2020 MEDICAL YEAR IN REVIEW
COVID-19 Survivor Stories It is a Lonely Virus
By Cindy & Patricia (sisters)
Patricia’s story It was Tuesday, June 9th. I developed a headache, but didn’t think anything of it, since I suffer from migraines anyway. Tylenol wouldn’t even touch my pain. The headache continued through Wednesday and Thursday, along with a slight sore throat and a light dry cough. I developed a low-grade fever of 99.5. Even with these signs, I still didn’t think it was COVID. The symptoms were so subtle! Because I was working from home that week, I was able to keep to myself. I was scheduled to work in the office the following week, when on Friday the 12th, I woke up feeling worse. Since I work for one of the hospital systems, we had a hotline number we could call if we had symptoms. I called the number that morning and had an appointment that afternoon to get tested. I still didn’t think it was COVID. But just to be careful, I quarantined myself. My mask was on at all times and I didn’t leave the room unless I had too. As Friday wore on, I felt worse. Finally, I left to go get tested and was told if it was positive, I would get a call on the weekend. Saturday came and I still felt really bad so I didn’t leave to go anywhere. The headache was the worst, even though I was taking Tylenol and Advil every couple of hours. On Sunday morning, I went to the store to buy some more meds. My head hurt so much that I cried all the way home. My body aches continued to get worse. When I got home, my daughter asked me how I was feeling and I told her my headache was unbearable. As she was massaging my head, my phone started to ring. I noticed it was from the hospital, so I answered. The nurse proceeded to tell me that I was 28
COVID positive! My heart sank, but everything made sense; you know, how I was feeling and the intensity of my symptoms. I told my family. Thankfully my son, daughter and my parents tested negative that following week. The house was cleaned and sanitized. My food was left on a table outside the room. If I was going to leave my room, I let everyone know that I was stepping out. Over the next couple of days, I got worse. I have never felt anything like this before. The headaches, body aches and difficulty breathing. I knew I should have gone to the hospital but I didn’t want too. One evening, I went
SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • December 2020
outside because I wanted to see my son who had been staying at a friend’s house. We sat outside at safe distances and with masks on. I started to shake and sweat so much; I was very dizzy but didn’t want to alarm my family and scare my son. So, I went to my room very quickly and as soon as I shut the door, I passed out and woke up a few minutes later. It was a very scary time. I literally prayed that I wouldn’t die. I lost my senses of taste and smell. To this day, my taste is different. This virus is a lonely one. I made myself walk outside in the middle of the day to warm up. Thankfully, with a
