Whitney’s COVID-19 Experience

Whitney’s COVID-19 Experience

Whitney Street, an employee of ARCpoint, likes to keep a busy schedule at work and home. The mother of two is typically getting things done with a get-up-and-go attitude, but that came to a screeching halt a few months ago. 

One morning, she woke up and found she simply couldn’t “get up and go” and felt like she had been “hit by a truck.”And as the day continued, her aches began to worsen, and regular behaviors like holding her phone were proving difficult. 

She had been working from home, limiting her exposure by only going out when necessary, and practicing safe social distancing, so she didn’t think there was any way she could be infected with COVID-19. But Whitney stayed home and self-isolated, as a precaution, just in case there was any chance that’s what was happening. Her body aches and fatigue continued for weeks, and she didn’t even have the energy to go get tested for COVID-19. 

After 16 days of ongoing symptoms and pure exhaustion, she woke up one morning with a renewed energy and was able to get back to her busy schedule. But as soon as her initial symptoms cleared, she lost her sense of taste and smell, which are also symptoms associated with COVID-19. This lasted for an additional 14 days, bringing her total timeline of symptoms to 30 full days before she finally felt somewhat back to normal. 

While she never got a COVID-19 viral test done, Whitney was pretty sure that’s what she’d been battling. After making a full recovery, Whitney started her new job at ARCpoint Labs. It was there that she learned about some additional testing options. Her new co-workers suggested she get an antibody test, and possibly even a Tru-Immune test, which tests for neutralizing antibodies and gives you a protective immunity score. 

Whitney took both tests, and they both returned positive results. The antibody test indicates her body naturally produced the antibodies necessary to fight off a COVID-19 infection. Her Tru-Immune results show that her body did have protective immunity at the time of the test. This information can be extremely valuable when it comes to making decisions about donating convalescent plasma, which can save the lives of patients with severe cases of COVID-19. In fact, once Whitney had her Tru-Immune results, she immediately made her appointment to donate plasma, and she plans to do it again as soon as she is able.

Those antibody tests are just two of the tests in ARCpoint Lab’s full range of COVID-19 testing, which we offer as part of our commitment to keeping communities safe. ARCpoint also offers viral and antigen testing, which detect an active SARS-CoV-2 virus in the body. These tests can help you make informed decisions about returning to work, traveling, and whether or not you need to self-isolate. Take a look at our COVID-19 Testing Options to determine which test is best for you, and find your local ARCpoint Labs to make an appointment. Still have questions? Visit our COVID-19 FAQ page to learn more.

When we asked Whitney what advice she would give to someone who thinks they might have COVID-19, she said, “Listen to your body. And be sure to stay home and self-isolate. Don’t go out if you have any symptoms, except to get tested.” She also advises, “Don’t do what I did and skip the test. If you are showing symptoms, or think you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, go get tested. Trust ARCpoint Labs for a fast turnaround, so you can get your results quickly, protect your family, and get back to being YOU as soon as possible.” 

Whether you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for an active infection or are displaying symptoms yourself, it is important that you contact your Primary Care Physician and self-isolate to slow the spread of COVID-19 in your community.