What to Do? Continue What I Know or Explore What Moves Me?

A Vacation Cut Short by COVID

My vacation in Mexico’s Yucatán and the northern state of Jalisco was cut short due to COVID. I took three COVID tests during the first 10 days. An initial self-test and then less than a week later, a test at a clinic. Both came back negative. It wasn’t until I started feeling unusually chilly in the ground-fed thermal waters of a wave pool at a waterpark that I had an inkling, something was wrong. The fatigue that followed led to a third test at a doctor’s office, which was positive. Acting on the advice of adopted family members including another doctor in Mexico who I’ve known for years, I returned to the U.S. where I quarantined and recovered quickly. The only lingering symptom is a cough for which my U.S.-based doctor recommended Mucinex.

Looking back two-and-a-half-years, we didn’t know of COVID. And yet, in January 2020, I returned from Mexico with my first bout of that dang Corona virus. I felt the sickest I’d ever been. Each symptom was acutely severe. Sweats. Chills despite the room heated to 91°F. Fatigue. All I could think about was lying down. Pain. Infectious mucous. Difficulty breathing. I couldn’t taste my food!

This time, it began with a fever and then fatigue. I needed to lie down a lot. Mucous remained clear. I consulted three doctors. Each gave me a slightly different treatment. “Take Antiflu-Des every eight hours and Charyn Azitromicina at 7PM, daily. Take Tylenol as needed when your temperature rises.” The second doctor advised, “Stop taking the Antiflu, immediately.” The third doctor in the U.S. agreed with the second doctor. He mentioned that had I come to him upon testing positive, he would have treated me with Paxlovid. How? When I called his office, the soonest he could see me was ten days later and that was via a video call.

I stuck with the initial doctor’s recommendation to take the two medications. I took Tylenol to bring down my fever, which was over 101°F at its worst. He also suggested I monitor my blood pressure (I wouldn’t be able to do that until two weeks later) and my oxygen levels. I bought one of those fingertip oxygen monitors in Mexico and began using it multiple times a day as the doctor suggested. The lowest my oxygen went was in the 80s. I measured it after almost fainting in the shower. Beyond this instance, my blood oxygen levels remained in the mid to upper 90s with my heart rate in the upper 60s to low 70s. The numbers were looking good and my temperature was back down in the normal range of the upper 90°F.

Reading more online, it appears there’s a preventative property in Antiflu-Des that prevents the COVID virus from infecting the cells. Whatever the details, it seemed to help me heal better than the first round of COVID.

I’m thinking though, I need to change my travel plans. After returning with COVID after two trips to Mexico’s heartland, I plan to visit Europe, next.

This brings me back to my time off from blogging here at The Caregiver’s Voice.

Is it Time for a Change?

I reread the article I wrote prior to leaving on vacation last month: Tug-of-War—Set An Example or… What should I do?

“The gifts of respite are many. For one, we return refreshed and ready to tackle any job, even the impossible ones. Obstacles often shrink in size when we return energized after a change-of-pace.”

Once I recovered from COVID, I felt energized. Except, I needed to switch gears. Which gear, though? Which gear will move my life-engine?

Those who know me and who have worked with me, know I go all-in when I get involved.

It’s been nearly a quarter century. What a gift to work with caregivers who selflessly and lovingly care for family members. I was one. My father and aunt (mother’s sister) succumbed to Alzheimer’s and my uncle (father’s brother) lived with Parkinson’s.

After nearly a quarter century, even a glass-full-optimist needs to recharge.

Over the weeks ahead, I will be having conversations with colleagues for ideas. I need to rediscover that spark in my life’s work. There is nothing worse than feeling “I have to” instead of “I want to.”

There are plenty of candidates. Over the years, many have launched their own websites from scratch. Instead, the wise entrepreneur will seize this opportunity to build upon the established legacy of The Caregiver’s Voice. Since 1998, most independent sites have come and gone—some in as little as a few months; others, in five years.

I do not know yet which direction I will go, but to keep the spark alive, I need to switch gears.

To discover what’s next, I will also revisit the twists and turns of my 42-year career. Prior to The Caregiver’s Voice, I had the pleasure of teaching at four universities, consulting for corporations and organizations, and creating executive development programs. I’ve keynoted at national conferences and authored nine books of which two were best-selling titles. By most measures, I have been quite fortunate. I have worked hard, very hard.

As I also revisit, My Wish for You while I Take a Respite for a Change-of-Pace, I realize I am not yet finished. I look forward to turning the page to write my life’s next chapter as I share my spark and gifts where they will have even greater impact.