A Week of Disappearance - Sharing My Experience of Home Quarantine Due to COVID
This content was automatically generated by gpt-4o-mini (No human review). The original post is in Chinese.
This blog will share the experience of me and Cuihao contracting COVID one after the other and slowly recovering while quarantined at home.
Cuihao’s COVID Diagnosis
Last Monday, Cuihao developed symptoms of sore throat and cough, and had a slight fever in the evening. He tested negative using a COVID home test kit. In the afternoon, Cuihao looked very weak, and when I invited him to join me for a workout at the gym, he declined. Although I also felt a bit tired, after some hesitation, I decided to overcome my laziness and went to the gym alone for a 50-minute Zumba class.
On Tuesday, Cuihao was supposed to go to the hospital for a follow-up eye exam at 10 AM (he had undergone strabismus surgery at the UCI campus hospital a week prior). At 8 AM, Cuihao tested for COVID again, and this time a faint pink line appeared, indicating a positive result (as shown in the image below).
He then started making various phone calls, first to the hospital to inform them that he had contracted COVID, which led to a rescheduling of his eye exam. To be safe, Cuihao also scheduled a nucleic acid test at the campus hospital, and the results came back in the afternoon, still positive, which confirmed his diagnosis. Then the school’s contact tracer called Cuihao, asking him about his symptoms, when they appeared, where he had been in the days following the onset of symptoms, and who he had been in contact with. Originally, we thought the school would provide some assistance to students who contracted COVID, such as delivering food or groceries, providing COVID test kits, or offering quarantine accommodations, but none of that happened. The graduate housing office indicated that they could provide one free test kit (which needed to be picked up). Cuihao was instructed to test again on the fifth day after his diagnosis; if negative, he could end his quarantine, but if positive, he would continue to isolate. Regardless of the subsequent test results, he could end his quarantine 10 days after the diagnosis.
Cuihao also inquired at the campus hospital whether I could get a nucleic acid test there, but they replied that they only serve students, not family members. At that point, we had run out of COVID test kits at home, and I wasn’t sure where to conveniently get a nucleic acid test, as I hadn’t done one in a long time. Before bed that night, I finally scheduled a COVID test (PCR Lab Test) at CVS for Wednesday morning. I also took three days of sick leave from work, citing the need to care for a family member with COVID, as per California regulations, which allow for five days of leave for family members with COVID. Although I had not yet shown any symptoms.
On Tuesday night, both my personal phone and my work phone received notifications from CA Notify, informing me of a possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus between 8/29 and 8/30. It seems that this app is quite reliable (Cuihao mentioned that he reported it himself in the app).
Family Member Got COVID, How to Isolate?
Cuihao tested positive for COVID, and before I even had a chance to test, we faced a problem: how should I and Cuihao isolate and protect ourselves from each other? On the day Cuihao was diagnosed, we staggered our lunch times at the dining table. However, for dinner, we gave up and had a hearty meal together face to face. The reason was that being at home together made it really difficult to maintain strict isolation. We live in a 2b1b apartment with only one bedroom, one office, and one bathroom. Most of the day, we are together, either sleeping in the bedroom, working in the office, cooking in the kitchen, or eating and watching TV in the living room (dining room). We spend too much time in the same space. Although Cuihao would wear a regular medical mask at home after being diagnosed, the protection it offered was minimal, and it was impossible to wear a mask while sleeping; it was just too uncomfortable. Moreover, I might have already been infected with COVID without showing any symptoms. By Monday, Cuihao had started coughing and running a fever, and I had already been in close contact with him for at least a day without any protection.
At that time, we might have had other options, such as me staying in a hotel for a week until Cuihao recovered. Staying in a hotel for a week could cost around $1000, plus living outside would mean I couldn’t cook, the working conditions wouldn’t be great, and I would have to bring a lot of daily necessities, which wouldn’t be very convenient. Also, I wouldn’t be able to take care of him. Alternatively, we could both stay home and isolate, with one person sleeping in each room, but we only have one bathroom, so we would still have to share it. In short, after considering the possible options, we decided against strict protective measures, especially since I might have already been infected and didn’t want to complicate our lives further. Therefore, the only isolation measure we took was that if I was in the same room as Cuihao and he wasn’t drinking or eating, he would wear a medical mask. We still ate together, slept together, and took walks together. I know this is essentially no protection at all; I have received three vaccine doses, so I can only rely on luck.
