Covid in 2024

After almost 4 years of being super careful and doing all we can to avoid Covid, last month hubby and I got the dreaded virus.

Honestly it was so much worse than I thought it would be.

I knew when I woke up on the Sunday (21st Jan) that something wasn’t right. I’ve never had such a sore body before and the tiredness was hectic. That morning I slept until 10h30 and it was a hot summers day. We took the tests but already knew the results and we were right.

It was honestly the longest week I can remember. Everything hurt. The coughing was both painful and exhausting. Do not get me started on the sore throat. My knees felt swollen and it was an effort to walk from one room to the other. I’ve never had such bad backache before. Showering was exhausting. And then at night the worst insomnia I’ve ever encountered would kick in and last for hours. To be so sore and so tired and then to lay awake for hours was really difficult. The summer heat did not help.

Hubby had it even worse and was hardly eating he was so ill. I tried to get him to nibble on salty biscuits and eat small meals during the day but he felt so awful it was a huge effort. Neither of us could taste or smell anything.

My Mom offered to drive through and take care of us and she continued to offer daily. My parents, sister, family and friends have been wonderful - keeping us in their prayers and checking in on us throughout the day. I could feel their love, prayers and positive thoughts.

A really disappointing fact was the way most people at work expected me to just continue as per usual. Despite feeling awful and operating on minimal sleep and zero energy.

After 2 days (of being online for a couple of hours a day checking e-mails) it was just business as per usual and it was assumed I was back to working fulltime. Even with an out-of-office on, people continued to e-mail and send work. I was told I can work from home but there was no encouragement to put in sick leave.

Working remotely or being a hybrid employee doesn’t mean sick leave falls away. Or did I miss something? I did have a couple people from the office checking in and who were genuinely concerned but three people at work who give a damn really makes you think.

The tiredness is still very much there. Yesterday afternoon I actually took a nap from 16h00 - 18h00 in the never-ending summer heat. I’d worked an 11 hour day on Friday just to try get through work (February is a hectic and busy month) and long hours and tiredness wears one out.

What about you? Have you had Covid and how did you manage?

xx