COVID Crashed My Birthday

There wasn’t even cake or Mahjong!

Please take a moment and read the symptoms of a new COVID-19 variant. It’s making the rounds.

I turned 67 this week. I had plans. Birthday plans. Mahjong plans. Nothing wild, but still, plans. Instead, I spent my birthday in bed with the worst aches I’ve ever felt, body pain, a pounding head, and dizziness. Let me not forget that there is a lingering brain fog that is a little concerning. A COVID variant found me (yes, it is still a thing), and this strain took me out like a freight train.

At first, I thought I was just tired and had a migraine. Then came the chills: a horrible headache and pulsating pressure. Within hours, I couldn’t function. My Covid test was negative, and I couldn’t even respond to birthday wishes. Not because I didn’t care, but because I couldn’t string together a sentence.

A New Respect for the Chronically Ill

I kept wondering, ‘What is this?’ Will it pass? When I finally learned that this variant mimicked a fibromyalgia flare, I felt a wave of relief. I would get better. I’d turn the corner. But that realization stopped me cold. What about the people who don’t get better? The ones with cancer, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune disorders, how do they do it? By Day 5, I started to improve. I knew I’d likely be fine by Day 14. But what if there was no Day 14? How do you face that kind of uncertainty, that kind of pain, every single day? I don’t know the answer, but I do know this: we need to be gentler with people who can’t “bounce back.” Not everyone gets a recovery window. Some people are just trying to make it through the day.

I’m not sharing this for sympathy. I’m sharing it because too few of us talk about what getting sick really feels like as we age. How we handle illness as we age is different. Not worse, not better, just different.

This experience got me thinking about how illness affects us differently as we age.

Aging and Illness: Why It Hits Different

When you’re older and sick, the math is different.

Your first thought isn’t “I’ll be fine in a few days.” It’s “What if this is the beginning of something bigger?” You’ve seen enough to know bodies don’t bounce back like they used to.

So, you lie there doing the mental gymnastics: Am I being dramatic? Should I call someone? What if this doesn’t go away?

But here’s the hardest part: when you can’t do the basic things that define you, your identity starts to wobble. I’m the one who handles things, who shows up, who gets stuff done.

And suddenly? I couldn’t function.

That kind of complete stop doesn’t just affect your body; it also affects your mind. It rattles everything you think you know about yourself.

So, here’s what I’ve had to remind myself (and maybe you do too):

Rest isn’t indulgent, it’s repair.

Asking for help doesn’t make you needy; it shows strength and resilience. It means you’re letting people in and allowing them to love you.

You Are Still You

Here’s the part no one wants to talk about: when you’re truly sick, it can feel like your identity is evaporating. You’re not the friend who shows up or the person who gets it done. You’re just a body in a bed, waiting to feel like yourself again. And it’s disorienting as hell.

This connects directly to what I mentioned earlier, that you must completely stop when you can no longer do the basic things that define you. When your identity wobbles because you can’t function the way you always have, it’s natural to question who you are.

But let’s be clear: your value doesn’t vanish just because your energy does. You’re still you. Even if all you did today was drink tea and breathe.

If you’re sidelined right now, feeling exhausted and questioning everything from your immune system to your to-do list, I get it. You’re not invisible. You’re not behind. And you’re not alone.

If this resonates with you, whether you’re in recovery or still struggling with it, I’d love to hear specifically what has helped you through extended illness or how you maintain your sense of self when sidelined by health issues. Let’s talk about it, because healing isn’t just physical. It’s personal. And sometimes, it’s collective too.

Let’s Talk About It

If you’ve been there, sidelined by illness and wondering who you are when you’re not at full strength, you’re not alone. I’d love to hear what helped you through it. Sometimes, simply naming it is part of the healing process.

COVID Variant Spotlight:

What You Should Know

If you’ve heard about friends or family catching the new COVID-19 variants (like LP.8.1 or NB.1.8.1), you might be wondering what to expect, especially as we age. Many women in this age group report that their symptoms feel more intense and can linger longer than those of a typical cold or flu. Some even compare the pain and fatigue to fibromyalgia, with widespread aches, brain fog, and deep exhaustion. While these symptoms are similar, COVID-19 and fibromyalgia are different conditions.

