Plague Diary: Plague Diary
So, I want to make a quick record of possible symptoms, in case I need to rely upon it later. I'll put it behind a cut, because you may well not want it in your feed. But I don't have any of the most notable symptoms. No fever, no shortness of breath not explained by exertion, and reasonable SpO2.
11/17: Ate left overs, including some dubious brussel sprouts, and had a lot of diarrhea. It lasted about four hours, I think.
11/18: I went to the get my fingerprints done, and also stopped in the clinic to get my bloods redrawn. I answered yes to the question about diarrhea. Doctor asked me if it was just that one time. I said yes.
11/19: Requested saliva test in what I thought was an abundance of caution. Because the question was on the COVID screening form at the clinic, I decided that I wanted to be sure I wasn't a danger to my patients. This was literally my only symptom, and the diarrhea had become loose stools. Since I have this from time to time, and I was under a lot of stress, I really didn't worry too much about being positive. Went for a bike ride.
11/21: No significant symptoms, Went for a bike ride.
11/23: Took the saliva test. Went to several stores to finish up shopping for the trip. Was in each of them a short amount of time, and never close to other people, but I am worried for them, now. Specifically, I went to the Freewheel Cycle in Richfield, Richfield Petco, the Walgreens at 66th and Nicollet, the Wedge, and the UPS store. Dropped off the test at UPS. Went for a bike ride.
11/26: Felt very slightly light-headed. Nothing significant. This is also not one of the symptoms that they warn you about. Had Thanksgiving dinner with my household. In retrospect, I regret this.
11/27: Felt light headed first thing in the morning. Got in my car and drove for 11 hours. Normal rest stops and so forth. Looked at my email about an hour out of South Bend, discovered I was positive. Freaked out, called loved one, called my employer. Stayed the night in South Bend, Indiana, in an hotel where there were loud parties.
11/28: Drove to Cleveland. Slightly light-headed in the morning. Informed my Airbnb host. He met me at the property, stood probably 20 feet away, welcomed me and gave me details on the systems in the apartment. He was incredibly kind and welcoming and I cannot say enough good things about him. Hauled all my shit up to the second floor (nine trips). SpO2 was in the low 90s after that exertion.I continue to have slightly loose stools, but again, nothing particularly notable, especially given the amount of stress. I have also had slight chest pains, but I get those from time to time, and they are probably muscular. In any case, they aren't associated with breathing and they aren't on the left side. So, really who knows? Persistent but not terrible head ache. Taking ibuprofen
11/29: Was not light-headed this morning. Slept well, Am, as I write this, very slightly light-headed, but I believe that to be a stress reaction. Also, it's been about 4 hours since I ate, so that might have something to do with it. Brief period of tinnitus. Still loose stools. Persistent head ache, taking ibuprofen.
11/30: No symptoms as of 2 pm. Slept well. I feel quite good, although I have a wee bit of cabin fever. Per instructions, must stay in until Friday. I wonder if I have enough groceries for that? I appear to have forgotten to get potatoes, for instance.
12/1: Some isolated coughs last night, felt "bronchial" and some wheezing. Would probably think it was a winter cold or asthma. Only got about 5 hours of sleep, and so I am a bit tired today, but not catastrophic. I have a head ache that seems to be waiting in the wings. Not an actual headache, just the promise of a headache to come. Also some slight, very very slight pain just under my collar bone. Again, were it not for COVID I would discount it.
12/2: Woke up with a runny nose, murderous head ache. Sinus headache, most likely. Took temperature before I took ibuprofen, 98.4. Have now taken ibuprofen. Man, my head hurts. Oh, also a bit light-headed. This really seems like maybe sinuses?
12/3: 9 hours of sleep. I feel pretty great, actually. One isolated cough, this morning, and I continue to think that these are just normal winter asthma coughs. I am doing grocery pick up again today, and I think again I will have the person put them on the ground, just to be super super safe. There are so many things I don't want, but chief among them is not not give this to another person. (Oh, and in the really good news department, the one person I spent time with outside my household has her negative result.
12/4: Got less sleep than I wanted. Feel perfectly fine, but I had a chat with David and my throat felt...strained? Not sore, but as if talking took more stress than normal. Could this be because I am talking to no one? Or is it COVID? Who the fuck knows? Also, as I was falling asleep last night, I could hear liquid vibrating in my ear as I breathed, which is annoying. Nasal drip is _not_ a COVID symptom, so hurray for that.
12/5: 10 hours of sleep, feel great. Also, the nasal drip seems to have resolved.
12/6: Had trouble getting to sleep, but eventually got 9 hours. I feel just fine. Tomorrow, I am releasing myself into the wild. (MDH said I could be released on 11/27, but I chose to be way way more conservative.) So, the plan is to figure out where downtown Cleveland is, and drive there.
