Mayim Bialik posted a couple of videos to Instagram letting her followers know that she has Covid. I feel like there needs to be semantics involved in delivering that information now. In one case, you tested positive for Covid, so you have it (and can spread it) but you aren’t sick or suffering from symptoms. And then there are those who have Covid, who are sick with it. In Mayim’s case, she has it, as in she’s sick and struggling. She said her main issue is fatigue and likened it to mono. Mayim is immunocompromised with asthma and a thyroid condition, so she has to be extra careful monitoring her symptoms. As she put it, Covid is “no joke.”
Mayim Bialik has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Jeopardy! host on Monday revealed her diagnosis to fans on Instagram, explaining that she had contracted the virus after being vaccinated and boosted.
“Hey everybody, not sure if this is clickbait or not but I have a COVID,” the former The Big Bang Theory star, 46, said in a video posted to her main account.
She then pointed he followers to an Instagram Live she did on the account for her podcast, Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, in which she went into depth about her symptoms and her feelings with the whole situation.
“I have COVID, and it’s no joke over here,” she said in the clip, adding that exhaustion is her No. 1 feeling. “It’s very exhausting, the exhaustion is very special. I had mononucleosis when I was in college and the exhaustion hits like that where you cannot be awake, you can try to be awake but then all of a sudden you need to sleep.”
“I am hoping that it passes quickly,” Bialik said. “I’m trying to believe my body knows what to do. I do have asthma, I do have a thyroid condition which means it’s an immune compromised situation.”
“I know that there are people who do not have resources or care. It’s something I’ve been following since the beginning of COVID.”
“I was thinking about all the people with young children, especially single parents, because this level of exhaustion I cannot imagine needing to care for small children right now,” she added. “I know that so many people in this world are in that situation and it’s just really devastating to me.”
As for getting COVID for the first time, though she said “it’s bound to find us,” Bialik stressed she’s disappointed it finally happened to her.
“I’m feeling a whole bunch of regret that I ever took my mask off ever in the world, like even outside” the former Blossom star said. “I’m feeling a lot of fear. Why did I ever go out? Why did I think that anything was fine ever?”
“Please be careful,” she told her followers at her video’s conclusion. “I hope everyone stays safe.”
I bet Mayim’s glad she came around on her anti-vaxx stance about now. If she’s feeling fear about going outside without a mask, just imagine what she’d be feeling if she had Covid without science bolstering her immune system. Not to mention the fear of her kids getting it. As for her regret about taking her mask off, I know what she means. I wear my mask in public, but I do go out to eat on occasion. I try to sit in the least populated areas and only remove my mask to eat. Covid came into our home via the kids’ school, and I know if I pressed them they’d admit they hadn’t been as diligent as they said they were at school. I don’t know how this will affect me going forward. Like Mayim, I’m reexamining my behavior and will likely curtail anything that requires me to take my mask off.
I didn’t include it in the excerpt, but Mayim discussed a bunch of things people have suggested to help with symptoms. I didn’t include them because as she said in the video, nothing seems to work from one person to the next. My son needed hot tea and sunshine, but baths did nothing for him. I only responded to hot baths with Epsom salts and drank tons of room temp water. I could take DayQuil at night but nothing else helped. Some people said to gargle with salt water, others treated it with Tylenol. I don’t really know what works, except to stay away from it. I am sorry Mayim is sick and I also hope it passes quickly. I appreciate she focused some of her video on people with less resources still forced to battle Covid and care for their families. Thank goodness the six-months+ vaccine is coming. This truly is our new normal, isn’t it?
Photo credit: Avalon Red and Getty Images
I’m sorry she’s sick and I think her message was good. And I’m also very glad she has stopped with the antivax bs.
That said… she is never going to be my favourite person….
Right? I just can’t stand her. Every time I see her, I picture her judging rape victims on the outfits they were wearing. I canceled jeopardy from my DVR bc I just can’t stand her
I haven’t been able to watch Jeopardy because of her. She’s awful and I hate that she’s been given a platform.
I’m sorry she’s going through this. To share remedy that took the edge off for me a bit was Vapour rub all over especially the bottoms of my feet and a humidifier. I know that’s weird and it may be placebo, but it helped me
I’m sorry too.
To add some folklore, what helped me was ginger tea and black tea by the gallon, and sleeping on stomach (face down).
Oh, and stretching when I had any strength.
Tons of hot ginger tea helped me a lot- and REST! I have kicked myself a lot for taking my mask off at a public function; got Covid 3 days later! No joke for me either, but I’m so grateful I didn’t get long Covid.
I remember from earlier in the pandemic that sleeping on your stomach – proning – increases your lung’s ability to expand, making it easier to breath. That’s definitely a thing.
I did the Vapor rub to my feet. I have no idea why, and maybe it’s the placebo effect but it helped me too! I also used Mucinex during the day, Nyquil at night, tylenol for fever. I had the GI symptoms too so I kept hydrated with pedialyte (to me it tastes better than gatorade lol). Ginger and green teas for me. She’s right, COVID is no joke. I still have the brain fog and the fatigue.
I slathered vapor rub ALL OVER my body and even in my face, no lie. I think it helped? Ruined some pajamas though, never could get all the vapor rub gunk off them.
We do vaporub in our home too. Years ago I slathered up my little daughter and a while later this little voice said ‘Mommy I’m on fire!’ Still makes me chuckle
I hope she feels better and continues to take care of herself and her family. She is still awful and never truly answers for her bad stances including her “former” anti-vax stance. The notion that she has two successful shows currently baffles (and angers) me. Other actresses who are not jerks could be helming the Call Me Kat show and Laura Coates should be hosting Jeopardy as Mr. Trebek wanted.
By the way, has she apologized to Ariana Grande for insulting her yet? Anyway, again here is to a speedy and full recovery to her.
Jim Parsons and her are tight, and he’s one of the exec producers. I think he pulls a lot of weight at CBS. And he himself is unproblematic.
If by “over here” she means California, no lie. It’s ravaging the state. I’m surprised by the neckline in the top pick. That’s a big no no in her tradition and I thought she was a purist about such things.
I’m in Texas and I know more people now who have Covid than I knew during the height of the pandemic when we were all on lockdown. However, no one has ended up in the hospital during this time.
I assume that she might be refering to Hashimoto’s as the thyroid anti-immune issue, as it’s quite common in females of our age bracket, and I am suffering from it as well. My docs and I are wondering what the implications for a potential covid infection might be. I’m double vacced and boostered and very careful with regards to going out and meeting people, and so far I have successfully avoided the virus. Fingers crossed. Lots of on-site meetings at work these days and lots of people are coughing and sneezing in the office.
I wonder if any other dear reader of this has any experience with Hashimoto * Covid that they might be willing to share? It would be much appreciated.
Hashis here since mid 90s. My full time job is managing my health. Your response yo covid exposure really depends on who you are, how you will feel day to day, how you will experience your health long term.
I would add that doctors have told me auto immune disease is not the same as being immune compromised – I asked because I was scared at beginning of this pandemic. Hopefully I received good information. I know M has a doctorate, and is intelligent and informed in her own way. However, I don’t think people w Hashis have to worry any more than anyone else with a chronic illness. Immune compromised means having a heart transplant, etc., not having autoimmune disease. Hoping this helps to reduce your fear. Stay alert about exposure and take your vitamins. Mucho amor.
@MsGnomer thanks a lot for your reply! Hashi is terrible, isn’t it? I would have quit my job already if I had any means of financing. I am barely getting through the day. I hope they find an actual cure or better treatment one day, but who am I kidding, they’re not gonna, since it affects mostly women. Hugs and many good days to you!