My Victory Over the Coronavirus

A Small Step in The Humanity War on Covid-19

Today is V-Day. Barely 5 days after tested positive for Covid-19, today’s ART (antigen rapid test) returned a reassuring and confident “negative” for the second successive day. The battle was brief, swift, and decisive. Victory was mine on this first encounter with the coronavirus.

I was ambushed, sometime the previous weekend. Was it the Sunday after attending a wedding, I wonder? I developed a little sore throat that evening; thought it was just some spicy and fried food I ate during the reception. Decided to gargled my throat with Difflam-C, and popped in 2 Panadol tablets. These usually worked. They didn’t this time. Woken on Monday feeling deenergised, and with an unusual loss of appetite. I could feel the energy draining rapidly from me into the morning, from doing nothing! It was so wrong in all ways, I concluded. Decided to take the ART, only to discover, lo and behold, 2 solid red lines popped up right into my face! I have contracted covid-19!

The enemy has got me, at last. It was a matter of time, specifically of when really, rather than where.

In the last week of March 2023 alone, there were 28,410 covid cases in Singapore, with a small population of only about 5 million! New covid cases rose from a daily of about 1,400 a month to about 4,000 cases a day in April 2023. Among whom was about 25% reinfection. This is nonetheless a small fraction of the peak of 20,000+ daily cases during the pandemic 2 years ago, and they so easily lull many to a false sense of security and complacency after Singapore declared the all-clear Dorscon Green in February 2023.

Like many Singaporeans, and since I already had 5 Pfizer vaccinations/boosters from February 2021 to December 2022, I too began to re-enjoy the mask-free and no social distancing freedoms, since February 2023. It is so easy to let my personal defences and common-sense guard down even for some moments. Even as I have always avoided crowded shopping malls and events.

As the master strategist Sun Tzu cautioned as his First Principle in The Art of War: “Do not assume the enemy will not come, but be prepare for his coming; and do not assume that when he cometh, he would not attack, but be ready that when he did, he will meet with unassailable force”. I was in fact ambushed, attacked, and fell on the first blows a week ago.

BLOW-BY-BLOW DAILY BATTLE WITH COVID-19

Day 1 — Monday

Feeling weak, low energy, eyes are little watery, a little runny nose, throats dry, some dry cough, ART positive, slight fever (just above 37-degree C). Family doctor prescribed antihistamine tablets, Panadol painkillers, and a throat gargle. He also recommended the Government Polyclinic for an eligible course of Paxlovid treatment.

Day 2 — Tuesday

Uneasy sleep throughout the night, woke up to a high fever of 38.8-degrees C, ART positive again, coughing repeatedly with phlegm like have a bad flu, painful throat when swallowing saliva, fluid and food, runny nose, light headed, feeling extremely weak and very low energy. Visited the Government Polyclinic; was swabbed to confirm coronavirus infection, completed a checklist of questions before being prescribed Paxlovid, with the oral ingestion instructions. Went home, feeling weak, took the first of 2 daily doses of Paxlovid, and fell asleep. Woke up 3 hours later, to discover that the temperature has dropped 2 degrees to 36.7-degree C! Indeed, what an immediate and dramatic impact! I can feel a little strength returning, even as the runny nose, painful throat, and watery eyes persisted. Had some dinner, then took the 2nd dose of Paxlovid for the evening before retiring early in the hope of a better tomorrow.

Day 3 — Wednesday

Sleep regularly interrupted by coughing up phlegm, and runny nose. Antihistamines did not suppress these symptoms. ART remains positive. Took the 1st daily dose of Paxlovid for the morning. Temperature steady at 36.7-degree C throughout the day. Kept myself hydrated, with some liquid food like porridge. Throat pain eased but remained painful when swallowing. Decided to rest, and sleep as much as possible. Found improvements in bodily discomfort after each sleep session. Today is a full battle day, and I am prepared. Can feel a very slow return of energy, but remains weak. Decided not to do any physical exertions, and let the body recover steadily. After an early dinner, took the 2nd dose of Paxlovid for the evening, and decided to shorten the day by turning in early. I believe tomorrow shall be a much better day, being another day closer to victory.

