Bull-ish recovery
BLOOMSBURG — Lauren Bull thought she was going for a typical run, one that she always does to stay in shape for soccer. The jog in September was anything but typical, and because she didn’t overlook any warning signs, she potentially saved herself from more bodily harm.
Coming out of two-week isolation batting COVID-19, Bull, a freshman soccer player at Bloomsburg University and a Central Columbia graduate, felt pain and tightness in her chest.
“I just thought I was maybe out of shape from having to quarantine,” Bull said. “I felt a pain in my chest — almost like my heart was beating out of my chest — and was out of breath. I had to then force myself to walk, which I thought was odd.”
The symptoms she felt were the result of myocarditis — an inflammation of the heart that has been linked to people who have battled COVID-19.
Tests and rehab
Bull didn’t hesitate to address her symptoms, immediately bringing them to her mother’s attention.
She then underwent a great number of tests, “seemingly every other day,” but they kept coming back saying her heart was fine — until she got a cardiac MRI.
“There was a lot of testing, and it took a while to get it all done,” Bull said. “The MRI discovered the myocarditis, and we immediately discussed recovery.”
Bull’s heartbeat is constantly monitored as doctors steadily increase its workload through different workouts.
The nursing major is nearly done with the three-month process and is back into a routine similar to the one she was in before coming down with COVID-19. She is hoping to be cleared from rehab Jan. 20.
“It was pretty tough at first because they check my heart rate with everything I do, making sure my heartbeat doesn’t go over a certain number,” Bull said. “At first, the number scared me because the workouts weren’t that difficult.
“I have since switched from the bike to the treadmill and now agility drills. Each day, they bumped up the workouts, eventually getting it up enough to the point that I’m now lifting three days a week and conditioning — training like I normally do.”
Moving forward
Bull is fortunate she took the warning signs seriously, avoiding a worse fate similar to University of Florida men’s basketball player Keyontae Johnson. The junior collapsed mid-game against Florida State and has since had surgery to treat myocarditis.
“I was completely healthy and in shape when I got COVID. It doesn’t matter who you are, it can happen to anybody,” Bull said. “You have no idea how it could affect you or what it would be like for you.
“Be aware and don’t try to push through it because it could affect you and your heart, not only in sports but in your daily life.”
Bull, wanting to work in baby labor and delivery after college, says the experience has grown her interest even more in nursing.
“After going through this experience, my career goals haven’t changed, but it’s opened my eyes,” Bull said. “I’m interested in this kind of stuff (hearts), but also after losing time to workout, I’ve gained more appreciation for nutrition.
“It didn’t change the field I want to work in, but it changed my interests in the profession.”
She’s also excited that it never interrupted her playing time. With the pandemic shutting down fall sports at Bloomsburg University, she didn’t have to miss a game for the Huskies.
With her recovery well on track, she won’t have to worry about that this fall either, bringing a silver lining.
“I think that mentally it would have hurt a lot more if everybody else was playing and I was sitting on the sidelines,” she said. “It definitely could have been worse and have had worse timing.”
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