My COVID-19 Recovery Took Weeks, but I’m Staying Positive

There I was, just living each day and minding my own business. I was following all the guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and wearing a mask everywhere I went, when all of a sudden, BAM! The COVID-19 virus found me.

What followed were three blurry weeks of isolation. The whole experience of COVID-19 recovery was a reminder that even though I live with ALS, I have the mental resiliency to make it through life’s many surprises and challenges.

My symptoms began on a Saturday night and were so eerily similar to the side effects I had felt after previously receiving two COVID-19 vaccines and a booster shot that deep down, I knew that I had the real thing. The rapid home test I took the next morning confirmed it. To make matters even more difficult, my husband, who is also my caregiver, tested positive, too.

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Reinventing seclusion

We both immediately went into isolation mode, canceling our upcoming appointments, checking our food supplies, and letting family members know. Around the house, Kleenex boxes began popping up like mushrooms. Then came the body aches, runny noses, and coughing. I swear, our tandem coughing spells sounded like an audition for “Dueling Banjos.”

In my case, having COVID-19 while living with ALS symptoms was not an easy go. My ALS often amplified the COVID-19 symptoms, especially the big, killer sneezes and the fatigue. I felt like tattered debris that had washed onto the beach after a shipwreck.

My attitude spiraled down

I’ll admit, I was not my positive self. No thoughts of “let’s look on the bright side and stay motivated” crossed my mind. Instead, I grumbled at the setback. How could we have caught COVID-19? I hardly ever go out, and when I do, I follow all the precautions to the letter. Doesn’t that count for something? Besides, I have things to do, emails to answer, and a column to write.

The nurse who checked us over assured us that she’s been seeing a lot of folks with COVID-19 who, like us, hardly ever went out. “It’s just a very contagious variant,” she added. So I gave up trying to figure out the how and why of our exposure and let my body’s immune system take over.

Poof! The whole week was gone.

The next week seemed to disappear as well. I thought I could sit at my computer and type out a column, but the words never came together. Fortunately, the folks at ALS News Today fully understood and encouraged me to take my time with recovery.

On the road to COVID-19 recovery

I have to say, it does take time to ease back into life after COVID-19. The good news is that my mood has improved, I’ve regained my appetite, and I’ve begun adding gentle exercise back into my day.

I know I will return to being super diligent about masking, social distancing, and keeping my hands clean. I’ll even be in line for the next booster when it’s available. The COVID-19 pandemic has made everything scary and uncertain, especially for people who have conditions like ALS.

But even though my bout with COVID-19 was humbling, you can expect me to continue to share motivation and wellness tips. After all, I still believe that we can learn to live well while living with ALS.

… Now, where was I?

Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.