.

The pandemic started in March of 2020, and I have worked hard diligently avoiding contracting COVID-19.  My sweetie-wife and I have kept our home as a vaccinated only zone and until last week my streak remained unbroken.

After two home testes that came back negative but with a worsening respiratory issue I contacted my doctor’s office, concerned that my immuno-suppressant arthritis medication might be interfering with the simple assay. They ordered a proper PCR test on Thursday and Friday morning I awoke to a positive result. I had contracted COVID-19.

Immediately my doctor suspended all my arthritis medication. It’s unwise to suppress your immune system when you are fighting an infection and the dedicated COVID team at Kaiser put me on the 5-day Paxlovid therapy. Which, due to drug interactions, caused them to suspend my cholesterol medication.

I can report that my COVID infection has proven to be quite mild. The flu I contracted in July laide me out more than this did, but I have maintained the self-isolation directive, spending this long weekend at home, and not seeing Gojira on the big screen with 50 or 60 friends.

Paxlovid Mouth, a side effect where someone on the therapy reports an intense bitter ‘bad’ taste in their mouth did indeed strike me. If you have ever bitten into an orange rind and had the citric acid squirt into the back of your throat, that is was it tastes like. If comes out of nowhere and repeats throughout the course of the therapy. Luckily, breath mints and throat lozenges are sufficient to mask the taste.

Today I return to work only a little sniffly and with a mild irregular cough.