R E C O V E R Y
Photo Credit: Stephanie Harvey
Having worked throughout the pandemic in my other part-time role. I managed to avoid the first wave, second wave, Delta variant, Omicron version I, but then recently caught covid Omicron version II. Hardly surprising as all restrictions were lifted and everyone mixed out and about. In our local area as I am sure it is in yours, it has spread like wildfire. Staff were knocked down like skittles in an alley, some with mild symptoms others like myself were floored.
This experience prompted me to write about how we go about the recovery stage. Recovery not just from covid but any hard hitting viral infection such as the flu, heavy colds or norovirus ( tummy bug).
We all know about the medicines we can take but how do we actually ensure that we do the best for our bodies and minds throughout the illness and the emerging weeks ahead. I am always seeking out solutions. Learning from it, and banking up that knowledge for next time. Because as much as we can maintain our own safety with masks and hand washing, not being crowded amongst people. It inevitably will creep up upon us again, a bit like flu, colds and the norovirus ( tummy bug). They haven’t been eradicated over the years so we may expect to see the same with coronavirus or at least new forms of it.
When we are full of health and energy. We naturally feel like we can take the world on. We start new projects at home, we plan our travels. We take up new hobbies or enjoy existing ones. We visit family and friends, we lunch and take walks in the park. Yet in those moments we rarely think that we will get ill. Feelings of being robust in health lures us into that false sense that we are fine and can cope with anything. Juggling a demanding job, running the children to clubs, seeing family or entertaining friends and we still feel absolutely fine. We might get tired now and then, but we look in the mirror and say we can do it all and have it all. Our health and wellbeing takes the very long back step down in our list of priority.
Now I’m not saying that with a cabinet full of tools to keep your body and mind ticking will make you invincible to the threat of any virus infection. Again, that can often be a pretence that we hide behind, in our multi vitamin bottles and green blended smoothies! What I looked at from this experience is how we view our health like a barometer and have tools to respond to it accordingly.
My symptoms when I caught the Omicron version II were quite different to the National Health Service criteria. I didn’t have a soaring high temperature, no continuous coughing, or loss of taste and smell. My journey was ( as is typical of me) an odd one. Over a three week period here’s what happened with my immune system. Week One I began having an almighty reaction to my skin on my face! An intense itching all over my face and neck. It felt like prickly heat. At first I thought it was the menopause. As when the oestrogen drops some women do unfortunately experience face, arm itching. So I went to the GP. My skin by now was very dry and red and sensitive and sleeping was proving difficult because of the desire to want to itch. I was prescribed some mild steroid creams for a week to see if it was Rosecaea ( which I do suffer from) and a topical cream for my forehead and then a large tub of emollient cream to keep the skin hydrated. After a week my face itching had subsided a little, but I still had irritation around my jawline and upper neck. Week Two saw me suddenly develop heavy cold like symptoms. I was sneezing a lot, dry throat and felt exhausted (and no this wasn’t hay fever). I ended up taking time off from work as I felt so weak. Daily tests showed I was still negative. Week Three is when I had returned to work but still didn’t feel quite right ( you know that feeling when you just can’t quite explain it but you don’t feel well) then the following week. I began to notice my memory was poor, I couldn’t focus as much and multi task. I felt listless and then began with the sniffles again and the dry throat and then the headaches began. On the Friday of that third week I tested positive with covid. The following days saw me shuffle between bed sheets, hot and cold, shivering and aching, blinding headaches and zero energy with my brain in a mental fog of fatigue. I coughed up phlegm in the afternoons and felt breathless just walking up a flight of stairs. I also felt very sad and low. I was quite tearful with a feeling that I just wanted to cry. It took 7 days before I felt like I was turning a corner. Even now as I write my energy is still below 70% and my throat is still dry and the odd headache visits.
I learnt during this period that I craved sugary foods. I could only manage light snacks and had no appetite for a meal. My digestion still feels sluggish now. I just wanted to sleep all the time and sometimes did.
