The Continuing Battle with COVID
By: Destiny Pifer
Tags: Covid Diaries, Covid 19, Pandemic Diaries, Virus, Pandemic

February 12, 2021

Still trying to get over COVID but it isn’t easy. I have heard that symptoms can linger for weeks and believe you me they are right. There are still times when I have to catch my breath and I still have a dry cough. I have started trying to make sure that I have upped my dosage of vitamin D as I have discovered that my severe vitamin D deficiency which I have been dealing with for years may have played a part in my having COVID so bad. Of course who really knows. I am still trying to figure out how I even got it to begin with. I wear my PPE at work, I sanitize my hands and social distance. I have been so cautious but then again I have discovered that kids can be carriers and there is no doubt that my son may be a carrier if that is indeed true. He was after all sick a few days before I became ill and had a few of the symptoms. Of course the local QCare said it was nothing more than an upper respiratory infection and that he didn’t need to be tested. Thinking back I realize that perhaps he had COVID and passed it to me. But like I said I have no idea for sure. I just know that it was quite a horrible battle and one that has left me more terrified than I was before.

February 15, 2021

When I found out I had COVID word spread. I made the mistake of asking for prayers on Facebook because I was terrified and very sick. Well two women who had taken my son and I to a doctors appointment a few days before I became ill and learned I was COVID positive learned about it and were furious. At the time they were both messaging me and asking what they should do and why I didn’t tell them I had COVID. Well being so sick and fighting fevers I immediately felt like crying. I didn’t even know I had COVID til a few days after our trips and even then all four of us were wearing masks the whole time of the trip. I couldn’t help but feel attacked and yes I understand that it’s terrifying and no one wants to hear that they may have been exposed especially those with health issues but sometimes things happen beyond our control. After all I had been around my mother and brother who both have health issues as well. Thankfully both women tested negative and my mother and brother thankfully didn’t get sick either. However, it was enough to leave me feeling like an awful person. To further knock me down a bit more I returned to work all prepared to move on to a different job that would take me off the front lines only to be told that I can’t move on for a few more weeks. It appears that my current supervisors still need to fill my position and are being given two weeks to do so. I felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. Mostly because working as a screener is not only exhausting but scary as hell. You deal with people who either don’t want to wear a mask or can’t wear one. You deal with so many germs. Now that I have dealt with COVID personally I am extra paranoid.

February 17, 2021

Had to make a trip to the dentist and found out that my teeth aren’t in the best of shape. It appears that during my several days of being down with COVID and not having the energy to barely brush my teeth did a number on them. I now have more cavities, receding gums on two of my teeth exposing some of my roots and just a big headache of having to get those cavities filled. My gums had become inflamed and now I am trying to do what I can to save my teeth. It’s a nightmare. I am also dealing with a lack of appetite meaning that where I used to eat three times a day I am lucky if I eat once a day. Having COVID took away my appetite and honestly the whole time I was sick I lived off of jello because it was the only thing I could tolerate. Now I find myself eating two little cups of mandarin oranges for lunch. I just find it hard to find joy in eating anymore. I have also found that I don’t like my usual iced tea anymore which I was addicted to for the longest time and instead I find myself driving a lot of juice packed with vitamin C. I feel like I am trying to do what I can to be healthier and to make sure I am being more cautious of my health. Like I said this whole thing has left me struggling physically and mentally scarred.