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Beanie Blog #4
September 19,
2021 My Covid experience
On August 2nd I tested positive for
Covid, despite having been twice vaccinated. There was an outbreak at Richard’s
work which began with an unvaccinated person who infected the entire crew. And
before you say, “Well, then what good are the vaccines if you got covid anyway?”
I can answer that without blinking: the unvaccinated person almost died and was
hospitalized for weeks. Richard and I, both vaccinated, didn’t even know we had
covid because we had no symptoms at all. Had I not been vaccinated, you might be
making plans to attend my funeral, as more than one doctor has told me that if I
were not vaccinated, I would most likely never leave the hospital.
The only symptom of covid that I had was extreme sinus drainage, to
the point that it choked me. Along with my vocal cord paralysis, it became very
difficult to breathe. It ebbed and flowed and after a few weeks my stomach said,
“Enough!” I started throwing up in the mornings and it got harder and harder to
keep food down. For almost 4 weeks covid and I did this dance, until my GI tract
revolted and fought back. That’s when the constant vomiting kicked in. After
puking non-stop for days, my loving husband finally made me go to the ER. Sad
thing was, it was also my 68th birthday and I spent it in the
hospital puking. That trip to the ER did not result in being admitted. That came
the next day.
After they sent me home (after pumping me full of anti-nausea meds), I
had the worst night of my life. I sat up all night with a barf bucket in my
face. Nothing stopped the nausea, NOTHING. Covid is a formidable opponent. It is
relentless and I honestly think that when meds are delivered to stop covid,
covid just laughs and says Isn’t she cute thinking she’s a match for me.
It got so bad, Richard took me back to Bronson and I was immediately
admitted. My potassium numbers were dangerously low. I was very dehydrated, so
much so that for the first time in my life, they had trouble finding a vein for
my IV. As you will see in the accompanying photos, it was torture and I went
through 5 IV’s in 6 days. The pain of having a needle forced through a vein that
is dried out was the worst experience of the whole week.
That being said, I cannot say enough good things about the staff at
Bronson. They were truly the angels that I needed to get through this ordeal. My
two favorite nurses, Jami and Stacey, were so good to me, so patient, and went
out of their way to make me comfortable. I told them both that whatever they are
being paid, it would never be enough for all the hard work and dedication they
bring to each of their patients. Stacey even stopped by my room after she was
done with her shift just to check on me and say goodbye, in case I was sent home
before she came in again.
I did all they asked of me, I swallowed tons of pills, most of which
came right back up so we had to do all meds through the IV. The attending doctor
told me he can’t release me until my potassium numbers go up, so I went through
the constant battle to find a vein that would accept the meds just so I could go
home. Finally, on Saturday, the 18th, my numbers were good enough to
go home.
My body looks like I just spent weeks on a battlefield (which I guess
I did). Everything hurts, is sore, black and blue and even on my belly I have a
nice row of bruises from the blood thinner injections to keep me from forming a
blood clot and having a stroke.
Blood clots and stroke risk are both common covid side effects.
What is truly astonishing to me is that they referred to my condition
as “mild covid criteria”, and all I can say is if this was a mild case, you
would NEVER want to get covid without being vaccinated. If my past week was a
mild case, no wonder otherwise healthy people die from this disease every day. I
don’t even want to imagine what some folks went through only to lose their
battle.
What saved me from having a total meltdown was thoughts of my late
sister, Petra. I know she was there with me, hovering, protecting me, and giving
me strength to go on. In mom’s book, I wrote about how hard she fought to
survive, the hell she went through in and out of the hospital….and I kept
telling myself that if she could endure all that—I can get through this. Petra
is my guardian angel. That is why the only tattoo I have ever gotten in my life
is a guardian angel on my shoulder. I did that to honor my sister. In closing, I would like to leave you with some thoughts:
1)
Covid is not political. Covid claims conservatives, liberals and everyone in
between. When you say it’s no big deal and discount the vaccine, covid laughs at
you….the same way it laughed at me.
2)
Get the shot! If you have people who love you, think of them and do it for all
the right reasons. It’s actually and act of love to get the covid vaccine.
3)
If you think that by refusing the vaccine, you’re really owing the libs and
making a bold statement. Really? Being willing to die for your cause
seems
more like covid owns YOU. 4) Life is precious. Fight for it. Always choose life, if you have a choice.
Thank you all for the outpouring of love during my ordeal. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends. My family is my life and they are the reason I am still here. I kept thinking of Thea and how I have so many plans for us that I just couldn’t let covid rob me of that. Covid is a harsh master, but there is nothing more powerful than a pissed off German who is determined to be around for a few more years. I think I won the last round.
With love and appreciation for all of you,
Sabina (Beanie) Boston
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