Hello, how are you? Yes, I've had the Covid.

Be careful what you ask for! At least that's what they say.

A couple of weeks ago we at the Transcript asked if any folks who had been infected with COVID-19 would be interested in sharing their story.

There was no reply to our request, only crickets. So, we have watched the numbers from day to day and week to week. One new positive, six new positives, 13. Then a stop. Then on to 12 new positives, then nine, and 37.

Eventually, I became one of those statistics. Now that I have recovered, I'm ready to share my experience in hopes that it might help others should they come face to face with the virus.

Now that I'm walking again among the living, I have to say it's a bit jolting after having spent more than two weeks within the confines of my home. More times than not, when I encounter people at the store or in the neighborhood, they are curious. My elderly neighbor even called to check on me. They all want to know, "Was it really that bad- having covid?"

The answer is yes and no. It's complicated.

I'll try to explain, but please keep in mind, the words that I am about to share are based on my own experience. I am not offering medical advice. How you choose to treat the novel coronavirus, if you contract it, is between you and your health care provider.

This is not a flu

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory infection that can also affect other major organ systems. The symptoms last longer than any flu I've ever had. We're talking about feeling ill for a week or more.

We've all seen the list of symptoms (runny nose, fever, headache, body aches, fatigue). However, the list doesn't begin to convey the intensity of symptoms or the variability from person to person. In short, the symptom flares were frequent and largely unpredictable.

One afternoon I suffered from such intense sinus tingling and profuse mucus that it reminded me of that one time when young Rachel made good on a dare by snorting a bit of wasabi. The experience was far more miserable than I remembered.

At night, tinnitus and sinus pressure made for an interesting and unpleasant combination. Can you imagine hearing the quiet echo of '80s cartoon intros streaming in your ears as trapped pressure tries to escape your skull anyway it can?

Beware the fog

Aside from sleep disruptions and prolonged isolation, COVID-19 really messes with the mind. I'm not suggesting the fever had anything to do with it. The highest temp I recorded was 99.8º.

COVID-19 leaves you confused and disoriented, far beyond any of the other confusions I've experienced before. I'm sure I had more to write on this topic, but I can't seem to find my notes on brain fog. Go figure.

I do have two major tips to share:

• Keep track of your daily medications. You will likely not be able to remember if and when you last took your blood thinners or mood stabilizers. A daily pill caddy works well.

• Use a timer anytime cooking or preparing foods. It is just way too easy to forget if there is something in the oven. If it starts to burn, you might not even know. The loss of smell can be that pronounced.

All the comforts, no taste

I don't think anything could have prepared me for the loss of taste. While it's a pretty benign symptom, it was by far the most disorienting. I am hypoglycemic, meaning I need to eat frequent small meals to avoid drastic crashes in my blood sugar. It's hard to eat when food doesn't taste good.

Homemade chicken soup was my go-to, and each time I ate a bowl I noticed the need for more and more salt- and then more pepper. Once I realized my sense of taste was not only diminished but seriously wrong, I began to reconsider my menu of convalescence. While there are plenty of foods that are less than appealing without taste, there are some out there that have something to offer in terms of comfort food.

The key is to think about the textures of foods. The chicken noodle soup was just fine in terms of texture, but not for every meal. Foods that are creamy like ice cream, yogurt, pudding and such offered a delightful mouthfeel. I particularly appreciated the refreshing texture of popsicles, juice, fruit gelatin and frozen fruit. A bagel and cream cheese offered a nice bit of chewy crunch. One surprising favorite I found was kosher baby dills- the snap and the vinegar were both a lovely change.

Welcome remedies

Water is essential for recovering from COVID-19. We all function best when we are well-hydrated, and if you've ever talked to a doctor when you were sick, you know the phrase, "push lots of fluids." I recommend keeping some extra bottled water on hand. I devoured a whole case every two days.

I also found relief in regular doses of Tylenol or Alka Seltzer. Cough drops were great. When my husband began showing symptoms, he braved Afrin with eucalyptus and camphor. I should note that his symptoms were severe enough that it kept him from participating in the opening day of the rifle season. As of press time, he has yet to get out in the field.

The early days of the virus can be a particular challenge when it comes to managing activity. I didn't really feel sick, I was just experiencing strange symptoms at random intervals. I could have gotten myself into all sorts of trouble, had I started a big project- or ventured out in the world.

Despite feeling amped and ready to go do something amazing, I practiced short intervals of light activity. Whether I was preparing another bowl of ice cream, watching my favorite movie, or catching up on work tasks, short bursts of activity helped keep my mind feel fresh and productive.

One of the greatest comforts came from the advice of my 10-year-old son after he also tested positive for the virus, "You should watch 'The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' with me." Let me tell you, the kid is a genius. By watching a film we both knew line for line, we found something not only comforting but also reassuring.  

We knew that Winnie the Pooh would get unstuck from Rabbit's front door, but not before all the friends gathered around to sing a song and help him out.

The next day we watched "Bambi" and experienced the same effect. I couldn't help but notice my brain anticipated and celebrated every orchestrated tone that echoed through the great forest. It was bliss.

I'm sure there is some science behind it all, but for now I feel comfortable making the recommendation that you too should rewatch your favorite classic movie with the hope it will bring joy.

Communicate with your contact tracer

Nobody ever said, "I want to be a contact tracer when I grow up." It's true because up until nine months ago, almost no one knew what a contact tracer was.

As COVID-19 worked its way through my household, I managed to talk with three different contact tracers in the matter of a week. Each one of them was knowledgeable and respectful and was experienced in how to discuss COVID-19 with someone who had received a positive status. They were also incredibly human.

One asked, "Is this a good time to ask you a couple of questions?"

My reply was sort of kneejerk- "I guess. Apparently my son doesn't want to try this wild rice soup I just made."

Immediately the contact tracer exclaimed, "Wild rice soup is my favorite!"

We remained best buds until the end of the call.

It turns out these contact tracers don't do very much in terms of tracing your contacts anymore. In fact, their title per the North Dakota Department of Health is COVID-19 caseworker. If you fall ill with covid, your caseworker will tell you there is not enough labor available to trace the contacts you've may have made. It is up to the patient to contact anyone he or she may have exposed to COVID-19.

The caseworkers collect background information including underlying conditions and current symptoms. They also answer questions. One caseworker stated, "I will always try to find the answer to someone's question."

They also send and review a daily symptom survey via email. Should you report a worsening of symptoms in this survey, they will call and follow-up. My caseworker advised that I could call him directly, anytime from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Those are some long hours!

More than anything, the caseworkers provided reassurance, and that felt better than any remedy I tried.