12/7: Terrible insomnia. Got about 5? hours of sleep. On the other hand, I feel just great. So, yay for not being sick!
11/17: Ate left overs, including some dubious brussel sprouts, and had a lot of diarrhea. It lasted about four hours, I think.
11/18: I went to the get my fingerprints done, and also stopped in the clinic to get my bloods redrawn. I answered yes to the question about diarrhea. Doctor asked me if it was just that one time. I said yes.
11/19: Requested saliva test in what I thought was an abundance of caution. Because the question was on the COVID screening form at the clinic, I decided that I wanted to be sure I wasn't a danger to my patients. This was literally my only symptom, and the diarrhea had become loose stools. Since I have this from time to time, and I was under a lot of stress, I really didn't worry too much about being positive. Went for a bike ride.
11/21: No significant symptoms, Went for a bike ride.
11/23: Took the saliva test. Went to several stores to finish up shopping for the trip. Was in each of them a short amount of time, and never close to other people, but I am worried for them, now. Specifically, I went to the Freewheel Cycle in Richfield, Richfield Petco, the Walgreens at 66th and Nicollet, the Wedge, and the UPS store. Dropped off the test at UPS. Went for a bike ride.
11/26: Felt very slightly light-headed. Nothing significant. This is also not one of the symptoms that they warn you about. Had Thanksgiving dinner with my household. In retrospect, I regret this.
11/27: Felt light headed first thing in the morning. Got in my car and drove for 11 hours. Normal rest stops and so forth. Looked at my email about an hour out of South Bend, discovered I was positive. Freaked out, called loved one, called my employer. Stayed the night in South Bend, Indiana, in an hotel where there were loud parties.
11/28: Drove to Cleveland. Slightly light-headed in the morning. Informed my Airbnb host. He met me at the property, stood probably 20 feet away, welcomed me and gave me details on the systems in the apartment. He was incredibly kind and welcoming and I cannot say enough good things about him. Hauled all my shit up to the second floor (nine trips). SpO2 was in the low 90s after that exertion.I continue to have slightly loose stools, but again, nothing particularly notable, especially given the amount of stress. I have also had slight chest pains, but I get those from time to time, and they are probably muscular. In any case, they aren't associated with breathing and they aren't on the left side. So, really who knows? Persistent but not terrible head ache. Taking ibuprofen
11/29: Was not light-headed this morning. Slept well, Am, as I write this, very slightly light-headed, but I believe that to be a stress reaction. Also, it's been about 4 hours since I ate, so that might have something to do with it. Brief period of tinnitus. Still loose stools. Persistent head ache, taking ibuprofen.
11/30: No symptoms as of 2 pm. Slept well. I feel quite good, although I have a wee bit of cabin fever. Per instructions, must stay in until Friday. I wonder if I have enough groceries for that? I appear to have forgotten to get potatoes, for instance.
12/1: Some isolated coughs last night, felt "bronchial" and some wheezing. Would probably think it was a winter cold or asthma. Only got about 5 hours of sleep, and so I am a bit tired today, but not catastrophic. I have a head ache that seems to be waiting in the wings. Not an actual headache, just the promise of a headache to come. Also some slight, very very slight pain just under my collar bone. Again, were it not for COVID I would discount it.
12/2: Woke up with a runny nose, murderous head ache. Sinus headache, most likely. Took temperature before I took ibuprofen, 98.4. Have now taken ibuprofen. Man, my head hurts. Oh, also a bit light-headed. This really seems like maybe sinuses?
12/3: 9 hours of sleep. I feel pretty great, actually. One isolated cough, this morning, and I continue to think that these are just normal winter asthma coughs. I am doing grocery pick up again today, and I think again I will have the person put them on the ground, just to be super super safe. There are so many things I don't want, but chief among them is not not give this to another person. (Oh, and in the really good news department, the one person I spent time with outside my household has her negative result.
12/4: Got less sleep than I wanted. Feel perfectly fine, but I had a chat with David and my throat felt...strained? Not sore, but as if talking took more stress than normal. Could this be because I am talking to no one? Or is it COVID? Who the fuck knows? Also, as I was falling asleep last night, I could hear liquid vibrating in my ear as I breathed, which is annoying. Nasal drip is _not_ a COVID symptom, so hurray for that.
12/5: 10 hours of sleep, feel great. Also, the nasal drip seems to have resolved.
12/6: Had trouble getting to sleep, but eventually got 9 hours. I feel just fine. Tomorrow, I am releasing myself into the wild. (MDH said I could be released on 11/27, but I chose to be way way more conservative.) So, the plan is to figure out where downtown Cleveland is, and drive there.
12/7: Terrible insomnia. Got about 5? hours of sleep. On the other hand, I feel just great. So, yay for not being sick!