Day 8: Tuesday 5 April, 8am.

I have been sick for 7 days today. I have lost nearly 3kgs. I feel very, very unwell still with only marginal improvement so far. Heart palpitations are more noticeable, however.

My upper back is extremely sore again today. I feel very tired as I did not sleep well, a combination of breathing and back pain and chest pressure and weird dreams. Temp 36.14c. I am up now and my back is sore.

10am. Cold. Sore. Achy. Back very sore. Going back to bed. Had two Panadol. Temp 36.26c.

12.05 Just got up after sleeping (with my hoodie and socks on in bed). Temp 35.95c. Had a weird indescribable “flash” in my brain – can’t explain it…weird but definitely happened. Having toast even though I am not hungry. Coughing has started. Decided to do another RAT test (as last tests I had were on Saturday, 3 days ago). It was negative. This was my 9^th negative test.

3.15pm. My temp 36.13c. I feel hot and sticky/sweaty. Had a shower. Breathing is still laboured, even at rest. Can’t imagine how I would feel if I went for a walk or did anything physical. Cough persists occasionally. Back pain (deep ache between shoulders) seems to be my biggest issue now. Still fatigued but not as bad as few days ago. I am still having heart palpitations, too.

9pm. I have been feeling a bit better. Less back pain and less tired. Quite a lift in energy. As long as I don’t do too much then I get breathing issue still and also cough and my back starts hurting, but a positive sign. I def couldn’t walk around the block or anything but I am not feeling so sickly and revolting and exhausted. Temp 36.29

Mia has been sneezing this evening and her cheeks looked very flushed going to bed. Temp 35.97c. She says she is feeling a little off. This was her second day back at school.  

Day 9: Wednesday 6 April, 8.45am. Woke up and am feeling better each day. My back pain, deep inside my upper back is my main symptom now, with a niggling cough and I am still quite tired. Temp is 36.15c. Ten minutes later is 35.96c. I do feel very hot and want to take off extra layers but then know I will feel cold.

Mia complained she had a headache and felt unwell but her temp was ok at 36.38c and she appeared well and ate some breakfast – no sneezing, no coughing, no runny nose. She has gone to school after much complaining. Hard to know if she is really unwell or just really anxious about school as she has fallen quite far behind with being off for so long.

11am. Just took two Panadol. My back is very, very sore. Had a near hour long nap on the sofa, earlier after feeling tired. My right shoulder and arm have started bothering me again, with pain shooting down my right arm again. I feel weirdly nausea and I can feel my heart pounding, like it is struggling.  Temp 36.10c I’m going to go lie down again.

1.30pm. While having a shower, I noticed my hands were really blue. Really blue, like they had ink on them. I didn’t recognise them. They are back to normal now. Rested again after shower. I feel hot but my temp is 35.50c. Feel my heart still working hard it seems. Chest tight. I have made a doctor’s appointment for tomorrow at 11.45am. It is 4 days since I saw doctors and I am not really improved at all, in fact, I feel worse in many ways although some symptoms have improved.

3.30pm. Been lying on sofa all day, tired. Temp is 35.82c. My feet are cold but I feel hot.  I have made a doctor’s appointment for tomorrow, as I am just not feeling better. Maybe they can do some more tests or give me some answers. My back is very, very sore. Taking some more Panadol. I looked up all my symptoms on the internet – they said call an ambulance as you are likely having a heart attack. But my two ECG’s and my heartrate/oxygen levels etc are all fine apparently….I am scared and confused. Going to lie down.

9.30pm. Cooked dinner and ate a small bit, lay around some more. Feel like something isn’t right inside me, my heartbeat feels a bit weak but then I feel like it is pounding quite hard at times (like right now), or like my blood pressure or something else is getting low? When I press on my skin, it doesn’t seem to bounce back or return to colour as quick as it used to…am I imagining all this? Like my body is fighting something around my chest/upper back area. Temp 35.69c I feel cold. I read to Mia tonight and could hear myself struggling with words, getting them mixed up. Is my brain working ok? I feel unsettled, not sure why I am “well” on paper but feeling clearly so not normal…I am Cold. Tired. Sore. I need to go to bed.

Day 10:  Thursday 7 April, 8.25 am. I have been up about an hour getting Mia ready and off to school. My temp was 35.78c as I sat with her having her breakfast and now it is 35.88c (about 30 mins later). My main issues right now are heart palpitations (thumping in my chest) and my upper back is still very painful, the shooting pain in my right arm and tingling is around also at present. When I press on my skin, there is little colour and quite slow return to normal, I think. I feel quite achy after helping get kids out the door for school and might go back to bed. I am going back to the doctors this morning.

