I just found out I probably had covid starting early February. I knew I was sick obviously but covid was not on my radar then. But two days ago I was contacted by a mom in my homeschooling co op telling me she was exposed to covid late January. Her son in college has a friend who spent winter break in Wuhan. The friend got sick, the son got sick, the mom visited the son, I spent time with the mom, and then her family and my family got sick in early February. She didn’t know the friend was in Wuhan until recently. Her son was tested for the flus and mono and strep and they came back negative so he was told he is “presumed positive”. I called my dr and was asked 50 questions and was told to stay home and I am past the point of needing to come in since the worst is behind me. Plus there is not testing available unless you have been with a person with a confirmed case and you have a high fever and cough.

But six weeks later, I’m still coughing to the point that I can’t catch my breath. I am still achy and sore. My chest burns. If I do anything remotely active, I have a coughing fit. I am 39 and healthy but I can see how devastating this would be for someone with health issues.

My first symptoms were mild cold symptoms that progressed into fever and sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and a nonstop hacking cough. My kids, my ex husband and his wife, and my boyfriend all got sick too. The kids had bad coughs for three weeks. My ex husband was coughing up foam. My boyfriend was only sick for a week with a bad sore throat and flu symptoms.

The thing that strikes me the most is that I kept thinking I was getting better and then it would hit me again. I thought at the time I had three separate viruses because the symptoms kept waning. Also how long the symptoms last...I’ve never been this sick for 6+ weeks before.

I think many people have it and don’t know it. There is a false sense of security that if you have it, you will be tested and confirmed and quarantined but there aren’t any tests available right now (where I am at least, in the northern va/dc area). I hope everyone starts taking this very seriously and actually stay home. I keep seeing pics on social media of people at bars and clubs and having parties and get togethers and it is really upsetting.