Disclaimer: The story below is not an endorsement of a particular treatment or course of action. Teresa is not a licensed medical professional. Consult your physician for your particular situation.
At first, our symptoms were mild – a touch of a sore throat, sniffles, slight cough. My husband and I thought we had colds. Then his symptoms got worse and my taste and smell suddenly left. We both tested positive for Covid-19 a few days later.
I immediately contacted my personal first-response team to gather info: primary doctor, rheumatologist, nutritionist, friends and family in the medical and natural healing professions.
The goal for us was to stay out of the hospital and lessen the symptoms as much as possible.
I was doing okay but Mike seemed to be getting weaker by the hour. He slept most of the days and his cough got worse. He could hardly walk and on a Wednesday morning, I checked his oxygen, became very scared, and called an ambulance.
My husband spent 5 nights in the hospital getting steroid treatment. He started to feel better in a few days and came home on February 11.
Throughout this experience, I was dealing with my own Covid symptoms. Here is a summary of the things that helped me:
Took Vitamin D, C, and Zinc, Vitamin A and Quercitin in high dosages recommended by my primary doctor. (It was important to get quality products that my body could absorb and that’s where my nutritionist came in handy.)
Bought an oximeter that measures oxygen saturation in the body (worth every penny)
Drank herbal teas for respiratory, lots of water and soup (to be honest, I had coffee in the morning!)
Made a wonderful dry mustard plaster for my chest with a recipe from an herbalist friend
Used essential oil immune blend and salve on my chest and back (my mom used Rawleigh salve on me when I was a kid and it’s still sold)
Rested most of the time (I still am)
Moved my body gently and breath practice when I was well enough, 5 minutes to start then built up
Listened to 528-hertz sound healing music to boost immunity (Spotify)
Asked for support from neighbors who shoveled show and sent soup (God bless them)
Got food delivered from the supermarket
Reached out to let friends and family and my Facebook group know
Said yes to receiving monoclonal antibody treatment
A bit on monoclonal antibody treatment . . .
Timing is everything and it should be administered as soon as possible after confirmation of a positive test. As soon as I told my rheumatologist I tested positive she immediately ordered it. The goal of this treatment is to keep people who are considered “high risk” out of the hospital and, hopefully, lessen the symptoms. It was only a 1-hour infusion as an outpatient at my local hospital (though the entire process took a good part of the day).
Then on February 17, I caught The Rachel Maddow Show with Dr. David Kessler, Chief Science Officer for the President’s Covid response team. They talked about monoclonal treatment for people over 65 who are overweight with conditions like diabetes, or people who have immuno-suppressed systems. According to Dr. Kessler, there is a surplus of monoclonal treatment available and its use is FDA approved.
Going on 4 weeks my husband and I are starting to recover. It is a SLOW process for us, and there are some post-Covid effects we are managing (fatigue, taste, smell, and Covid clotting).
I am beginning to feel a bit more energy in the mornings, and, as of this writing, I was able to “almost taste” mustard today! And, gentle movement feels SO good in my body after lying down for such a long time.
I am deeply grateful to the medical professionals, dear friends, family, clients and neighbors who have supported us and who continue to do so. Your texts, calls, and love help beyond words.
I wish you much love and good health,
Teresa
Teresa D’Angelo is a Somatic Dance-Movement Educator who supports people of all ages and abilities in creating a healthy and healing relationship with their bodies. She specializes in the Nia® Technique, Ageless Grace®, and offers movement classes and courses for people with chronic pain.