Day 4 — Thursday

Sleep improved, but continued to be disturbed intermittently. Regularly coughing up phlegm, and some runny nose. Decided not to do an ART. Want to surprise myself the next day. Took the 1st daily dose of Paxlovid for the morning. This is the 3rd day of the 5-day Paxlovid course of treatment. Temperature remains steady at 36.5-degree C throughout the day. Continued on a regime of fluid and porridge diet. Painful throat eased tremendously, as normal speech returns. The battle with covid continues to rage within me. I needed to shut down my systems as much as possible, by sleeping, even as I feel the tide of battle is turning in my favour. Again, took an early dinner, took the 2nd dose of Paxlovid for the night. I sense an all-night battle till dawn into the night. I was not wrong. Deep repeated coughing, producing thick phlegm, indicated the fierce battles taking place in my cells and lungs; my body was pushing and expelling whatever coronavirus dead cells out of the body. Cometh the morning, there was much relief with throat pain disappeared.

Day 5 — Friday

It’s the morning after the Great Battle. Stubborn remnants of covid-19 are still fighting. ART was negative, but with a very faint 2nd red line; the battle is not yet over. The temperature is now 36-degree C throughout the day. Very little runny nose, no more painful throat — a little phlegm persisted — and there shall be no celebration until absolute certainty of victory. Took the 1st morning dosage of Paxlovid, on this 4th of 5-day Paxlovid course. This is a good day. Kept to plenty of fluid and a liquid food regime. Again, had an early dinner, took the 2nd dose of Paxlovid for the night. Tonight, shall bring the calm after the stormy past week. The inevitable victory arrives tomorrow.

Day 6 — Saturday (TODAY)

V-Day. Victory is mine. ART a resounding negative. Had a great peaceful sleep the previous night.

No more coughs, no runny nose, and no coronavirus. Temperature is at the normal 36-degree C. Peace has returned. Mopping up time begins. Any remnant covid-19 cells shall be rounded up, immobilized and destroyed. There shall be no prisoners, no surrender, and quarters given.

ABOUT PAXLOVID

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) is an oral antiviral medication used for the treatment of COVID-19. Paxlovid was granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2021 for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 or hospitalization. The primary purpose of prescribing Paxlovid is “to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death.” Readers can download the FDA briefing documents on Paxlovid.

The FDA recommends the drug for people with mild-to-moderate coronavirus cases who “are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.” The drug has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 by 88% if taken within five days of getting symptoms. The medication has also been shown to reduce the duration of symptoms and viral shedding.

Paxlovid is not a substitute for vaccination in individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination and a booster dose are recommended.

Paxlovid is a combination of two drugs, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, that work together to inhibit the activity of a key viral enzyme necessary for the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. By blocking this enzyme, Paxlovid can reduce the amount of virus in the body and potentially shorten the duration and severity of COVID-19.

Paxlovid consists of nirmatrelvir, which inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 protein to stop the virus from replicating, and ritonavir, which slows down nirmatrelvir’s breakdown to help it remain in the body for a longer period at higher concentrations. Paxlovid is administered as three tablets (two tablets of nirmatrelvir and one tablet of ritonavir) taken together orally twice daily for five days, for a total of 30 tablets. Paxlovid is not authorized for use for longer than five consecutive days.

It is administered orally twice a day for 5 days in combination with ritonavir. The standard Paxlovid regimen is to take three pills twice a day, for five days. It’s not authorized for extended use.

BE WATCHFUL. DO NOT BE COMPLACENT

The coronavirus has killed nearly 7 million people globally, more than the total population of Singapore. They mingle among us in plain sight invisible to the naked eye. Be not lull by a false sense of security. Remember Sun Tzu: “(the enemy will attack) And when they do, they must be met with unassailable force”. “Be prepared for their coming”. Survival is not compulsory, but it is highly desirable.

AN ALTERNATIVE ANTI-COVID-19 STRATEGY

Here’s How I Recovered from the Covid Virus Quickly with Five Lifestyle Steps by Dr Mehmet -

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