by Judy Handley | Feb 27, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 58: Covid Day 6, No Better, No Worse
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Weather: Partly Sunny Day, Rain Tonight, Warm; High Temp 55, Low 48 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
There has not been much change in how I have been feeling over the past 24 hours. So, no progress, but no slide backwards. I have started taking Claritin, as the doctor suggested, but it is too soon to tell if that is helping to dry things out. I almost dread going to bed, as nighttime is the roughest. I sleep basically sitting upright, but I still have a coughing fit period. I can’t wait until I can lie down flat and really enjoy a good night’s sleep.
If I made a graph of my Covid symptoms, it would show that the symptoms gradually got worse and worse over a three-day period. They then improved for the next two days and now, on day six, the symptoms have plateaued. I am really hoping for a sharp improvement in that graph tomorrow. But tomorrow, no matter how I am feeling, the focus switches from Covid to my back as I have my post-op appointment. I will test in the morning, but I am sure I am still positive. I have been quarantined for over the required five days, and following CDC guidelines, I just need to wear an N95 mask to go out in public. It makes me nervous, guidelines or not, to be around other people if I am still testing positive. But I desperately want to have this appointment and hopefully get the go ahead to resume some level of exercise other than walking. My right knee would be very happy if I can get permission to ride my recumbent exercise bike every night. We shall see.
by Judy Handley | Feb 26, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 57: Covid Day 5
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024
Weather: Cloudy AM, Sunny PM, Warmer; High Temp 44, Low 33 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
Another Covid day and another day of progress toward wellness. I had a telemed appointment with a young resident named Pedro this afternoon. He just got over a bout of Covid and had identical symptoms to mine. He recommended Flonase nasal spray and Claritin to dry up my sinuses. He also suggested using a neti pot, but I have never been able to make myself do that. I have a kit, so I might give it a go. And Heather brough over a ‘do it yourself’ ramen noodle soup with chicken. The chicken and veggies were in one container and the chicken broth made last night after their roasted chicken dinner was in a separate container. I have enough to make soup again tomorrow. Yay! It was delicious.
This morning Jane Woodin posted the poem copied below. It is a little depressing, but it makes you think.
Pity the nation whose people are sheep,
and whose shepherds mislead them.
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced,
and whose bigots haunt the airwaves.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice,
except to praise conquerors and acclaim the bully as hero
and aims to rule the world with force and by torture.
Pity the nation that knows no other language but its own
and no other culture but its own.
Pity the nation whose breath is money
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed.
Pity the nation — oh, pity the people who allow their rights to erode
and their freedoms to be washed away.
My country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty. ~Lawrence Ferlinghetti
(Book: Ferlinghetti’s Greatest Poems https://amzn.to/49qBP5s)
by Judy Handley | Feb 25, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 56: Covid Day 4
Date: Sunday, February 25, 2024
Weather: Beautiful Sunny but Cold Day; High Temp 32, Low 28 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
Have I only had Covid for four days? It feels more like four months. I have completely lost track of time. But I am feeling better today. When Heather and gang got home at 10:30 last night, she brought over their humidifier, and it really helped me to get a good night’s sleep. And the highlight of today was another Goldstone delivery. The whole family came over after dinner so I could see them through the frosted storm door.
I heard the doorbell ring and expected it to be them as Heather said they were coming over. But no one was at the door. Then Shadow discovered the boys making crazy faces at me through the dining room window.
Between back surgery recovery and now Covid, I haven’t seen a lot of them in 2024, but hopefully by next week we can be back to normal.
by Judy Handley | Feb 24, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 55: Covid Day 3
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Weather: Overcast, Rain Overnight; High Temp 47, Low 17 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
The sky is crystal clear tonight, giving the perfect backdrop for the full moon. I was just out with Shadow and got to see the full moon in all of its splendor, but I didn’t stay out long. It is 28 degrees F outside, but Weather Underground says it feels like 18 degrees. There’s not that much wind, but it is coming from the north, and it really feels chilly out there.
