Hey Angels ❤

I'm finally doing a bit better, still really exhausted but no longer dizzy or nauseas and my fever has calmed down finally. Right off the bat, thank you for all your support and well-wishes, I know you all know I couldn't reply, but I did see them and it helped keep my spirits up ❤ Now that I'm doing a lil better, I wanted to talk a little about my Covid experience, basically I have some things I want to say, and I want people to know how it was for me, as someone more vulnerable to the effects of this disease.

Firstly, I live with 2 others, we were all triple vaccinated, so the two shots and relatively recent booster. We got Omicron, which is currently the variant rampaging through New Zealand, and we got it due to exposure to people who were anti-vaccine and infected. For some background, an old flatmate of mine moved out, we saw him, and it is his family that is anti-vax, he is fully vaxed himself, but as the vaccines are less effective for Omicron, we all still got it. He saw us not knowing he was sick, but knowing his family was, although with them being the way they are, he didn't /know/ for sure it was Covid until he himself got sick and tested. And I am pissed off. They chose to gamble on their health by not getting vaccinated, which is whatever - honestly up to them and I don't believe they shouldn't have agency over their bodies - where I get angry is their gambling with the health of others, including myself.

They chose to be vulnerable to this virus, after years of a pandemic devastating the world as we knew it, and then, what I have an issue with, they chose to spread it. They did not isolate, they did not wear masks, they did not test. I don't care if they don't want to get vaccinated, but I do care that they chose to go against the basic guidelines to keep others safe. I am a vulnerable person, my immune system has always been slow on the draw (I am literally in the process of getting tests done regarding this) and I have asthma, my siblings and I have also had pneumonia as children so overall, weak lungs. My grandfather is in palliative care for end stage lymphoma and melanoma, and I have a 2 month old niece. I saw my sister the day after contact with my old flatmate, and my mother, who both see those two people regularly as it's my sisters baby and of course our Granddad who is currently dying slowly of a terminal illness - we try to make sure we see him while we can, especially with the new baby. I found out the day after I saw them my flatmate had tested positive, and luckily, none of them tested positive in the days after seeing me and are still safe. However, on top of my illness, I was feeling so afraid and guilty that I could cause the death of these two vulnerable members of my family. All this to say, I don't understand how someone can care so little about other humans that they are willing to cause the deaths of their friends and family. Hell, before I knew I was exposed, I went to the corner shop and pet store, fully masked and hand sanitized upon entering, and I was still afraid I would be a vector for /strangers and their families/ and that I could cause deaths of those people or the vulnerable people in their lives upon finding out I may have been infectious while doing this. I don't know how you can be willing to spread this virus among your family and friends and treat it so trivially. So many people have died.

Now, for how it affected me more directly. 3 days ago I got my first symptoms, soon after when my symptoms became more severe I knew I'd be bedridden and made my journal about it. So, what symptoms did I have? I had nausea that made it near impossible to eat, drink or take pain medication, aches throughout my spine and legs to the point I couldn't sleep, dizziness, shortness of breath, a high fever, exhaustion and the standard cold symptoms of runny nose, sore throat, cough, and headaches - I do want to say that while I call them 'standard' these symptoms on their own were similar to when I almost died of strep throat as a child. I was managing my breathing more-or-less with my inhaler, and luckily it subsided so I didn't have to go to hospital for that, however, I was unable to eat or drink more than a few sips of water for 2 days. Today is the first day I have been able to eat and drink normally. On top of that I was sweating from the fever, and had shakes, and couldn't take anything to treat it without chucking it back up.

Due to my nausea and fever, I was seriously considering the need to go to the hospital, because I knew I was losing fluids and essential minerals that I was not replacing and was at a risk of dehydration, and various low minerals can cause other issues. Luckily I was able to turn a corner, I got a friend to deliver me an electrolyte drink I have always had when I'm sick, and I was able to keep that down. Once I had fluids and minerals back up, the nausea eased and I could also eat and drink water, as well as take painkillers to break my fever. If that friend hadn't been available, I would've admitted myself. I would not have had a choice, I could tell I was going downhill but honestly, I was afraid to go to the hospital and spread it if I could do anything to manage it on my own. If those things hadn't worked out, again, I would've been in hospital.

My flatmates have had a day or two of a rough cold/flu like symptoms, and are now basically fine aside from their energy levels, which I am grateful for. I was only just able to stand long enough today to have a shower, I have not been able to leave my bed for 2-3 days. I am currently at about where they were at the peak of their experience with it, which for me, is a huge relief from where I was personally at. Like I said, the last time I felt this bad, I was developing rheumatic fever from strep throat that was just barely stopped in time, before I needed an operation to save my life. The last time I felt this bad, I was dying.

So yeah, I'm recovering, thankfully. And to anyone who has /chosen/ not to vaccinate, wear your mask, isolate if you're sick, and get tested if you show symptoms or are in contact with anyone who is sick. Make sure your friends know if you're not feeling well or have been in contact with ill people so they can make informed decisions on their safety. Save people like me days laid up in bed, a trip to the hospital, or possibly even death or long-term illness.