I have been quiet about this because it wasn't something I wanted to share. I thought about sharing it while I awaited the test results, but didn't want to alarm people. Then I thought, "Oh, I'll make light of the fact that I freaked about some symptoms and needlessly went and got a COVID-19 test."
In reality, the fact that I felt like I may have it and have Adrenal Insufficiency pushed me to go get the test.
Last week, on Monday, I had enough of how I was feeling. Since the Friday before I had a low grade fever (mid-99), aches, fatigue and a round of diarrhea. This could have been the flu, but I hadn't been around anyone outside of my wife and one daughter. They were now across the states of North Carolina and Tennessee in Memphis visiting her parents. I had seen my two other daughters on my birthday, but we maintained a distance. So, I got worried about being in attendance at some ceremonies held for the school district's graduating seniors who were picking up their diplomas.
I wasn't sure how to go about getting tested. The information I saw said to call my doctor's office. So, I called and spoke with the triage nurse at my primary care physician's office. She took my symptoms, asked if I had been exposed to a known carrier of COVID-19 (not to my knowledge) and then heard I had been at the diploma distribution. She said that qualified me. I was sent to a drive-up testing site near my house.
With mask on (PLEASE WEAR ONE WHILE OUT AND ABOUT), I pulled up to the testing center. I was greeted and given a packet of information and then told to pull into a parking spot. Each car was separated by a full parking spot. I was again asked about my symptoms and had my blood oxygen level measure, 99%! Lastly, a medical specialist came out to ask why I was there and then swabbed my nose. At that point, I was cleared to go home and anxiously wait for results.
While I waited for the results, on Monday and most of Tuesday, I had free range of the house. This was nice. On Tuesday night when The Wife and daughter came home, I moved out of our bedroom and into the bedroom where I have my desk for work-at-home and there is a twin bed. It is maybe 10x10. I watched Grantchester on PBS, listened to music and researched becoming a nonprofit. I did get to venture out to the bathroom I was able to use. The wife started using the daughter's downstairs bathroom. A treat was getting to go out onto the back deck. Meals were lonely.
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| Pasta and a salad |
On Friday, at 12:39 a.m., my results that are posted at the top came. I didn't know until around 6:30 a.m. because like most people I was sleeping. This was a relief. The Wife knew that it was negative because I brought her usual morning coffee. Plus, I was walking around and came into the bedroom.
I cannot imagine being isolated in the bedroom for a longer period of time, but I was creating my little "oasis." Was I ever panicking? No. If my symptoms had gotten worse, I think the panic would have increased. I never did updose except the second day of the fever.
This disease is real and we need to take care of ourselves. As a role model for the AI community, I wear my mask whenever I go out...which is really only to get takeout dinner once a week and the grocery store for the few items we can't get through ordering. I have not seen my Dad and his wife since they moved up here. They live in an independent living place, but there is a nursing and care home on the grounds. This means no visitors. They have gone out, but I don't want to put them at risk by seeing them and I don't want to potentially expose myself. My hair is longer than it has been in decades, literally!
What a wild, strange time we are living in right now!
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| You can't see the back!! |
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