It Took Me 3 Days to Get Diagnosed
On Wednesday morning, I drove to CVS to get a nucleic acid test. It was a drive-through test, meaning I did it myself while sitting in the car. By Thursday afternoon, I still hadn’t received the results, so I called to inquire. I was told it would take 1-2 days for the results, and since the day of the test didn’t count, only one day had passed, so the results weren’t ready yet. That Thursday night, I started to have a fever, reaching a high of 38.1 degrees Celsius, and I had a headache that made me feel terrible. With the hot weather, I couldn’t rest properly and spent the night tossing and turning, hardly sleeping at all.
By Friday afternoon at 4 PM, I couldn’t wait any longer for the nucleic acid test results. I sent Cuihao to the graduate housing to pick up a self-test kit and asked him to grab one for me as well. So, I tested myself for COVID-19 at home. Just as I was dropping the nasal swab solution onto the test strip, two obvious red lines appeared instantly, which was hard to believe. The first and most prominent line was the test line, not the control line. The picture below shows the result after 15 minutes.
By 6 PM on Friday, after confirming that I had COVID-19, the PCR test results from CVS finally came in. The result of my nucleic acid test from Wednesday morning was also positive! This meant I had already been infected with COVID-19 on Wednesday morning, rather than contracting it in the past two days from close contact with Cuihao. After being diagnosed with COVID-19, I didn’t feel very upset; instead, I felt relieved. On one hand, I no longer needed to take any precautions between Cuihao and me. Secondly, since my test result from Wednesday morning was already positive, it was highly likely that I had been infected when Cuihao was diagnosed on Tuesday. Therefore, the subsequent precautions were indeed unnecessary, and fortunately, we chose the easiest way to face it (which was to just wait and get infected together).
After being diagnosed with COVID-19, I reported my situation on CA Notify, and soon Cuihao received a notification on his phone that he had potentially been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
What COVID Symptoms Do You Have?
Cuihao and I have mostly the same COVID symptoms, with the main difference being that he lost his sense of smell, while I did not. In summary, our COVID symptoms include:
- Sore throat (the most severe symptom for me, causing sleepless nights)
- Cough (the most severe symptom for Cuihao, persistent coughing leading to sleepless nights)
- Fever (the fever is not high, peaking at only 38.1 degrees Celsius, and usually occurs at night, not during the day)
- Runny nose (started three days after symptoms appeared)
- Headache (I had severe headaches when I first had a fever, but no headaches later; Cuihao had some headaches, but they weren’t severe)
- Back pain (me only, possibly due to poor sleep)
- Loss of smell (Cuihao only, he can no longer smell vinegar)
Cuihao and I both experienced the worst of our illness 2-3 days after showing COVID symptoms, feeling the weakest and most uncomfortable. After getting through those 2-3 days, things improved significantly, and we could sleep better, with basically just a cough, a bit of mild sore throat, and loss of smell remaining, which wasn’t too bothersome. During the most severe 2-3 days, the daytime was relatively bearable, but nighttime/sleeping was the hardest. I struggled with a sore throat, and when my nose was blocked at night, I could only breathe through my mouth, which worsened the sore throat and kept me awake. Cuihao was mainly troubled by coughing; his cough was more severe than mine, and he even coughed while trying to sleep, affecting his ability to fall asleep. During those 2-3 days, we both kept holding a water cup, constantly hydrating ourselves, as drinking water helped relieve the sore throat and also assisted with the fever. I even placed a water cup with a straw next to my pillow to drink while lying down, but the relief for the sore throat was still limited, and there were two nights when I felt like I hardly slept.
Here are our Garmin watch body battery data, which accurately measured the poor sleep quality during our toughest 2-3 days. Specifically, it seems that our inability to sleep well combined with the fever led to an elevated heart rate, causing the watch to indicate that our stress levels were very high and that we hadn’t rested well. I had a fever for three consecutive nights and a sore throat for three nights, which corresponded to the three lowest days of my body battery.
From the watch, it can be seen that Cuihao and I were three days apart in our illness onset; his condition was most severe from Monday daytime to Thursday daytime, while mine was from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, we staggered our illnesses; otherwise, it would have been too miserable for both of us to be sick at the same time.
