My 7 days of living with a disability and isolation due to COVID

• During the night my throat tickled, waking me up ten times and requiring me to sip some water. I wasn’t coughing but had to induce a cough to get rid of the tickle and then get back to sleep
• After waking up my rat cartridge tested negative
• My throat became slightly sore and a slight cough developed as the day progressed. I purchased a cough suppressant from my pharmacy and took ten ml before sleeping
• I advised my carer of the symptoms and the negative RAT result

Day 1 – Wednesday 6th July 2022

• I woke up seven times during the night with a slight tickle, had a drink and went back to sleep
• The RAT cartridge now told me I had COVID
• After checking out the latest SA Health advice, I decided to isolate myself for seven days and do it without help from my evening carers.
• I advised the following organisations/people of the positive result
  • SA Health (It is unlawful to have a positive result and not contact them)
  • Help at Home to cancel the next seven evenings of care.  They offered to send carers with full PPE (Personal protective equipment), but I declined their offer as I didn’t want them to go through the effort and expense
  • My immediate family
  • Everyone who is a FB friend via a post
• I felt ok, but the sore throat was gradually getting worse
• In the absence of my evening carers, it took me fifty minutes to do the basic care tasks. More details about my care can be found on this blog
• I triple-checked that I had everything I need before returning to bed that evening. I wanted to cover myself with the doona and realised the linen was in the corner of my bedroom. Rather than getting out of bed again, I used a grabber to gradually move it toward me
• As I attempted to fall asleep, Spartacus jumped on the bed and placed his head and arm on my hand
• Then the shivers commenced. Every muscle in my upper body was attempting to move at once and I was worried about the reasons. I felt cold and turned up the heating, and my body temperature was nearing 38 C.
• I googled ‘COVID shivers’ and found that my symptoms were normal, as my body was fighting an infection
• After thirty minutes the shaking stopped and didn’t come back. I took additional paracetamol to reduce the fever
• I tried laying flat on my back but breathing was difficult, and I adjusted the bed back to be slightly upright
• I had the AC heating me up all night long (I usually turn it off)
• Eventually fell asleep and slept ok. I think Spartacus was on me all night.

Day 2 – Thursday 7th July 2022

• Upon waking up, had to push my abdomen to bring up phlegm as I am lacking sufficient lung capacity
• The throat got worse and I stayed in bed all morning
• I felt tired and just before lunchtime, I began sneezing for ten minutes. Sneezing is unusual for me
• Many FB messages and responses to my covid post, wishing me the best
• Madie left lunch and snacks in the garage to avoid contact, and I brought them in later
• My throat is now the worse it ever felt
• I attempted lego but my brain wasn’t working well and found it difficult to follow instructions. Lots of lego fell onto the ground and I couldn’t be bothered picking them up
• I performed my care and fell asleep without the AC heating the room

Day 3 – Friday 8th July 2022

• Slept ok, waking up many times and feeling my sore throat
• I had severe back pain and worried about getting through the day
• Did the biggest poo ever, and took it easy after the shower in bed till the afternoon
• My throat improved as the day progressed
• Ran a load of washing to avoid running out of towels
• Placed the council bins out for collection
• I took a selfie
• Performed a little bit of lego, and writing, but couldn’t think that well
• Phone calls were difficult as the voice did not work well
• Played Xbox and went to bed early after performing my care tasks

Day 4 – Saturday 9th July 2022

• After sleeping well, I woke up and my back pain was better than the day before at the same time
• My throat is even better and coughing up phlegm to get my lungs clean
• My body temperature was normal and I rested in bed until lunchtime
• Not hungry and had lunch at 330pm
• Made five phone calls as I could talk ok for the first time since Wednesday
• Ran the dishwasher
• Went outside and cleaned up the poo patch of Spartacus – I’ve managed to train a cat to only poo in one spot!
• Brought council bin back in and performed my care
• Watched the footy with Spartacus
• I stayed up until about 930pm, and then couldn’t get asleep when I tried at 11 pm

Day 5 – Sunday 10th July 2022

• Slept ok and now bringing up phlegm
• No sore throat
• Stayed in bed till midday to rest
• Watered all of the house plants, put laundry away after running it in the dryer and constructed 80% of a new movie case. Wrote
• Was sore and tired by 4 pm, and performed my care and headed off to bed

Day 6 – Monday 11th July 2022

• Slept ok and woke up hungry
• Went to the toilet and shower
• Bringing up phlegm, bit tired and rested in bed
• I could only manage to attach one of the backings to the new bookcase
• Played plenty of Xbox, performed my care and headed to bed at about 10 pm

Day 7 – Tuesday 12th July 2022

• Still bringing up phlegm. Slept ok.
• Feeling more energetic, and took care of the housework and finished the movie bookcase
• Played lots of Xbox and rested

Isolation ends  – Wednesday 13th July 2022 at 9 am

• That ends full seven days of isolating and taking care of my care
• Tonight my family are coming over to watch Star Trek and have an Indian meal
• I’m feeling more energetic
• I’m not returning to the pool or gym until I stop bringing up phlegm

Please ensure your Covid vaccinations are up to date, as I believe they helped keep the illness to a mild level, and kept me out of the hospital.