Covid Experience

COVID-19 – Experience (Un)Certainty !

Having COVID-19 was a frightening experience. It’s a very contagious and unpredictable disease.

There are no treatments against the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself or for the body’s harmful reaction to the virus. As of now, the mainstay of treatment for patients with COVID is ‘supporting care’. Rather than treating the underlying viral infection, support care aims to maintain the function of the body’s vital organs such as heart, lung, kidneys, and liver functions to keep the individual alive while the disease progresses and eventually resolves with our immune system.

There is no treatment currently for SARS-CoV-2 virus or for the body's harmful reaction to the virus. At present, the mainstay of treatment for COVID patients is a ‘Supportive care’. Instead of treating a viral infection, it is important to provide support care. This is because the function of the most important organs of the body such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver must be protected from the attack of virus. Within a few days when the impact of the virus subsides our immune system will fully renew and protect our body.

@ WGH on Sept 18, 2021

October 15, 2021

On September 7, 2021, I felt high fever of COVID's very first symptom. When I woke up in the early morning at 04:30am to attend my 4.5 hours of training/ workshop session, I was very tired, my body temperature was very high with severe headache.

However, I managed to attend the session till the end somehow, but at the middle of the day, my head started spinning and I was unable to sit and focus on my work properly.

I suffered with a severe headache throughout the day which was like something I’ve never experienced before. Nevertheless, I woke up at 4:30am again to attend my training session, but I couldn’t manage either to stay focused or actively participate in the training with my full potential. My head ache was continued for the second day. I had some Paracetamol and Cold/Flu tablets for the day.

The next day (Thursday the 9th) I felt much better and thought it was either Flu or some regular seasonal hay fever. Since I had no other symptoms of COVID at that point, such as loss of smell or dry cough, I wasn’t worried much. As my fever and cold was almost gone, I felt relatively fine, So my wife and I went out to buy some Groceries for "Vinayagar chathurthi" Pooja from a nearby grocery shop. That’s when I think the virus must have infected me.

My daughter has got similar symptoms a week before, but she recovered in few days followed by my Wife and Son a week later. But, all of us recovered from these symptoms within few days. Hence, we strongly believed it could be some sort of regular flu.

Meanwhile, my daughter's school administration was urging every student (including their family) to take LFD test regardless of whether they go through mild or any cold symptoms.

Hence, my daughter was insisting us to take LFD (Lateral Flow Device) test to ensure whether we were infected with Corona virus. As instructed, we all tested with our samplings around 9:30pm at home and yes, as she suspected, all of our test results showed +Ve confirmed infection. Well, except for my daughter's result - it showed -Ve ( no infection )

I do not know where this infection came from, but we were all going to places where the infection could spread easily such as School, Supermarket and Public transports. I must have been infected from any one of these places.

Sometimes, the source of truth is not easy to find, is it?

Since the LFD results indicated we were infected, we had to book for more accurate PCR tests to confirm the infection. I booked the PCR test kits for all of us with an option to test at home. The PCR test results also confirmed all of my family members are Covid positive. (including my daughter's result this time ! ).

So, this has proved that the LFD test is less reliable. You may ask, were we panicked about the results? To be honest, No.

We were more concerned about how to inform the National Test & Protect centre and School, because by the time no one has any fever or other severe symptoms except a stuffy nose and intermittent mild cough for my son.

In fact, we did not pay much attention to our condition until my symptoms got worse in few days. Thursday 16, Sep'21, I experienced difficulty in eating, felt loss of energy, diarrhoea, fatigue, mild numbness in my legs and eventually got into breathing difficulty.

We called 111 to inquire if there were any prescribed medications that I can take it at home to alleviate my symptoms, but I was advised to come to the hospital to diagnose and prescribe the medicine. I told them, I am not in position to either walk or travel because I had difficulty in breathing. Hence they suggested me to call 999 to book an ambulance to pick me up from home.

