Please Take COVID-19 Seriously [A Cyclist’s Personal Experience with the Corona Virus]

“I received a positive test result for the virus today…. Some pertinent facts:

• I returned from London on Friday (March) 6th.
• Sunday 8th I woke up with a slight sinus discomfort but didn’t think much of it. With some Musinex D, it went away pretty fast and no other symptoms. I felt great all day.
• I woke up Monday 9th and felt perfectly fine and rode 2 hours. Once home, I was contemplating going to work but, given the slight sinus issue Sunday, I thought I would be super overly cautious and just work from home. Felt great.
• At 11am I developed a 100 degree fever that got to 101.5 by noon. I went down fast and felt like shit. Fought the fever until Wed morning. I was sweating profusely at night and crazy temperature fluctuations during the day. My temp varied from 95-101.8 for that period.
• Wed I felt a little better and thought I broke the fever. Then my body just about gave out on me from exhaustion. I actually blacked out in my home and woke up on the floor. I was that destroyed by the virus.
• I never experienced a severe cough or shortness of breath.
• I went to the ER Wed morning and they treated me like Patient Zero for 6 hours in isolation. They did blood work, chest x-ray and EKG and all were perfectly good.
• Sent me home after testing me for COVID and informing me that results would take at least 4 days and up to 2 weeks – yes, that’s what they said.
• I had no energy Thursday or Friday – had to hold the hand rail in my house for stairs and almost fell over several times – that weak.
• I woke up today and FINALLY felt like I was recovering – and got my test result at 2 this afternoon – 4 days later.

PL was quick to tell me the good news is I now have immunity! Thankfully my wife has been out of town the entire time.

The Alameda Department of Health called me today and told me I was under self-isolation INDEFINITELY. They will call me when I can go outside. Crazy journey.”