Delta Variant

I reported to work last week a day after I got my negative results for the last swab test. And then I went to work after All Soul's Day thinking everything is now back to "normal". Then I got a call from the City Health Center contact tracer, then a doctor. I was advised to go home, they need me to re-swab. I asked why. They said they just found out that my previous Covid Encounter was of the Delta Variant and they do double re-swabbing for Delta Variant patients just to be sure we don't contaminate anyone because it is said to be more easily transmissible than the regular Covid variants. So I packed my work and headed home again. At home, I got several calls. The first one traced my Covid history - when was I swabbed, when did I get my results, who was I exposed and who did I expose? At home and at work. The second call checked where was I swabbed and to inform me that they will schedule me for my second re-swabbing. The third asked permission to take a picture of my house - for records - just the outside. The fourth asked about symptoms. The fifth informed me that I will be swabbed the next morning. They were not this detailed with questions before they found out that I had the Delta variant. Because it was a bit late considering I had reported to work for at least 4 days before they sent me home.

Anyway, was re-swabbed again for the 6th time this morning - same test - RT-PCR - nose and mouth. And was promised results the next morning. I can't bring myself to sleep or work for some reason. And whatever weight loss I had during the last Covid bout, I gained it all back by stress eating. This is getting ridiculous.

Meanwhile, I put my energy on the fixed up old bedroom which we turned into a walk-in closet and storage area, We marikondo-ed the shit out of that room. Anyway, installed a mirror today, fixed the windows and hopefully re-paint it this weekend. I'm loving this and it's keeping my mind off the test,

Isolation part 2

 I apologize for my last post. It was the after effect of shock - "Isolation Again?!" - DUH?! And peppered with disbelief - "Duwa pa lang gani ka-weeks back to work!". Fever started when I got to bed after a late night of consolidating uniform orders – a thankless job I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I knew I was tired but as soon as I hit the bed at midnight, felt the chills which I covered with a blanket and I wondered if it was normal. Then felt everything painful like it’s all been hidden in a fog of exhaustion that cleared up suddenly. I’ve been in bed for two days. Minimum movement – bathroom, meals, move the laptop. Did make an effort to look decent for my online consult with my pulmo doctor. I kept my humor but it was turning dark which explained the dark post. I hate being sick. I hate headaches the most.

I can’t explain the human body – it’s a moving fragile miracle. I do remember being in awe of how brilliantly God is in putting it all together in a Nat Sci course in San Agustin. Limbaga?- I think was the professor’s name. She explained the functions of the human systems in the course. But she did kick me out of class once. We had exams that day and she postponed it coz she thought we needed one last lecture. I asked to be excused coz I has a headache. She insisted I needed the lecture, got mad, gave me a lecture instead then kicked me out. I got the highest score in the exam. And it was not because I was smart. It was because she was a good teacher. Now I wish I’d told her that.

Anyway, I’m not naturally spontaneous nor patient and I suck at anything medical. I learned to be a bit spontaneous from my deranged family who roll with the punches. I learned PATIENCE in church and government work (no explanation needed – so DO VOTE WISELY PLEASE!). My sisters are the medics. I can’t remember when to take my meds or what they’re called (which explains the “cacophony” Atty. E) – they all sound foreign to me. Illness is a setback that brings out the whiny bitch in me. It’s not planned, takes a while to fester and I can’t explain why the body malfunctions. I work better with a plan, a logical purpose that has nothing to do with body fluids.

So yesterday’s post was me embracing the yin to get to the yang. We tend to skip publishing the dark part and show only happy days. Not for me. Folks, that why we study history (BIG political insinuation here!) – so we don’t forget. We need to see the dark to get to the light coz dark is just the absence of light. Which brings me to the mood today … I woke up … and I made a list. My WaWADuDo list. A sense of purpose that is planned, logical and might need a bit of body fluids that I can cope with. So I’ll be alright. Thanks for prayers, well-wishes, advises and the promise of food (hint hint). While people like me do not thrive in captivity, the Beatles say it wisely, “I’ll get by with a little help from my friends.” Salamat gid sa light. #quarantineblues

2nd Isolation

So back in isolation again. No known exposure, But nag-level-up ang symptoms. Fever, chills, head and body aches, sore throat and cough. Consulted 3 doctors, hoping one of them will say it's just flu. But they needed to rule out Covid first before anything else. Otherwise, I can't get an x-ray or whatever test I need to find out what caused the fever. I have a cacophony of meds now. Kay nag-level up man ang symptoms. So I need to be swabbed again. And I need to pee in a cup to narrow down the possibilities.

