COVID19 life

Signs of Life

July 22, 2022

Today I was able to unpack and clean up! I am also fever-free without meds. My throat still hurts and my voice is disgusting and my nose is constantly running, but I feel more like I have a regular cold than a superflu. And so far I can smell, but I know that might change.

I definitely do not feel ready to run yet, but mayyyyybe tomorrow I will try a treadmill walk.

PROGRESS.

I am also starting to get so excited for the kids to come home. Our nanny decided to keep G until Sunday (or possibly even after camp Monday) and I recognize the immense privilege we have had in being able to recover in peace (and without masks on at home yet – at the rate my nose is running, I’m not sure what would happen with a KN95 on. Nothing good).

4 weeks is definitely enough time to miss them, and to reflect on what I miss about each of them. C has sent super short but very sweet letters and I can tell A especially really misses Genevieve. Assuming no further viral outbreaks derail future plans, I am sooo looking forward to our family trip together in 2 weeks! This will give us time to just enjoy being together and also to think about what we want for this next season of normal life together (pre-K, 3rd, and 5th grade – possibly the sweetest spot of parenting we’ll have for a while).

Signs I feel better:

  • I was able to unload the dishwasher without a break
  • I can mostly swallow without audibly moaning
  • My desk no longer looks like a bomb hit it:
like my new mouse pad? A made it! Camp crafts have come a long way . . .
I don’t actually have a mouse but I still love it.

My resting heart rate is still elevated compared to normal, though. I can’t wait to see that go back to baseline as I feel like it will be a true and objective indicator I’m on the way out.

Josh is essentially better. He even exercised today. He took a COVID test yesterday just for informational purposes and there was only a light line vs the instant positive he had initially. I suspect he will be negative tomorrow. Sadly he does not wear an Apple watch so I have no HR data to share.

HUGE shout out to Laura, who saved my life this week both by recording an intro/QA track for an upcoming BOBW and also hosting our Patreon meetup solo today. Trust me, even if I sound cognitively intact, no one wants to see my face or hear my voice right now.

ew, indeed.

PS: Thank you all for the TV recs! We might start Younger next . . .

13 Comments

  • Reply omdg July 22, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    Glad you’re feeing better, Sarah!

    Have you considered getting a full size monitor and keyboard with a docking station to use with your laptop? I got that setup about a year ago, and it has enhanced my comfort and productivity immensely. I occasionally have to go back to using just my laptop and find it so uncomfortable now! I can’t believe I did that for so many years! Just a thought!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger July 22, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      I probably should at some point esp since the mac keyboard (very low profile keys that tend to stick and malfunction) tortures me anyway! Then I’d have a use for the mousepad.

    • Reply KGC July 22, 2022 at 1:47 pm

      I have to just comment on how amazed (appalled?) I am at how many people who work from home just use a laptop! Like OMDG, I upgraded to docking station with full-size monitor and keyboard both at home and at work when the pandemic started (and I just toggle the laptop back and forth). What a huge difference in comfort at home – why do so many people not do this?!!? Life-changing! Do it, Sarah!

      • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger July 22, 2022 at 2:40 pm

        The funny thing is that I did upgrade it in our old house but dismantled it when we moved. You guys are right though!!

      • Reply Beth July 25, 2022 at 11:41 am

        I know, I get instant neck pain when I try to work from a laptop!

    • Reply Brooke July 22, 2022 at 8:23 pm

      Yes to all of this! There is nothing ergonomic about working off a laptop and can lead to long term injury if used regularly. Consuder this encouragement to reset up your monitor and other computing accessories.

  • Reply Jenn N July 22, 2022 at 2:51 pm

    So glad you are feeling better. 😊

  • Reply coco July 22, 2022 at 5:47 pm

    glad to hear you are on the way to recovery. I love tracking my RHR too to know my overall wellbeing, if something goes wrong, it shoots up right away.

  • Reply Melissa July 23, 2022 at 1:24 am

    Glad you are starting to feel better. I had Covid for the first time about 4 weeks ago and my heart rate went up too and I felt pretty awful like you for probably about 4 days, but iHR came down pretty quickly once I started to feel better. I went on a short run (5km) a couple of days after I started to feel better and a half-marathon race 3 days after that which was probably not a good idea. OK for about 11km then my heart rate spiked and the rest was a struggle. But the couple of short easy runs I did prior to that were fine. I would say go for a decent walk first. Then if that is OK test a run in the days after that, but do it easy and stop before you get tired and don’t necessarily think you’ll be able to go at the same speed.

    My watch said my VO2 max was 2 points lower after COVID.

  • Reply Lani Inlander July 23, 2022 at 7:21 am

    Just catching up here after a week or so. I feel so bad that I was on the Patreon meeting yesterday and had no idea you missed it because you had COVID! Sending healthy thoughts your way!!! You were missed of course but Laura did a great job without you 🙂

  • Reply Taryn Nepon July 23, 2022 at 8:41 am

    So glad you’re starting to feel better! I highly recommend checking out Abbott Elementary. It’s such a delightful and heartwarming show. And Younger is a good choice, very fun! Oh and Only Murders in the Building if you want a murder mystery with your comedy.

  • Reply Lisa of Lisa’s Yarns July 23, 2022 at 10:30 am

    I hope you guys enjoyed Younger if you tried it. I loved the literary references and insight into what the publishing world is like!

    I had to take 2 weeks off from running. But I was sick for a solid 10-12 days! I seemed to bounce back fine once I ran again, though. Take it easy on yourself so you don’t regress!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger July 24, 2022 at 7:28 am

      started it last night, it was funny though I didn’t realize it was from 2015 and was like “josh this seems like it’s from 2015”. ha! but I see there are 7 seasons – wow!

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