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2020 MEDICAL YEAR
IN REVIEW

COVID-19 Survivor Stories

It is a Lonely Virus By Cindy & Patricia (sisters)

Patricia’s story
It was Tuesday, June 9th. I developed a
headache, but didn’t think anything of it,
since I suffer from migraines anyway. Tylenol
wouldn’t even touch my pain. The headache
continued through Wednesday and Thurs-
day, along with a slight sore throat and a
light dry cough. I developed a low-grade
fever of 99.5. Even with these signs, I still
didn’t think it was COVID. The symptoms
were so subtle!
Because I was working from home that
week, I was able to keep to myself. I was
scheduled to work in the office the following
week, when on Friday the 12th, I woke up
feeling worse. Since I work for one of the hos-
pital systems, we had a hotline number we
could call if we had symptoms. I called the
number that morning and had an appoint-
ment that afternoon to get tested. I still
didn’t think it was COVID. But just to be
careful, I quarantined myself. My mask was
on at all times and I didn’t leave the room un-
less I had too. As Friday wore on, I felt worse.
Finally, I left to go get tested and was told
if it was positive, I would get a call on the
weekend. Saturday came and I still felt really COVID positive! My heart sank, but every- outside because I wanted to see my son who
bad so I didn’t leave to go anywhere. The thing made sense; you know, how I was feel- had been staying at a friend’s house. We sat
headache was the worst, even though I was ing and the intensity of my symptoms. I told outside at safe distances and with masks on.
taking Tylenol and Advil every couple of my family. Thankfully my son, daughter and I started to shake and sweat so much; I was
hours. On Sunday morning, I went to the my parents tested negative that following very dizzy but didn’t want to alarm my family
store to buy some more meds. My head hurt week. The house was cleaned and sanitized. and scare my son. So, I went to my room very
so much that I cried all the way home. My My food was left on a table outside the room. quickly and as soon as I shut the door, I
body aches continued to get worse. When I If I was going to leave my room, I let everyone passed out and woke up a few minutes later.
got home, my daughter asked me how I was know that I was stepping out. It was a very scary time. I literally prayed that
feeling and I told her my headache was un- Over the next couple of days, I got worse. I wouldn’t die.
bearable. As she was massaging my head, my I have never felt anything like this before. The I lost my senses of taste and smell. To this
phone started to ring. I noticed it was from headaches, body aches and difficulty breath- day, my taste is different. This virus is a lonely
the hospital, so I answered. ing. I knew I should have gone to the hospital one. I made myself walk outside in the mid-
The nurse proceeded to tell me that I was but I didn’t want too. One evening, I went dle of the day to warm up. Thankfully, with a

28 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • December 2020