My Story: Fighting Corona 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part of what inspired this project was my personal fight with Corona Virus. What started out as a migraine  that lasted a few days, turned into fatigue, so great I couldn't keep my eyes open, literally. I'm no stranger to fatigue, as a stay at home mother to a 6 month old, who still doesn't sleep through the night, i'm tired on a daily basis.

 

But, this was different. I slept on the couch almost all day and through the night. Knowing I had been exposed to Corona Virus from a family member, I was worried. I checked my temperature daily, but no fever, which gave me hope that maybe I hadn't caught it. But then one day I felt short of breath. It was like I couldn't fully breathe in deeply. Like my breath was being cut short. I tried telling myself I was just over reacting. But, It started to worsen, so I went to an ER to be checked. Since I had many symptoms that are familiar to Corona, and since I had been exposed, they tested me, along with an X-ray and some other tests. 

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I was sent home with acute pneumonia. There was nothing they could do for me. This sent me spiraling. How could there be nothing they could do for me? I felt as if I couldn't breathe and they could not help me. But, that's the thing with this virus, that is why its so scary, there is nothing they can do. 

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So I rested. A day or two later I was feeling even worse. I was then prescribed antibiotics for the pneumonia  It took over a week for me to feel better again. Every day was a challenge. I could barely pick up my son without becoming short of breath. One of the things I used to ease my mind about my breathing was an Oxymeter. It reads your oxygen level and heart rate from home. 

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The worst part of this experience was that about three days into my migraines, my son had a fever. We had been checking his temperature daily after we knew we had been exposed. I panicked. We gave him tylenol to help with the fever, and it was working. But he wasn't acting like himself. He wasn't sleeping and was extra cranky. The thing about babies is, they can't tell you how they are feeling, you have to guess and use your best judgement. Unfortunately my Oxymeter wouldn't read my son's vitals either.

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I took him to St. Lukes ER to be checked out because I was so worried about his breathing. I'm not a medical professional so how would I really know if he was having breathing problems? I even Youtubed videos on babies with breathing issues so I could compare. But how do you really know?

 

 I called the ER first before showing up, to let them know I would be bringing him in and that we had been exposed. The hospital did everything they could to keep us from coming in. They wanted me to call the pediatrician first, then the health department, give him tylenol..I was so mad. Why on earth would I have to explain to them why I wanted to bring my son in for help. I had already done both the things they were asking me to do. I was being cautious so they could prepare themselves and be protected when we came in. 

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When we did get there, they acted as if they had no idea that we were coming. When I told them we were exposed and I needed someone to check my sons breathing, they freaked out. The receptionist asked if I meant that we were exposed to the Flu..."NO CORONA" was my response. My son was screaming and crying, no one was moving to help us, accept a nurse who wanted me to put a face mask on my 6 month old. Which is extremely dangerous, a suffocation hazard I might add, but also impossible. We were then told to go sit in the waiting room. I was dumbfounded, in tears and saying "I just need someone to help me." I was so afraid for my son. I was scared and my husband wasn't allowed in with us because they only allow one parent in. The only person who wanted to help me was a security guard who kept saying he was sorry and that he would pray for us. 

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After a few minutes a nurse came to get us and started taking my sons vitals, but it took what seemed like an eternity to get any help. And we exposed at least 10 people in the waiting room because the hospital staff didn't take us into a secluded area, away from others. 

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I was disappointed with most of my experience there. A hospital is a place you go to for help when you are sick, not to be judged. I will say the doctors and nurses who helped us after we got in were great with my son. After his initial vitals were taken we were sent to a triage room. It was secluded from all other people and had an air pressurizer inside. I was told this pressurizer was used to push all the germs in the air down to the floor. 

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Once inside my son was hooked up to a monitor which kept track of his heart rate and oxygen. They tested him for Corona Virus and took his temp every hour. Once they were sure his oxygen level wasn't changing and that his fever was going down they let us go. Everything was fine. And I was so relieved. 

 

But all in all I was completely unsatisfied. I understand that this is a scary time, especially for health care workers, but that is why it it so important for them to have a plan of action, when someone does walk through those doors and says they have Corona or, have been exposed and need help. 

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Luckily my son was feeling better after just a few days. He did test positive but showed no other symptoms. To be safe I video chatted with some of my family members who are in the medical field. They would watch the way he was breathing and listen and ease my fears. 

 

I have read many articles that say children who have the virus show mostly cold like symptoms and are better after a few days. But like I said babies can't tell you how they are feeling.

(Read more from the CDC about children and Corona)

 

You might be wondering why I didn't just take my son to his pediatrician to be checked out, well I tried that. They wouldn't see him in the office because they didn't want to expose more people. They told me to use my best judgment and if I thought something was wrong to take him to an ER. I even tried to video call with them but they refused. 

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I will say that after all is said and done, a part of me is glad we got it. Because we survived and now have antibodies. We can live without fear and go back to a somewhat normal life. My husband tested negative for the virus but with a 20-30% false negative rate i'm sure he had it too. 

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There are many things you can do to keep yourself safe and you should follow the CDC's recommendations in doing so. But if you do get sick, call your health care provider. 

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