Ever since the world encountered the deadly Corona Virus, millions of people were infected worldwide. News channels were flooded with nothing but only Corona Virus related news. At one point it became so frustrating that people started avoiding to see the news, as it was so depressing.
I wondered if this 'far looking' epidemic could ever impact me or my dear ones or will I remain untouched? This very thought intrigued me several times. What will I do then?
It was around 9 pm when I was working and faced a very slight itching in my throat. It was a minor itching but I was alert. Only couple of days back I had joined a funeral of my uncle so I was already a bit cautious. I boiled water and did gargles to relieve my throat itching. My mother asked if I am fine. I nodded yes.
I decided to sleep alone that night in isolation. Though my throat itching was subsidised, but I had a hard time sleeping. There were so many thoughts running across my mind.
Am I infected with Covid? What will I do if I am really? How will my parents manage this news as they are old ? What about my Job? What about my plans? What if I die?
I was sweated many time that night before I could settle for sleep.
Day 1
Next morning I got up early, couldn't sleep much. I realised I had temperature, though itching was gone. Thermometer measured 99.5 F. This was not a good news. I was feeling lethargic. But that could be due to lack of sleep as well. This is one of the covid symptom I knew of.
The weakness continued to drain my mind and body already. 'This is not normal', my body whispered. It was 11 am and my mother called out for breakfast as it was already late.
Somehow I was petrified within and hence was not feeling like to eat anything. So this was another symptom- Loss of appetite.
I decided to not delay anymore and called up the medical team for the covid test for me and my family.
They came around 3 pm.
They were wearing the PPE kit already. Face shield, white outfit and all sealed. Looked like a astronaut to me.They asked me to sit down on the chair calmly. I was nervous. I was feeling weak inside. He then asked asked me to lift my head a bit. I did the same and he inserted a plastic kind of a stick inside my right nostril and twisted a bit inside. It gave me swine chill inside.
Within 2-3 seconds, he pulled it out and placed it inside the tube. He shaked the tube a bit and placed it on a another plastic kit to test. They repeated the same for other family members. Then they waited for around 1 minute for the results. There was a silence in the room as if some one is going to tell you if you will Live or Die soon. My parents looked nervous too.
Within a minute he pointed to me and my mother - 'you both are positive'.
Then he pointed to me father and sister-' you both are negative. Please keep in isolation now', he said and started packing his stuff.
I was somehow not shocked by this news as I was suspecting this anyhow. My mother broke down. She got terrified as now we are going to die. It was difficult to calm her down. With in a minute, our world changed.
Soon Covid medical team contacted us and collecting the details about us. They enquired if we prefer to shift to the hospital facility or remain quarantined at home itself.
My mother was over 60, a diabetic, BP and hypertension patient, so I took no time to decide that we will shift her to the hospital where she could be monitored atleast.
Everyone in my family was upset and nervous with this news. We started packing our luggage, as the ambulance guy called up to pick us.
Everyone in the family was pretending to be strong that evening, so that others do not break down.
When the Ambulance arrived, we were ready with our bags already.
It stopped right in front of our house gate. With ambulance blue and red beamer lights, it became an easy attraction for neighbours around. Two men stepped down opening the back doors of the van. They were wearing the PPE kit, looking like astronauts again. Our neighbours stopped to view it from a distance. It was a rare scene only seen on tv news channels mostly so people were conscious to know.
We stepped inside the van, and the man closed the gate. We waved to my father and sister with heavy hearts, and the van departed from there.
On reaching the hospital, there were details noted on the Covid facility main gate, before we were allowed to enter further inside.
The van stopped outside the building. It was the Covid center. Two men wearing the PPE kit walked us through the building corridor and reached the Covid ward.
'Please wait here until doctor comes', he said and left.
Within few minutes doctor came to ask few details and allocated the beds to us.
Me and my mother were granted beds adjacent to each other.
I have been to hospitals, but never in my life have been admitted there as a patient. This was all very new to me, along with the mental pressure of a life threatening disease like Corona. I was nervous from inside, but had to take the lead and calm down my mother as well.
It was already 11 pm when we settled in our beds. I was feeling very tired and sleepy. The ward nurse checked our temperature and oxygen level. He also took the blood sample which was the most difficult part for me as I had a syringe phobia. Last time I fell unconscious when the doc had put the syringe inside my wrist. This time, somehow I controlled.
Then handed few medicines and we were off to sleep.
Day 2
Next morning I woke up around 7 am, when the breakfast was served.
It was too early for me. I was feeling a bit tired. It was 100 degrees when I checked on the thermometer. I took the medicine after breakfast. Though I was feeling fine until the 3 pm, but then I was feeling weakness from within. I was lethargic, heavy head and tiredness. I was trying to divert my mind on calls, phone , taking to my mother, but it was not helping much. I had to bear that for few hours.
Day 3 at the hospital was fine with only temperature rising in every 6 hours and touching the 100 degrees F on the thermometer.
Day 4 was more challenging though. I noticed that temperature was not rising in every 6 hours, but in every 12 hours now, again touching 100. However day 2 was more difficult to manage with more weakness and lethargic body. I was eating all 3 meals but still was feeling weakness within. I also had a hard time sleeping at night on day 2. There were thoughts running my mind, which would not let me sleep easily.
I was also worried about my mother so had to keep an eye on her condition at night. This was giving me sleepless nights.
