My serious struggle with COVID

DF

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If I were to be infected. Certainly with over 35 years of gym time & taking at least decent care of myself I'd recover no problem. COVID had other plans for me.

My symptoms: Dizziness/light headed, severe headache, eye pain, fever, severe low back, hip and leg pain, severe abdominal pain and difficulty breathing. Severe loss of appetite with eventual loss of taste and smell. Taste and smell was replaced by this nasty metallic taste/smell. Not a mild symptom in the bunch and all exacerbated by a nasty dry non productive cough.

There was no position that would offer any kind of relief. It was constant unrelenting pain 24 hours a day. I stuck it out for 8 days at home hoping that I'd turn the corner anytime. Just attempting to sit up in bed and walk about12' to the bathroom was a huge undertaking. I found that a heating pad did offer some relief of the lower back pain/spasms. Also a long hot shower initially offered some relief of symptoms with improved breathing. I eventually had to stop the showers after almost passing out.

On day 8 my wife made arrangements to be seen at an Urgent Care facility. They took us in checked us both. Lucky her lungs were clear and they sent her home. They checked my vitals and called the ambulance to take me to the hospital. My Oxygen saturation level was dangerously low. Normal is mid 90's and up. Mine at the time was 88 and I was having a very difficult time breathing.

At the hospital they ushered me into a room and took a Chest x-ray ASAP. The diagnosis was severe Pneumonia due to COVID. They got me hooked up to an IV and Vital monitors and (low pressure) oxygen then started the COVID protocol. This included Remdesivir, Dexamethasone, Antibiotic, IV fluids and Vitamins C, D3, Zinc multivitamin and Tylenol to break the fever and blood thinners for clots.

Once the fluids started I got relief of almost all my symptoms except difficulty breathing, the severe abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Probably due to the dehydration. I welcomed the relief wherever it came from.

I spent the next couple days propped up on a hospital gurney and parked in a couple different ER rooms while they waited for a hospital bed. The only thing I ate was ginger ale and a couple graham crackers. Also my friggin ass was rubbed raw by sitting. Don't wear boxers under your sweat pants!!!!! cotton briefs! Also trying to pee in those damn portable hospital urinals takes a talent. I was good 2 out of 3! We won't talk bout the third time.

After 2 days of treatment I'd have thought that I'd be getting some improvement in my breathing. They did try a nebulizer treatment and gave me an albuterol inhaler. Neither of these seemed to help and in fact I felt like my fight to breathe had gotten worse over the 2 days. Even though I was still on low pressure oxygen (about 5L).

They finally transported me to a hospital room with a comfortable bed! on day 3. They continue to give me fluids and the COVID protocol. I'm hooked up to all kinds of machines and the low pressure oxygen tethered to the wall. Still my breathing sucked. My lungs felt like they were soaked in water. If I'd try to take a bit of a deeper breath it would lead to a horrible coughing fit. At this time I was literally fighting for every small breath. Kind of like someone had a pillow pressed over my face & I could only get a sip of air in at a time.

I think it was day 3 that the Respiratory Specialist came to visit. She did not have anything good to say. I was going for a chest CT to check for clots. This was not what I was wanting to hear. I knew that I was struggling. It was to the point now that I could not waste a breath on communicating. I was fighting for every breath. My O2 Sat had dipped down 86-88 (Normal 95 ish).

What she said next was a punch to the gut. " If your O2 doesn't improve soon we will have to intubate you." What this meant to me was ..... There was a very good chance that I would not be going home to my family. Talk about a flood of emotions coming over me anger, despair, shock ....... how the fuk could this be happening to me?
It was about 3am. I sat propped up in my hospital bed. I needed to text my wife and tell her everything I had to say. How much I love her, what she means to me, how absolutely fantastic she has made my life ect.... I told her I'd do my best to continue my fight, but there was a good chance I wouldn't make it home to her. I apologized........

At 7am one of the RN's came in and said. "Today we are going to try putting you on high pressure oxygen." This would triple the volume from around 5L to 15L. It was immediate relief!!!! I could breathe without the struggle! it felt great!

This was the opportunity that I needed. After 3 days of not improving with the treatment. Now I knew that it was all up to me. I had to do whatever I could to exercise my lungs. I got out of my bed and started pacing the room. I'd do 10 min, 15, 20 min......
The respiratory specialist brought me a spirometer. I used that to exercise my lungs. I'd hover over the sink hack, cough, choke & spit up gobs of nasty stuff. What I was doing was working.
The nurse was able to come in and adjust the oxygen down a little at a time. I worked my pacing up to 45 min. Then I'd sit & use the spirometer. I'd reach over head & stretch out my rib cage. I worked my way into squats 3x10 at a time. I then started grabbing surgical gloves and blowing them up. It wasn't long before I was able to pop them.... a proud moment of mine...LOL

I did this "workout" for 2 days and I was greatly improved. The nurse was able to reduce my oxygen down to 1L. Then back to 1L on low pressure. I did try to go without oxygen 1 night. My numbers dropped too low and they woke me to put it back on. Still a victory non the less.

On day 6 of my hospital stay I worked hard on getting sprung. It took multiple meeting of staff. I passed all the tests & they let me out at 6pm. I was going home!
 

Blusoul24

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Wow. Rough go man. Glad you made it home.

Just out of curiosity, were you taking any preventative supplements or anything beforehand?
 
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creekrat

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Dammit man. We were just talking about you the other day. Glad you’re back with us
 
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Flyingdragon

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Hope and Pray for a speedy recovery....
 
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Sicwun88

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Wow!!
Glad to see you pulled thru!
Thts some serious shit!
Wishing you the best!!
 
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Gadawg

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Glad youre getting better! My workout partner got it five weeks ago. Hes still coughing
 
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DF

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Wow. Rough go man. Glad you made it home.

Just out of curiosity, were you taking any preventative supplements or anything beforehand?
At the start of COVID. I had started taking D3, but not religiously.
 

DF

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I just want to thank those that take the time to read. I know long threads... who does that? Lol

I’m hoping this will be therapeutic for me. I don’t know what’s taken a worse beating my body or my mental health.
 

Uncle manny

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Damn dude you had it tough with that sht! Glad you pulled through and made it out alright!
 
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sfw509

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Glad to hear you are home and recovering. Stay positive and listen to your body. Best wishes.
 
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CJ

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That was scary to read, even though I obviously knew you made it through. So glad that you're on the mend..... Holy shit!!!!!
 
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j2048b

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Damn dude it aint fake, most feel they are immune to this, unfortunately myself included, man i am glad u pulled thru,

Recently i started having that nickel taste in my mouth like i had a mouth full of pennies or nickels, and i went straight for the zinc, echinacea, vitamin c and vitamin d, i hope i dont ever get it nor do my kids as 1 has asthma,

Im glad u pull3d thru df!!
 

creekrat

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I mean someone needs to be responsible for Snake's bacon dispersion
 
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