My COVID-19 Experience

This is a small excerpt of my experience when I was a victim of the COVID-19 second wave in India.

Disclaimer- This is just my experience blog and not a piece of medical advice. I am not a doctor. Also, please don’t consume any medicines without prescription or supervision.

I tested COVID-19 positive on the 1st of May and later tested negative on the 12th of May. This short span of time was one of my longest and yet, most eventful too.

Life was normal in the month of April. Everything was hopefully coming back to normal despite a nationwide increase in the number of cases. On 20th April, my mother tested positive for COVID-19 as she had a few symptoms. No one absolutely expected anything like this. This event was surprising to my family. The very next day, my father, my brother and I proceeded for testing. After standing for a few hours to give our same, we got our result. My father also tested positive while we both tested negative. We both testing negatives was shocking as we all were living together as a family and had strong contact with each other. Hurriedly I had to arrange all the items and groceries needed for the next few weeks of isolation. Being tested negative was a big pain because it was my responsibility to put everything in order. I had to help with dishes, food, drying the clothes, etc.

I was more than fine, showed no particular sign of sickness or anything like that. My parents had mild symptoms and were in-home quarantine. The news channels and neighbourhood was blaring with all news regarding the second wave and how we are directly affected by the same too. On 24th April, amidst all the negative news on both national and international media regarding the second wave, I decided to publish an article on that. As the story was covered well by everyone, I tried to make it different, I just wrote the main reasons for the same and how things were mishandled by everyone. I got a lot of praise from the audience on Medium for the accurate portrayal of the situation as well as for reasoning the causes well.

On 26th my brother showed extremely mild symptoms. The very next day both of us decided to test again. The results were surprising again, my bro turned positive and I was negative. Now the situation at home was 3:1. Nevertheless, this result was the most shocking, as my brother and I share the same room. The second wave now showed its effect on my family too. There was no other option but to sit at home and hope for the best. My neighbours and relatives would come in front of my apartment and would drop in the essential items we had demanded. Along with that came newspaper and milk for daily usage. I then remembered about the strict Wuhan lockdown in China from January to March where no one was supposed to go out of their houses and how police use to drop the groceries at home.

I was also feeling thankful as my brother’s class 10th and my university exams were also cancelled.

Everything was going smooth with everyone at home doing fine. I was hoping not to test positive as it would extend the quarantine period by two more weeks. My brother by then was asymptomatic. His symptoms vanished quickly. Also, the timetable of internal exams was declared as May 4th-7th. I was also optimistic in a way that I never cared about me getting the disease and went ahead with my schedule. The pricking of the sharp testing stick for taking nasal swabs was also too irritating and painful which I wanted to avoid again.

On April 30th, my parents fixed that they will go for testing again to turn negative on the very next day. Everyone was hopeful to listen to the good news. That night, I felt tired and slept earlier than usual. I had planned to release the Indian Elections article on that day as the election results were to be out that weekend.

It was a brand new morning in a brand new month. My parents left home early for testing. They just woke me up as they were leaving. I wasn’t feeling as well as usual. I didn’t care much then. My parents texted me and my brother on WhatsApp saying that they tested negative and will come back after a checkup. They were hopeful to get back to their normal lives soon. They were missing their jobs, usual schedule as well as grandparents too.

They came home and found that I was not normal as usual. I informed them that I had strong joint pain in the legs. My mother confirmed that it was a sign of fever and she also checked my temperature. The digital thermometer showed 102 fever. Parents asked me to go along with them. I knew that it was for testing and took along with me a book I was reading. I was anticipating a delay at the testing centre and I didn’t want to waste my time. After waiting for more than an hour, my turn came to give the nasal swab. By that time I was feeling extremely dizzy and tired. I myself had prepared my mind for a positive result. Even then, I was hopeful for a smooth quarantine period, as my family had only the mildest of all symptoms. Each member experienced the disease in different phases and that itself was a rare occasion.

The most awaited test results came and it read positive. I had taken the rapid antigen test three times and this was the first time it read positive. Rapid antigen gives a positive result when you are contagious and negative otherwise. The test will check for the pathogen’s antigen in our nasal swab. Unlike the RT-PCR test, this will provide the result instantaneously. As soon as our swab is taken with a stick, there will be slight pain and a lot of discharge from the nostrils, it will be good if you can have a handkerchief when you go for testing. After the result, my mother came out with a medical kit that had important medicines to be taken for the next few days.

The next day May 2nd was the D-day for Five state elections including the results for the state of Kerala. I kept the alarm and work up early that day. My fever was kind enough to excuse me on that day. I was glued to the TV throughout the day. I forgot that I was sick, thanks to all the heated politics. Coming to symptoms, I expected cold or cough to be dominant as I am used to dust allergy as well as a tendency for wheezing. On 9th May, the MUNner’s Daily team published my Kerala Results article.

The Experience

Despite me being the last person to get infected, I was the most severely affected within the family. I had a high fever or temperature up to 103 for eight straight days, ie till 8th May. I also had an extreme version of tiredness which even now I am yet to recover from. From day 3 onwards, I experienced a lack of hunger. I still had active tastebuds, but I never felt like eating anything as I felt my stomach was always full. My stomach didn’t accept anything much in the mid-days ie. Day4 to Day7. Unlike my expectations, I didn’t experience any respiratory symptoms. I mostly kept sleeping during the day, rarely used my phone or laptop. I couldn’t read or write anything or sit at a place for a long time.

From Day 9 onwards, I was in the recovery phase. The temperature remained normal. I could eat better and stay active even without any paracetamol. By day 12, I tested negative via rapid-antigen test. That means that I was no more contagious but I still have the infection in me. Despite testing negative you have to continue in quarantine till day 21. At present, I am able to do my activities better, I am able to eat better, I am slowly becoming normal despite slight weakness still there.