After 2 days at the hospital, day 5 morning was the worst. I was feeling weakness as I woke up. I checked the temperature , it was 99.6 on the thermometer. My mother felt the same weakness and she almost got unconscious when she went to change her clothes. I was frightened, I rushed to the doctor when she was not well. Doctor examined her and said she is all right, and that because of stress and weakness it happened. He advised to have lots of water and keep the body hydrated. That day we focussed on eating properly and keeping the body hydrated.
However the moment I would close my eyes to rest, I had a fatigue feeling. That was giving me anxiety and my pulse rate was shooting up, leaving me sweating and nausea feeling. This is also one of the mental effect that kills you within. This psychological effect might make you feel weak and drain your body. I was feeling as if I will collapse. I had to hold on very hard to let go of the thoughts and feeling.
The best way to deal with this condition is to do some breathing exercise. I got up and started doing some breathing exercise, holding my breath for as long as I can, and then releasing it slowly. I did the exercise for around 10-15 mins and it relieved my mind a lot. I felt much better. I followed this by drinking lots of water. Fatigue can be best deal by drinking water and doing some meditation exercises. This worked wonder for me.
However by the dinner time, I was taken aback by the loss of taste.
'Inosmia' or loss of smell or taste is a known symptom of corona virus. I could not feel the smell or taste of what I was eating. Corona has put up so much of tremendous pressure on our mind that the moment we are hit by any of its symptoms, we feel sick mentally. When I could not taste or smell, I was terrifies again. I felt like puking. I felt like I am going to die now. It's the end.
I could barely manage to eat that night as it was choking my throat.
I couldnt sleep much that night again.
Day 6 was same as well. There was lethargy all day, random thoughts, weakness In the body still makes you feel drained. However the doctors said it is normal. Unless you have any breathing issues, any fever, or any other major symptom, it is fine. This was a little positive to hear.
Day 6 was fine when doctors said that we will be discharged on day 7 as there are no symptoms developed. They told that we have to still be home quarantined for next 7 days and after that repeat Covid test will be performed that should turn up negative.
I was a little excited to hear to go back home, but from within, I was still feeling weak and not well.
On day 7, when we stepped out of the hospital, it was like a new world for me. I was happy to see the blue sky, green trees and feel the fresh air. It took 25 mins for the cab to reach home. My father welcomed us at the gate and I pulled up the luggage from the cab.
It was hot outside so it drained my energy when we walked from the cab to our home with luggage. I was sweating profusely and felt so weak that I kep sitting at one place for the next 30-40 mins at home. I had to drink lot of water to regain my strength to move again
So again, water intake is very important in Covid. Drink atleast 10-15 glasses of water each day. Also eat proper diet to regain the loss nutrients that replished from the body.
Day 7 onwards I focussed on my diet. Start having fruits, green vegetables, dry fruits, coconut water. Have pomegranate juice as it gives you instant energy and helps in recovering from weakness.
Day 8 was fine at home and I was still struggling with body weakness. However the night was terrible.
I got up at 1 am and felt my heart to be racing. I was frightened of something. I was feeling weak. I was anxious. There was sweating in my palms and feet. This was the panic attack that I encountered. This is one of the post corona effect some people have. There was a feeling of suffocation and cardiac arrest as the negative thoughts were taking over my mind. I felt like unconscious. It was terrible to divert my mind and this attack lasted for almost 2 hours that night
I couldn't sleep at all struggling with that situation.
Next day ie day 9, I consulted a psychologist and she suggested breathing exercises and training the mind to control the negative loops of thoughts. We need to break the circuit somehow by diverting the mind. I started practising deep breathing, inhale slowly for 4 seconds, hold breath for 2 seconds, then release slowly from mouth for 6 seconds. Doing this exercise 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes and before sleeping helped me in beating the negative thoughts, anxiety and depressing mind.
It took me another 5-6 days to recover completely and have my strength back.
Those 2 weeks were the most stressful days of my life. More than the corona disease effects, the mental pressure additionally kills you within. Stay positive, maintain the diet, take healthy diet, multivitamins, drink lots of water and try to divert your mind by doing something positive. Treat it as a normal routine that you have to live for next 2 weeks or so, and life will be back to normal. Do not panic with the word 'Corona' but face it boldly with the mindset that we have to overcome this anyhow.
Believe in yourself and never give up while fighting this pandemic, and you will come out as a winner for sure!
Things to remember:
1. Social distancing and wearing masks when out
2. Monitor any flu like infection, it could or could Not be Covid virus
3. Monitor symptoms- Itching throat, Sneezing, coughing, fever, breathing issues- take immediate medical help
4. Start having natural immunity boosters, multivitamins esp. Drink lots and lots of water
5. Avoid Smoking as it leads to weakening of Lungs so easily prone to Lung infections
6. If you are covid positive- Take timely medicines- Paracetamol, Antibiotics, multivitamins, cough syrup (if coughing issues), Vitamin C tabs, Do hot water gargles, drink Hot beverages like green tea with lemon, kadha(herbal), Haldi milk at night
7. Eat proper meals rich in carbs, proteins, Fibre. Focus on Green veggies, salads, Fruits -Apple Banana/ Pomegranate for energy
8. If fever occurs, monitor it every 5-6 hours, should be high fever, take medicine and contact doctor
9. Monitor Oxygen level , should be above 95 on oxymeter
10. Keep away from Negative news/ demoralising talks. Always think positive and talk positive. This will give you a healthy mindset in recovering fast.
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