exposed around the same time. The weird thing is that I didn't start feeling anything until 17 days after being exposed.

Truth is your spouse can get it and you might not, even if you were in the same place at the same time. I did everything. I wore masks around him 24/7, washed my hands all the time, sanitized every nook and cranny till my hands dried out, gave distance when I could, hydrated and took probiotics and pedialyte like it was my lifeline. I will tell you firsthand that even if you're expecting that you will get it when your spouse has it, It still doesn't lighten the blow of hearing you have it. Knowing of the unknown is nerve racking to say the least. Here in VT, they keep tabs very well when you get confirmed. When my husband got the diagnosis, they sent him a Oximeter to check heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

For those who are not familiar, an oximeter is a little reader you clip on your index or middle finger that you hold by your heart which sends infrared light through your finger to record these levels. The ideal blood oxygen level falls between 95-100%. You will notice some fluctuation if you take the reading immediately, so it is recommended that you sit and wait a couple to five minutes before you take the reading. If your O2 level drops below 95%, the meter will beep at you. It is not uncommon to see a 94% reading sometimes so there is no need be worried just yet. I say this because if you are moving around, your O2 level will be lower then when resting. The concern is when you have sat for five minutes and it's that low. If your O2 drops below 94% do not hesitate in calling your doctor as this is a covid red flag and could become life threatening. I wanted to share this info in real time because it may help people know what to look for as this is a unpredictable virus that affects everyone different but they all share this common denominator with breathing issues.

I was diagnosed on March 24th of this year (2021). As I write, today is March 26th. So far, I have experienced chills with uncontrollable shaking, difficulty breathing, a scratchy throat, coughing, dizziness, clammy hands and frequent urination. I've been experiencing periods of fatigue when moving around and due to my kidneys, I experience cramping and lethargy. I think I first felt symptoms around the 20th but they have been mild off and on since then. My date for no longer being contagious is suspected to be the 31st but it is hard to gauge as I was tending to my husband and I wasn't that aware of my symptoms at that time. Knowing that I'm in the midst of this virus and that there is still the possibility of complications from this has me unnerved even though I'm trying to remain hopeful. Today I found out another friend of mine is on oxygen treatments four times a day until she heals and it has me worried. I'm trying to remain calm and collected near my husband but the truth is I'm scared that given my health before covid that I may have complications. I even prayed today and wrote a message to my family in heaven and I'm not religious.

I will try to write my experience as it unfolds in real time but lets be real here. If in the event things should get much worse, I may not be able to do so. I hope that for those who think that covid is a joke or hoax or what have you, I hope you will one day understand that this is very real and very serious. To sit there and say you won't get the virus is the same thing I said even though I was diligent in everything I tried. I still got the virus and knowing of the unknown is a hard pill to swallow when you think it will never happen to you. It is also hard when there is the very real possibility that your life could be taken from you without warning. So please, I implore you to please follow the rules of social distancing and get vaccinated. I would've gotten vaccinated if my state opened up the vaccines for 33 year old's. If I make it out of this, I will get vaccinated the moment it becomes a option. Stay safe and please don't relax on precautions because it could cost you your health and life.