#tw health

In December, we visited family over my kids’ school break.

We wore masks everywhere we went. Our entire family is vaccinated, and those who can receive booster doses have done so. We only had contact with our own immediate family. In spite of all this, I contracted Covid-19.

I have an immune system disorder, but my health has been good over the last year. I’m in my thirties. I have no history of lung problems. My Covid-19 progressed over the course of three weeks. I recently retested, and I’m currently negative, which means I’m no longer infectious. I absolutely believe that my vaccination kept me out of the hospital so far.

Unfortunately, I’ve now developed pneumonia. I have “walking pneumonia,” which is colloquial term for the least dangerous stage of infection. Basically, it means you can still function. A lot of people with mild pneumonia do not seek treatment because they mistake it for a cold or flu. If your immune system is very healthy, and you weren’t already sick, you might recover on your own, but it’s still better to seek treatment and avoid the risk of progression.

I have a persistent dry cough, fatigue, headaches, trouble breathing, and night sweats. It gets worse over the course of the day. I’m taking shallower, more frequent breaths; my body adapted to doing that very quickly. If I sit still and don’t talk, I can almost forget I have it, which can be confusing if your life is pretty sedentary.

Viral pneumonia can actually loweryour core body temperature. This means you may not develop a fever. This is particularly common for people with weakened immune systems (such as those who are also fighting off Covid-19).

Pneumonia comes in two varieties: Viral and bacterial. The bacterial variety is more dangerous, but the viral version is harder to treat. My oxygen saturation is still good. If my pneumonia turns out to be bacterial, and responds well to treatment, then I’ll avoid hospitalization.

Avoiding hospitalization is so important, guys. Our hospitals (in the USA) are at capacity. They cannot afford to take on patients who wouldhave recovered if they’d just treated themselves earlier.

If you have anysymptoms of Covid-19, please get a PCR test. I was negative on the home tests, possibly because I was testing too soon after infection and possibly because home tests aren’t as accurate. Households in the USA are entitled to four free home tests, which you can order right here. A home test is way better than no test, friends.

If you develop even mild breathing problems, contact a doctor. Take all of the medicine prescribed to you.

According to my doctor:

1) If you get out of breath walking short distances or up stairs, and that’s not typical for you

2) If you can’t get any relief from cough medicine, or your cough seems to be getting worse instead of better

3) If you hear any whistling sounds when you breathe (wheezing)

Go to the ER. Don’t wait.

Get vaccinated. Wear a mask. This really is dangerous.

Please, friends. Keep yourselves safe for me.

XOXO, Earnest

girl help, the health issues caused by my sleep deprivation make it very difficult to sleep

Today is #WorldMSDay - time to remind people that some diseases are invisible and still a challenge for all the affected.

I was diagnosed with MS 15 years ago. It’s not always easy but it’s not going to get me down and it’s not defining what I can or cannot do.

i hope you’re all doing well on here i have missed being active but life stuff has just been a lot recently and i haven’t had the energy to be online as much