Mini update

So thankfully my Covid experience was pretty mild. I have no complaints whatsoever on that score. My taste buds are still relearning themselves, which is what it is.

I was in small stall with my weight, but my period just started so I have no doubt it's hormone and food related, because I have had cravings and have been eating more (by like 200 or so calories). I've been good, in general, with keeping my carbs and sugars low and my protein and fluids high.

In other news, I miss my kid. I miss hugging him. I love that we talk so often. But having a presence is very different than not. I can see why people want to leave closer to their kids. And with Jessie pregnant and me trying to help as much as possible, it's all heart and emotions and figuring things out. 

Well, Covid finally struck

 Over this past Memorial day weekend, I was struck with Covid bug. My boyfriend caught it first, more than likely from a work function he had last week. He said it felt like allergies, but then it quickly turned worse. He never naps and he NAPPED on Saturday. I started feeling it Saturday night and by Sunday morning was definitely sick. I honestly thought it was a head cold/sinus issue because my face...my FACE HURT SO BAD. And my ears were hurting like a sinus infection. The pressure was stupidly horrible. I took meds, they helped. Sunday was a rinse and repeat. Monday, again rinse and repeat but I was not getting better. My boyfriend was definitely on the mend though so one would have thought I would be there soon too. Nope, more fever and body aches and more sinus pressure. 

Tuesday morning, I woke up, still in pain. I decided to go to CVS Minute Clinic and I knew they would want a Covid test and since I have the home rapid ones, I thought it would be better to know before I went anywhere if I did/didn't have Covid. And I was shocked and surprised when it came back positive.

I contacted my boss and let him know and told him I was scheduling a PCR test (this is required by my work) and I got that done that afternoon. I am still waiting on those results.

My bf then tested and low and behold he was also positive on the rapid test. So he's working from home, while I am just sick at home. 

I am finally starting to feel better today, no more fever and my face no longer hurts (well, me at least ahahahaha)

Today though, I also noticed my taste buds was like 98% gone. I have barely tasted anything and it's soooo weird. Like I may as well just eat whatever since I won't get to taste it anyways. Sad but maybe this will also help with the weight loss :) Trying to find that silver lining anywhere I can !!

And hopefully I will stop getting light headed every time I stand up.

I am just thankful I got it after having the vaccination and booster done. I don't even want to imagine how much worse it could be...

Edging to closer to holidays!

 Next week is Thanksgiving. It's one of the first time in the last few years that we are not going to my BF's parents house - but it's due to Covid-19 and honestly I much rather not be responsible for someone else getting sick and potentially dying. So. This means I am cooking a bit more and only for about 3 people. I am happy my niece will be there! I am actually looking forward to a quieter holiday season. I am not spending as much money on other people, just trying to calm down my poor credit card debt (I can't help but laugh, because I freaking love to shop). 

And seriously, I am missing my kid something fierce. He is still stuck at his tech school, waiting to head to his FDS. Hopefully he gets to head to that before Xmas. I miss his hugs so much. Oy.

We got the bathroom painted - I will try to get pics uploaded soon. Planning on getting the dinning room, foyer and living room done this holiday season if possible. I don't honestly want to even think about the kitchen, that one seems like a bitch and half...maybe if it's clean enough it can pass? Upstairs, the 2 bedrooms should be easy enough to paint. What it really is, is all the freaking prep work. The cleaning, taping off, cutting in, etc. 

But, as I keep reminding myself, it will be worth it. I want to downsize my house/home. I would like a rancher in the future and preferably a house not as big. It's just me and Mike in the foreseeable future. His kids are almost all grown, mine is adulting in awesome ways. And I can pay off majority of my debts with the sale of the house. All good stuff. 

The future beckons. Good, happy options are available. I am excited about moving towards that :)

But first! Thanksgiving! Then Yule and Christmas and then New Years. So much going on!! Well, ok, sorta - because, again, Covid is not a friend and it's been getting worse and what's going on is all inside my house hahahahaha.

