Saturday, May 1, 2021

RSC21 The One With Covid-19

 Well, I think I'm through the worst of it.  I didn't get started on any red sewing this week due to Covid-19.  I did manage to work on some blue odds and ends yesterday:


These are blocks for the Gobble Gobble quilt design by Lori Holt.  I really like the orange dot fabric.  I hope the green fabric has enough contrast for the quilt.  I really don't want to make another block...

I only made five more rail fence blocks.  Now I have 87/900 complete.


I have a few red plans for May:

1.  I need to make a red Stay Centered row.
2.  I will continue to make rail fence blocks.
3.  Full Stop blocks.
4.  GO! ABC letters.
5.  Veggie Patch blocks:  (2) radishes, (2) chili peppers, (2) bell peppers, (2) tomatoes
6.  Find my red basket blocks make about 10 years ago for my Table Scraps Challenge with Joy.

That should keep me busy in red.

I'm linking up at Angela's blog, SoScrappy, for the RSC21.


And now my Covid-19 update.  I have been taken care of really good.  Here is Owen giving me fruit snacks and crackers in a bag on a stick...  He is quite creative.  This was the day after he informed the school  during every virtual meeting that I was sick.  That led him to then give everybody a tour of everything including taking his computer to the bedroom and showing me sleeping to them!


I started feeling tired after delivering 45 boxes of groceries from our church to neighbors and friends in need.  Some people I knew, some were random.  That was Saturday, April 17.  I was fine, but thought I was just tired after all the delivering.

Sunday I went to church and came home and slept all day.  That is not like me at all.

The next three days were followed with chills and more sleeping.  I just needed sleep.

I thought it was either the flu or Covid.  I almost knew for certain on Wednesday, 4/21, when my husband was telling me how good the macaroni salad was this time.  Hmmm.  I thought it was sort of bland.  That was when I realized after eating an orange that I had no taste or smell.  I had been staying away from others (including my household) as much as possible.  I was managing my symptoms at home.

Finally on Tuesday, 4/27, I was getting short of breath while trying to walk up hill to care for my chickens.  I was still tired all the time.  The previous night I had a session of a minute or two that someone put Bengay all over my chest because I was having a warm sensation.  That was weird.  I told Owen I has to run an errand and went to the ER.

It was freezing in the "special" waiting room.  I was glad I had an extra t-shirt in my bag to use as a blanket.  Brrr.  No pretty sewn masks here.  This was the only mask allowed.


I sat in the waiting room for about 30 minutes until I was called back to have vitals checked.  As the nosy observant person that I am, I could hear other patients explain the same symptoms that I had.  No biggie.  They would explain symptoms, and get vitals checked, given an ID bracelet, and sent back to the main waiting room area before going on to the ER.

No me!  For some reason after taken my vitals and listening to the same things that others seemed to be saying I was moved to a special isolation waiting room.  It could have been because my oxygen level was 85.  I know that room was monitored by cameras.  I saw them when I checked in.  No one but the nurse that told me to sit here never entered this room for the three hour wait.  I got to watch tv all by myself.  I had my pick of chairs.  I texted my husband and told him.  He said, "Good--you won't get infected by anybody else."  I told him I think they are afraid of me infecting others...


Finally, my turn with the ER staff.  They basically looked at me and took my vitals three times.  Chest x-rays were taken.  It showed evidence of Covid pneumonia in both lungs.  The last thing they did before the left me go was a Covid test.  That was unpleasant.  The nurse said that if my test comes back negative that it is probably wrong.  There was no treatment given.  They told me to get a monitor to check my oxygen levels at home.  If my oxygen dropped below 90 percent I should come back in.  If my symptoms worsen or I develop a fever to come back in.  Follow up with my doctor...That's it.

On Friday I got a follow-up call confirming that my test results were positive.  They told me that because I had the symptoms for more than ten days that I was no longer considered courageous.  My husband and son showed NO signs of illness or symptoms.  They said that if they don't show them by this weekend that there's a good chance they won't develop any.

The good news is I feel I am on the mend.  Now that I have my strength back I will try to follow up with my doctor on Monday.  When I felt good enough yesterday to call his office was already closed for the weekend...