Day 3 of Covid was the worst yet. I barely slept last night. Every hour, a cough would wake me up, and then I would spend what seemed like the better part of the next hour trying to get back to sleep. Then I’d cough again, and the cycle would start all over. When I got up this morning, I felt really awful. My temp was 101, so after taking Shadow out for his morning constitutional, I got in the shower in the hopes that would bring my temp down a bit. It did, but I still felt awful. I washed my hair, so I laid down on the living room sofa (with Shadow on top of me) to let it dry and didn’t wake up until almost 2 o’clock. I still felt awful, but I knew I would feel better if I took Shadow out for a walk. I needed to braid my hair first, and I could barely do that. It is the first time in my adult life that I have thought about cutting off my hair. But I was finally able to get it braided, and then went out with Shadow to make our quarter of a mile walk. When I came in, I ate lunch, and laid back down again. This time I didn’t wake up until 7 pm. It’s almost 10 pm now, and I am ready for another long winter’s nap. I am feeling better than I did this morning, so I’m hoping tomorrow morning will be even better. This strain of Covid is miserable, but I know it could be worse. At least I can breathe, and I do not have incessant coughing. So, I’m counting my blessings and hoping today was the worst day and that it will be uphill or at a plateau from here.
by Judy Handley | Feb 23, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 54: Covid Day 2
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Weather: Overcast with Rain in PM; High Temp 45, Low 34 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
Day before yesterday, I was so happy that my recovery from the back surgery was going so well and that soon I could begin an exercise regime. Then yesterday, Covid hit and my body has been sent for a loop. I can only walk to the end of the block and back and that is only two tenths of a mile. My right knee was giving me fits before, but today I could hardly walk on it. I did make it to the end of the block, but it was not easy. Even my back is hurting when I walk, which must be Covid related as it happened yesterday for the first time since the surgery. And I feel just terrible, but thankfully not so bad that I can’t carry on with daily chores. So, I was elated when I got some videos and photos from Heather of their fun the past two days. If I can’t get out there and do fun things, at least I can live vicariously.
Yesterday the Goldstones tried something new. They went into the backcountry of Bolton Valley on splitboards.
They went out and up and then rode back down.
I had no idea what a splitboard was, but Heather’s description was that it is literally a snowboard cut in half like skis. Then today they all did downhill skiing at Bolton Valley. Heather explained that they spent a fair bit of time together, but that she would go down the side of the park from time to time to get photos. She got a great photo of Jonah coming over a ski jump.
Then when they got back to their rental and the other boys were in the shower, Ollie was out back cross-county skiing.
They are all exhausted, so no skiing tomorrow. They might go to Montpelier to check out the UVM campus and then head home.
by Judy Handley | Feb 22, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 53: Covid Strikes Again
Date: Thursday, February 22, 2024
Weather: Partly Cloudy; High Temp 36, Low 35 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
During the night, I woke up with chills and body aches. This was obviously not the allergy reactions I have been having this week. I guess it is possible that those symptoms were the beginning of Covid, but I don’t think so. When I got up, the first thing I did was do a Covid test. The top line was so light I cold barely see it, but the bottom line was purple. I’ve never seen a purple line before, but I know it is possible. But I did a second test just to make sure. It came out just the same. So far, it is a light case. I feel good enough to walk a quarter of a mile with Shadow, but no further as back pain starts. I have a sniffly nose, a very low grade temperature, aches and pains all over, and chills from time to time. Coughing has not started and I can only hope it stays away. I called my doctor to see if I could get Paxlovid, but they are using a new service called Bright.md SmartExam where you have to go through an online question and answer grilling about your medical history. I spent about 45 minutes answering the long list of questions. I messed up the first time and had to start over. When when I did complete it, I got a message saying the physician who read my exam said there was not enough information and the screen directs you to call your doctor to schedule an appointment. I called and got an answering machine and did not hear back. I will try again in the morning.
I did watch Oppenheimer tonight and I liked it even more the second time. Reading the background of the various cast of characters really helped me have a deeper understanding. And now it is time to take Shadow for his final walk and then go to bed. Hopefully there will be no coughing.