Closing in on the holiday season

 I am trying to figure out how I feel about things. Which is not always easy, because life is never this x = 1, y = 2 and you don't know what each of those things represent half the time.

Right now for instance, I have a headache, probably from the weather and lack of caffeine or it could also have the 6 minutes of deep sleep I got last night. Not sure how I feel about my Fitbit telling me I had 6 MINUTES of deep sleep. I think I've been clenching my teeth again too. So I feel tired today, not motivated and my head hurts.

My hip hurts too, probably because I was tossing and turning last night. I am looking forward to my chiropractic appointment after work today! And I think tonight is a good night to go to bed early.

Also, Samhain is almost here and I want to put up Xmas decorations. How does that even work? This year has been one big cluster fuck and while I would normally feel that next year will be better, until Covid-19 is dealt with, I think it's going to be much of the same.

But the rest of this year, it's all about decluttering, figuring out future plans and making headway on cleaning/updating the house.

And, wait, there's more! The holiday season is ramping up. Thanksgiving and Yule and Christmas and New Years, oh my! I am glad I am taking off the last 2 weeks of the year for vacation, because that will be about cleaning/painting and preparing. Though I just realized as I typed that, that the tree will be out and that's gonna be interesting to paint around !

The holidays are going to be so different this year, in part due to Covid-19 but mostly because my kid is not here. Not sure if he will be at his FDS at that point or not, but travel is restricted. I freaking miss him. I am thankful he's doing good though.

My niece bought her own place, she's mostly moved in there now with just a few small items that will be picked up soon. My house is feeling very empty. And seriously fucking quiet, my gods, the silence is sometimes deafening and I start chatting with my cats to just have something going on! I am happy for her, because owning your own place is a blessing (and a curse), but I miss her too. Thankfully she lives like a mile away, so I get to see her easily enough, it's just different when someone doesn't live in the same house anymore. I'm happy for her, she really needed more space and so do her cats <3

So many changes in the last year, so many more to come. It's kinda wild!

Testing and Covid-19

Ok, so I read an article on NPR talking about how some people are getting billed for being tested for Covid-19. Which should be free. (btw, it ended up being corrected, but it's still scary how this can happen and can still)

So I was curious and my health provider has this on their website:

Find a COVID-19 Testing Location Near You

Use this online tool to find a COVID-19 testing location in your area.
The testing locations listed are updated each day and are based on the most current information available.
We will continue to update as we get new information.

Some testing locations may not be in your plan's network. If it is appropriate for you to receive a COVID-19 test,
we will cover the test at any location. Get the latest coverage information for COVID-19 testing services at UHC.com.opens in new tab

• Only your health care provider can order a COVID-19 test.
• If your health care provider determines you should be tested for COVID-19, they will order the test and confirm the location for testing.
• Call your health care provider right away if you believe you might have been exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms such as fever, cough or trouble breathing.
• Get the latest information, including how to protect yourself and what to do if you are sick, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. , opens in new tab

What is interesting is that I literally have Meritus Health that I can get tested at, 2 locations, each within 3-5 miles of where I live.

Back story. A family member who lives in the house had to get tested, due to have a fever for a day and cough. Family member goes to Meritus as the following listed:

Meritus Health Expands COVID-19 Testing for the Community

Meritus Health is now offering COVID-19 testing to all residents showing symptoms as designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Fever greater than 100.5 degrees and/or a dry cough, shortness of breath or sore throat.

No appointments or referrals are needed to be tested.

So family member got tested, was told the next evening it was positive and the following steps to take. I tell my employer, have to call the corporate nurse. I was told to call my PCP, because work would like me tested, but to get guidance from my PCP. My PCP says they do not give out referrals or orders and to call the Covid hotline, because they had no guidance for me. I call the hotline and tell them my employer wants me tested and they are like, 'unless you have symptoms, nope'. To which I tell my employer. Luckily I am still symptom free.

Anyway, back to my healthcare. I was curious to see what they have on their website (and yes, I get that they can only do so many updates? And assume they have a lot of data to be updated and are probably behind...but still...)

