COVID-19 Report

[nutmegchoi]

I live in New Rochelle, New York where it happened to be the epicenter of coronavirus.
This is my trip report contracting and recovering COVID-19.

Myself is 47 year old female who's pretty active.
I used to run a lot until I stress fractured my femoral neck from running too much.
I went in this fight with a good heart and a nice set of lungs.
My annual checkups always been good, no preexisting conditions and no medications.

Boyfriend is 46 year old who's also fairly active.
He has higher blood pressure which he takes low dosage medication for.
He works in Manhattan and commutes via Metro North and subways.
We suspect he contracted along the way somewhere.

March 11th

Boyfriend started showing flu like symptoms.
Body aches, headaches, fatigue and mild fever.

New York State coronavirus confirmed case: 216 death: 0

March 14th

After trying to get tested at state testing site which seemed nearly impossible,
we notified White Plains Hospital emergency room we are coming in with flu like symptoms suspecting coronavirus.

A nurse met us at the parking lot with two masks in hand, escorted us to an isolated room where we took flu swab test and came out negative.
Then hazmat suit technician with mobile x-ray machine came in took our chest x-ray also came out clean.
They took another swab for coronavirus test before we were escorted out to our car and ordered quarantine for two weeks.

All took 5-6 hours and I couldn't even leave the room to go to bathroom.
They gave me an bedpan to take care of the business.

At this point, I still showed no symptoms.
In a way we were lucky to go in this at such early stage.
If it was like now, we would never get tested.

The claim was $3,300 each.
We don't know how much we need to pay out of pocket after our insurance kicks in.

New York State coronavirus confirmed case: 613 death: 2



March 15th

I felt ill with flu like symptoms.

New York State coronavirus confirmed case: 729 death: 3

March 20th

6 days later we finally got a call from the hospital confirmed we are COVID-19 positive.
Quarantine resets for 2 weeks or as long as symptoms last + 72 hours symptoms & fever free without medications.

New York State coronavirus confirmed case: 7,102 death: 46

March 15th - April 5th

I was sick for 21 days with body aches, headaches, chills, sweats, fever (range of 99-101F), fatigue, lost of smell, lost of appetite, congestion, coughs, sneezes and diarrhea.
Body aches were so bad there were times woke me up in the middle of the night.
Also had pain in my teeth and gums.

I knew I needed to rest but my concerns over job security was greater.
I was working from home Monday-Friday, 8:30-5pm and freelancing in the evenings and weekends.
This probably slowed my recovery.



For some reason, even at my sickest, I never had fear.
I never doubted we will beat this and make full recovery.

Lost 7lbs during the period.

March 11th - April 2nd

Boyfriend was sick for 17 days with body aches, headaches, chills, excessive sweats, fever (range of 99-102F), congestion, coughs, sneezes and fatigue.
He never lost smell or had stomach problems.
This shows how individual goes through different symptoms over the same virus.

Boyfriend was sicker than I was but his recovery was much quicker.
I think that's because he had one full week bed rest.

He did say he feared death day 7-10 when he was very ill.

He lost 17lbs during the period.

Groceries, Food and Supplies

I lived in Houston with 8 hurricane seasons.
This helped me to be prepared all times with well stocked supplies at home.

Early March, I went through our medicine cabinet and made sure we had everything we need.
Most important part was Tylenol (no ibuprofen to treat coronavirus symptoms) for body aches, headaches, fever and MucineX DM which helped with coughs.

We also had enough groceries, water and other essentials.
I put grocery delivery before it got impossible to get a spot and it arrived just in time in the middle of our quarantine.



We went through 5 gallon in every two days, so water delivery literally saved our lives.

I always had a huge appreciation for home delivery.
But this time, all these people really kept us alive.

Our friends also delivered food and groceries to our door.
Times like this really show who truly are your people.

April 5th

Boyfriend fully recovered and ended 22 day quarantine followed by Westchester Department of Health guidelines.
Initially they said they were going to test us again, but later they called and told us guidelines to follow.

72 hours with no symptoms, fever without medications to end the quarantine.

New York State coronavirus confirmed case: 122,031 death: 4,159

April 8th

Finally fully recovered and met the guidelines to end 25 day quarantine.

New York State coronavirus confirmed case: 149,316 death: 6,268

After

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
But I'm glad we went through and (hopefully) done.

It is so nice to be out again and get some fresh air.
I never knew air can actually taste sweet.
We both lost so much strength from this fight it was hard to even walk a mile around our neighborhood.
I never been this physically weak in my life.
One day at a time.