Most Common Symptoms Right Now:

  • Severe body aches and joint pain: These symptoms can be more intense than those experienced during earlier waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Persistent headaches: Sometimes don’t respond to usual pain relievers.
  • Fatigue: Often lingers beyond the first week.
  • Very sore or “razor blade” throat: Especially common with NB.1.8.1, often without much nasal drainage.
  • Lingering cough: It may persist for several days.
  • Mild fever and chills
  • Sinus pressure is often felt behind the eyes.
  • Dizziness or balance issues: It is important to watch for these, as they can increase the risk of falls.
  • Brain fog and slowed thinking: Trouble with memory or focus is common.
  • Digestive upset: Such as nausea or mild stomach pain (less common, but possible).

Symptom Timeline & Recovery Tips:

  • Onset: Symptoms usually appear 2–4 days after exposure.
  • Peak: Days 3–5 are typically the most challenging.
  • Recovery: Most women recover within 10–14 days, but fatigue and cough can persist for longer. If you have other health conditions, recovery may take more time.
  • Self-care: Rest, hydrate, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

Sources:

  • CDC COVID-19 Symptoms
  • CDC Variant Tracking

Please take a moment and read the symptoms of a new COVID-19 variant. It’s making the rounds.

I turned 67 this week. I had plans. Birthday plans. Mahjong plans. Nothing wild, but still, plans. Instead, I spent my birthday in bed with the worst aches I’ve ever felt, body pain, a pounding head, and dizziness. A COVID variant found me (yes, it is still a thing), and this strain took me out like a freight train.

At first, I thought I was just tired and had a migraine. Then came the chills: a horrible headache and pulsating pressure. Within hours, I couldn’t function. My Covid test was negative, and I couldn’t even respond to birthday wishes. Not because I didn’t care, but because I couldn’t string together a sentence.

A New Respect for the Chronically Ill

I kept wondering, ‘What is this?’ Will it pass? When I finally learned that this variant mimicked a fibromyalgia flare, I felt a wave of relief. I would get better. I’d turn the corner. But that realization stopped me cold. What about the people who don’t get better? The ones with cancer, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune disorders, how do they do it? By Day 5, I started to improve. I knew I’d likely be fine by Day 14. But what if there was no Day 14? How do you face that kind of uncertainty, that kind of pain, every single day? I don’t know the answer, but I do know this: we need to be gentler with people who can’t “bounce back.” Not everyone gets a recovery window. Some people are just trying to make it through the day.

I’m not sharing this for sympathy. I’m sharing it because too few of us talk about what getting sick really feels like as we age. How we handle illness as we age is different. Not worse, not better, just different.

This experience got me thinking about how illness affects us differently as we age.

Aging and Illness: Why It Hits Different

When you’re older and sick, the math is different.

Your first thought isn’t “I’ll be fine in a few days.” It’s “What if this is the beginning of something bigger?” You’ve seen enough to know bodies don’t bounce back like they used to.

So, you lie there doing the mental gymnastics: Am I being dramatic? Should I call someone? What if this doesn’t go away?

But here’s the hardest part: when you can’t do the basic things that define you, your identity starts to wobble. I’m the one who handles things, who shows up, who gets stuff done.

And suddenly? I couldn’t function.

That kind of complete stop doesn’t just affect your body; it also affects your mind. It rattles everything you think you know about yourself.

So, here’s what I’ve had to remind myself (and maybe you do too):

Rest isn’t indulgent, it’s repair.

Asking for help doesn’t make you needy; it shows strength and resilience. It means you’re letting people in and allowing them to love you.

You Are Still You

Here’s the part no one wants to talk about: when you’re truly sick, it can feel like your identity is evaporating. You’re not the friend who shows up or the person who gets it done. You’re just a body in a bed, waiting to feel like yourself again. And it’s disorienting as hell.

This connects directly to what I mentioned earlier, that you must completely stop when you can no longer do the basic things that define you. When your identity wobbles because you can’t function the way you always have, it’s natural to question who you are.

But let’s be clear: your value doesn’t vanish just because your energy does. You’re still you. Even if all you did today was drink tea and breathe.

If you’re sidelined right now, feeling exhausted and questioning everything from your immune system to your to-do list, I get it. You’re not invisible. You’re not behind. And you’re not alone.

If this resonates with you, whether you’re in recovery or still struggling with it, I’d love to hear specifically what has helped you through extended illness or how you maintain your sense of self when sidelined by health issues. Let’s talk about it, because healing isn’t just physical. It’s personal. And sometimes, it’s collective too.

Let’s Talk About It

If you’ve been there, sidelined by illness and wondering who you are when you’re not at full strength, you’re not alone. I’d love to hear what helped you through it. Sometimes, simply naming it is part of the healing process.