Symptoms

Just thought it might be interesting for my dear readers to see some of the symptoms I had during my two bouts with Covid.  Superman and my experience was different than much of what we saw in the media... so I like to be open with what we went through and try to curb some of the fear and panic that so many people have faced.  

Our first round of Covid was in June/ July 2020... and at that point we didn't know anyone else personally who had been through Covid.  So this was completely new for us, and I was pretty shocked and scared at the beginning.

Here are the symptoms and their approximate duration during the first round in June/ July 2020:

• Loss of smell (about 8 weeks)
• Body aches and pains (about 2-3 weeks)
• Mild but frequent headache (about 1-2 weeks)
• Feeling spaced-out and unconcentrated (months and months...)
• Mental capacity below 100% (months and months... even up to today)
• Extreme fatigue after any physical activitiy (2-3 months)
• Sudden ability to speak Mandarin (just kidding)

The hardest thing was just feeling tired and worn out for months.  I couldn't even take a short walk or vaccum the living room without feeling like I had just run a marathon.  Though I never lost my sense of taste during Covid, my taste has changed slightly since being sick.  For example, I can't drink most carbonated drinks anymore (coke, pepsi, lemonade, etc.) because they taste like dishwashing soap.

Here are the symptoms/ duration for the second round in December 2021:

• Headache, especially painful behind my eyes (about 3 days)
• Mild body aches and pains (about 3 days)

And that was about it... so as you can see, the second time I had Covid, it was much milder than the first time... even without a vaccine. 

Sometimes Superman and I joke about wanting Covid again... sure, that might be morbid... but there are advantages to not smelling the neighbors when they chain smoke, not smelling trash in the almost-100-degree summer without AC, and not smelling not-so-pleasent scents emitted by husbands.  When my sense of smell slowly returned after about 2 months, it was a huge adjustment... everything stunk!

If anyone has any questions or concerns about Covid, or wants to chat with someone who has been through it twice, then let me know!  

1st Experience as "Genesen" (Recovered)

As most of you know, Superman and I had Covid back in June/ July 2020, before it was so popular. Without going into detail (I'll document that in another post), the course of the virus was relatively mild compared to what we had expected and seen in the media. I was able to work from home the entire time, and didn't even have to take any sick leave. 

Due to the fact the our symptoms and experience were pretty uneventful, I decided to wait with the vaccine. Then, at the beginning of December 2021, I tested positive again... this time, with even milder symptoms. I was actually quite ecstatic after testing positive, as I now have the "2G" status mentioned in my previous post, and will be a free citizen until my recovery certificate expires on May 30th 2022.

After 2 weeks of quarantine, I decided to go shopping again, which otherwise wouldn't be allowed because I'm not Covid-vaccinated.  All I wanted was a little bundt pan to make cinnamon bread for Christmas... and this turned out to be more complicated than originally anticipated.

The first stop was TKMaxx, as they have a great kitchen deparment... and I had even been in the store several days ago and seen a bundt pan that I wanted to purchase. At the store entrance, there was a line of people waiting to have their vaccine status checked to be able to enter.

Me: *shows my official (paper) letter of recovery from the health authorities*
TKMaxx Employee: "Do you have a QR code?  I'm not sure about this..."
Me: "No... I only have this official letter... they didn't give me a QR code.  But here's the QR code from my positive PCR test that was several weeks ago."
Employee: "Let me call my manager..."
Manager: "What's the problem here?"
Me: "I was actually in the store last week... and here's my recovery letter."

Manager: "But you need a QR code... and you have to be recovered for at least 30 days to enter our store. The employee shouldn't have let you in last week."

And then they proceeded to literally send me away, which was horribly embarassing, as I had held up the line and there were quite a few people who were waiting and observing the whole ordeal.

Ironically, as I was searching for a customer service e-mail later that day, I saw a statement promoting "inclusion and diversity" and speaking out against discrimination on their website. I guess that only refers to acceptance regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, color, etc... but it's ok to discriminate people based on their personal medical decisions.

After being sent away from TKMaxx, I decided to give it a try at Fissler, a more high-end kitchen shop.

Me: *shows my official (paper) letter of recovery from the health authorities*
Fissler Employee: "Do you not have a QR code?"
Me: "No... I only have this official letter... they didn't give me a QR code.  But here's the QR code from my positive PCR test that was several weeks ago."
Employee: *monologue about being fined if I don't have the correct documents*
Me: "But this is an official document from the health authorities."
Employee: *monologue about the fact that I could have falsified the documents*
Me: "Of course... any document can be falsified?! But I'm recovered - you can even call the authorities if you like."
Employee: *monologue about the importance of QR codes*
Me: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
Employee: "Is vaccination not an option for you?"
Me: "That's my personal decision... and I'm recovered! So you're saying that although I'm recovered and have an official letter from the healther authorities, I'm not allowed to enter your EMPTY store and look at the bundt pans?"