What are some ways to alleviate symptoms?
We have tried the following methods to relieve the discomfort caused by COVID-19, and I will comment on each method one by one.
- Drink water
- Eat “menthol candies” to relieve cough and sore throat
- Eat ice cream and yogurt
- Watch shows
- Use air conditioning
- Order takeout
- Take sick leave
- Sleep with extra pillows
- Take Tylenol
First, drinking water. I have been holding a water cup for the past five days, and I suspect I drink 5-8 liters of water daily. I keep drinking and urinating; if my throat hurts and I can’t sleep, I continue to drink water, and if I fall asleep, I stop drinking.
The so-called “menthol candies” are called Halls Relief (Relieves Coughs & Soothes Sore Throats), which I bought for Cuihao at CVS. They are not medication and do not require a prescription; they are like menthol candies, cool to eat but actually sugar-free. I feel they help relieve sore throat, so there were several nights when we were uncomfortable and couldn’t sleep, we would suck on the candies to help us sleep (cavity warning). Cuihao thinks it helps with sleep, but I don’t feel it helps much.
Eating ice cream and yogurt can also relieve sore throat, help cool down in the heat, and improve mood, which is certainly beneficial.
On the day we watched shows, it was the hardest day for me. I watched a show with Cuihao because when you feel terrible, you just want to do something simple. However, when even sleeping becomes a torment and lying down is uncomfortable, watching shows in an air-conditioned room is a relatively pleasant way to pass the time and distract yourself.
Using air conditioning is a must-mention point because during the week we had COVID, we unfortunately encountered extreme heat in Southern California. The combination of heat and COVID brought us double suffering. Fortunately, we eventually bought an air conditioner, allowing us to stay in a cool room.
Ordering takeout was frequent since both of us were sick, and naturally, no one wanted to cook. Plus, cooking in the heat was even more unbearable, so ordering takeout came without any psychological burden. Ordering takeout naturally reduces household chores, allowing sick people to rest more. When you’re sick, you just have to spend more money.
Taking sick leave is the best when you’re ill and don’t have to worry about work. After Cuihao was diagnosed with COVID, I decisively took three days off to give myself precious time, and later I was diagnosed too. With three days of sick leave plus a three-day weekend, I had a total of six days off to recover, which was just enough.
Sleeping with extra pillows: Cuihao looked up how to alleviate coughing while sleeping and found suggestions to elevate the upper body and head with pillows, which makes coughing less likely. He has been sleeping this way for almost a week (using three pillows). I am not used to sleeping like that, so I didn’t do it.
Taking Tylenol: Initially, we had Tylenol at home, and I knew it could relieve pain and reduce fever. The problem was that my fever wasn’t high, only around 38 degrees, so I didn’t take it. Later, two friends suggested I take Tylenol, and one even shared her experience with Tylenol Nighttime, saying it could relieve many COVID symptoms. So, Cuihao did some research and found that the Day & Night Combo Pack of Tylenol is indeed different from regular Tylenol, as it contains additional ingredients that can alleviate specific cold and flu symptoms. He then bought me a box of CVS’s generic version of Tylenol to try. Below, I will share Cuihao’s research findings.
Tylenol Mini Class
The image below shows the original Tylenol, with the active ingredient Acetaminophen, which acts as a Pain reliever / Fever reducer.
The image below is what a friend shared with me, the Canadian Tylenol Complete (cold, cough & flu), which is not exactly available in the U.S. The authentic U.S. Tylenol can be found here.
The image below is the CVS version of the knockoff Tylenol that Cuihao finally bought for me, with the same active ingredients as TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe For Day And Night Time.
A summary table of the active ingredients is as follows, google drive link, which is the result of Cuihao’s work.
COVID-19 + High Temperatures: How to Cope with Hot Weather
The days we fell ill with COVID-19 coincided with the hottest days in Southern California in 2022. The dual torment of COVID-19 and high temperatures made life very difficult. Unlike in China, the student apartments at UCSD and UCI do not have air conditioning. In Southern California, even in summer, the highest temperatures usually do not exceed 30 degrees Celsius. We rarely use air conditioning, and even fans are not often needed. However, there are indeed one or two weeks each year when the temperatures exceed 30 degrees, making fans insufficient. This year, from late August to early September, there were over ten consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, and even a couple of days where temperatures surpassed 40 degrees, breaking historical records in many places. It can be said that it was an extreme heatwave.
