Experiencing COVID-19: It Could Have Been Worse

Another week has passed, and I still haven’t written about fusion power experiments on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s on my to-do list, but I’m putting it off until I’m less distracted and more clear-headed.

Besides, this has been a distracting week.

Or I’ve been distracted. Which isn’t quite the same thing.

So – Tuesday I saw a doctor, who told me that I’ve caught COVID-19: along with about 80% of all Minnesotans.

I decided to skip getting a blood test to verify my COVID-19 status: partly because it wouldn’t make a difference on how I deal with the situation. And partly because I didn’t see a point in expending resources just to satisfy my curiosity.

I also left a urine sample and got an antibiotic prescription. The latter wouldn’t do a thing for COVID-19 or any other viral ailment: but was a good idea, since part of what I’ve been feeling looked like a bacterial infection.

Lab results came in Friday. Good news, it’s a bacterial infection. Not-so-good-news, this particular microcritter is resistant to the prescribed antibiotic. So I spent a few very cold minutes Friday afternoon, picking up a new antibiotic.

It’s a new one to me: ciprofloxacin. I looked it up, of course, learning that it’s a quinolone antibiotic. And, like every other pharmaceutical, it is not 100% safe and utterly risk-free.1

But I figure that it’s much less risky to try using an antibiotic to deal with a urinary tract infection, than ignore what’s happening and hope for the best.

Prayer and Making Sense

Sb2s3's photo of a foggy road near near Baden, Austria. (2015) via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.If you’ve been reading my stuff, then you’ve read why I think prayer is a good idea.

And why I don’t think prayer and medicine aren’t an either/or situation.

I don’t remember how long it’s been since I talked about this, so here’s how I see life, health and using my brain.

Being healthy is okay. Being sick is okay. What matters is how I act. It’s even okay to help others get or stay healthy. Life and physical health are “precious gifts.” Taking care of both is a good idea. Within reason. Obsessing over either isn’t. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1509, 2288-2291, 2292-2296)

Prayer isn’t always easy, but it’s always possible. Which is a good thing, because living as a Christian without prayer doesn’t work. Prayer is what makes sharing the love Jesus has for us possible. (Catechism, 2742-2745)

Happily, I’ve kept up my daily prayer routine this month. Although one day I didn’t do my ‘noon’ set until around 4:00 p.m. Maybe there’s some deep spiritual significance there, but I figure being feverish and mentally fogbound was a factor.

Part of a Majority? Me?!

Brian H. Gill, me, at my desk. January 23, 2021. I do not usually wear a mask at my desk.I’ll admit that going along with 80% of everyone in the state feels a bit odd.

Back when my number-two daughter and son-in-law were jumping through the bureaucratic hoops of adoption procedures, she picked three words to describe me:

  • Eccentric
  • Scholarly
  • Eclectic

Maybe it was “academic” instead of “scholarly.” But that’s basically what she meant.

And she’s right on all three counts. I don’t do “conventional.” And haven’t tried since I was in my teens. I’m simply not good at it.

So, like I said, being part of an 80% majority feels a bit different. On the other hand, it took me about two years to catch COVID-19. And that’s not quite another topic.

Anyway, here’s the seemingly-inevitable list of stuff that may or may not be related:


1 An antibiotic:

How interesting or useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

I am sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let me learn why!

How could I have made this more nearly worth your time?

About Brian H. Gill

I was born in 1951. I'm a husband, father and grandfather. One of the kids graduated from college in December, 2008, and is helping her husband run businesses and raise my granddaughter; another is a cartoonist and artist; #3 daughter is a writer; my son is developing a digital game with #3 and #1 daughters. I'm also a writer and artist.
This entry was posted in Journal and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

6 Responses to Experiencing COVID-19: It Could Have Been Worse

  1. Melinda says:

    Prayers you’re better soon and symptoms aren’t too bad, Brian. Took me a rather long time to catch Covid as well. Glad it was omicron and 4 weeks out, I feel pretty well. So grateful for God’s grace.

  2. Victor: I do hope you are feeling better soon, an infection is hard to get rid of, so many infections are anti-biotic resistant.
    I have had several covid tests all negative lucky for me I have a natural immunity, many people do, it’s done by blood test. Bought two of your books you Sir are an exceptional writer, I look forward to reading more of your books, keep up the great writing.

    Catherine

Thanks for taking time to comment!