Things to have at home

You can expect basic symptoms like fever, cough, cold etc. as well expect something more like shortness of breath as well. I personally had few items kept at home before the infection had started. This includes a digital thermometer which always has to be part of your first aid kit. Other than that an electronic steamer is going to be helpful to you. From the COVID-19 perspective, the main instrument you must have at home is a pulse-oximeter. It of the size of your palm and is also pocket friendly. At present there is a shortage of the same, so try to give it to a deserving person after your use.

For pulse oximeter, you will get the reading of both your pulse and oxygen levels. If you have a smartwatch then you can also avoid buying it too. The ideal oxygen level is around 94. When your oxygen level drops, you must go to a nearby COVID-19 hospital or take some expert help. At home, you can try doing basic exercises too, although but preferably after calling the Doctor. The steamer will be helpful if you have any chronic lung problems, breathing difficulty or even a small cough or cold.

Hospitalisation or not?

From my experience, I had three different hospital experiences. The entire episode is quite unexpected to me as well. I went to a prominent hospital in the city. Once I went to the hospital due to breathing difficulty. Although the apprehension is that the difficulty was not due to respiratory problems but due to excessive acidity from the consumption of antibiotics. At the ward, the hospital staff took both ECG and x-ray. Both were normal, they sent me back home then and there. A day later, I went there again for a check-up and also due to abdominal pain. The pain was mainly due to acidity but my parents weren’t ready to take a chance. At that visit, my x-ray was taken and also blood test was done. Both of them came back normal and the antibiotics were stopped. With that, even my abdominal pain and acidity stopped. My last visit was to the local hospital where the physician checked me after I was negative.

If you have any problems while you’re infected, try opting for a CT scan or x-ray of your chest. If that's normal, you will be fine else you may need intensive care.

As said above you will have only mild symptoms, there won’t be anything complicated for a normal person. This is also what health workers and doctors expect. They won’t be treating you or accepting you at the hospitals the moment you test positive. You are expected to stay in home quarantine and recover yourselves. If you don’t have enough facilities at home, you have the option to move to a Frontline Treatment Centre (FLTC) or even to a covid hospital. More than that normal hospitals won’t do anything much.

At govt. hospitals to COVID-19 hospitals, where there are facilities for treating COVID-19 patients, they will admit you but they will send you back if you are alright. Other than that, Government has started a COVID helpline for anyone with symptoms to call. The doctors will engage with you over the call and assist you.

Home-quarantine

I stand by the fact that the disease is simple to overcome from home itself. It's a misconception to underestimate yourself and think like I can’t do anything without hospitalisation.

At home during quarantine, you can do whatever you want, there are no particular restrictions, you never even have to think that you are sick or you are caged. Although you have freedom, don’t proceed to meet anyone who is healthy or go out for anything useless. Try to get everything delivered at home. Take help of neighbours or friends just in case. You can eat whatever you want, try to arrange fruits which are rich in fluids and vitamins. If you don’t feel hungry, then replace cooked food with fruits and salads.

Medications

Coming to medicines, the usual kit will include an analgesic, ie to reduce temperature and joint pain, an antibiotic, and few vitamins generally B or C. I had analgesic, ie. paracetamol 3 times every day for fever. Vitamins are to be eaten one tablet per day or as per the prescription. If you have anything like cough or sore throat, you can opt for cough syrup and even an antiseptic solution to gargle.

Anti-biotics are to be taken only with a prescription and after your recovery, you may have to eat pro-biotics to compensate for the anti-biotics. After recovery, the physician gave me pro-biotics and also provided me with multi-nutrition tablets. Both of these will help you get back to normalcy.

Post-COVID immunity and vaccination

Since I have recovered from COVID, I will be naturally immune to the virus. For the next few months, I don’t have to worry about catching the disease again, but again you can catch the disease when the immunity is gone too, but research has shown that it will be mild infection only. Also, the immunity against the other variants has yet to be researched upon. So even if you have recovered fully, keep inconsistency with the precautions.

For vaccination, the latest guidelines show that you can wait after a few months to get the vaccine. You don’t have to urgently hurry for the same. You can allow those with no immunity to be secure ahead of you.

Lessons to be learnt

I always try to show something which I learnt new or some lesson which you can learn from my articles. Let me just summarise what lessons you can learn from this experience.

1. You can get this infection without any warning.
2. A mere cough or fever when tested can indicate you are positive.
3. You need not have all the symptoms at once or even need not even have any symptoms at all. Symptoms take time to show up and it may even be different for different people.
4. The testing procedure is very simple and you can do it without hesitation.
5. Stop demonising the COVID-19 patients, don’t waste the opportunity to help them. Not everyone is contagious and you won’t get infected unless you are in proper contact.
6. Medications are to be taken only under Doctor’s supervision, don’t get into the loop of self medications.
7. Avoid panic and handle the situation with care. Have essentials like a thermometer and pulse oximeter kept ready.
8. Be prepared anytime to get infected, always keep your home ready with essential items. Although don’t try to engage in panic buying.
9. The home quarantine will be the way ahead for many diseases as well for the rest of the pandemic, hospitals are overflowing.
10. After recovery, try to follow the guidelines before getting vaccinated. Wait for your turn and don’t hurry.

I hope this tiny article will help you understand my COVID-19 experience and how you can prepare yourselves for the same. Most importantly try to get the vaccine as soon your turn comes and also to stay safe. Even if you catch the disease, don’t panic and stay calm.

Edits

Thanks so much for your concern everyone. I won’t be able to personally respond to every response but I will surely read them. Thanks for the overwhelming response.

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