Age: 60.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: COVID19
Symptoms: COVID-19, Cough, Exercise tolerance decreased, Fatigue, Headache
Clinical narrative: I received my second Pfizer booster for COVID-19 on 4/15/2022. On 6/28/2022, I developed a sore throat and coughing. The symptoms then progressed to congestion, low-grade fever, runny nose, fatigue, and sneezing; these symptoms lasted over the next several days. On the morning of 7/1/2022, I awoke out of a sound sleep with my heart racing at 109 beats per minute and night sweats. For half an hour, my heartrate wouldn't slow down, despite my best efforts, which consisted of deep breathing and drinking water to cool myself off. My husband then called the doctor, and the doctor said that it sounded like I was having a panic attack. Once my heart resumed its normal rate, my husband and I then took PCR tests; my test result was positive. On 7/2/2022, I began a 5-day course of Paxlovid. I was also prescribed benzonatate to treat my cough. In conjunction with my prescription medications, I also took OTC Sudafed. Before I started using Sudafed, I used Claritin at night, but it didn't help. The Sudafed helped some, but the Paxlovid was very effective; I felt a huge difference the day after I began taking Paxlovid. Before I began taking Paxlovid, I had sweats every night. The last dose of Paxlovid was on 7/6/2022. The Paxlovid helped immensely, but it left a bile-like taste in my mouth that never abated. Not only that, but it gave me abdominal pains that made me feel like I had diarrhea, even though I didn't always have diarrhea. During the time I was taking the Paxlovid, I would have diarrhea just once a day. After I finished taking the Paxlovid, my symptoms were markedly improved. On 7/7/2022, 7/8/2022, and 7/9/2022, I felt much better, but I still had lingering fatigue. On the evening of 7/10/2022, I started to get a sore throat and thickening mucus in the nasal passages. On 7/11/2022, I woke up with a headache, a sore throat, and a runny nose. I took a home test, and it yielded a positive result. From 7/11/2022-7/15/2022, I had a fever of over 100; at its lowest point, the temperature was 99. I woke up every morning with a headache. I had a major cough at this time, so I would sit up in bed at night drinking water and taking Halls Vitamin C Drops. At this point, I also started taking benzonatate again. On 7/12/2022, the sore throat went away and it hasn't returned since then. Throughout the whole experience, I have had extreme fatigue. Before I became ill, I was able to walk about 5 miles a day, but ever since I had COVID-19, I haven't been able to do that. On 7/12/2022, I started taking Claritin and Flonase, and the Flonase helped ease the sneezing and sinus drainage. At the time of this writing, I haven't taken any medicine for the first time since I got sick. However, I think I'll take Flonase later on, because I still have sinus congestion. I took another home test on 7/16/2022, and the result was again positive. I talked with my doctor on 7/17/2022, and we discussed whether I should take antibiotics just in case I have developed a sinus infection. I decided not to take the antibiotics, since my drainage is clear; I have had sinus infections in the past, and I know that thick, opaque drainage and facial pressure are what usually signal infection. I also don't have any facial pressure. As of today, the headache has also disappeared, and it's been 24 hours since I've had a temperature above 99. Although a loss of sense of taste and/or smell is a common symptom of COVID-19, I have never experienced this. I have also not experienced any body aches. I currently feel much better than I did before, but the fatigue continues.