10am. I am coughing today, noticeably more than before, any time I start walking around. Temp is 35.93c. Had a piece of toast even though I am not hungry. Heart still hurts (thumping) and my back is still sore and I just feel “off”…it is hard to explain.

2pm. I have been to the doctors and also had some more blood tests. Doctor says she is certain that I have most likely had covid even though all tests are negative. I have to rest and may take another week to recover fully. She is checking my iron levels also. I have taken Ibuprofen and Panadol and had a bit of lunch. Ready for a lie down now. Temp (new thermometer) is 36.0c and old thermometer is 36.20c.

5pm. It is hot in our house even with the doors open, a warm 25c from the sun pouring in. I am hot, sweaty and have stripped off to a t shirt and taken off my socks and shoes. My temp is 35.08c I can’t seem to match my low temp with my body signs (feel very hot!!). The drugs have kicked in and the pain in my back especially has been much less intense. I made brownie for C.J’s birthday, did dishes and am now exhausted. Good thing hubby picked up takeout sushi for his birthday dinner!

10pm. I’m tired after the birthday dinner (even though it was take out sushi at home and a bit of brownie), but it was enough to tire me out. Blood tests are back. All normal. I am so healthy! Ha ha!!! Temp is 35.57c. I have 3 layers on and also socks and I am tired and cold. Pain killers have worn off but I am going to try and sleep without taking more drugs. My back is getting sore again though however, I can feel the deep ache penetrating.

Day 11, Friday 8 April, 9am. 

My back is very sore and painful, and also under my left breast in that rib area is painful also. My chest still feels tight. I have taken ibuprofen and Panadol just now, which also meant I had to eat, even though I am not hungry. I have a small cough, especially when I breath deeply. Temp 35.89c

10.45am. The drugs are working. Much less pain although still tight around my chest. Cough has started up. My temp is 34.79c. I don’t feel hot or cold although my feet are cold so I will get some socks on. My heart is pounding. Feeling unwell, so at 11.20am, I rechecked and my temp is now 34.99c  Going to put more layers on. Hopefully then I will get my temp up and stop my heart pounding in my chest.

1.45pm. I am hot and sweaty. I am cold. I have a sweatshirt on and socks. My temp is 34.89c. My back and my front ribs (under my left breast) is starting to hurt again quite badly, so I am going to take more Panadol and ibuprofen. Have mostly been lying on sofa. I am coughing more. Temp is rising up to 35.29c 10 minutes later. My heart is pounding still and I feel very tired. Going to lie down.

7.15pm. My back is very sore and I am very tired. Colleen popped over about 5.30pm, and I could barely stay awake. My temp is 35.61c with sweatshirt and socks on. I am craving salt so having a few chips – just a couple. Not hungry still. Had half a toasted sandwich with cheese and an apple. I am supressing a cough. Going back to lie on the couch.  

9.30pm. Temp is 35.17c. My hands are cold. I am cold and will go to bed soon. I am going to take some Panadol to sleep through the night well.

10.15pm, extra layers on, temp is now 36.08c. Panadol is working now and I am going to bed.

Day 12, Saturday 9 April 10am. 

I slept well and read my book in bed for ages. I am up now and had a bit of toast. My cough seem to have got worse, I will monitor. I am warm, in my dressing gown and socks but my temp is 35.49c. I have put a load of laundry on. My back is sore but I haven’t taken any pain relief yet – I want to see how it feels. I feel better, apart from my sore back and the cough but I haven’t done much except go up and down a small flight of stairs and have breakfast.

11am. I hung out some washing and walked down the driveway to get the Saturday newspaper, I am quite breathless now. Temp 35.20c but I feel very hot. My feet are weirdly cold though and I will put my socks back on. My back is quite sore. My heart is pounding through my chest even though I am just sitting here.

11.30am, I have been just sitting here doing some research on my laptop and I thought I would recheck my temp is 34.71c My heart is still pounding. Taking Panadol and ibuprofen now. 12.15pm, I have been reading newspaper, having some muesli and fruit and my temp is 35.12c. with socks on.

2pm. It is hot inside, sun is pouring in. It is 25c in our lounge. Over the last 2 hours, my temp has been 34.17c (low) to 35.71c (highest) as I have been doing little – a few dishes, watering a few pot plants, pottering about. Currently my temp is 35.49c.  I feel hot and have taken off my socks and taken off long sleeved top and put on a t shirt. I suspect I will feel cold again soon. I have no ability to gauge my temperature. My cough has subsided but then I am doing nothing. I am just lying on the sofa really. Pain has gone since I took drugs at 11.30am and I feel quite good without pain, but am still tired. I can still feel my heart – like it is working overtime.

