Alone with Covid
Fireworks seen through the author’s window when she was home recuperating from Covid. Photo courtesy of the author.
Additional writing and consulting on this piece was contributed by Fiona Lowenstein.
I got sick on March 9th. I was fully convinced for about five days that I had “the weirdest cold of my life,” before I came to terms with how sick I was really getting, and the possibility that I had coronavirus. At the time, many of the symptoms I was experiencing had not yet been widely written about. Covid symptoms are expansive and can cycle off and on, so every day was a new adventure. On top of being sick and exhausted, I was really lonely, confused, and not prepared for what I was experiencing.
For the last 10 days of being sick I have been alone in my apartment. While I am lucky to have a WFH job, friends near me to drop off things as needed outside my door, and a milder case of coronavirus that didn’t require hospitalization, there were many moments of real fear and isolation. Many people in their mid-20s like me live alone, and are far from family (mine are in other countries), so I wanted to share some tips and thoughts on how to get through coronavirus if you live alone.
Before sharing my tips below, please please check information from the WHO and your local DOH before proceeding. Information is being constantly updated, and new resources are becoming available.
Physical
Talk to a doctor early and often. Try to get in touch with a doctor or healthcare professional (physician assistant, nurse) when you first become sick, so you have someone you can check in with should symptoms quickly worsten. MyChart messaging, calling, and telehealth are good options to start with. For telehealth, try to be in touch with a doctor in your area as they’re most likely to be familiar with the situation on the ground.
Listen to your body — if it feels weird and off, it probably is. Sometimes Covid does feel like a cold, but other times, there are symptoms that feel really unusual. Listen to your body and check in every day. New symptoms can and will crop up.
Have a check in buddy, or a few! Contact a few close friends or family and let them know your situation as soon as you become sick. Ask them to text you at designated times throughout the day, and make sure they have you on their phone’s “break through” list for “do not disturb.” If possible, get in touch with a neighbor, and alert them to your situation, so they can call an ambulance for you, if needed. Make sure friends and family have your doctor’s name and number, and are authorized to speak to them on your behalf, in case you become breathless and unable to talk.
Know when to go to the hospital. This is the hardest part, and the question we at Body Politic have received the most in the past few days. Obviously, if you might have COVID-19, the recommendation is to stay home for as long as possible to avoid spreading the virus or taking resources away from other, more vulnerable patients. Remember to always call ahead before going to the ER (or have a friend call ahead for you, if you’re breathless), so that the hospital is ready to receive you and isolate you away from the general population. We spoke to an infectious disease doctor who said the following symptoms are reason to go to the ER:
a fever lasting more than a week
shortness of breath at any stage and even without a fever
dehydration and the inability to keep water down
vomiting for more than two days, especially coupled with dehydration
Prepare for a hospital visit. Pack a hospital bag while you’re still well enough to move around your apartment, in case your health deteriorates quickly. Things we recommend bringing:
a notebook and pen to communicate with doctors, in case you have trouble speaking due to breathlessness
a few days’ worth of clean underwear
a mask or t-shirt mask and gloves (if you have them), for your ride to the hospital and time in the waiting room.
hand lotion, chapstick, or any other toiletries that it would be hard to live without for a few days.
a warm sweatshirt/blanket in case you are having temperature regulation issues while in the ER
plain crackers (or another easily digestible snack) and water in case you are in the ER for many hours without food
a cell phone charger, and a portable charger if you have one — if you are admitted, you will not be allowed visitors, so you’ll want to have your phone charged so you can communicate with friends and family
Rest! This is real. Recovery can be very slow, and symptoms can return. Take sick days, if you are able. Just because you’re WFH doesn’t mean you’re not working. You really need to rest and not overexert yourself. It may take weeks before you’re back to your normal self.
Eat when you can. This is a tough one because loss of appetite, taste and smell are all pretty common, but especially if you’re taking medicine it’s so important to not take it on an empty stomach. Try to find a few food items that are palatable and snack on them in small bits to keep some energy.
Stock up on medicine. Food and toilet paper are essential…. but also a few different kinds of medicine to help with a whole variety of symptoms: cold and flu meds, decongestants, expectorants, painkillers, antacids, etc. Please make sure to consult a healthcare professional and/or CDC first on what OTCs are best to take, as recommendations are evolving. Since you should be avoiding leaving home, look into delivery service at your local pharmacy, or ask a friend to drop supplies off outside your door.
Keep up a hygiene routine, if you’re able. Try to keep your home as clean as possible by wiping down surfaces regularly. Energy will be low so do what you can within reason.
Mental
Talk to yourself with kindness, the way you would to a best friend or a family member, child, or pet. Be generous and gentle, even if your instinct is to “suck it up” or put others first. Imagine your best friend was describing the pain you’re in to you, how would you react? Give yourself that same level of love and concern.
Talk to people who give you comfort! I personally didn’t want to “scare” people so I initially shut myself off from others. This just increased my fear and loneliness and made others worry about me. As soon as I reached out and started being in touch again, I felt immediately more relieved. Text with friends and make sure people in your life understand that talking on the phone may be difficult due to shortness of breath.
Cry, honestly just fucking cry. While excessive crying can exacerbate breathlessness and mucus, sometimes it’s inevitable to shed some tears. You’re human, this is scary, and you may need to really *feel* those emotions.
Take a news break. Sign up for your city’s local news alerts to keep informed and give yourself a time every day when you check the news/twitter/facebook. Ask friends to keep track of news developments for you and only update you on what’s necessary. Delete social media apps that are making you feel scared. Try to stay up-to-date without drowning yourself in terrifying news while you’re already sick.
Don’t talk to people you don’t want to. Don’t talk to people who are gaslighting you, or being negative. Respond, if you can, just to let them know you’re okay, but don’t feel like you need to engage further! People are taking a lot of their anxieties out on each other right now, even if they don’t mean to. Sometimes you really need to talk to people who know exactly what you’re going through—for that exact reason, Body Politic is creating a support group for people dealing with symptoms, or recovering from COVID-19. Sign up here, if you’re interested.
Listen to podcasts or audiobooks in the dark. This is very specific, I know, but it’s a good break from TV and less strain than reading. This will help make sure you get some rest and will allow you to fall asleep and take naps more easily. Meditation apps like Calm also have sweet bedtime stories you can listen to if you’re feeling anxious before bed.
Find relief in other senses. When I lost taste and smell, I was scared because of the development of a new symptom, but also because as an avid foodie, I had now lost a source of comfort and relief. Try to find some comfort in other senses, like touch. Put on your coziest PJs and socks, use massage balls, or hug a teddy bear. If you have the energy later in your recovery, try some very light stretching in bed to release some tension, or give yourself a gentle self-massage.
Finally, do what you want and need to do. There is so much content out there about working out, cooking, meditating, learning Tik Toks to feel better in this time. Most of this content is not cognisant of sick or recovering people. If you have energy to do one of those things, go for it. However, don’t be overcome by the pressure to be productive at the expense of your own health. All of those things can wait until you feel better!
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Sabrina Bleich is a member of the Body Politic team and contributor to Body Type. She works in TV development and as a writer/researcher for film, TV, and podcasts. She dabbles in comedy as a member of the sketch comedy group, God Should Not Have Chosen Us. Find her infrequent tweets and other pieces at @rabbisabbi.
Fiona Lowenstein (she/they) is the Founder and Events Director for Body Politic. They are a freelance writer, producer, and wellness practitioner based in NYC. Check out their work at fionalowenstein.com and follow them on Instagram at @fi_lowenstein for updates on their next yoga class, selfies, and dog content.
