“I am a home health care nurse who contracted COVID19 in August 2020. I know exactly when I was exposed. I was listening to heart sounds on a patient in an Assisted Living Facility when she suddenly coughed in my face and eyes. At that time healthcare workers were only required to wear eye protection on confirmed COVID patients. I was symptomatic in 5 days and tested positive within 7 days. My symptoms were mild headache, sore throat, left earache. I was tired and my muscles ached. My eyes were red and itchy, and my nose was runny which is the usual for me in August with my Ragweed allergies. The next week I was significantly weaker. I could not use the stairs. I could not get out of the bathtub without assistance. I fell a few times enroute to the bathroom and needed help off the floor. Everything was irritating to me; I could not watch television the light hurt my eyes and vision was blurry the sound was distorted, or I could not hear it. I dread the overnight when my fever increased with night sweats. I also had disturbing nightmares usually involving the devil. I started to cook dinners the third week which was a huge effort. I would get distracted or need to rest and forget that something was in the oven or on the stove. I could not smell the smoke and I was only alerted by the smoke alarms. This happened more than once. My family thought it would be best if I had a spotter in the kitchen. After four weeks considering that I had not died nor need hospitalization nor oxygen I could go back to work. Employee Health would not clear me because I still had symptoms. I made appointment with my PCP to get work release and was told not yet and I needed physical therapy. I was still in denial and assumed physical therapy would see me one time and say I was able to work. Now starts my Long COVID journey. Being out of my home bubble and physical therapy other symptoms were very noticeable. Distraction and vestibular issues showed up when I resumed driving. More consultations with specialists were ordered. I then had ENT testing and Neuropsychic testing. My lower extremity strength waxed and waned in my lower extremities. I persisted and was determined to be able to get off the floor or sit to stand without using my arms. More therapies were added to deal with vestibular problems and attention deficits. My therapies lasted until June 2021. I was able to transition back to full time nursing work. I still have symptoms but am able to cope for the most part. My life has changed. I am able to work but need to be home by 2 to 4 o’clock to have enough energy to get up my stairs. Once home I can pace and plan to complete my work assignments. I can accommodate to stress with mindfulness exercises. Pacing has taught me to break projects into manageable steps. The only symptom I cannot control is brain fog. I cannot predict this condition will occur or how long it will last. I have a list of mindless tasks to do when the brain fog occurs. With brain fog I must put my important written work on hold until this condition passes. My driving is an issue as the more I drive the more vestibular symptom persist. I need to have a 2 day of no driving to reset myself. This is an issue as I am a visiting nurse who drives all over the Metro area.” - COVID Long Hauler