We Forgot About Colds When Removing The Masks

When the CDC informed fully vaccinated people that they could ditch their masks in most places, Douglas and I were ecstatic. We stopped wearing the masks at the gym, on hikes, and in restaurants. We had visits by two of my grandchildren and a great-granddaughter for Mother’s Day, and we went to Charleston SC for four days, living in a wonderful Airbnb apartment attached to the host’s home. We met our hosts, savoring long conversations with them, as well as made visits to different museums and parks. Last week, Douglas played 45 holes of disc golf at two new parks he found in Atlanta.

We got complacent, and this week, we are paying the price. First, Douglas became ill, and he went to the nearest urgent care facility for a Covid-19 test, which, thankfully, was negative. We were so nervous, because we had attended two churches on Sunday, both of which didn’t require masks. I shook hands with people, before even stopping to think about it, just out of Baptist habit.

Douglas had a cold. After a couple of days, I started to feel ill. Thursday, I awoke with a bad cough that wouldn’t let me get much sleep. After self-medicating with Dayquil, I decided yesterday to have Douglas take me to urgent care while he did the grocery shopping.

I saw the doctor whom I hope to see when I go there because she is good and thorough and we have great conversations. I told her that the trip was more preventative because I tend to get bronchitis during colds, but she said, “Sister-girl, you already there.” I had asthmatic bronchitis.

They administered an steroid injection, to give my immune system a jump start, and then prescriptions for a steroid, an antibiotic, and cough medicine with hydrocondone, as it hurt like the dickens to cough. I also have to use the Albuterol nebulizer three times a day. Of course, now I haven’t slept in two nights, as the different meds leave me restless, agitated, and, unfortunately, hungry, which means gaining some weight back.

We have plans to travel to see friends next week, but may have to cancel, but these friends are moving back to California next month, and next week is the only time we can see them. We will monitor the situation, but one thing we will certainly do is put back on our masks.

I know that everyone wants to be mask-free, but we learned that, to prevent a bad health situation, we must wear masks. I want to keep other people safe, as well, not wanting to bring pain and sorrow to anyone I meet, whether strangers or family and friends. So, for the foreseeable future, we will wear masks even in places where they are not required. I still believe that the worst of the pandemic is over, and I hope that the reopening we are witnessing will not result in new spurts. Be safe out there, people.