Social media, the news and just about everywhere has been abuzz with anything and everything to do with COVID-19, especially after Goshen County’s recent public health order establishing a “face covering” or mask mandate in Goshen County. 

I wore a mask nearly every time social distancing was compromised, I washed my hands every chance I had, I socially distanced and I still got COVID-19. I had suspected it was inevitable that I would get the virus, but I was also taking precautions to avoid it.

Last Saturday, Nov. 14, my wife and I were at home watching television. She told me she had lost her sense of taste, had body aches and a headache. The symptoms were minor, but we began discussing the possibility that her symptoms could be related to COVID-19.

I had no symptoms and felt fine at this point, but we were unsure as to how we needed to proceed. When do we know we need to quarantine? Do we need to contact the health department? Are we overreacting? Is it COVID-19? Is it allergies? What now?

We decided to do a self-check Monday morning and go from there.

Around 2 a.m. on Monday, my symptoms hit me like a ton of bricks. I had the worst headache I have ever experienced. I could hardly move without intense pain all throughout my body and especially my head. I also had intense pain in my sinuses and my left ear. My eyes felt heavy and watered incessantly. 

I called my employer and made him aware that I was sick and suspected COVID-19. He was very understanding and expressed the importance of me getting better. 

Tuesday morning came around and so did the headache and body aches. I received my Vault Health test for COVID-19 in the mail, completed the test and sent it off. 

I carried on throughout Tuesday, but that night brought on the fever and chills. The chills doubled me over as soon as I got out of bed. I began violently shaking and couldn’t control my body. My jaws and teeth began chattering and it felt like I had stepped out into the frozen tundra. 

I took Tylenol and laid back in bed, this time with another blanket. I was able to get some sleep, but the fever prevailed. I did everything I could to combat the fever, but it did not let up until sometime Thursday morning. 

Though I was rid of the fever, I was still unable to maintain a comfortable body temperature. I was constantly going back and forth between freezing and sweating profusely. 

My symptoms persevered through Friday, but Thursday brought an interesting twist; I lost my sense of taste. I thought losing my sense of taste would be as it had been before when I was sick, especially with a sinus infection or something of the sort, but no; I couldn’t taste or smell anything at all. Food had absolutely no flavor. 

Finally, on Saturday morning, I began to feel some relief. My body was holding a regular temperature and my headache had subsided. I had some chest pains, but they were eventually relieved with some Ibuprofen and a hot shower. 

Also, on Saturday morning, I received an email from Vault Health indicating that I had in fact tested positive for COVID-19.

My sinus pain never ceased throughout the whole week and continues as of press time. I continue to have a dry cough and no taste, as well. 

COVID-19 is by far the worst experience I have had with a virus, but I survived.