So what did I learn from this experience and about recovery. One is that I am lucky to be here when so many didn’t make it. I genuinely feel grateful to have got through it. But here are the things that may make your recovery a bit easier.
Stock the freezer up with some broths or homemade soups and easy meals. You literally will not have the energy or motivation to rustle up much, and if you have a family these will be easy wins . Pop some extra tins in your storeupboard. Baked Beans, Spaghetti hoops, Heinz Tomato Soups ( your childhood favourites to bring comfort and warmth) Literally you open, pop in a pan, heat and eat.
Paracetomal and Ibuprofen. I found taking paracetomal regularly was useful in the initial and intense stage of the virus as it helped take the edge off my symptoms so I could sleep. I found Ibuprofen helped more when I was emerging out of the virus with headaches and inflammation. ( Always seek medical guidance though if you are unsure)
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Keep a glass by you with a straw to sip on regularly. Slice in some lemons for an added Vitamin C hit and some Ginger too. Herbal teas with honey.
Toast, toast and more toast. Buttered bread is comforting and keeps your energy up to fight the infection.
Steam inhalation. Most pharmacies here in the UK sell little pots of menthol crystals ( no not the drug kind) these are highly concentrated crystals full of menthol. Place one tiny shard into a large bowl of hot water ( not your pasta bowl) a large mixing bowl is ideal. Grab a large towel and then sit at the kitchen table with your head over the bowl and place the towel around your head like a tent and try if you can and sit for atleast five minutes to allow the steam to rise into your nostrils and lungs to help moisten the airways.
Use a natural nose & throat balm or grab some Vicks. Rub it into your chest to allow their essential oils to soak through the skin to aid your chest.
Sleep, rest, nap and repeat. It is tempting when you feel a little better to start running around tidying, organising and doing chores and catch up jobs. STOP! you still need to set a slow pace as the body needs to repair. If anything you’ll end up relapsing and being worse, so those early days as you emerge out of the fog are the ones where you have to be careful to not overdo things.
Returning to work. Communication is key. Let your manager, boss or employer know that whilst you feel better and are negative you still need to set a slower pace than normal and that you are happy to prioritise the areas that need your support the most until you are back up to optimum health and can take it all on.
Keep meals simple and diary commitments to a minimum. If you can get others to take up the slack in the house, and running the children to their clubs then lean on them for a bit. Priortise chores in the home. If it is clothes washing and keeping the kitchen tidy then fine, but not the lounge, the hallway and the other rooms and stuff that creeps in. Taking on too much at home will exhaust you quickly.
Slowly build back up your meals with plenty of fresh vegetables, protein and carbohydrates with a bowl full of fruit to snack on. Maybe batch cook so you can pop a meal in the freezer for the day you get back from work tired or for a lazy restful weekend. I wouldn’t be without my slow cooker. It has been a life saver whilst recovering.
Think about taking a Vitamin D supplement along with a good quality all purpose multi-vitamin to begin boosting your system again. Also look at your gut health too! Probiotics and Acidophilus to keep it ticking in harmony.
Meditate daily to ease off the stress as well as Yoga stretches to get those muscles used to working again and opening up the chakras to allow the energy to flow.
Be gentle with yourself. Who cares if your home becomes messy. It won’t be like that forever. Keep yourself warm and wrapped up in a favourite scarf. Blankets to nap under in front of a favourite movie.
The NHS also have this useful resource with information on Covid Recovery Your Covid Recovery
If you do feel unwell please seek out medical advice. It is better to get the right treatment and assessment which could save your life. Don’t feel you are being a burden they would rather you ask than sit at home worrying.
Any tips that worked for you when you caught covid? I’d love to hear from you, so pop something in the comment box below or send me an email. The more we can do to help each other through this the better it will surely be for us all.
Sending much Love & Light 💫
Melita x