How I Survived Covid-19

So, we hit the 200,000 mark in COVID-19 deaths in the United States of America!  That is so, so sad!

Who would have thought something so small (a virus) could have brought the USA to its knees? At the beginning of the year 2020, who could have guessed that we would still be battling the silent enemy the way we are today?

Before I go further, let me hasten to tell you that I met COVID-19 face to face, we ate together, slept together and it was my closest friend for over a month. Boy, did I try to get rid of that dangerous thing! Makes me want to sweat just thinking about it now although it is.

During my COVID-19 illness, I had a lot of time to think, to relax, to reflect and yes, to breathe! Up to that point I was living a life that I didn’t even recognize. I was always wishing I could sleep, wishing I could rest, wishing for peace, wishing to be around loving people! “Something has to give obviously” I thought. At the time, I just didn’t know what.

I went about my busy, stressful, pain-filled life as usual, until one afternoon I started having a dry cough, that night a sore throat and fever, the next day a little fever and the rest was history. Three trips to the doctor (urgent care) within a week, no help from them. I was repeatedly told that they didn’t have enough  test-sets available to test if I had the virus because I had no underlying condition (talk about being penalized for being healthy). Eventually, I had to go deep into Brooklyn (by train) to see my personal physician who was now only worked from that location as she closed her regular office that I used to visit in Mid-Town Manhattan. She agreed to give me the test and I took it and received a positive test result for the virus.

While being ill, there were moments when I felt that maybe I could/would die (not often) but staying home watching news briefings and seeing the daily numbers of death rising, facilities not having enough cold room to keep bodies etc. was HORRIFIC to watch! Three things kept me alive and hopeful during those times: people (friends and family who made sure I had what I needed and daily check-in), my TV and my homemade concoctions.

People

If you think you don’t need anyone – wait until you really are sick. If you think your coworkers are your friends make sure you understand the difference. Live good and goodness will follow you always! Only one friend was brave enough to enter my apartment while I was sick (he was too brave) but my people made sure I was ok and that I had what I needed. Packages were left at my door etc. The drill was to leave the package, run out the front door then buzz or call to inform me that something is at my door for me to pick-up. I was never offended by this. I quite got it. I would perhaps do the same if I was in their position. I totally opted to stay home instead of going elsewhere to recuperate although I was asked to. I will forever be grateful for them (my people). I never felt alone or deserted the entire time.

MY TV

In general, I am not big on watching tv. Months will go by and I don’t turn the tv on (seriously). The last time I watched was… I can’t remember! More than a month though. However, during my illness I found it very important to use tv watching as a tool to completely transform my brain, to force me to forget, to block out, to zero out, to flat line everything I didn’t need to remember or process. All that filled my brain was Chicago PD, Blue Bloods, NCIS… Truly, there are some things that are not worth rehashing, revising or revisiting so I was grateful to skip that process and move on. 

I watched tv shows back to back from morning till I fell asleep late at night. I got up only to go to the bathroom and to get stuff to eat and drink from the kitchen. Keeping the house neat and tidy was no priority at that time. Afterall, my folks were keeping their distance so they wouldn’t come to visit. Most of the times I found phone calls interrupting at the time and as soon as they were finished talking, I went back to my tv watching. 

Interestingly, during the last two weeks or so of my illness, I graduated from watching shows to watching motivational materials on YouTube. I was still glued to the tv but watching things that were empowering and uplifting. I was re-building myself up from base at that time and I enjoyed it.

From that rebuilding process,  I emerged a very calm, centered person – more like the person I was about 2+ years prior. Today, I am really grateful for that break in my life. I do feel like it rescued my soul. Looking back I find it amazing how a negative environment can suck all the energy out of anyone and leave you like a dry husk spiritually and emotionally.

Homemade Concoctions

From selling herbs in my business, I gathered lots of information about different kinds of herbs, so it was not difficult to figure-out what is good for what symptoms including those associated with COVID-19. When the over the counter fever reducing medications didn’t work anymore, I started making my own cocktails and they worked pretty well. The only things I couldn’t help were, preventing myself from feeling dizzy and bringing back my senses of taste and smell. I was fine otherwise at handling the rest. My illness was not that terrible because I didn’t have breathing issues for an extended time. When they started in the first two days they were brought under control fast so they did not persist.

Not being a part of the 2,000 killed by COVID-19 is a blessing I received by all accounts! Maybe I am lucky to be alive – at least I think so!  On the other hand, maybe it was not luck but my body paid back to me what I invested in it over the many years I practiced eating healthy and staying fit. 

Looking back, I can see where I dropped the ball for “a moment” and left my immune system totally vulnerable. I was swept up in a lifestyle that was stressful, hostile and unhealthy (burning the candle from both ends). No rest, little sleep, bad eating practices here and there because I was always on the run, on the hustle. 

Having COVID-19 was a sobering experience for me, one that I needed. I took it as a lesson that made me better. I often said with a chuckle, “I had good covid”. Not only because it didn’t kill me but because it brought me back to a more sobering and meaningful life. 

I grieve for those who the virus took with it but I am grateful it was my signal, my call for a change that is to this day a meaningful one. One I needed and will always appreciate.