News Reader.info

Eight days have passed since my doctor's visit and still there are no test results. Subsiding within five days of my doctor visit, the fever, chills and headaches that were the first

indicators of the virus no longer plague me, giving me hope that I'm on the right path to healing. But my sleeping 12 or more hours nightly along with frequent napping during the day

confirm that extreme fatigue remains, as does the persistent cough. It feels as if I have a lingering flu except that I've now lost my senses of taste and smell — another odd symptom —

and that is causing my appetite to vanish. Chicken and vegetable soups become my go-to meals. Still, I think I'm improving and have the worst symptoms behind me — if I even I do have

COVID-19. Flashes of fear occasionally permeate my mind and I wonder if the worst is yet to come: Will I develop complications? Will I need hospitalization? Finally, on the eighth day after

testing, the doctor's office confirms what I already knew: “You've tested positive for COVID-19.” The confirmation, however, brings with it no different advice: rest, hydrate, take

Tylenol to control your symptoms and go to the emergency room if you develop breathing issues. I share the news with Greg from across the living room as I start to cry. Offering comfort,

Greg quotes my doctor, “your lungs are clear.” Yes, my lungs are clear, but will they stay clear? EARLY SPRING It's spring now and six weeks have gone by since I walked into CityMD for

testing. The last of my symptoms — the cough and fatigue — dissipated gradually over the past two weeks and my energy levels have finally returned along with my appetite. Always practicing

social distancing, I resume walking two to three miles daily for exercise and much-needed sunshine. Greg and I tackle longer walks on the weekends, averaging seven to eight miles along the

trails of less-populated parks 30 miles north of the city. The bucolic vistas, fresh air and abundant nature provide welcome relief from the city's ever-present sirens. Sometimes my

breathing becomes abnormally labored — especially when I'm walking uphill. When it happens, my anxiety returns. Are my lungs still clear? Is it possible to get this again? Should I be

exercising? Resisting the temptation to follow a negative train of thought, I strive to remain focused on my progress. Information remains elusive about the long-term scars this virus may or

may not leave on its victims — both physically and mentally. Perhaps when my city begins to heal and the world returns to normal, my fears will finally fade. HEADING TOWARD SUMMER As May

arrives, my breathing concerns during exercise dissolve. Looking to put this virus behind me, I contact a hematologist to schedule an antibody test. As I had expected and desperately hoped

and prayed for, my results show that I've fully recovered, which gives me the peace of mind I craved and may bring some level of immunity. Living in such small quarters while I

attempted to quarantine the first 14 days, Greg and I had wondered how he managed to escape infection, so we asked the hematologist to test him, too. Turns out he did have it, but he managed

to escape the miserable symptoms and has fully recovered. For that, we're both thankful. Which one of us got it first will remain a mystery.