March 17 - 3 weeks ago and 2 days after I landed in Chennai from
Bangalore I developed sore throat without any cold or runny nose. We all know
sore throat is not a life-threatening disease and has simple home remedies such
as salt water gargling, Rhinothermy aka steam inhalation and sipping of hot water
with honey. But for an asthmatic with super sensitive lungs, sore throat could
be the first indication of flu. I’ve gone through some nasty episodes of flu
that eventually led to Bronchiectasis and I even coughed up some blood in 2017.
After this episode, the Pulmonologist made me take a vaccine for pneumonia
and put me on flu vaccines each year without fail. Also, she put together a
detailed list of first, second and third-line remedies for my symptoms and recommended
me to carry medicines whenever I traveled (within or outside the country).
That morning before I boarded the train, my brother who rarely calls or texts
sent me a reminder message to wear a 3M mask, not touch any surface and keep washing my hands frequently. On the train, I had also looked up the symptoms
for Corona Virus that resembled a common flu.
I followed the first-line remedy that involved no Allopathic medicines
and only home remedies. I felt a bit tired during the day and I mostly isolated
myself from my parents who are in their 70s. On the second night, I experienced
spells of chill and sweat nevertheless I slept for 11 hours. When I woke up, the
sore throat had almost vanished, but I started to feel breathless and tightness
in my left chest. None of these are new to me and I experience it whenever I came
down with flu or viral attack. Also, that made me feel confident to try all the
remedies.
By March 23 the number of COVID-19 cases in India started to multiply
rapidly and we went through “Janata Curfew” and quickly moved into a 21-day
lock down. Media channels were creating hysteria instead of awareness and there
was only panic in the nation. Five days after I completed the first dose of
antibiotics, I self-medicated myself with the stronger dose (Azithromycin) for
next 5-days. But it didn’t seem to make any difference.
Without waiting any further, I explored my second-line of treatment by
calling the hospital and seeking an appointment with the pulmonologist. And to
my dismay the hospital they said all private consultations were closed in lieu
of Corona Virus and I needed to visit ER to consult one.
I had two options, either brave up and go into ER or text the doctor
directly. I took the latter option. But before I texted the Pulmonologist, I
wrote a detailed day by day account of my whereabouts and medicines I’ve taken.I
was lying in bed recounting my actions from the last 7 days and symptoms of
Corona Virus. From sore throat, chills and sweat and breathlessness I was
checking every box. Alongside, my appetite also plummeted and I was eating like
a 3-year old – a few spoons for every meal.
Screen shot 1 from text exchange with the doctor. (Click and zoom to read)
On March 29, breathlessness got worse and I was about to collapse from
respiratory distress at home. I asked my brother to call the emergency. He
rushed to my room with Pulse-oximeter and slipped it in my index finger. My
heart rate was elevated (85 beats per minute) and oxygen saturation was still
good at 96%.
It didn’t look like I was having respiratory distress. Did I come down
with a cardiac issue? That evening, I pushed myself to walk for 60 minutes and
climbed two flights of stairs. Was it due to this exertion?
Immediately, my brother dialed his close friend who is a Pulmonologist
and described my symptoms. I was curled up in the bed holding my mom’s hand expecting
to say goodbye to this world. I put my phone on silent and told my mom the
password for my phone incase she needs to access it.
The doctor advised against going to emergency and asked me to come to
the hospital the following morning. I had no choice but to go back to my bed and stay curled up for the night.
I survived the night and woke up feeling a tad better the next
morning. So many thoughts crossed my mind as my brother drove me to the
hospital. The hospital which was always welcoming the sick now looked like an
immigration desk. We were made to fill out forms about recent travel and asked
if we had cold and fever before let into the hospital.
I walked into the emergency and explained my symptoms to the nurse. She
slipped the Pulse-Oximeter in my finger and continued to chat with me. The monitor
show 90 beats per minute and oxygen saturation of 97%. The doctor was on his
way to the emergency from the ICU. And when he arrived I couldn’t barely recognize
him as he was covered from head to toe in PPE.
In the next 5 minutes, I again explained the last 15 days ordeal with the
symptoms and remedies I tried out. He put the stethoscope on my chest and made breathe
a few times. Finally, he confirmed that I had no wheeze and scribbled a few
tests to check for viral load and possible lung infection including pneumonia.
I was escorted to the X-ray room to film my chest and then to the
pulmonary ward to evaluate of my lung condition. I faintly heard the doctor
discuss the reports with my brother as I put my arm out to the nurse to draw
two vials of blood to check the CDC count, C-Reactive Protein and Eosinophil.
When I came out the doctor announced that my lungs were in great shape
and there were no signs of distress. I smiled for the first time in two weeks
and immediately excused myself to text my anxious parents for whom every
passing minute felt like a year.
I quizzed the doctor about what was causing breathlessness and lack of
appetite. Quickly, he threw in the probability of GERD and I confirmed his
finding and shared more information on the earlier diagnosis – duodenal ulcer. He
quickly prescribed me some medicines and asked me to leave the hospital
immediately as he didn’t want me to catch any other infection. He promised to
call me in evening with the blood report.
I endured almost all the symptoms of Corona and suffered for 15 days in
home quarantine and self-isolation for 15 days. When I stepped out of the
hospital I was unhappy that didn’t get the same welcome that Corona patients
got from their doctors and nurses.
On the way back home, I confessed to my brother that I should have
visited the doctor much earlier and not stayed in isolation for 15-days and let
the symptoms get worse.
I came home popped in the first pill and waited for 30-minutes to have
my meal. In the evening I got a call from the doctor. Not sure if it was the medical
evaluation or the pill, I started to feel better both mentally and physically. In
the evening, doctor confirmed my blood results were normal and I had no signs
of any infection.
First peace and sleep returned followed by appetite. Within 24 hours breathlessness vanished.I resumed my work and exercise
routine that includes 60 mins of yoga in the morning and 60 mins of walk in the
evening.
In the last week, I’ve read article about the mutating Corna Virus and it becoming asymptomatic. Also, I read accounts from several people who’ve endured it
without knowing about it. Here is an account -
A simple virus can invade our head and body in minutes and make this world go crazy.
Not sure if I my body already endured Corona Virus, but I’ve seemed to
have developed the mental immunity to fight it. When the antibody test kits
arrive in Chennai, I’ll definitely get myself checked.
In the meanwhile, stay safe and practice social distancing.
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