@ WGH with Oxygen Mask on Sept 18, 2021

Admitted into the Hospital

[Days 01 to 05]

The ambulance arrived with a paramedic. The paramedic assessed me for all the health indicator to decide whether I should be hospitalised. Based on the indicators, he finally decided to take me to the Hospital. While I was in the Ambulance, the paramedic had ensured all the documentations and other necessary formalities are completed well ahead to get my admission to the hospital.

The paramedic was so gentle and very responsible. He took good care of me from the beginning until I was admitted to the hospital.

The hospital is one of the largest specialist hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland and this is where all COVID patients were admitted and treated.

I was taken to a ward where many COVID patients were admitted. It is a quiet big hall with many beds arranged in the hall in a circular shape. Each bed was divided into a small partition with only a curtains made up of cloth as its doors. If I understand correctly, these screen doors are to help nurses and paramedics monitor patients from all directions from the central hall.

Within a few minutes of my admission here, couple of nurses rushed to my bed and started gathering my blood samples in a large vials for a complete blood profile to identify every single existing health issues and for any infectious diseases.

I was also taken to the CXR (X-Ray) room for my chest scan to identify any infection or inflammation in my lungs.

By that time, It was around 3:30pm, I was resting in my bed watching the surroundings where all the nurses are running pillars to post, busy attending patients. The hall was filled with lot of noises with crying, shouting and coughing sounds everywhere.

At this point, somehow I either wasn't thinking about anything or scared of anything. My mind was just blank, watching the people around and thinking what would be the next step and etc., nothing else was in my mind for the next few hours.

The test results would have suggested I got Covid infection either in a blood or lungs, because around 4:30pm I was given 3 tiny tablets along with one regular size tablet.

I asked Nurse “What are these tablets for ? “

She said “ These three tiny tablets are Steroid tablets and the other one is Vitamin B12”

When I heard "Steroid", I felt bit worried and asked the nurse, “Is it really required ? and should I really need to take all 3 Steroid tablets ? ".

The Nurse looked at me very politely with a smile and said “ You don’t have any other options honey, because you are infected with Covid, you must take this to protect your lungs and heart"

My next question was “ How many days I should take?.” She replied with a smile again “I don’t know, may be for 10 days or until you get discharged”

Only with a half-a mind, I took those steroid tablets (Dexamethasone), by telling myself, there is no need to panic unnecessarily about taking these tablets, just because it was referred as “Steroid”.

The name "steroid" has imprinted in my mind negatively (and in many of us too) because, based on my past incidents that I had witnessed, I believed that these Steroid medicines are known for very powerful medicines to human body and it is required only for very critical stage. I believed, if it is not prescribed properly or carefully administered, then it may even leads to life threatening situations. It may be a misconception from the non-medical men perspective.

So, I took these tablets as a normal medicine (I don't have any choice anyway !) since, I was told, this medicine is must to protect myself and to effectively combat this deadly virus.

Since I was on steroid and not had proper breakfast in the morning, I felt very hungry and tired. I inquired the nurse if i can get some snacks or veg sandwich here.

She said " you please wait sir, you will be taken to the nearby Cafeteria after sometime, so you can have some food there "

It was around 5:00pm, I was asked to sit in a wheel chair to take me somewhere. I thought they would be taking me to the Cafeteria where I can buy some snack or sandwich, but they wheeled me to many places through elevators and more corridors.

The took me everywhere and finally reached Ward 43, where lot of clinical staffs, nurses and doctors were working very actively and everyone was seriously discussing with each others.

They remotely monitor all the patients' SPo2, Blood Pressure, Pulse rate and other vitals from every single patients at Ward-43 and store the data in a central database where they can access, review and prescribe medicine from the central hub. When I enter into this ward and passing thru this central hub, I felt like I've entered into a War room, where people will be very busy planning and discussing the course of actions very seriously.

I must also mention here the design of the ward; The design of this ward was very thoughtfully designed because the no.of patient's rooms were very limited (approximately 12-15 rooms) and all the rooms were surrounded by the central hub (War room!).

As soon as I admitted to my Isolated room (Room#9) in ward-43, I was given 6.0 l/m (40%) oxygen mask (a triangular mask) and SPo2 monitor (Wifi enabled, smart phone like device) attached to my index finger.

