Our Therapist Shares, They Have Long Hauler Covid
/… and I am finally ready to process it.
My life turned upside down on June 14, 2020 in a very unexpected and scary way. I woke up with severe stomach pain, cramping, rushing to the bathroom in excess amounts. It was painful, I was dehydrated and I felt off. My muscles were becoming weak, I felt fatigued and was losing the ability to walk. My mom rushed me to the urgent care. I was told it would take a week to find out if I had Covid. The doctors said I had a stomach bug, sent me home and asked me to take electrolytes.
When I came home, I took a hot shower, this made my symptoms severely worse. My brain felt as if I had encephalitis and I started deteriorating fast. My ability to walk was coming to a stand still. My husband rushed me to Tampa General. I bypassed everyone as a tech rushed me to the back in a wheelchair. I thought I had Covid. How else would a 30 something year old, healthy, runner and mother of 2 be so ill during a pandemic?
During triage the nurse questioned my symptoms and I saw all the nurses in a corner talking about my symptoms. None of them believed me. They all said I was having a panic attack. They performed a full panel drug screen on me before finally realizing my Potassium level was a deathly 2.5. For those of you who have no idea about this, Potassium is an intracellular ion which impacts our electrolytes. It helps nerves function and muscles to contract. I never knew how much Potassium meant to my body before I almost lost my life to the depletion.
Once my results came back, it was clear I had a high WBC, low Potassium and Magnesium. My electrolytes were suffering. While at the hospital I was treated and monitored over night. I was on an EKG and told to go home the next day after I stabilized.
Later that night I would end up at St. Joseph’s hospital with low electrolytes and pain in left lower quadrant. Nothing was found, they sent me home.
Two days later, while napping my HR spiked to a 150 for no reason. I was rush to the ER again. My symptoms this time felt as if I had meningitis, my neck was stiff and I could not turn my head. I had a CT of my brain and again nothing was found.
Two days later and again I ended up at the ER in a wheelchair. This time feeling as if I had a stroke, no one believed me and the doctor kicked me out.
Since June I have been to the ER a total of 8 times, mind you, I can not stand being ill, going to the doctor or being cared for. I am too independent and energetic to be sick. I have turned to alternative medicine for help and relief.
After 3 months, 20 doctors, countless appointments, and many dead ends I rely on acupuncture, chiropractic care and IV’s to get me through each week.
To say I have fought for my life is an understatement.
I am not well, many of us Covid long-haulers remain sick. My HR spikes upon standing, I have no ability to sweat, I lost the ability to produce tears, my left eye has vision loss, I have lost spatial ability and coordination, I am physically weak, I could not drive for a month, I am atrophied from head to toe, I have episodes in which I lose the ability to walk, I had 3 severe infections that newborns typically have, I lost 30 pounds in 3 months and more…
We are 90,000 + on our Survivor Corps FaceBook community. Thankfully, I know how to advocate for myself but it has been tough for us all.
Awareness is the only way to help more people who will end up just like myself.
Be mindful and aware that Covid is different for everyone. Please use caution and stay safe.
