Meri Covid-19 ki dastaan...

Once upon a time, there lived a girl, whose worst nightmare was getting a simple blood test. 

The sight of an injection created havoc with her psychology. She screamt, scratched and trashed everything around.. but the minute, test was done, she always exclaimed, "huh, ho gaya? bas itna tha?".

Lets delve into her story of being Covid Positive. Her trials, tribulations and the characters met in this unpleasant sojourn. 

In case, you are still scratching your head wondering, kaun hai yeh ladki? Bhaisahab, Mai! aur kaun!?


13th July was a normal working day in office. My Team can attest to the fact, that when i holler, it isnt a pretty scene to be in or around it. Our baleno demo got damaged which led me exercising my vocals chords at the last permissible level. Since throat pain is a usual phenomenon with me owing to this madness and weather change, i was anticipating a backlash. But, when high fever visited alongwith intense sore throat, i knew, beta meri lanka lag gayi !!!  

All kind of thoughts evaded my mind. What if i got Covid? what if i infected my team members (this stressed me the maximum), what will happen next etc!

I took my medicines (Dolo is a life saving ram bann dawai) while i waited to get tested. Dad was also exhibiting fever symptoms. 

Covid test is done by taking nasal and throat swabs. A long cotton bud is inserted for few seconds to get the sample. Nasal is more preferred by doctors due to a better specimen and non-presence of saliva. 
You will feel super choked when they take the sample. I thought i will throw up the contents of my tummy! 

Test done. Waiting starts! 

Next day, result is positive!   The stumped look on my dad's face was priceless. This was after taking all the precautions, such as, Vitamin C tablets, meeting less people, using masks and sanitisers, restricted movements etc. 

Now, how did we get this despite doing everything right? 

When educated people think, they are overqualified or they-know-everything-lets-give-gyaan such mishaps occur. A gentleman who loves to advise people (specially how to loose weight) was feeling under the weather, he got tested and knew he is positive, YET he walks in to meet my father. To "discuss" something very urgent apparently. I wonder, why mobile phones were invented! 

Please understand, you have put us at risk knowingly. You could have spoken over a call and told us the reality that am tested positive, so am quarantining. wont be able to meet. 

If you know, positive is your report, or you are exhibiting any symptoms, please maintain distance with everyone, self quarantine, talk on video calls. There is no shame to be tested positive! At the rate, the virus is spreading, surely everyone with go through this once! I pray one doesnt although.

Doctor friends suggested us to get admitted in a hospital immediately because they didnt want us to take a risk chance of even 1%. 

Dad's anxiety really peaked whereas i was numb with fear and my sore throat was making things super worse. The fever which racks you consists of chills and garmi. I felt like there is a nuclear war going on in my throat. (I would recommend azithral 500mg once daily, for anyone suffering with sore throat). 

 The health care system is really overburdened coupled with the fear of the virus. You will find shortage of staff and beds in hospitals. 
Its imperative we take the precautions of wearing a mask, keeping social distancing and washing/sanitising hands. This is for the greater good. 

Even the ambulance didnt show up on time. At such a time, even if logic says things are fine, you can sustain, the FEAR psychosis doesnt let you function. You would think, agar oxygen chahiye raste me toh?

 After waitin for almost 2 hours, we gave up! checked our vitals on oximeter, thik hai! Prayed to Lord Balaji, picked the car and went off. 

So, wrapped up in my shawl and face mask, we left for hyderabad. Cant even roll up the car's window and risk the driver. We had tied a cloth partition in the front part of the car and started out journey. 

Luckily, Dad's friends helped us secure 2 rooms in Sunshine Hospital, Gachibowli.

The entire check in process from Emergency till Room was 3 and half hours. I cant explain you the irrational thoughts, darr and weird thoughts i went through sitting on the small bench in ER. 

I am sure i even shouted "F*** China" when they inserted the cannula in my veins for the IV drip!

Its true, the most honest prayers, confessions and promises are heard in the hallways of a hospital.  


The hospital experience! 

The room was just right. Brightly lit, cute bathroom with shower, properly ventilated, huge windows which let me experience some sunlight and less morosity in life.  

Oh boy, i never anticipated, this would be home for the next 15 days!!!  


I was put on course of Fabiflu (a new antiviral tablet for covid- 10 tablets a day) alongwith Vitamin B and C! This virus is reacting differently with individuals, so even the doctors are pretty clueless about its treatment, honestly! 

Daily ka dose!

The initial euphoria lasted for 2 days... arre wah, so much netflix i can watch, i can video call family and friends, i can play teen patti, i can timepass, i can sleep dreamlessly etc...  

After couple of days, i was feeling fine. Ekdum fine! Still, few blood and urine tests were conducted as per doctor's advise.  

Phir kya tha, khud ki nazar lag gayi hongi! Fever started spiking after 5 days... meri toh sitti bitti gul. 
I was on continuous anti biotics drips. Anti blood clot and steroids injections were pumped in my thighs (they still resemble a purple baingan). 

Doctors were scrambling to find those expensive COVID injections, remdesivir and tocumzum-something for me.. There are so many protocols to be followed to procure these meds. The black market rates are insane, again whats the surety, they arent spurious goods? Karma will get back to such profiteers who benefit out of fear and misery. 

Thankfully, my doctor diagnosed that i have contracted Urinary Tract Infection - UTI - in the hospital. Yes, hospitals are hot bed for other infections, including getting covid again. If u are in a hosp, get your symptoms well and get the hell out of there! 

Saved from the covid injections, armed with the knowledge of what actually is wrong with me, I was started on a insane session of strong antibiotic drips.. 

like sunny deol says, tareek pe tareek, nurses were like Drip pe Drip!! 

At 5:30 am , when you are in lala land, the nurse would come, poke your hand with the drip.. lift the other arm, check your BP and vitals and leave.. You would be drifting in and out of sleep/delirum. 

Things to look out for in a hospital stay 

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• Keep your mind sane. Very important! Read, listen music, meditate, talk to frds, sleep etc. Do whatever calms you down!  The more you stress, the more symptoms manifest. Covid is a more of a mental challenger than the physical thing. Treat it as a common flu, you will sail through well. 

• Dont think the hospital is out to grab your money. Even if it is true, you have no option, You have done your life samarpan to them. let them decide the course of action you need. If u think, this tablet is just to increase my bill, then betaji, bahut maansik taanav hoga! 
• Enjoy the hospital ka khaana... you have to try hard to like the khichdi and idlis :) Well, the food was good and zomato was also allowed.. so i really cant complained. i enjoyed my tea time even!    

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  Find your sunshine even in the darkest of clouds. Keep sane!
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

• Keep your personal equipment on standby always - The oximeter and the thermometer. The oxygen levels can be monitored but dont give 100% weightage to it. As suggested to me by a doctor. 

Thermometer

Oximeter

               

• Pray that you get out sooner from the place. After a point, the room starts crowding in you, making you feel palpitations, Mind starts getting restless. Seeing personnel in PPE after a point starts getting on your nerves.
• Take baby steps on the way to recovery in home quarantine. Rest well, eat well and be well. Thats how you will recover the energy drain sustained over the hospital stay. 
• Gargle with warm salt water, pop in those Vitamin B and C pills, Pray and Be happy.

I am a Survivor! I have lived through my worst nightmare of injections.