Coronavirus COVID-19 Audioholics Survival Guide

I recently tested positive for COVID-19 after struggling with what I thought at the time was a stomach bug or flu on and off for 8 straight days. It wasn't until I got the call from a business associate who visited my home to demo the new RBH Sound SVTRS system that I learned that his colleague and his wife were hospitalized from illness due to COVID-19. I immediately coordinated with my doctor and the health department to get tested and less than 48hrs later (03/10/20), I was diagnosed and ordered to be quarantined in my home with my family for the next two weeks or until I produced two negative consecutive test results. My first test comes this Monday and I sit here with fingers crossed for a successful negative result though with symptoms like chest tightness, and headaches persistent, I remain cautiously optimistic. I remain hopeful NOT to infect my wife or youngest daughter. I've read the research. Somehow children seem to be less symptomatic than adults but are still carriers. COVID-19 seems to target men more than women but my wife has severe Asthma so I pray she doesn't get this. I pray for everyone right now and that we get through this not only as a nation but as a race. I hope that good will come of this as people realize we are all connected, and we are all stewards of this planet.

So, what do you do to pass the time while in isolation? I'm literally stuck between my theater room (not a bad place to be) and the guest room with our Bearded Dragon who looks at me in confusion as to why I'm not picking him up and playing with him as usual. I must look pretty funny to him wearing a face mask and having a mouthpiece when doing nebulizer treatments. Isolation is important. Whomever your caregiver is, make sure they ALWAYS wear gloves and a mask while interacting with you if you have COVID-19. You should also wear a mask, preferably the N95 rated, for all interactions with quarantined family members even if they are asymptomatic.  Paper plates and cups are a good idea, to cut down on washing dishes and the exposure to the virus since they thrive on hard surfaces. Your clothes and trash should be contained in bags and handled with gloves. Take no chances. It's been reported that COVID-19 can live on surfaces for days.

Living with Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptoms & Treatments YouTube Video Discussion

Survival: The first order of business is to control your symptoms to be comfortable.

I've had excellent luck with Tylenol 8hr taken twice/day to control fevers and body pains. Thankfully I haven't had a fever in the last 3 days but the Tylenol still partly helps with the migraines.  Nebulizer treatments every 4-6 hours help to relieve chest tightness which is a common symptom of those afflicted with COVID-19. Any asthma sufferers will definitely want to be vigilant with their breathing treatments. Hot Green Jasmine/Mint tea works wonders to hydrate and make you feel good. I discovered better results with warm beverages. Hydration is key. Coconut water also helps maintain energy levels thanks to high concentrations of electrolytes. Keep eating. I feel for my wife having to prepare meals as I'm forbidden from the kitchen but you need your energy so don't deprive yourself of food, especially proteins and fiber.  Avoid irritants like coffee, and alcohol (two things I love but don't even have a desire to consume right now).  Boost your Vitamin D3, Vitamin B, C, etc. There are good resources online to expand upon this just a Google search away.

Note: Stocking up on basic supplies to last you two weeks is a good idea such as items like milk, eggs, proteins, bread, canned items, batteries, toilet paper and paper towels.

The Idle Mind is the Devils Playground

Keep your mind occupied. I can't sit in total silence very long without going crazy. Believe me it gets quiet in an acoustically controlled room all by yourself. I always have music going in the background but now is a great time to literally chill out and do some critical listening.

 I'm finding myself rediscovering music and movies I haven't listened to or watched in some time.

Peter Gabriel: Security

Classic albums like Peter Gabriel Security sounds pretty awesome upmixed in Dolby Surround. Give it a try, crank up the "Rhythm of the Heat". You will thank me.  "Wallflower" is one of those songs that you just listen to alone and reflect. A bit prophetic in this case but enjoyable, nonetheless.

Steely Dan: Gaucho DTS CD

This album is a treasure and represents an era of music long gone but not forgotten. I know it's a bit overplayed but who could ever get tired of Donald Fagen's vocals in "Third World Man" especially while being enveloped in discrete 5.1 bliss?

Genesis: Trick of the Tail SACD

It's no secret Genesis is one of my all time favorite progressive rock bands. Trick of the Tail was arguably  their musical peak. With Gabriel gone, Phil Collins really had to step up not only as their masterful drummer, but as lead vocals. The album starts off strong with "Dance on a Volcano". Few bands today can play at this level of musicianship or impact. "Entangled" is mesmerizing thanks to the wonderful Mellotron of Tony Banks and brilliant vocal track laid out by Phil Collins. Again pop this track on and thank me later.

After going through withdrawal symptoms of finishing all 9 seasons of the Office, I was looking for a way to entertain myself on Netflix when suddenly I went into classic Star Trek mode.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Set in the late 23rd century, Captain Kirk goes on his last official mission to escort the chancellor of the Klingon Empire to a peace accord when he's framed for murder. Christopher Plummer gives a superb performance as a the Klingon antagonist. I almost forgot what a Klingon looked like from the trash CBS Show Star Trek Discovery. This movie is pure sci-fi gold and perhaps only rivaled by STII TWOK from the the same director Nicolas Myer.

Apollo 13

This is about the best feel good American patriotic movie one can watch and it's starring Tom Hanks, a fellow COVID-19 sufferer, so it's an appropriate watch in this situation. Apollo 13 has everything you can want including great acting, great storytelling and great directing by Ron Howard. If we can bring the crew of Apollo 13 home from a failed space craft heading to the moon using nothing but slide rules and computers less sophisticated than those found in a fitbit, we can surely come up with a vaccine for the coronavirus. Go science!

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Dodgeball is a silly comedy that has so many quotable moments thanks to Ben Stiller's brilliant performance as Wight Goodman. This is a movie I often come back to when I need a lighthearted feel good comedy or if I ever need a refresher of the 5 D's of Dodgeball (dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge!) These are useful life lessons we should all have instilled upon us. Here's to taking the bull by the horns White Goodman style. Are you team Average Joe's or team Globo-gym?

COVID-19 COVID-19: Dealing with Retest, Isolation & Recovery YouTube Video

It's Gonna Get Better

One thought I must keep going in my mind is that things are going to get better. We will prevail over this virus. Our economy must recover, and humanity will survive. It's easy to go negative fast on this, especially me being a glass half empty kind of guy. I'm in the middle of our most ambitious project in our 20-year history, the building of the Audioholics AV Smart Home where my goal is to document everything from soup to nuts on our YouTube channel. I absolutely must make this work and I know with the support of our sponsors and my friends at HD2020, we will prevail.

In the meantime, if you feel sick, don't go out. Stay home and isolate. Practice good hygiene. Follow the advice of the medical professionals. They know what they're doing. Be kind to anyone you know that has COVID-19. We are still human. We need the help, support and understanding of everyone.

I'd like to thank ALL of our readers for their prayers and support they've given me since I was diagnosed. The positive energy has been invaluable to my healing.

Are you currently suffering from a COVID-19 affliction? Share your experiences in the related forum thread below and let us know your reference material you're listening  to or watching to get you through it.

Many thanks to Gail Solivan of a local Non-Profit Organization: Young Angel's who reached out to us yesterday to get food delivered to my family while we are under quarantine. This was an unexpected surprise and greatly appreciated!

If you'd like to donate to a local non-profit that is helping people in this situation, please go to: www.angelsandseniors.com.

Special thanks to Liliana Jesika (a friend of Veronica Arena) for a 1 week food donation from Gobble.com. We don't know Liliana personally but she's a true angel to help total strangers in our time of need.