Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine…Lord Byron. Everyone has been touched by the covid-19 pandemic. Our family was no exception. Although we have been following CDC and state guidelines, doesn’t mean everyone else do. Our story of covid-19 begun about three weeks ago, I was only running into the store to get essential items for our family. As a precaution since this whole pandemic started, we have kept M away from anyone due to his health issues. True a mask would have been handy while in the store; but due to some people hoarding finding masks, tissue, lysol and gloves were impossible. Moving forward, I was standing in the check outline with my buggy. Yes, I made sure to maintain at least six feet distance with the lady in front of me. However, a lady with no buggy came up behind me. She started coughing. I could feel her breath on the back on my neck. I turned around to give her the eye (cover your cough). She did not but instead kept coughing. Hence, I moved to the front of my buggy to put space in between us. Other customers were looking at her too. Once in the car, I wiped my hands and neck with sanitizer. After several days, I developed a really awful sore throat. It would come and go with a vengeance. So after four days of dealing with it, I called teladoc. Noteworthy, on the third day on top of sore throat a new problem of headaches appeared. They were unusual headaches, I never experienced before. All this time I was still trying to take care of M even when feeling so drain. The teladoc informed me that my concerns or symptoms were that of covid-19. I was confused because there was no fever. He noted that a person could be systematic or a-systematic and spread the virus. He recommended self-quarantine along with M plus husband. Thus, I requested to be tested for covid-19. However, I learned my primary health care provider has to request it. So at 7:45 a.m the next day, I am standing outside my doctors’ office. The new procedure consist of waiting outside for a nurse to triage you and then you wait in the car. I finally got a call on my cell phone. They were hesitant about seeing me given my symptoms, by this point I had developed a cough. I pleaded my case to be seen again by another doctor and be tested. After waiting some more in the car, they finally agreed to see me. I was given a mask and taken to back. I understand that my age kicked me out of the criteria for testing, but on the news they said testing was available for everyone. On the contrary, I sense my doctor was wrestling with do I deserve to be tested. Apparently, the covid-19 testing was limited. I reminded the doctor of my underlying health conditions and symptoms. It seem like eternity I waited in the room by myself. Finally, the doctor came back into the room with mask on. At first, he recommended writing a referral for me to be tested at a drive thru site, that was taking place around 11 to about 12 or until they run out. I know I am not the smartest person in the world, however, I reasoned with the doctor (why go wait another two hours to be tested and take the chance they run out before I am seen; then have to come back to doctor to be seen again; while I am already here just test me). After the doctor left the room again, I could hear nurses and doctor talking about my situation. Later a nurse came in with PPE on to test me for strep throat. Of course, it came back negative. The doctor returned and stated my throat was indeed inflamed badly. He finally agreed to give me the convid-19 test. The test was given by a nurse in full PPE gear. It would be a long week of isolation before my phone call, to let me know to add another week of family isolation until I am symptom free. The bright side so far, M seem happy and symptom free…he keep telling me ‘love you’ each time he see me. I am so thankful to be home with my family during this pandemic.
Simply an autism mom resting at home
M's Story 