Today marks exactly one month since my wife and I contracted Delta variant COVID.
I am a physician assistant, a medical provider for the past 40-plus years, and a devoted volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) for the 16 years we have lived on the island. Like so many of our fellow islanders, since March 2020, we have been ultra-conscientious regarding this wicked virus. We have not traveled, we have consistently worn masks, canceled all indoor events, concerts, and remained isolated in our small, cozy beachfront cabin.
On Dec. 21, we “let out guard down.” Our wonderful 35-year-old son Dennis came to spend some special holiday time with his moms. We were not wearing masks, nor were we aware that he had been at a friend’s “cookie making” party before arriving to be with us. He is a barista in Seattle and an intelligent, aware young man who was double vaxxed. Both of us have been triple vaxxed, boosted since my 65th birthday on Sept. 23, 2021.
On Dec. 23, the virus “took over”. I was completely out of it — unable to prepare food or get dressed. I spent three full days in bed, with all the wicked symptoms. I really have no memory of that time frame (it was Christmas)! I believe I slept 20 out of 24 hours. On Dec. 26, I spoke with Dr. Ina Opplinger, M.D. from the MRC, regarding our symptoms and she appointed Sue and me to be tested on Dec. 27.
At the Pharmacy trailer, we were given the tests to do in the car. Within 30 seconds they both turned positive. We immediately went home and back to bed for the next week. No memory of New Year’s Eve nor New Year’s Day. Jan. 2 was the last day of isolation, yet I was still very sick. Sue fared much better and has been caring for me with kindness, competence and love for this entire month-long journey. Sue is now 100% and back at work as a real estate broker with Windermere.
I have been seen three times by one of our local COVID experts via the Multicare medical system. She put me on oral and inhaled steroids immediately and I remain on both. She cautioned me that many patients will go on to develop long-term COVID. Fortunately, she warned me about some concerning symptoms so when they appeared, like “brain zapping” and “lack of equilibrium,” I was not alarmed.
I have all the usual culprits — cough, sinus congestion, headaches, intense body aches, shortness of breath, wheezing, gastrointestinal malfunction, loss of taste and smell, brain fog, memory loss and confusion. The feeling that every cell in my body has been affected, is inflamed and aches, ebbs and flows throughout each day, sometimes each hour. My chest X-ray, ECG and blood workup were all, basically, within the normal range.
The advice from our fabulous providers, our dentist and my MRC colleagues is to:
1) Rest, rest, rest and sleep when tired.
2) Strong nutrition.
3) Multivitamins and other herbal supplements.
4) Fluids to include electrolytes.
5) Gargle with warm salt water (our dentist says it helps with sinus congestion).
6) Listen to my body and take the time needed to heal.
Our Vashon community has been supportive, competent, knowledgeable and generous, bringing nutrition, healing energies and love. We are grateful beyond words.
Colleen Carette has been an islander since 2006. In the persona of a fairy named Tinkerbell, she served as Vashon’s unofficial mayor in 2017, is the wife of 30 years to Sue Carette, and is a member of the Vashon MRC. Last week, she took a medical leave from her job as a medical provider at the University of Puget Sound’s health center, where she has worked since 2010. Her expertise is in transgender medicine and mental health issues including eating disorders, substance abuse and depression. She has a Master’s degree in mental health counseling.
