Starting to think I have a case of Hypochondria and not potential COVID-19; this is the uneventful day two diary of a pending diagnosis.
South Africa (24 June 2020) – After the chaos and stress of yesterday, day two feels uneventful. As mentioned yesterday (you can catch the post below if you missed it), there has been a COVID-19 scare in our home.
Coming down from the panic has left me feeling doubtful.
I am doubting if I had any symptoms at all. I still have chills but is that because it is winter and chilly when not in the sun? I still have a headache, but is it as bad as I thought? Do I just need water? Is my body sore, or was I just very active over the weekend? Self-doubt has been my friend today. But I am glad I got tested because its better to be safe than sorry.
Sadly the area where my domestic lives is in a constant fight for electricity, so I have not been able to reach her today. I have no idea if she is safe, if she got the medical treatment needed or if she needs help with anything? I am worried she has been shunned or pushed out by her neighbours. As I mentioned yesterday, COVID-19 is intensely stigmatised, in all areas of South Africa.
When she first came back to work at the start of level three, we spoke in length about how COVID-19 is viewed in her community. She expressed a deep fear for the virus and concern for her children. Thankfully, she has extended her home and is able to separate herself from her children now. A comfort I know she will be grateful of. I am feeling unsettled and anxious, hoping they restore her power soon so we can talk.
My doctor didn’t call today, but I didn’t really expect her to anyway, it was just a small hope that our tests would have been processed in the 24-hour range. Hopefully, we get the news tomorrow.
Stay tuned for more tomorrow.
If we get our test results, I will let you know how we felt and what our plans are if they come back positive.
Hold thumbs for a good outcome!
If you would like more information, the South African COVID-19 website is a wealth of knowledge and zero-rated so you don’t use data accessing the information. If you too test positive, you can access the NICD isolation information here, and remember, don’t panic!
If you missed the previous diary entries, you can find them below.
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 & 5 | Day 6 to 11 | Recovery | A Year Later