If it weren’t for COVID-19, we would have many options to cool off during the heat. For example, we could go to the lab or office to enjoy air conditioning, study in the school library or community study rooms; we could go shopping at supermarkets or malls; or even go to the beach to play in the water. Unfortunately, we contracted COVID-19, which left us physically weak and in need of rest, while also requiring isolation, making it difficult to go to public places. Therefore, we found ourselves trapped in our approximately 60-square-meter, air-conditioning-free apartment during the hottest days of the year (with indoor temperatures reaching 30 degrees).
We made many efforts to alleviate the discomfort caused by the heat. For example:
- During the day, we closed all doors and windows, pulled down the curtains, and even turned off the lights to cool down, resulting in a dark home.
- We had an air circulation fan at home and also picked up a free fan from the community.
- We froze a lot of ice cubes in the freezer and placed them in front of or behind the fan to blow cool air.
- We reduced cooking, especially avoiding the use of the oven and boiling water, opting for takeout instead. Otherwise, cooking would raise the indoor temperature by 2-3 degrees.
- We bought an air conditioner and managed to grab a portable air conditioner from the supermarket. It was indeed useful after installation, but it was too noisy and required us to close the room door, making the air circulation even worse.
- We bought cooling mats and replaced our bed sheets and pillowcases with them.
Personally, I feel that all these efforts, even if they could lower the indoor temperature, brought a lot of inconvenience.
COVID Timeline
| Date | Event | cuihao Symptoms | jenny Symptoms | Max Temperature (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/29/2022 Mon | cuihao showed symptoms | Cough, sore throat, fever | None | 27 |
| 8/30/2022 Tue | cuihao tested positive for COVID | Cough, sore throat, fever | None | 31 |
| 8/31/2022 Wed | jenny had a nucleic acid test | Cough, sore throat, fever | None | 36 |
| 9/1/2022 Thu | jenny showed symptoms in the evening | Cough, sore throat | Headache, fever | 31 |
| 9/2/2022 Fri | jenny tested positive for COVID | Cough, sore throat | Sore throat, fever | 33 |
| 9/3/2022 Sat | cuihao felt much better | Cough, loss of smell | Sore throat, fever, runny nose | 36 |
| 9/4/2022 Sun | cuihao still positive, jenny started taking “Tylenol” | Cough, loss of smell | Sore throat, runny nose, cough | 41 |
| 9/5/2022 Mon | jenny felt much better | Cough, loss of smell | Cough, sore throat relieved | 33 |
The reason this article is titled “The Week That Disappeared” is that the past week has completely disrupted our normal lives. All our time and energy were spent dealing with the discomfort caused by COVID and coping with the extreme heat in Southern California. There was no time to work, no time for chores, and no energy for exercise. The house is a mess, as if a week has vanished. But isn’t that what being sick is all about? You have to stop and rest, realizing that you no longer have the energy to work or study, and that you don’t have enough energy to exercise. The only thing you can do is to make yourself feel a bit better. It’s best to let yourself off the hook psychologically and not feel guilty.
As of the publication of this blog (9/5/2022), both of us are still coughing and have not tested negative yet.
Follow-up Update
Recently (12/10/2022), as more and more people in the country are getting infected with COVID-19, some friends have asked me how things went after that, specifically the timeline from when I wrote the blog until I fully recovered. So I’m here to provide an update. Basically, we started our road trip on September 10, and we had completely put COVID out of our minds. On the 10th, my cough worsened due to the poor air quality caused by nearby wildfires.
| Date | Event | cuihao Symptoms | jenny Symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/7/2022 | jenny tested positive again, the line was still very red | Cough | Still a bit of a cough, not very noticeable |
| 9/8/2022 | - | Cough, taste gradually recovering | Almost fine, no cough, no symptoms |
| 9/9/2022 | jenny and cuihao both tested negative (self-test) | Cough | No symptoms |
| 9/10/2022 | Glacier Yellowstone Grand Teton Road Trip, went to Kalispell, wildfires | Cough worsened (smog) | Coughing again (smog) |
| 9/12/2022 | Headed to Grand Teton National Park, left the wildfire smog area | No symptoms | No symptoms |