This SPo2 device was wirelessly connected to the main system at central hub where the doctors and nurses can monitor them remotely. If there is any disconnect to SPo2 reading or any drop down in pulse rate below 90% for more than 3min, then the nurse or paramedic staff will rush to our room immediately to check if everything is ok.

The room was very private, equipped with oxygen and few life saving apparatus to manage non-critical patients. I should also mention here that the room was very well furnished with a TV, attached bathroom with a shower, room heater, multi adjustable recliner bed, movable dining table and cupboards.

Cleaning and maintenance staffs clean the room and toilet every 4 hours to ensure it is always clean and the bed sheets and pillow covers are changed every day. Since my room was on the first floor, I could see the bright sky and green garden outside the window next to my bed so beautifully.

Finally, I got some food to eat. At 6:30 pm I was served dinner at the table. Surprisingly, I got vegetarian food without pre-order.

@ WGH on Tocilizumab on Sept 18 2021

Diagnosed Covid

[Days 01 to 05]

Many doctors visited my room in that evening and checked my heart rate, pulse and looked at my clinical reports.

I came to know from one of the visiting doctor that my CXR scan report showed mild infiltrations on my lungs with some inflammation.

Issues diagnosed: Infected with SARS-Cov-2 Virus, slight Inflammation in lungs and SPo2 drop (Oxygen support required)
Risk: classified as medium risk – to be monitored closely for SPo2 level and other parameters.

Around 7:45pm, I was given another medicine (Tocilizumab) - a UK's newly prescribed trial (Thanks to the Oxford University), a monoclonal antibody giving to hospitalised Covid patients to reduce the risk of developing further infection - was given to me as an Intravenous (IV) therapy throughout the night on the same day.

Thereafter, every hour at the hospital has been filled with mixed emotions and felt like I was severely debilitated.

Since, I was idle on bed with IV on, my mind was wandering around and worried about my Son’s intermittent cough and my Wife's health conditions (both of them are +ve with very mild symptoms ), though I knew my wife was doing better at the time when left for hospital.

I (my mind) was repeatedly questioning myself “what a stupid thing I have done” and “how did I neglected the importance of taking Vaccine”.

Since I was on IV, I fell asleep though I was frequently distracted by the doctors and nurses throughout the night.

Next day, It was Friday, Morning 6:00am, one of the nurse woke me up with a warm greeting “Good Morning” and without expecting my reply or my readiness, she managed to take my Blood pressure, body temperature, and SPo2 readings, because this is busy time to change nurse's duty schedule with handover/ takeover activities.

Then the newly changed nurse came around 7:00am to check my instant blood glucose level by pricking my finger to get the blood sample.

When the reading showed 16.5, I eagerly asked “Is it normal ? ”

She replied very casually “Well, it’s very high, but don’t worry it’s just because you are on Steroid. So don't worry about the high sugar level now ". Since, It was my first test result after my first day of the Steroid intake, I thought this glucose level will get back to normal in a day or two.

I was served a hot coffee around 7:45am followed by a breakfast (Cornflakes, two brown Bread slices, Fruit juice, Butter and fruit Jam) on the table. Since, It was my first day at this ward, many senior doctors with their juniors kept visiting me for every single hour till 5:00pm.

Most of the doctors who had visited me, asked the same questions, " Have you got the vaccine ?"

When I respond “No”, the immediate question would be “May I know why you didn't take it ?"

I used to tell them (very awkwardly ) “I was in a dental/tooth extraction situation and was in a dilemma as to which one to go first. Since, I haven't got the right response from anyone , including my GP, I couldn't take the decision " ...and blah.. blah.. blah...to support myself.