1. 1

   WellSpan Health-Franklin County

   • Monday
     24 Hours
    
   • Tuesday
     24 Hours
    
   • Wednesday
     24 Hours
    
   • Thursday
     24 Hours
    
   • Friday
     24 Hours
    
   • Saturday
     24 Hours
    
   • Sunday
     24 Hours
   12.31 miles away

   Phone: (877) 724-3258

   501 East Main Street

   Waynesboro, PA 17268

   Notes: Testing sites may require preregistration or a doctor's script in order for a test to be taken, so please check with your health care provider before going to the testing locations.

   
   

   Do not go directly to the testing site without first talking to your provider.
   Find more information at https://www.wellspan.org/offices-locations/wellspan-waynesboro-hospital/ , opens in new window
2. 2

   Berkeley Medical Center

   • Monday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Tuesday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Wednesday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Thursday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Friday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Saturday
     10am-4pm
    
   • Sunday
     10am-4pm
   16.74 miles away

   Phone: (304) 598-6000

   2500 Hospital Dr

   Martinsburg, WV 25401

   • Provider Order required

   Notes: When calling select option 4

   
   

   Do not go directly to the testing site without first talking to your provider.
3. 3

   MedExpress Urgent Care Martinsburg

   • Monday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Tuesday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Wednesday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Thursday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Friday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Saturday
     8am-6pm
    
   • Sunday
     8am-6pm
   18.71 miles away

   Phone: (204) 264-9730

   83 Retail Commons Parkway

   Martinsburg, WV 25403

   • Drive-up Available

   
   

   Do not go directly to the testing site without first talking to your provider.
   Find more information at https://www.medexpress.com/location/wv/martinsburg/mcw/ , opens in new window

Those are the first 3 locations listed for me to be tested, if I needed to be, per their site. And this Provider Order required BS? I mean, my PCP said they have yet to do that and that they do not do that. So, if I needed to be tested, it's obvious Meritus is way ahead of the curve and probably has better funding to get tested in my local community. Whereas my PCP was somewhat clueless and my insurance doesn't have local resources.

In the article, it had some key phrasing: "The law prohibits insurers from charging patients for testing, but it does not block medical providers from doing so" (NPR, 2020).

Which is kinda evil with what is going on.

Just be aware of what you are responsible for and be prepared. All of this is probably still evolving, but damn.

Link to the NPR Article: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/29/847450671/covid-19-tests-that-are-supposed-to-be-free-can-ring-up-surprising-charges

Quarantine life

I am definitely one of the lucky ones. I am able to work from home, and while I am "essential", my job is not always required for me to be on-site. Yay logistics! I am lucky, I have a job, it's a good job and I like it and even with this crazy Covid-19 shit going down, they are more understanding than I would have realized.

People are dying. People are getting sick. This is so bad and painful to watch happen. I know at some point I am going to get sick, I just hope it's when things have calmed down and there are more resources. Because right now there are few and far between resources available.

So I grocery shop once a week and literally do not leave the house unless it's for work. I use disposable gloves if I have to get gas. And I've ordered some regular DIY face masks with filters, for those future occasions of shopping. And also just in case one of us gets sick so that they (or me) and whoever is taking care of them is more protected than nothing.

This is supposed to go on another month. This will probably last longer than that. I should be doing more cleaning in my house.Or something more, just more. I've finished school so that is no longer pressing on me. I am feeling, something. Distracted, tired but not tired, and I don't know have the right adjectives.

The world as we know is shifting and changing, again. Which is alright because it's meant to change and shift.

I just don't know. Sometimes I feel at a loss, that it's not really that bad. But it's not the flu. It's not a cold. And it's an interesting thought process, think back 200 years when there were not this huge ass cities or even as big as communities we have now. I guess for them though, it was a normal to plan so much out and they probably had more chores to keep them busy and distracted. And shit, I have a ton of things I could and should be doing...I just have no oomph to get moving. It's taken me a week to just randomly write on this post.

And there are some moments I'm good. Where I can focus on the future and think of the good things to come.

It's just not nearly as often.