20 comments:

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

It's hard to believe we are still dealing with Covid more than a year after it first started. I'm so glad you're better, and that the rest of the family is doing okay, too! Amazing that you still found energy to sew! Yor Gobble blocks are fun!

Mari said...

This sounds awful! I'm glad you are doing better and that your family doesn't seem to have been infected. I hope the stitching made you feel better, too. It certainly turned out well!

scraphappy said...

I am so sorry for what you have been through! It sounds entirely unpleasant. The ER was efficient though, and fortunately you didn't need more intense treatment. Hopefully cases will keep dropping as more people get vaccinated.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Oh, Kathy!! I'm so sorry that you ended up getting Covid, but I'm glad that you are starting to feel better. Hopefully, you'll feel up to doing some RED sewing soon!

Ivani said...

I am so sorry to know you were infected. So good you are feeling better, and that your family is OK. Didn't they get tested to see if they got Covid too and if they are asymptomatic?
Take care.
There are a lot of rail fence blocks to be made, are you planning a Rainbow quilt for them?

LA Paylor said...

terrifying. I have to face the second vaccine this week and having had friends with 10 days of symptoms that scares me. Wish we all had O2 testers at home... crikey. I can't believe you got any sewing done, and we didn't find out red was the color til today right?

grammajudyb said...

Oh gosh, I’m sorry you were so sick! My friend who had it last summer, said she had never been so sick! I’m so glad Owen and hubby didn’t get sick! Take care! Rest! Rest! Rest!

Jenny said...

Oh dear me, so sorry to read that you have Covid. Any idea how you caught it? At least you have been checked, confirmed,and dont seem to be passing it on to hubby and Owen. The worst seems to be over for you, so rest, take care, and try not to overdo things. I know you have all been so careful at home for so long, hardly seems fair to get it now after all that time.

Kathy S. said...

Hoping to take it easy this week and do a little more sewing. I knew I was sick when I was too tired to sew.

Kathy S. said...

Thanks, Mari. Stitching always makes me feel better.

Kathy S. said...

I am so thankful the ER was efficient and eased my mind. I'll follow up with my doctor tomorrow to see if I need more treatment for the pneumonia.

Kathy S. said...

I already DROVE up to the other house (usually it's just a little walk) and pulled a bag of red fabrics to get me motivated. Thanks, Joy.

Kathy S. said...

Ivani, I was so confused to hear from the ER doc that I had been infected long enough that if my husband and son didn't have it by now they most likely won't get it or they are asymptomatic. We still think my husband already had it in November (but did not get tested because he stayed home and managed his symptoms.) My son and I stayed home and quarantined.

I am planning a Rainbow quilt for the rail fence blocks. For now they are just leader/enders. They are piling up quickly.

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

oh no! so sorry you got sick with COVID and happy to hear you are on the mend! the sewing and reds will wait for you, like a trusty friend!

Kara Kwilts said...

Glad you are on the mend! Take it easy, no need to overtax yourself and relapse.

gayle said...

Oh, so scary! I hope you feel better and better every day! Get plenty of rest, too. (Sewing is a form of resting, right?)

Deb A said...

Oh boy, you have had quite a week or two! Happy to hear you are on the mend and I hope you have a full recovery. Glad no one else in the household got it. Take it easy and let them take care of you for a while =)

Kathy S. said...

I knew I was really sick when I didn't even want to sew. Today was a good sewing day. I'm feeling much, much better! Thanks, Gayle.

Deb said...

Oh so scary. Just had to write since you are in my birth state!
Your ER experience sounds not too bad . My SIL had a false positive at a work camp and was marched off to an isolation wing for 4 days!
I think we are all just a bit frightened! So glad you are on the mend and have such a great supportive family!
Thank you for delivering food baskets. You are one of the valuable people.
Get well and sew on !

Nancy said...

I'm so sorry to hear you had covid, Kathy, but glad to know it wasn't worse. My daughter has been a covid nurse for the past 15 months or so and tells of horrible situations with patients. But you're getting better and that's great! It's also wonderful neither your husband or son got it. (How funny Owen gave his classroom a tour while you were sick. Kids!)