Approximately seven days ago I tested positive for COVID-19. This news did not come as a shock to my roommates and me, as we all (but one) began to test positive. We had not gone anywhere, bars, parties, restaurants. We went off campus once to get our groceries on a Sunday, Iggy’s to pick up food, and to our in-person classes on those respective days. But other than that we have been staying safe in our apartment.
One of my roommates had lost her sense of smell and later her sense of taste that weekend. When I woke up on Tuesday and felt like I had been hit by a truck, was tired, my head hurt, and to top it off I had a fever of 100.4, I should have realized that it was COVID-19 and not just a random rise in temperature. That day, thankfully, I decided to stay inside because I did not want to risk going out to get food being as weak as I was. By the time my 6 pm online class started, I had already begun feeling way better. I had a burst of energy and thought things were back to normal.
The next morning, because of possible symptoms two of my roommates and I decided to go get a PCR test. Then while I was in class, my roommate got a rapid COVID-19 test and tested positive. Now began the quarantine stage. She was moved into isolation across campus, and the rest of us started to wear masks in our apartment and began cleaning. We were not allowed to leave our apartment for 10 days.
Fast forward to that Thursday afternoon, I am wondering why I haven’t gotten my PCR test results yet. I open up the Aura app, and there it is “Last Test: 1/27/2021 COVID19 Positive.” I sit there in shock, unsure what to do next. I texted my roommate and she tested positive too. That means 3/6 of my apartment are confirmed positive tests. Quickly after I saw my results, the health center, COVID Logistics, and many other people started calling me. I was being moved to an isolation dorm across campus like my roommate. Within the hour I am settled across campus in my isolation apartment. Now it is day 7 of my isolation, two more of my roommates tested positive the day after me, and I am patiently waiting for Day 10.
Thankfully, I am asymptomatic, so I don’t have to worry too bad about symptoms or how I am feeling. But being in isolation by yourself for 10 days is a little boring. I found myself having a lot of extra free time, even with classes going on. I would finish my work relatively early in the day and then have the rest of the day to relax.
For the first few days, I didn’t have any neighbors, so at night it would get a little creepy. Every sound I heard would have me turning on a light and scanning the room. Now that I do have neighbors it’s less scary to be in isolation.
That being said, Loyola has been great at making sure I’m doing okay and providing support if I need anything. They bring me food every day which I get to order online. I was assigned a case manager who checks on my well-being through phone calls and the Covid Logistic workers are just a phone call away.
If you are put into isolation because you test positive know that it is not the end of the world. The days are honestly going by pretty fast and I am enjoying my time here. I’m trying to make the best of it. Here are some things that really helped me make the most of my stay in isolation so far.
-
Zoom calls with friends made the time go faster (some ideas are yoga nights, watch parties, etc.)
-
Bringing medicine made me feel a lot better
-
Snacks! I made chocolate-covered pretzels one night because I brought pretzels and chocolate chips!
-
Staying in contact with my family; they helped me get through the boring long hours
-
Bringing an extra blanket & pillow. Yes, they provide them, but I wanted an extra layer of comfort
-
Journaling to track how I’m feeling and what I do every day
-
Asking for support or supplies if I needed anything. Loyola is doing really well at making sure I have everything I need and I’m never left stranded
-
Bringing activities with me (nail polish, a sketchbook, or some novels)