Dear reader, at the outset I apologise to you with folded hands, for not posting blogs for some weeks. Here is the whole story for you, as it started unfolding that afternoon, straight from the horse’s mouth !
Am I or am I not ? This question troubled me. And more than myself, she looked agitated. Are we or are we not ? Both of us were waiting for test results. The two of us felt like school kids, again, who were awaiting their final examination results. But this time, in parents’ roles, ready to console ourselves, if something unpalatable came in the reports. Here is my Corona Diary, dear reader, for you, unedited and raw..
24th March/2.30 pm : I was working on my laptop. She asked me the same question umpteenth time, hey listen, are you okay ? This time I got bugged. I said, my limbs are fine, my energy is full, my brain is ticking and I’m feeling good, need I say anything more ? She ran the digital thermometer across my forehead. I had temperature, yes. The screen was all red. Around 10 pm when I didn’t feel any better, I took one Calpol 500 mg tablet. After sometime my fever came down and I went to sleep.
25th March/6 am : I had no fever but I was feeling extremely weak and had giddiness. These same health issues carried forward till the next 3 days. I recalled, I had this kind of weakness and giddiness after Typhoid, several decades back. In the night, I decided to get myself tested for Corona. It was 11.30 pm so this plan got pushed up for the next day.
29th March/11 am : My wife and myself, reached a Covid test centre being run by SRL Diagnostics. The technician asked me if I wanted an Antigen test or a RT PCR test. My wife and myself got tested through RT PCR test.
30th March/5 am : My wife’s report came negative. My report was on hold. I started wearing mask and self isolated myself in another room. In the meantime, I did my own little research on the damned virus ! A new virus, SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19 (Corona Virus – 2019) disease. There are several symptoms which may include one or others; fever, dizziness, headache, dry cough, Diarrhoea, weakness/fatigue, skin rashes, loss of smell and taste, muscle pain, nasal congestion, sore throat, vomiting (nausea), red eyes (Conjunctivitis), persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of appetite. This disease spreads amongst people when an infected person breathes, coughs, talks, sneezes or sings. This infection takes place when particles carrying virus (aerosols or respiratory droplets) enter the nose, eyes or mouth of a person who is in close proximity of an infected person. The time span between exposure to virus to beginning of symptoms is 5-14 days. This is the reason Corona patients are advised self isolation for 14 days ! Amongst Corona patients, approximately only 5% need hospital admission, close to 80% get better at home and around 15% need ventilators for serious ailments. Dark clouds hover over people who are more than 60 years old and have any of these medical problems – cancer, on dialysis, high blood pressure, obesity, lung problem, diabetes, heart problems. The danger, dear reader, is that this rogue virus has been declared airborne now ! Okay, okay, let’s go back to my diary again.
31st March/10.30 am : A lady from BMC health department called me on my mobile, informing me that I’m COVID Positive. She said in an hour, a team will come to take my consent for home quarantine. I sent my Corona test report to my doctor. He suggested home quarantine and sent me the prescription. At 11 am, two ladies came from BMC health department. I signed on the consent form provided by them. My name with age and cell number and my doctor’s name with registration number was already there on the form. They stamped me and my wife. Our little boy, Nana created such a hue and cry, literally, that they didn’t stamp him. They stamped at my house’s entry too. And that is how my sequestration stint started.
April Fool’s Day : I started taking medicines. My wife ensured that I took Kaadha (Indian hot herbal drink) twice, Haldi Waala Doodh (hot turmeric milk) after dinner and inhaled steam twice, in the morning and evening. In the afternoon, 2 BMC professionals arrived in PPE suits and disinfected the whole house.
2nd April/9.25 am : A man called up from BMC health department, asking me if I needed any help. He provided me the BMC Covid helpline number – 1916 and asked me to call immediately if my health worsened. He also told me that BMC has increased home quarantine duration to 17 days from the earlier 14 days. At 2 pm, a man called up identifying himself as a worker from a political party, working in the local MLA’s team. He asked me if I needed any physical, financial or emotional help. And if need be, I could contact him anytime. Boy, was I touched !
Moral of the Story : To tell you frankly, I did not enjoy my voluntary solitary isolation for the fortnight one bit, nope. I kept myself positive with optimistic thoughts. Watching sky became a hobby, almost. I was regular with my physical and spiritual sessions, though. I maintained my cycle of prayers, Praanayaam (Indian breathing exercise), walking for 30 minutes twice, rest and good sleep. I intentionally slept on my left side or lying on my stomach. 3 times reading of Pulse Oximeter, blood pressure, temperature and blood sugar was a given. I also used to conduct 6MWT (6 minutes walk test) twice with Oximeter. And I was provided healthy, nutritious and high-protein diet. No fried, spicy, non-vegetarian or spicy food for the patient. Chhena (curd cheese) was provided every evening. I drank lots of water to keep myself hydrated. I also had Chhaas (buttermilk) twice, at breakfast and lunch. To hydrate, one can also have Daab (coconut water), herbal tea and soups.
Nana and a Stranger : Staying away from Nana broke my heart. If my door would be open, he would sprint quickly to hug me. And poor me had to force close the door. Nana used to claw, tap repeatedly and push the door while crying hoarse. But Nana’s heartless father would not open the door !
Be Positive : A Corona patient must consult his/her physician or family doctor (one with with MBBS, MD degrees). Patient must follow government rules and be a responsible citizen. Self-medication should be avoided at all costs by the patients. The patient should never listen to fake gyaanis (know all gurus) who have watched lots of Facebook, WhatsApp messages and You Tube videos. A COVID patient should not panic if any health parameter suddenly goes up or down. His/her doctor should be informed immediately. Everybody who is eligible for vaccination should get vaccinated, without fail.
Thrills & Chills : My blood pressure occasionally shot through the roof. My headaches would try to split my skull into pieces with great force. My blood sugar readings would surprise me every day with erratic readings. Serum Creatinine test results were living nightmares. My appetite went down several notches ,considerably. My Oximeter readings gave me the deadliest scare. For 15 – 20 seconds, no readings would appear on the screen. And sometimes, the readings would stay around 63 for some time before settling finally to 98, phew.. ! Back to the concluding pages of my diary.
14th April/11.45 am : I got myself tested again through RT PCR test.
15th April/4 am : I got to know that I was COVID negative, now. At 10.30 am, a technician arrived from a private company and disinfected the whole house. My doctor gave me the fitness certificate.
16th April/3.35 am : Realisation sunk in that I’m clean now, finally. I survived to tell this tale. Nana came running, hopping and jumping with joy when I threw open my arms for him. I started wearing 2 masks; first the use and throw mask and on top of it, a cloth mask whenever I opened the main door. And, I intend to continue wearing double mask if I go out of my house too. Currently, I’m having long COVID hangover which means my headache, giddiness and loss of appetite will continue for months as explained by my doctor.
Post.Script : I am grateful to the God up there, my doctors, the pathological test lab technicians, BMC health department professionals, all the Mynahs, Crows, Parrots, Sparrows and Pigeons who cheered me up from my window. My large family and all my friends who used to call me up regularly to keep my hopes alive. I am thankful to Nana for banging on my closed door everyday to tell me that he is gonna wait for me. And she, Nana’s mother, who also happens to be my wife, Sadhna. The silent but stronger individual who kept Nana, me and herself going valiantly, in this tough and uncertain phase. Dear reader, Maverick Yogi wishes you a safe weekend and a Corona free world, ahead.
Maverick Yogi 