3.45pm. Going to take some more drugs. Going to put my socks and sweatshirt on even though I am comfortable without them, as my temp is now 34.99c. I do not feel cold but clearly something isn’t right as I have been sitting inside and thought I was a good temp. My cough is flaring up a bit and my back is sore now, so time for some more medication (4pm). I will have some toast also. My heart feels like it is still thumping but I am doing not much at all.

5pm. Had a nap/sleep, all while I have extra layer on and socks on for the last hour. Drugs have been working. Temp is 35.72c, but I feel hot with socks and sweater on. I need a drink perhaps – haven’t drunk much today.

8.45pm. My temp is 35.82c. I feel much hotter than that. I have my dressing gown and socks on even though it is 23c in our lounge (but if I take off my dressing gown and socks I think my temp will drop again lower than what it is). My heart is still working hard it seems, my back is just starting to hurt again – pain relief is wearing off. Had some scrambled eggs for dinner.

I did some research on my temperature and have found that my average daily temp has been dropping noticeably over the last four days, from an average daily temp of 36.15c (Wednesday) to 35.06 (today) in a steady decline.  Kind of explains why I feel so cold.

Day 13, Sunday 10 April, 9.45am. I woke up hoping to feel much better today but I feel worse. I am so cold. I am coughing. I feel nauseous and my coffee is now cold and my slice of toast is un-eaten. I want to go back to bed. My hands are frozen. I feel a deep ache in my upper back and cold in my core. I am taking some Panadol and iburprofen and going back to bed now. I am in my dressing gown and socks and I am feeling chilled and cold, I have been up for about an hour. It is 19c in our lounge. My head hurts also. My heart is pounding in my chest like it is going to burst through my chest, but I am doing nothing but typing. My temp is 35.79c. My hubby wants me to drink water but it makes me feel cold on the inside. Maybe a hot fruit tea? I am gutted as I was hoping I would have a major improvement today and be definitely better, but I feel worse.

12.30pm. The drugs are working their magic and I feel much better after that and a bit more bed rest. I am dressed now (sweatshirt and socks on) and had a few fresh feijoas and a cup of tea. My temp is 34.85c. I do not feel hot or cold. My hands are still cold but not freezing.

1.35pm I have been sitting on sofa, reading, and bit of laptop time. No coughing. Pain is starting to begin again across my back. Temp is 34.87c I do not feel hot or cold. Have sweatshirt on and socks and it is 24c in our lounge, so not cold. My joints are quite achy. I need to drink something too but I have no appetite. I have a headache too. I had some toast, and some apple.

5pm. I had to leave the house, first time in 13 days apart from to the doctors. I drove to Okato to pick up Mia. I wore my puffer jacket in the car as I was cold. I got home and I feel hot but chilled also. So weird. My temp is 35.89c. I am coughing and breathless a bit and can feel my heart pounding and feel the chest tightening/pressure and my upper back pain flaring up. My hands hurt also, especially my fingers.

9pm. I am feeling quite a bit better. I have not taken any pain relief and my back pain and chest tightness seems to have eased. I cooked and ate some dinner. My temp is 35.90c so that seems ok.

Day 14, Monday 11 April, 8.15am. I have been sick for 14 days today. I am feeling better however, the ache in my back and chest has loosened its grip and although I can feel it, it is not so debilitating and the pain has lessened. My heart still feels like it is pounding through my chest especially after minor activity, such as making Mia’s lunch for school and doing her hair.  I want to cough still. My shoulder is a little sore, the pain down my arm has returned but is less intense. My temp is 35.62c.

11.30am. I don’t feel great but I haven’t taken any pain relief. I feel hot but my temp is 35.59c. I am sore in my back, but not terrible, just there, and still tight across my chest. Coughing has subsided. Had a piece of toast. Went back to bed for an hour earlier, just to rest up as I still felt tired.

2pm. I am feeling quite good, pain relief is working well. I took it about an hour ago with a hot cross bun and a cup of fruit tea to wash it down. Temp is 35.13c but I am here in a t -shirt and jeans and no socks, so that is good. I do not feel hot or cold (although my feet are cold to touch) and it is over 25c in our lounge so maybe my temp is normalizing finally, although it still seems a bit low.

5pm. I am feeling ok. I have long sleeve top on and jeans. Not hot or cold or anything. Pain free largely apart from my back which is starting to hurt again. No cough. My temp is 34.5c

10.30pm. Temp is 35.58c. Had dinner, did dishes. Feel ok, just a light niggle in my chest and tiny sore back. Still tired.