By: Natalie L. Boehm, MBA, RBLP-T
For months now, America has been struggling getting through the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. It has divided many, some insisting it is a hoax and others following the guidelines set. The result has had a negative impact on our health, our economy, and our society. Unless people start taking Covid-19 seriously, the consequences from this will have a negative impact on millions.
I caught Covid-19 in the end of September. I went to the emergency room and the nurses did not take me seriously about the symptoms I was having. Things were pointing that there was nothing wrong. Even after taking a Covid-19 test, it came back negative. I started to think maybe I was overreacting, that it was something else.
Over the next seven weeks, I continued to struggle and could not shake the symptoms I was having. Difficulty breathing, congestion, loss of smell, blood pressure rising, heart arrhythmia, and brain fog are some of the many symptoms I have dealt with. What makes it more aggravating is the effect it has had on my epilepsy. Thankfully, I did not have any seizures or loose consciousness, but at times I really feared I was going to. People are thinking of this as a bad flu and I can tell you I would pick the flu any day over this. I can express enough how important it is that people take preventative precautions to avoid catching Covid-19.
Finally, I had enough of being sick and sought medical attention. Talking to the Covid-19 team physician not only did he determine that the Covid-19 test produce a false negative, but I had caught a bacterial infection due to my immune system being weakened. I was started on 1750mg of Amoxicillin daily and ten days later, I finally am being able to function to be able to reach my goals. Part of me looks at this and I am wondering how did I survive this? I think it comes down to I cannot go anywhere, I cannot leave this earth. I have a family to care for and I must fight to keep going forward to support and be there for them.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for our society to take Covid-19 seriously, no matter where you are when it comes to your health. Living in San Bernardino County, I cannot tell you the frustration I have felt when it comes to the attitude of so many out where I am. Many calling it a hoax on social media, claiming they will not give into Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mask mandate. The sheriff of our county is refusing to implement it, focusing on politics rather than public health policy. It puts communities at risk and results in unnecessary deaths.
I empathize with those who are following the requirements and have been practicing social distancing. We need to work together to help resolve the issue. Along with a negative effect on the economy, it is having a negative effect on our mental well-being due to the lack of socialization and changes that need to be made to survive this. I have been using Zoom to my full advantage to keep in touch with those who mean a lot to me to help tackle that problem to focus on my mental well-being and prevent the feeling of isolation. We all need to take advantage of the resources available to keep healthy and balanced.
For everyone here, please take care of yourself and your loved ones and take Covid-19 seriously. We cannot bring politics into this and divide our communities. Working together is what needs to be done to overcome this pandemic and survive for our families and our community.
