Ashley Dumont, 21, has severe symptoms 6 months after coronavirus: ‘I have no control over my body’
One 12 months of COVID
Editor’s observe: Ashley Dumont is a 21-year-old scholar at Washington State College Vancouver. Dumont, who continues to be scuffling with COVID-19 signs months after turning into contaminated in June, is discovering it tough to have prolonged conversations. She answered questions by way of electronic mail and wrote about her “COVID-19 journey”. That is an oral medical historical past advised from their perspective of how COVID-19 continues to have an effect on their lives six months after the virus left their our bodies.
I simply wish to really feel like a standard 21 12 months previous once more.
It began with a mistake six months in the past. I used to be fairly good at following COVID-19 precautions. I remoted myself at dwelling in Vancouver with my household of 5 for months. I adopted the foundations.
However then my twenty first birthday got here in the course of June and I simply wished a couple of days of normalcy. Buddies requested me to go to Boise, Idaho, so we may exit to bars and eating places – a typical twenty first birthday in an atypical 12 months.
I used to be fearful about touring and partying throughout a pandemic, however buddies assured me that Boise bars and eating places had been taking precautions. The case numbers had been comparatively low on web site, it stated.
Once I returned dwelling from my journey on June 16, Boise well being officers stated there had been outbreaks in three of the bars I visited in Boise. I had a cough and a stuffy nostril, however I did not essentially suppose I had it.
Nonetheless, I referred to as a physician and he really helpful that I get examined. My take a look at was constructive on June 18th. Two days later, I used to be within the emergency room with extreme shortness of breath.
I uncovered my household to the virus, together with a 14 month previous niece. They’d gentle signs and made a full restoration, however what I bought was a lot worse – and 6 months later it is nonetheless with me.
At first I felt like my physique was giving up on me. I checked into the emergency room as a result of my respiratory was so heavy it felt like I used to be working a marathon although I used to be in mattress.
Two days after driving to the emergency room, I began taking digital courses for my elementary faculty program at Washington State College Vancouver. I used to be embarrassed asking professors for lodging once I barely had the power to go to the toilet. Now I must be taking six on-line programs.
Once I left my home for the primary time after two weeks of quarantine, I used to be strolling across the WSU Vancouver campus. After 10 minutes I started to really feel in need of breath. I knew then that the virus had disappeared from my physique, however not from my life.
I nonetheless had excessive tiredness, weak spot, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, tingling in my legs and arms, chest ache, and mind fog. I’m a younger, wholesome, lively individual. It wasn’t regular for me.
Climbing stairs was a problem. That was how gathering mail was. Even driving down the road to the native pharmacy was a tricky job.
Once I’m too lively or mentally overwhelmed, I breathe closely and can’t catch my breath. A tingling sensation spreads down my face, right down to my toes and muscle mass. It runs by way of my entire physique. My palms tighten, then my mouth, then my legs, then my tongue. Its scary. I do not know what to do to cease it.
Docs advised me that that is how a physique can react when it loses an excessive amount of carbon dioxide. I noticed a number of specialists together with a pulmonologist and a heart specialist. I’ve been prescribed 5 completely different steroid inhalers. We made trial and error. Nothing labored completely.
After having a respiratory episode, I need assistance simply strolling round the home. I am unable to have lengthy conversations. Generally it appears like a 20 pound weight is resting on my chest. I’ve lots of ache in my physique.
Mind fog usually wipes away my short-term reminiscence. My speech slows down. I can’t focus. The teachings I regarded ahead to in school are going to be way more tough.
A scary episode despatched me again to the emergency room a couple of weeks in the past. My medical doctors determined I ought to do pulmonary rehabilitation. I’m the youngest affected person within the clinic.
I fear that I’ll catch the coronavirus once more and I fear that others will catch it. The case numbers in Clark County had been excessive this fall and winter. I hope folks take heed to the consultants and comply with the rules. I understand how a lot one mistake – a couple of days on the lookout for normalcy – can change your normalcy.
Now I’m continuously exhausted, each bodily and mentally. I endure. On good days, I can go to the mailbox, seize the mail and return inside with out issue respiratory or chest ache.
That is only a best-case situation. I nonetheless do not know when it is going to get higher. I nonetheless do not know once I’ll really feel like myself once more. I’ve no management over my physique.
Nonetheless, I wish to maintain issues constructive. In the meanwhile I’m on the lookout for solutions – for myself and for others. I hope medical doctors can perform a little research on what occurred to me to study extra about lengthy distance riders and the way we will enhance. I’m optimistic that this may occur and I can really feel like a standard 21 12 months previous once more.
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