I have had four cases of COVID since 2020, even though I had my shots.
My breathing problems are probably due to inflammation of the airways caused by the virus. It surely makes a difference in who you choose for your doctor. The previous one said I didn't have Asthma and my lungs were clear. She offered no reason I had shortness of breath.
The new doctor said I do have Asthma and is looking for the reason for my problems. I am scheduled for more tests and I am using a steroid med in my nebulizer. I will have in home physical therapy beginning next week. My entire body has suffered because of the virus. I cannot walk much at all. Fatigue overcomes me almost instantly. That is one of the symptoms of Long Covid.
It is hard to believe that before I had the first COVID virus, I lived alone in my house in the mountains. Drove my car anywhere I wanted to go, and, except for a painful knee, I was doing OK.
I thought the isolation from the Pandemic was going to be my worst complaint, but no. While the isolation was harmful to my mental health, the virus which lives inside me has inflamed my entire body, I believe. It does damage to all of the body, not just the lungs or respiratory area.
I am hopeful now that the new program I will be on will help me with all of the symptoms of Long COVID. Soon after my first COVID illness and my shortness of breath became troublesome, I was sent to a cardiologist. I had several tests and they diagnosed me with a faulty valve in my heart. I have been monitored for that, too, but there has been no change since the first ECHO-cardiogram.
When people scoff at COVID as a serious illness, I would like to tell them it is very serious. It changed my entire life. I no longer live alone in my house. I almost always need someone to drive me if I must park a distance from the door of my doctor's office. At times, my sister takes a wheelchair in the car in case I must walk a long way to my destination.
But my mind is still good and for that I am grateful. I will be teaching again soon on Zoom. My students seem to enjoy the classes and come back for more.
I have worked for several days scheduling volunteers to work in our NCWN-West booth at Festival on the Square in Hayesville. We have a good number of authors with books on the market now so they are happy to meet the public.
About 3,000 people attend the festival each year, and some of our writers sell lots of books.
Rosemary Royston
I will miss being there, but plan to be in Hiawassee in July when Rosemary Royston, excellent writer and well-published poet, will teach a poetry workshop.
She has published several books and teaches often at the John C. Campbell Folk School in their writing department. I will enjoy being with my writing buddies again.
Hope you are having a wonderful summer. Don't get COVID while you are out having fun.
