The diary yesterday asking if anyone had heard from Tulsa Gal — link — got me wondering. How many kossacks have had COVID-19 or think they may have had it but couldn’t get tested?
I think I may have had it, but I could not get a test. I was sick from March 18th to about April 4th. I got a mild cough on March 18th. Then chest discomfort. Then shortness of breath, fatigue, and high pulse rate especially when standing up. My fever was so low grade I don’t know if it qualifies. My temperature was normal in the morning, but rise to 99.3 to 99.8 in the afternoon.
I’ve had lots of colds in my life. Colds are heavier on the cough side, and you don’t get the other symptoms. What I had was the exact opposite — it was light on the cough side but heavier on the other symptoms.
I did call the nurse line. They told me I didn’t need to be seen. I told them I found the shortness of breath frightening. They told me the people they are worried about can’t speak 3 or 4 sentences and I did not need to be seen.
But I didn’t get better. I couldn’t sleep because I had a constant feeling I wasn’t getting enough air. I finally went to the urgent care. The doctor listened to my breathing. He told me “Absolutely crystal clear. You’ve got the best lungs I’ll listen to all day.” The Chest X-Ray showed nothing. I didn’t understand why I felt short of breath. He prescribed an inhaler. He told me I had a virus, but he would not say if it was “the virus.” He also told me there was an 18 day bronchitis going around. He would not test me due to a shortage of tests. To be tested back then, you had to be admitted to the hospital, be a health care worker, or in a nursing home.
Anyway, all this dragged on for about 16-17 days. It got really old to feel short of breath. And it was up and down. One day I’d think I was on the mend only to feel I was going downhill 1-2 days later. There were instances where I barely had the energy to load the dishwasher.
The only medical condition I have is hypertension. I take Losartan and Amlodipine for it. I’ve had to take blood pressure pills since I was in my early 20’s. My right kidney works fine, but is half the size of a normal kidney. I’m told that makes me vulnerable to high blood pressure. I don’t understand it all- the kidneys somehow regulate blood pressure. They work fine- Creatinine .81.
But that caused another concern. I kept reading articles that researchers didn't know if certain blood pressure medicines- ACE Inhibitors and ARB's - made COVID-19 symptoms better or worse. However, as time went on it appears these blood pressure medicines do NOT make COVID-19 symptoms worse. The University of Minnesota has even started started clinical trials of Losartan to determine if the drug can reduce the incidence of chronic lung injury in COVID-19 patients.
Again, I think I may have had COVID-19 for the reasons stated. But I don’t know because I was not tested. I don’t know anyone else who had COVID-19. I do know one person who had influenza and tested positive for that. So maybe that is what I had? I do not know.
My doctor says they will have an antibody test in a few months so I could get an antibody test then if I wanted. I could get one now at a commercial lab but I don’t want to. I would rather wait until they are available at the doctor’s office.
That is my story. Does anyone want to share their story?
Also, has anyone heard from Tulsa Gal to know she is okay?