By Jenny Mills.
What is it like to have coronavirus? We have been told we are all going to catch it in the coming few months. So when my husband caught it, I thought maybe I could help you prepare for what is to come. So here is my day-by-day coronavirus diary…
We are all in panic, pretty much locked down and washing our hands every five minutes. I have caught myself washing packaging of my food! As well as the handles of a bag for life! Oh, and house keys. Well, also bleaching my car and keys, and sanitising anything to moves… or doesn’t! And changing/washing clothes after doing something so simple as going to the supermarket!! Then contemplating “would it not be better to just catch it and get it over with? At least then I should be immune?”. I have isolated myself and my two year old for a week now. And after all this effort, it looks like I will be ill by the weekend anyway. My husband has coronavirus.
But what is it actually like to have coronavirus?
What is it like to have coronavirus; the truth first hand as it is happening…
So let me enlighten you….
My husband is in the services and works away from home, for the services. He was preparing to be deployed, so we hadn’t seen him for 2 weeks. His boat crew has been on lockdown preparing to sail. Inevitably, being further south and around more cases of coronavirus, someone caught it. Their deployment was delayed and emergency meetings held. With me at home alone with the baby out of nursery with a cough, and me trying to save my hospitality business in this crisis, he was allowed home for a night and a day.
He then headed back as preparations to sail again were underway. A day later he began to feel unwell. This is his story so far.
Meanwhile, my 2 year old and I are stuck 3 hours away in Scotland, home alone and on lock down – find out how to entertain a toddler on lock down here. We are counting down the 5 days to see if symptoms hit us too ☹
Day 1:
Hubby WhatsApp-ed this evening, after a day getting ready to deploy. His face was flushed and he looked exhausted. He said he wasn’t too bad. Just felt like he had a bad cold coming on – his head didn’t hurt, but felt heavy. Plus, he kept wanting to cough but nothing was there to cough.
He had been struggling during the day at work feeling incredibly hot, but thought it was just the heat on the boat. He looks beetroot! But then he is susceptible to rosy cheeks. He keeps reassuring me that he doesn’t feel too ill, but he knows he has the symptoms coming on.
Apparently keeping your nose clean, and keeping yourself hydrated are key. I keep making up games to get my daughter to drink a little more.
Day 2:
Morning:
I phone him first thing in the morning to see how he is. His normally sallow complexion is very pale. He looks tired and has been up all night with diarrhoea. Now he just wants to sleep, and does so all morning.
Afternoon:
Hubby has spene most of the afternoon in bed. But he keeps assuring me he doesn’t feel too bad. I know he is not telling me the full truth. He never gets ill. I have never seen him like this! But I am feeling reassured that whilst I can see he is ill, he’s not suffering as badly as the media have been saying.
Evening:
Schools are shutting, people are panicking and saying we are going on lock down. His boat have called all those who are non-symptomatic to move onboard and live on the boat until it sails. This leaves my husband alone in his digs.
I’m in tears wanting him home. Scared he gets too ill to look after himself. And he would never call for help (not if I weren’t there to do it for him). They say day four is the worst!
Plus, I’m terrified my daughter and I get ill next week and he can’t be here to help us once he is better. We have dogs and horses to look after. As well as trying to care for a toddler unwell. If it gets as truly bad as I have read, I’m going to really struggle. I don’t want to worry him so calm myself down.
My daughter has had two mushy nappies and has a very thick runny nose. Apart from this she is well. My stomach is starting to feel dodgy. But it has been an extremely stressful and emotional week. Trying to save my business (which has been giving me a good life and has been successful to date) and my staff.
Day 3:
Last night hubby had a good night. Slept well and feels more rested. Just feeling a bit run down and hot. As the day progresses he feels much better. He now just feels like he has a heavy cold – without the runny nose. He gets out of bed today and is getting bored being at home. I have heard it can come and go, you think you are getting better, then get worse. Let’s see what to morrow brings.
Day 4:
So it’s his fourth day on lock down with the virus and he says he feels well enough to go back to work. He is desperate to get out the house for some fresh air, but I tell him not to.
It is 5 days since he came home to see us, and 4 days since he left back for base. Millie is emotional today, but seems well other than this. I feel very tired today with all the pressure.
Day 5:
Hubby is so well, we are questioning if he even had coronavirus. He is going crazy inside so goes for a solo run away from other.
Day 6:
It has come back with a vengeance . Now we are certain he does have coronavirus. He cannot stop coughing. We are struggling to have a conversation he is coughing so much. He is very tired and says “I can’t explain it, but my chest just doesn’t feel right. It’s a very strange feeling”.
By the end of the day I’m struggling to keep myself together. He is alone 3 hours away, we are now on lockdown and the Navy don’t seem to be keeping tabs on him. What if he gets into difficulty during the night!
Millie and I are still well. Just struggling with the pressure of my husband being ill and alone, trying to work with a toddler at home, and the pressures that my business is facing. Currently we cannot pay salaries.
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Watch this space for tomorrow’s update on a real, live case of coronavirus as it is happeing. Know all you can about coronavirus, the symptoms and what to expect if you or someone you love falls ill.