Johnny - Detroit #LongCovid Survivor
Hello, I am Johnny Miggins.
I am 56 years old and work as a technician with AT&T. I contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 and am still unable to trace where/how I contracted it; may have been from a customer in the job as I am in and out of houses and businesses.
At the onset, I started losing my sense of taste – everything started to taste like rusted nails. Then there was an unrelenting cough, body aches, and chills. I performed a screen from the CDC website which resulted in “presumed positive, contact your primary care physician.” My doctor directed me to quarantine in my bedroom for 14 days. In that first week aches and pain took over my entire body. I experienced severe headaches, chills, fever reaching 104 at times, shortness of breath, chest pains, barely able to sleep at night, and a 20lb weight loss.
I must admit I am blessed to have a great, compassionate and empathetic doctor. He would call me three times per week to check on my condition and progress. Because of the unrelenting cough, my doctor ordered a CT scan of my chest which revealed pneumonia in both lungs as well as a severe infection. I have never been on any medication and was in great physical health – weight training and running at least 2 miles 4-5 times weekly. Currently, I am using two different types of inhalers. My condition has me unable to perform my work duties, however, I am so grateful that I am covered in my work disability for the time being.
It is my prayer and strong desire that everyone take this virus seriously! It does not discriminate. It does not care about anyone’s physical condition. It does not care about age, gender, lifestyle, religion, social status nor race. We all have been directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19. If we all do our part by wearing masks, social distancing, proper sanitary or procedures, we show that we are thinking about the ‘other person’ and their well-being which will help overcome this dreaded virus.
After being educated and enlightened and having my misconceptions about the vaccine dispelled, I have received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Although after each dose my reactions which lasted two days were as though I had covid all over again. Though I still deal with long-haul symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, brain fog, and occasional headaches, I am looking forward to the day when all these symptoms are gone. In the meantime, I feel that getting the vaccine is one of the greatest contributions I could make in this time of pandemic confusion.
The Michigan Covid 19 ‘Survivor Stories Blog’ highlights fellow Michiganders to continue building connections and shedding light on long-haulers that need additional resources and support.
Jenny - Flat Rock, MI #LongCovid
My name is Jenny, and I’m 51 years old. I contracted Covid in November of 2020. I received a text informing me I had been in close contact with someone, and they tested posted the day before a holiday photo with all my kids and grandkids was scheduled to be taken. I know that she felt awful sending that text, but I was so grateful for her honesty. I immediately canceled my family picture and went and got tested. When my test came back positive, I couldn’t help but think of that picture and how the virus could’ve run through my entire family without that text. I hadn’t been feeling well, but with no fever and no respiratory symptoms, I thought it was just a stomach bug. A couple of weeks later, it became well known that diarrhea could also be an early sign of Covid. After that subsided, the headache, body aches, and cough came on full-fledged. I still felt grateful to have what I considered a “mild case” and recovered with lots of rest. Due to Michigan’s pause at the time, the casino I’m employed at was closed for eight weeks, and I felt so lucky to have that time to recover. By the time I was back to work when the casino had reopened, I felt I had won my battle with Covid. This was when I realized that mild case was about to become an ongoing battle. I had been a dealer for almost 16 years, and doing my job was second nature. Now, it was different. I couldn’t remember payouts I’d been doing all those years at times. I’d lose track just adding the cards to 21. The noise and crowds were overwhelming, and I had never suffered from headaches, but now I had them daily. My immune system was still in overdrive, so it attacked my thyroid and led to hypothyroidism and all the symptoms that accompany that. I was taken off work for three weeks to try and get that regulated. I didn’t feel ready to go back, but I forced myself to because I needed the income. Now my peripheral nerves are having issues. A casino dealer's hands must be good. The numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers mean those hands now fumble and stumble and don’t do what they should. Facing the fact that I now am dealing with “Long Covid” and that I must be patient while the exact effects and cures are just beginning to be learned and shared, and ways to deal with it and help those suffering are just being implemented gives me hope that someday I will feel like I did a year ago. Saying, “you don’t look sick,” or “you don’t seem like yourself anymore,” or “why are you always tired” or “it’s just anxiety” are all things heard by us still battling this every day. We have to worry about losing our jobs, income, and health benefits at a time when we need them most. I am joining others in advocating to be seen, heard, and understood and to educate and fight for funding to help us understand post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).
Jenny’s family photo that did eventually get taken.
The Michigan Covid 19 ‘Survivor Stories Blog’ highlights fellow Michiganders to continue building connections and shedding light on long-haulers that need additional resources and support.
Ellen - Macomb County #LongCovid
I tested positive for Covid-19 on January 27th, 2021 after a family member tested positive. I am a 38-year-old mother of 3 daughters and live in Macomb County. Previous to contracting Covid, I worked as a barber/stylist for 17 years and was in the best shape of my life, with no known pre-existing conditions.
The first week after testing positive was basic sniffles and tiredness so I just quarantined at home, thinking I would wait it out. On day 8 I woke up in the middle of the night to extreme stomach gripping and nausea. This went on for days along with sweats, chills, body tremors, and extreme weakness. At McLaren Macomb I was seen twice for extreme nausea and then for ulcer-like symptoms that ruled out gallbladder issues, diverticulitis, and pancreatitis. After three weeks and losing a lot of weight, my symptoms began to change... to neurological. By the fourth week, I had developed insomnia. This wasn’t insomnia that one would think like I had too much on my mind or was having anxiety. It was a literal sleep switch that wouldn’t shut off. I was up for 6 days straight without even a nap. Finally, I was given meds to help with my sleep but the nerve shocks, gripping, tasering, zapping, poking, etc kept on for weeks. I began to have what I now are adrenaline surges and tachycardia episodes 180 At times. It would start with chills and then I would feel like my body was plugged into an electrical outlet, shaking so hard my teeth would chatter and I would be sore for days after. I had horrific night terrors, myoclonic jerks, teeth pain, jaw pain, hair loss, tremors, weakness in my voice, shortness of breath even though I never had that or a fever in my acute stage, blotchy skin, and have been put on heart medication. Two months into the Long haul I began to have bladder bleeding and pain in my kidneys along with a concussion-like feeling. Every test I have had comes back normal. I feel that the chemistry in my brain has been altered and mood regulation has been affected.
Every doctor I have seen has been compassionate but admits they do not know enough about this virus to tell me anything except “wait”. I am not able to work as my job requires me to stand all day and I can barely stand to do basic household chores without it throwing me into another relapse.
The state of Michigan has been allowing me to collect unemployment but they are now requiring people to show that they are actively searching for work. I have not quit my job nor have I been fired. I miss my job terribly and still have no definitive tests to prove how sick I am.
I am involved in a long haul study through Incelldx— Dr. Bruce Patterson, an immunologist, and Dr. Ram Yogendra,
At Covidlonghaulers.com who have been trying to help long haulers since last year. They have been the most active in doing research to find the mechanism of why so many of us are still sick. Long haul clinics to me are just collecting data and telling us to come back in six months or trying to rehabilitate through PT.
The vaccine has not been shown to have enough evidence to prove it will help us, especially if the persistent virus is the problem. Many have had it caused worsening for symptoms. We are pretty much on our own.
Watching our country switch the narrative overnight from staying home and double masking to going out and attending a sporting event, is heartbreaking to me. There are many casualties from this virus and will be many more. It’s not all deaths or recovered. Some remain sick and I hope that help comes soon.
The Michigan Covid 19 ‘Survivor Stories Blog’ highlights fellow Michiganders to continue building connections and shedding light on long-haulers that need additional resources and support.