Jessica Lovett
Covid didn’t kill me. It took my life.
I am what is called a Long Hauler. What qualifies me are debilitating covid symptoms lingering longer than a month. October 15th will mark 4 months for me. I wasn’t sick enough to go to the hospital, but I’ve been too sick to live my life.
I’m so grateful I didn’t die.
Covid destroys multiple systems in the body, not just respiratory. Post covid syndrome has resulted in possible lifelong chronic illness and permanent organ damage for many survivors, or who our government likes to call “recovered”.
Prior to covid, I was a very healthy, happy, busy 40 year old mom with no underlying conditions. Now I have multi-systemic issues that have cost me a job I loved and left my son with a shell of a mom.
My first symptom was GI upset followed by elevated temp, chills alternating with profusely sweating, crippling fatigue, astounding brain fog accompanied by confusion and hallucinations, tachycardia, joint and muscle pain, shortness of breath on exertion, panic attacks, blurred vision, new food allergies, vertigo, and more.
My current daily reality is this: imagine being put under. You know the feeling when you’re waking up and you’re not sure where you’re at? That’s what the brain fog and confusion feels like. You know how tired your body is from being under? That is what the fatigue feels like.
At the beginning of lockdown in March, I was more concerned for everyone in my household than myself. At the time, my husband was immunocompromised. We have a 2 year old, and my elderly mom also lives with us. I considered myself the healthiest and strongest family member.
My husband and I were both infected. He was back to normal by day 12. And here I am almost 4 months later, still waiting to be back to normal. There is no rhyme or reason to who this virus chooses. And tests are barely reliable. We both tested negative for the virus and positive for antibodies.
The future is unknown with long covid. Is this permanent or temporary? Will my son ever know the real me?
I don’t share my story for pity. I share to contribute more proof to how serious this virus is. I share because if my story helps even one person either feel better or do better, then something positive came out of this nightmare.
There is no cure, there is no treatment, and doctors hardly know how to help covid patients because there is still so much to be learned. There are no solutions to this pandemic except for mask wearing and social distancing. Be a helper. Do your part even if it’s small. Be part of the solution. Love others. Love yourself. You never know whose life you might be sparing.
At the very least, please practice showing kindness and compassion to those who have become disabled or have lost loved ones.
My name is Jessica. I’m a 40 year old first time mom. Prior to covid, I worked as the social media marketing director and in house graphic designer for a small music school in Texas. This is where I met my husband. We are a very musical family and typically have a lot of fun together being goofy and making music together.