In 2022, I was the sickest I had ever been in my life.
Just after my husband, Justin battled a scary bout of COVID-19 where his fever spiked to 105, I had an episode the likes of which I had never experienced—my heart began racing out of control.
My husband was still quarantining, and I was taking care of him by leaving food and medicine at our bedroom door. So when the ambulance came to check on me he was not aware, and I wanted it that way. He struggled with anxiety, and I didn’t want him to be worrying about me. I wanted him to get better.
The paramedics deemed the episode I had a mystery and because my vitals had normalized, they recommended I not go to the hospital unless absolutely necessary, because it was so busy. I agreed, and they left.
Three days later, it happened again, but this time more intensely. My heart would not calm down. I crawled outside and clutched our deck as if trying to hang on to gravity, and it felt like my heart would burst through my chest. I didn’t know what was wrong and I had difficulty explaining myself to the 911 operator. I still didn’t want my husband to know because he was still recovering. This time though, he realized there was an ambulance outside our house and called me. I told him I had to go to the hospital.
At the hospital, my heart was still racing. They said they couldn’t find anything wrong and gave me Ativan to help me relax. As soon as it was put into my IV, I felt an immediate sense of calm.
A few days later, Justin was better and we went for a walk. I still felt off. As I tried to increase my walking speed the same feeling began. “Oh no, oh no, oh no,” I thought. “It’s back.”
Thankfully, I was given Ativan by the hospital and I took it to take it to taper my symptoms. People kept telling me they thought I was experiencing panic attacks. “Why was this one brought on by walking?” I wondered. “It seems like my cells are fighting for air …”
More symptoms developed, including extreme fatigue, an “electricity” feeling in my chest, exercise intolerance, waking up out of sleep in a panic, and weight gain. Simple tasks such as going to the grocery store or driving in traffic were impossible.
After a month of this, I watched a video by the FLCCC (Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance) of a woman describing her long COVID symptoms. She said ivermectin helped her. Thankfully, I had ivermectin on hand and took some. Within 48 hours, I went from 65 percent capacity to 85 percent. I now knew long COVID was what I was dealing with.
I was determined to get back to 100 percent. I took many supplements to heal my cells, and after getting COVID-19 a second time, I sought the help of Dr. Bruce Patterson’s group at the Chronic COVID Treatment Center. They were the ones that got me exercising again.
I am beyond grateful to be better. I am now a health coach, and I lost 40 pounds. I hope my story helps someone in their long COVID recovery journey!
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