I'm not really complaining. Not really. But this isolation thing is growing old quite quickly. I need to work on my PC. The laptop doesn't have the space or the data I need. And the headaches make it hard to concentrate so I take breaks now. Me, on a break?! In the middle of learning MySQL Workbench which I find sooo fascinating. Because I need to beat a deadline. It's absurd.

Wasn't able to bring a single pencil this time so I can't sketch. I've finished all the Avenger movies (24 of them) in my last isolation gig plus I don't think the headaches will allow me to concentrate on any movie. 

This is me feeling helpless. And me angry at the idiot in China who allowed this virus to spread. Because it killed my friends. Because it ruined businesses. Because it starved a lot of people and put too much stress on others who have to take care of others. Because I can't hug the people I love when they need it, when I need it. 

Maybe it's just lack of exercise. The headcahes prevent that. Maybe it's just lack of endorphins. Or maybe I should think of Captain America and say, "I could do this all day" and hit this dark bastard with Thor's hammer.

If there's anything good out of this, I learned what an oxymeter measures, and how to take BP with a digital blood pressure monitor without stopping blood circulation in my arm. Took me three tries.

Do I pray? I do. But God has enough on his hands and probably knows what I ask before I think it. And I have a multitude of friends and relatives  who do pray so I'm imagining the heavens are being stormed by requests right now. - the same one - "Stop na please!" Plus my brother's a priest- not that I'm using my connections to get ahead of anyone here - hehe. Okay, need to rest my eyes and my head. Until my next rant. #quarantineblues

Day 4 - Isolation

Still haven’t got my results but my NEGATIVE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE thoughts seemed to be working. That and the prayers and positive thoughts of friends and family. Salamat gid. Shoutout sa nagpadala  SNR green salad and Cheetos. Amo gid to guro nagpa-ayo sa akon.

I was told that a delayed result could mean a negative swab because they prioritize informing the Covid positive patients first. With that in mind, I’m in no hurry to find out now. 

Yesterday, I got thinking WWADD (WaWADuDo)? What Would Andy Dufresne Do? I am isolated in a small room, very much like the innocent inmate played by Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption. The book is just as good (Stephen King). So I made a list of things I have to do just to pass the day.  My Rita Hayworth poster is Wi-fi so imagine the possibilities that could do. I do not have to break out of prison but I need to get through quarantine and get out with lessons learned. I still have the damn headache yesterday, but I took a very long nap, and that made me feel better. Rest is always the best medication to a tired soul. 

I feel better now. Took my meds (Paracetamol for headaches, montelukast and inhaler for asthma, Vitamin C to fight the flu-like symptoms, coffee for sanity). I have a 1.2 liter bottle I have to drink and fill twice a day to make sure I get enough H2O. It’s like rationing but making sure I get more instead of less. Watching all those war and armageddon movies did prove useful. I am sure that I will never survive a zombie apocalypse but I now think I can handle quarantine.

I’ve been working on a small high table, much smaller than I’m used to. And since I have limited movement, I’ve made it a point to do my work standing up. I exercise using You Tube.  I communicate with my boss and co-workers through phone and messenger. If I start feeling sorry for myself, I type my thoughts on facebook (only seen by friends) which is enough to start a conversation and stop me from talking to a volleyball.   

You know you’re bored when you start researching Infinity Stones and the members of MCU. I finished Avengers last night (the 7th of the chronology) and woke up with a list of characters, weapons and the gems in my bedside. Dunno where all that came from.

I also took time to make a new emoji. I will be attending my friend’s virtual funeral tomorrow and attending a virtual mass later tonight so I thought I need to be virtually dressed for the occasion. I know he’d appreciate it, being an artist with a great sense of humor and all. I wished he didn’t have to die alone, as so many Covid patients do. 

That’s why it’s important to me that we all get vaccinated, and obey protocols. It’s easy to forget that in the everyday business of life but I guess, we just need to be constantly vigilant. When I was swabbed, I was thanking the swabber coz I understood the difficulty of donning those PPEs. She answered back, “Kay wala ka bi ga halong!”. I had no comeback to that. I thought I’ve been careful. Apparently, not enough. So (hikbi) no more ice cream for me – or at least indi na pwede magdinaluk sa ice cream. Indi na pwede kahutik miskan ga mask. I just need to figure out how to put a bubble between me and my family when I get home from work. I have no idea how that is possible if you live in a small house, a limited budget and shared space. Being asthmatic, a mask all day is unbearable. WWADD?

