Sunday night, January 16, I went to bed with a slight headache. I did not take any medicine for the headache. Fever and chills visited me through the night and Monday morning (MLK Holiday) I went to urgent care. By then my symptoms were headache, cough, runny nose, fever, chills, and some body aches. I was obviously sick but not deathly ill. If this had not been a pandemic year I might not have gone to the doctor at all. My family tradition is to just weather the storm.

They tested me for the flu, Covid and RSV. I was positive for Covid. Here is a screenshot of my test results:

I notified my employer and my family. Again, in a non-pandemic year I might have not told anyone. But we live in a time of urbanization, mass transit, and a very mobile society – viruses have many opportunities. We have a duty to our fellow humans.

It is Wednesday morning. I am better. The fever has been managed with Tylenol. The chills come in the night. I was shaking so bad in the wee hours of Tuesday morning that I struggled to get the lid off the Tylenol bottle. That was probably the worst of it. There is a temptation to minimize this experience, to say something like “…it was like a bad cold,” or “…like the flu on steroids”. I have been sick for a couple of days, but I never felt my life threatened. I have been very tired, but only short of breath with mild exertion. My cough was harsh and irritating. My stores of Kleenexes are running low. The fever and chills were the most frightening. Anything that is out of control is frightening and shivering certainly qualifies. I feel lucky. Very little nausea and no vomiting. I did not have to camp out by the toilet (I had the flu many years ago and set up camp at the porcelain throne).

Last night I had very minor chills. I sat up on the side of my bed and decided to not take more Tylenol. The chills went away. I hope I have turned the corner.

COVID is serious business. I was vaccinated last January and February with the Moderna vaccine. I have not had the booster because of simple procrastination. I regret that now. I might have avoided this experience. It is probable that my experience was less severe because I had the vaccine.

I shall post again tomorrow. I’ll give updates for a few days. Obviously, my expectation is that I am on the upswing. I have heard of people getting better temporarily and then lapsing back – but I don’t expect that to happen. I also did not expect to get COVID, so there.

A couple of notes: I am a 71 year old white male. I work part time as an Administrative Assistant in a program to house the homeless. Last Friday evening I was in a cold weather shelter for about three hours. I had direct and close contact with street homeless men. That is my bet on where I encountered COVID.

The good news is I have not lost my sense of smell or taste.