This whole experience opened my eyes to focus what's really important in our lives.
Out of horrible pandemic, I have some priceless lessons to walk away.

As far as we know, we didn't infect any of our co-workers, neighbors or friends which gives us comfort to know.

We filled out application at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan to take antibody test to donate our plasma for other COVID-19 patients fight.
Anything to help to end this pandemic.

Going to pop a champagne this weekend to celebrate life and end 33 day dry spell.



Stay safe and stay healthy, mags!

[snowaddict91]

Thanks for taking the time to write this up. Glad you are both "ok" and its great to see you are able to see some lessons/positivity from this experience.

[KenJongIll]

Nice report Meg. That’s a trip I hope to never make.

Ps: glad you had a good supply of Charmin. We are down to our last rolls, and then will have to break out the *gasp* Kirkland(Costco) brand...oh the humanity

[Rideski]

Glad you made it through. Scary stuff magnified by being in crisis zone.

[klauss]

harrowing exposure. thanks for the report and glad you're on the other side of it.

[4matic]

Some of the health insurance providers are paying for any C-19 related costs. Be sure and check before you make payment.

[Ted Striker]

So glad that you guys are alright. Curious if the docs think you're immune now.

[ill-advised strategy]

Yikes

[nutmegchoi]

Some of the health insurance providers are paying for any C-19 related costs. Be sure and check before you make payment.

Will do!
Thank you!!

[nutmegchoi]

So glad that you guys are alright. Curious if the docs think you're immune now.

We supposedly are, right?
Antibody test will confirm.
Will post when I hear back and get tested.

[AK47bp]

Nice report, glad you are recovered.


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[BmillsSkier]

Really glad to hear you guys came through. Thanks for sharing, I was scared for you just reading it.

Be well, take your time, and cheers to a full recovery!

[4matic]

Here's a summary of what insurance companies are paying for C-19
https://www.ahip.org/health-insuranc...irus-covid-19/

[nutmegchoi]

Here's a summary of what insurance companies are paying for C-19
https://www.ahip.org/health-insuranc...irus-covid-19/

We have separate insurance but both UnitedHealthcare.
Seems everything will be covered by the insurance company.
Thanks for the link!

[jackstraw]

Yeah for making it out the other side!

[St. Jerry]

Congrats.

[hawkgt]

good news nmc!! Glad you both are on the other side.

[uglymoney]

Glad you made it through! Been rooting for you and trying to avoid it. Thanks for the trip report. These first hand write ups are going to be invaluable to others (maybe us) down the road.

You guys had it easier than a college friend of my wife and concert buddy who was the very first positive just north of Chicago. Widely shared on Facebook now so I'll drop it here.

https://www.facebook.com/terri.chase...22729577209896

[Danno]

Glad you're out of the woods!

[El Chupacabra]

Yay nutmeg!

[nutmegchoi]

Glad you made it through! Been rooting for you and trying to avoid it. Thanks for the trip report. These first hand write ups are going to be invaluable to others (maybe us) down the road.

You guys had it easier than a college friend of my wife and concert buddy who was the very first positive just north of Chicago. Widely shared on Facebook now so I'll drop it here.

https://www.facebook.com/terri.chase...22729577209896

What she went through is very similar to ours except she had more issues with breathing which's crucial.
I hope she is recovered and doing well.

Seems most people's symptoms are much milder and recovery is much shorter.
I think me and my boyfriend (and your wife's college friend) got the worse of this without being hospitalized or developing pneumonia.

Towards the end, I developed cough fits and tightness in the chest.
I took some Mucinex and followed the exercise posted on YouTube Recommended by another mag.
Series of these exercise really helped me to get over the coughs.

https://youtu.be/8ScR5ZPhTHE

[rod9301]

We have separate insurance but both UnitedHealthcare.
Seems everything will be covered by the insurance company.
Thanks for the link!

How about the deductible?
If you haven't met it, is the cv testing still free?

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[nutmegchoi]

How about the deductible?
If you haven't met it, is the cv testing still free?

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We don't have deductible (both have really good coverage) but it seems deductible is also waved.

"UnitedHealthcare is waiving costs for COVID-19 testing provided at approved locations in accordance with the CDC guidelines,
as well as waiving copays, coinsurance and deductibles for visits associated with COVID-19 testing,
whether the care is received in a physician’s office, an urgent care center or an emergency department."

[MarcusBrody]

I've been following and rooting for you too! Great to hear that you're coming out the other end now!

[Jacques Sheer-Rocko]

Nice!