43-year-old mom and Ocala resident Mayra Usme describes her experience with Covid and how it impacted her life.
OCALA, FL - In early Dec 2020, Ocala resident Mayra Usme's 19-year-old daughter, Gaby, began experiencing flu-like symptoms. "A few days later," Mayra shared, "she lost her sense of smell and taste, and a day after, I felt like I had a sore throat." Mayra tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec 13th, and by then, her husband, Steve, also started showing symptoms.
Mayra's Covid symptoms
The first days Mayra experienced various cold-flu-like symptoms, sore throat, nasal congestion, fever, and exhaustion, "but when we thought the worst was over, we really got worse," Mayra noted.
"On day 10 of the Covid journey," Mayra remembered, "we both had unbelievable pain, and breathing was very hard for us. We got to the point where we signed wills; we couldn't think clearly. Our thought process and ability to move were affected by the virus."
Finally, Mayra and her husband were treated with medications, and days later, her husband felt better. On the other hand, Mayra would feel okay one day and then be exhausted and sick for multiple days at a time.
"After Covid, you will have good and bad days. fatigue or shortness of breath could still be present." Covid survivor, Mayra Usme.
A month later, on Jan 13th, Mayra was taken to the ER after she passed out in the bathroom.
"I was admitted to AdventHEalth Hospital in Ocala, with a minor heart attack, pneumonia, and post Covid symptoms," she confided.
Mayra’s case is all too common; Stanford Medicine reports that “Covid-19 symptoms linger for months in the majority of hospitalized patients.”
"A week at the hospital, I was told my heart was functioning only at 40%," she added. "My lungs were full of fluid due to pneumonia, and I had some major changes in my blood work, blood pressure, and hormones."
During this time, Mayra’s daughter offered updates via Facebook, asking friends and family for prayers.
Thankfully, Mayra was discharged on January 20th, and although she continues to improve, the aftermath of Covid remains.
How Covid Affected Mayra's Life
"Covid changed my life in many ways," Mayra confided. "I am still dealing with medical issues like extreme hormonal changes, high blood sugar, weight gain (water makes me fat), fatigue (some days), shortness of breath, hair loss, cloudy thinking, speech difficulties, and depression."
Mayra, whose hospital bills have exceeded 100k for her Covid-related treatments, offered these words of advice to Ocala residents:
"If you don't have a doctor, places like Langley Health Services or Heart of Florida have Primary care physicians that can see you after your test positive and can prescribe meds.
"After Covid, you will have good and bad days," Mayra shared, "fatigue or shortness of breath could still be present." She encourages those who test positive for Covid to stay in contact with their doctor.
"The Covid virus attacks everyone in different ways," Mayra noted, "and in some people, it attacks the most vulnerable parts of their body," she said.
What is your message to people who haven't had Covid?
I asked Mayra what her message was to people who haven't had Covid. Her answer was short and to the point: "Use your mask and get vaccinated. This virus is real, and you don't know how your body will react."
She added, "I hope this helps at least one person. I don't wish Covid on anyone."