To the editor:
First, I want to thank everyone who sent prayers, good wishes, cards and email messages over my battle with COVID-19. I really appreciate all of you!
Second, I’d like to update everyone on my continued recovery. COVID-19 takes a high toll very quickly and remains dangerous for quite some time after “recovery.”
I shared previously that I lost one-third of my capacity in each lung immediately from the double pneumonia that came with the virus. I am trying to rebuild my stamina with walking and exercise. There’s little possibility I will get it back, but I can strengthen what is there.
Many other problems were revealed in the hospital, including my heart, kidneys, and some surprises for me. Rapid dehydration had knocked loose some kidney stones, and COVID-19 had shut off partial blood supply to my hip socket. It appears the bone is damaged and part of it is “dead.” This is going to eventually require a hip replacement, and possibly sooner than later.
I have been making good progress on building up my stamina by walking about one-eighth of a mile to the mailbox at the end of the driveway and back. Then, on April 30, the first kidney stone attack happened. Those who have had a kidney stone attack know how bad the pain is, and how sick it makes a person. It’s been said to be worse than the pain of childbirth.
In trying to get relief, I fell into some more “Catch-22” type regulations. The hospital and local physician’s office have a rule where no opiates will be prescribed unless the patient is in the hospital. The two most powerful painkillers I could get were ibuprofen, or ibuprofen with codeine. I’m allergic to codeine, so that’s out. I basically couldn’t eat or sleep for days due to the pain and related illness.
On Sunday, I tried walking to the mailbox. I made it there, but that was it. I had to sit down and it took about 15 minutes for me to recover enough strength and breath to start back. I finally made it to the bedroom, covered with sweat, dizzy and lightheaded. All the progress I had made was now gone.
On Monday, the nurse from the virus center made a regular follow-up call to check on my recovery. She said she would see if she could get the painkiller rule waived under the circumstances. She contacted my regular doctor, and he once again intervened and got me a prescription for an opiate. I understand why they want to stop the opiate flow, but Monday was the first time since the prior Thursday that I got any sleep. Sometime during this ordeal, I must have passed the stone, and I have been able to eat again.
I’m slowly getting my strength back. I’m tired of lying down all the time, and I want to go back to work.
A lot of people have not heard about COVID-19 causing problems with bones and circulation. One of the actors in “Blue Bloods” had to have a leg amputated and remains in a coma.
This is a seriously dangerous disease! I recommend doing everything possible to avoid even the possibility of getting it.
Again, thanks for all the well wishes and prayers!
Larry Hanson, Brown County
