I am posting this to hopefully help some people not to be so afraid.
I know it is not the same for everyone. Everyone has the potential to react in their own way to this infection, But I bear in mind that I am bordering on being in a "vulnerable" group because of my age, and having had some weakness health-wise for a couple of years now.
But obviously those with respiratory weaknesses; asthma, COPD or other serious illnesses shoud be very careful and keep in touch with health services.
So this is what is happening to me. It has been no fun, but it is live-able just about and I am improving.
I never imagined I'd catch it. I live remotely, hadn't had physical contact with anyone for over a month, only briefly had dealings at more than 6ft distance with delivery drivers who brought groceries, dealt with my groceries hygienically, and always washed my hands after having gone out for a walk, or received and dealt with deliveries.
But I made a few small mistakes. I forgot to re-bag some vegetables that came in my last order 22nd March. Those packs were forgotten, and just put into my refrigerator because the delivery came late at night and I was tired. I thought I'd get away with it. I was wrong.
On Thursday in the afternoon I devloped horrible bitter cold chills, and could not get warm. My body temperature was bordering on mild hypothermia. Outside it was quite a warm day!
Then my temperature shot up, and I noticed breathing tightness and a harsh cough. I immediately started taking immune support herbs and drinking many hot drinks (herbal teas, regular teas. For some reason I had no desire for coffee.)
The first 24 hours I more or less fasted (had zero appetite) I took spoonfuls of honey with garlic cloves and pieces of ginger, and drank so many hot teas. I had no desire for cold water either!
I waited for my appetite to call the shots, and only ate what it told me it wanted....slices of orange, a few black grapes, green grapes, honey.
On the second and third days I was able to eat a small bowl of lentil soup as well as some fruit.
The fever was pretty low-grade for the first couple of days. On the third day it spiked and went quite high that evening for hours. I didn't let it freak me out. I was pleased in a way to see the immune system doing what it was born for. It was fighting the invader!
I did not take anything to bring the fever down. It was still at a "safe" level for an older adult.
But I did all the time continue to take the immune support herbs.
I slept a very long time and had bizarre dreams. Fever dreams, which are quite natural at a time like that.
This morning the fever had gone -for now at least, and my normal appetite returned. This is only the fourth day. So I know I can't take anything for granted but it does seem like a slight positive change in the course of the illness.
I will continue to "aggressively rest"
and take the herbs, drink lots of hot fluids, eat easy-to -digest healthy foods (cooked), kept warm, not bathed or showered (had wet wipe-downs instead with something lightly scented) let my appetite tell me what it needs and not force it to eat what it doesn't want, and get as much sleep as possible, ignoring the clock.
For me it hasn't been pleasant, but hasn't been terrifying either. I hope for at least some of us, that mght help us to be a little less afraid if it happens.
Although I do know -as I said before -one size doesn't fit all, so be careful and monitor symptoms hour by hour.
Wishing you all well. And stay as safe as possible!
Here is a YouTube video made by a doctor, on how to safely deal with grocery items coming into the house:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKx-F4AKteE
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