To my quarantining friends and family (Covid + or not), you are in my thoughts and prayers, sarangan ta dya!  And make a list … WWADD?!   #quarantineblues

Day 2 - Isolation

It's Day 2 of my 14-day home quarantine. Although that may change soon but I'm thinking NEGATIVE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE swab results - my positive thought for the next few days. I'm thinking saying it thrice will be my good luck charm - not that I ever believed in luck. Pre-quarantine, I’ve been mourning  the death of a friend who died of Covid. Our last conversation in facebook was about sketches and drawings. I orgot his birthday because I was so busy and I felt guilty for that. I haven’t seen him for a long time. I was told he died by keeping himself isolated in his room because he was sick. He was protecting everyone around him. Even at death, he was selfless, as he had been most of his life. I felt lost when I heard of his demise and I grieve for him. He played a great role in my spirituality – I never had any pre-YE. I still have a questionable sense of religion but I do have a firm belief in God which makes all the difference -  to me anyway. He always told me that my relationship  will always be between me and my god so I don’t really care what others say. I have good memories though. The thing about memories is they tear you up or cheer you up depending on where you are in life. And right now, I just feel tired. But I know most of us in this pandemic feel the same, some much worse than others. But I do love him for all that he’s done for me. I lost a few good friends in the span of nine months, but this one though is … just … (weeps). I’ll remember him and I think that’s all we want in death.

On a lighter note, I spent the 1st day doing my 40 minute exercise (walking around the room with Leslie Sansone), got myself swabbed and returned home to help facilitate a General Assembly via zoom for a union that's got 1,902 members. At the end of the day, I had a splitting headache, an itchy throat, an aching back and cough that got me in trouble in the 1st place. I swore it was the ice cream, but you can never be sure about these things anymore. My barangay counts Day 1 as the day I was swabbed and not the day I was exposed to a Covid Positive. Despite the circumstances, I promised myself I will plow through, because really, I have no excuse not to. That, and watching Captain America again last night because all access to cable, netflix, hbo and amazon prime have been left in the our bedroom TV. Captain Rogers said, "I could do this all day" so now I have to for 14 days. I laugh ... on the inside.

So they placed me in the designated quarantine room in the house, the room where suitcases are left to die. Or in the spirit of my NEGATIVE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE thoughts, where suitcases take a vacation until they get used again when we are all allowed to travel in safety. I'd settle for a deserted beach or a quite mountain. so much. Finally had the time to look around my green quarantine room. It was painted green because it was Anang's old room whose favorite color is - guess? When it was painted, Weng and I called the color phlegm green but of course you can never convince her that it can even be that close.  The room, however, is surprisingly good for zoom meetings, instant green screen! I have yet to use that feature though.

So woke up today and decided to make the best of it. Moved the storage boxes (10 of them) and suitcases (6 of them, all with wheels) around so I can have more room to walk with Leslie (look her up in You Tube if you’re stuck in a quarantine room). I made space next to the window so I can look out at the fence dividing our lot and the neighbour’s, Anang's and Doray's plants and Bob’s fix-it shop. Discovered my nephew’s old guitar so maybe I can practice the two songs I know (hehe, that cracks me up). 

My sisters and I are hoarders. It’s not that we don’t want to throw things away. Our problem, which is probably true with the rest of the family, is that we get ideas. Ideas on how to make things better. We tinker with a good gadget and make it worse or in some rare cases, improve its functionality by making it look butt-ugly. And the things that we hoard are stuff that we’ve set aside for some future project. Found plenty of those in the green room. So maybe I can have a few ideas to play with in my 12 remaining quarantine days.

I did manage to bring my laptop, an extra monitor, all my external drives, my art supplies and work in the green room so I will be quite busy. And now that I started with Captain America, might as well watch all the Marvel movies in chronological order every night until the End Game. I’m writing this as I’m having breakfast, delivered at my door with a soft knock during mealtimes. I can request for coffee or anything I need through messenger but I’m not that demanding … not yet. I’m off to do some exercises and bath to keep the spirits up . Then I’ll be working to try to keep my sanity. That will not be so easy. Here’s to NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE results and positive thoughts . #quarantineblues