The employee then proceeded to grant me access to his store... but he accompanied me to the bundt pans, staying by my side, and observing my every move until I left the store. I felt like a horrible person, like a criminal.

I will be boycotting both TKMaxx and Fissler in the future.

That afternoon, I went by the Apotheke (Drugstore), and got my official EU certificate of recovery, including the mark of the QR code. The lady there was super friendly and helpful, and even let me know which app to download and how to get my QR code in the app... 

Me: "Thanks so much for your help - I actually have a TKMaxx gift certificate, and would like you to have it... Merry Christmas!"

Employee: "Ohh, no, I can't take that!"

Me: "Please, take it - I'm going to be boycotting them..."

Employee: "But maybe in the new year you'll find a place in your heart to forgive them..."

Me: "Nope, no... no forgiveness here!!"

So hopefully she bought herself a little something nice for Christmas with the gift certificate.

And thanks to my wonderfully supportive and shopping-addicted husband, I had 3 little bundt pans delivered within the next several days and could choose my favorite one to keep!

International Traveling in Covidian Times

With all the craziness going on in the world, I decided to start documenting some of my experiences here in Germany again.  For the first time in almost two years (#covid), I was able to visit my family in Texas... and the comparison between the two countries was particularly interesting. 

Just a little background... here in Berlin we've had what we call a "3G" rule for months... meaning you have to be "geimpft" (vaccinated), "genesen" (recovered) or "getestet" (tested) to do even simple things like sit down and eat at a restaurant. Masks are also required indoors, and even outdoors in some of the busiest areas of town.

For larger and non-essential events and some shops, there is even the "2G" rule, meaning you have to be "geimpft" or "genesen".  This basically excludes everyone who is not Covid-vaccinated.  I even missed a Coldplay concert last year because I wasn't "2G" at the time.

In order to fly to the US, Superman (Dirk, my husband, will be referred to as Superman on this Blog <3) and I had to pay 100 Euros each for a PCR Covid test.  The test was checked by Germany security personell in both Berlin and Frankfurt. But when we landed in Houston, not ONE person asked about our vaccine status or Covid tests.  And not everyone was wearing masks.  It was literally like entering a different world, or taking a trip to the "pre-Covid" past. 

After two weeks of freedom... no 2G/ 3G rules... eating out... no mask mandates (though we wore masks indoors just to be safe and respectful)... we returned to the dark winter of Germany, which was quite the adjustment. Meanwhile in Berlin, the 2G rule has been implemented for everything except grocery stores, drugstores, doctors and banks. So basically if you're not Covid-vaccinated, you can't even enter a shoe store to buy new shoes... or go to the tailor to get something fixed... or go to the clothes store to buy new underwear. But hey, at least the government still lets you buy food, so stop complaining and #getVaccinated!

In order to return to Germany, I had to get a Covid test, but Superman didn't (he's vaccinated). So I paid 200 USD for a same-day PCR test in order to fly back to Berlin. The interesting thing is, that absolutely NO ONE checked the test - neither in Texas nor in Germany. 

Houston Check-in Agent: "You're flying to Germany...? Emmm...? Let me check..."

Me: "I need a test, but my husband doesn't because he's vaccinated..."

Agent: *walks over and whispers with his manager"

Me: *tries not to panic*

Agent: "Ok, you're fine to go."

Me: "Perfect, do you need to see my test?  I have it here."

Agent: "No, you're fine."

When we arrived in Germany and went through border control, no one checked it either... which makes me wonder why I literally spent 200 USD on a Covid test that no one even looked at.  Especially if the situation in Germany is so horribly dangerous that a non-Covid-vaccinated person can't even sit down for a cup of coffee in an empty bakery.  And 200 USD is a LOT of money - that's like 130 Sonic drinks... or 500 Lindt chocolate balls... or a Lego modular building... or 11 Thomas Kinkade puzzles.

Anyway.  The actual flight was relatively uneventful, except for the fact that a young man passed out and had to be revived in the isle right next to my seat. Why? Because of lack of oxygen due to wearing a mask for a 10-hour flight. After the flight attendant found a doctor on board and they got the poor young man on oxygen, the crew was gracious enough to let him go maskless for the rest of the flight. 

The only reason I managed to not pass out was because I ate and drank almost the ENTIRE time... hey, I might have gained 10 pounds on the flight but at least I could breathe like a normal pre-Covid person.

Despite some slight travel drama, the trip back home was absolutely FABULOUS, for both Superman and me. We had a wonderful time with my family; there were quite a few interesting activities; and Superman was able to experience Thanksgiving for the first time in the US.