Though I tried to justify my situation, my response doesn't sounded right for anyone including myself, but these questions kept me thinking more deeply

“Did I really made a big mistake by not taking the vaccine ? "

" Do I look odd from the crowd ? "

"how can I be so ignorant without thinking of the implications ? "

Whenever I saw the neighbourhood people walking around the park nearby the hospital and the Cab drivers casually picking-up and dropping off the people without any fear or hesitations, more importantly, the hospital staffs are working very causally with patients (with just a normal mask) in a very close proximity; I realised "what a tremendous job this vaccine drive had done to the community "

Being a non-immigrant citizen in other country and staying far away from our families and friends, we should always be very vigilant and we can't afford to bear any repercussions due to our negligence.

We as a family, managed this pandemic for almost 18 months from the beginning till the peak time of Covid very successfully. We used to go out every week either once or twice for a necessary shoppings (ensuring no symptoms or even any gut feelings of illness ) with extra caution in hand wash, face wash, herbal tea, streaming and etc., as and when we feel necessary .

The only loop hole was my Kid's school which was functioned as normal for the entire year, except few weeks in the beginning of the year. I strongly believe that their School must be the hub (even till date) for spreading infections via the students as a carriers. of course children are the least at-risk population but one should not forget they are the carriers.

On the 2nd day, I couldn’t go to the washroom without my Oxygen mask- even for a couple of minutes. At some point, I felt like I was in an airtight container, unable to breathe. My chest was very tight and I got scared for few seconds, for the first time after I was admitted to the hospital. Moreover i was puzzled to realise how I got into this situation, and how it is possible that I couldn't breath normally within 48 hours.

I was fatigued physically and drained emotionally.

Obviously, there were so many thoughts in my mind, like “How long will it take for me to get out of the Oxygen support?” and “What would be the side effects of these steroids that I am taking now? and "how my lungs inflammation would react or respond to it? ”

The initial days in the isolation ward was the toughest days, because of the anxiety towards the prognosis, higher pulse rate, and elevated glucose level (though it's because of steroid intake) are the reasons to worry much.

I also had slight dry cough. I couldn't take deep breath.

On the 4th day, my triangular oxygen mask removed and replaced with a nasal cannulas (a tube will supply oxygen with two small outlets goes to your nasal) as this is the indication of minimum oxygen supply required. This can be used only if you need less 4 l/m oxygen support required otherwise triangle mask should be suggested. I was asked to switch between these two types of masks many times as the O2 requirements fluctuated high-low-high few times for the initial one week.

In the meantime, I kept on thinking about the places where I visited before the positive test result. What if I would have passed the virus unknowingly onto someone else ?

I strongly believe, as a responsible professional, we should be socially responsible as well.

Whether you take vaccine or manage with protection is one's personal decisions but going out with known symptoms (mild or hard) to visit family, friends or travel without any compelling reason, is a tantamount to the morally depraved murder of undetermined number of old and immunocompromised people.

Within Four Walls @WGH

Within Four Walls

[Days 06 to 10]

"Ignorance is a Bliss". Yes, I often feel so, because there may be a situation when you’re happier not knowing the truth. So, I consciously tried to avoid questioning the doctors more about my treatment, prognosis, the side effects of the medicines and even avoided intensive googling just to not to panic myself and the others.

I was also not comfortable to share every single indication of my prognosis and how I feel to anyone (as it never add any value or advantage but it simply add stress to others) but kept talking to my family, friends and relatives every day. I just shared only the lighter side of my prognosis and my confidence to everyone including my spouse to keep them away from developing various assumptions or negative views, until I felt comfortable to share more details and my feelings etc.,

I knew that the recovery time was firmly out of my control, so I decided to focus on things which are in my control, i.e, staying positive and keeping myself busy can be under my control.

So I chose to stay optimistic for my own wellbeing. I tried to distract my mind by engaging in various activities like watching people out side the window and small walk within the room and etc., I know, this is quite opposite to the popular quote “starve your distractions, feed your focus.

Watching television in my room doesn’t interest me and tried few favourite YouTube videos as well using my mobile phone but nothing had helped me.

I couldn't continue to pay attention neither on TV nor YouTube videos as my mind was unconsciously in a seeking /questioning mode, because of my breathing issue was still persisted even on the 4th and 5th days. Continued steroid medicines, two injections on the stomach every day - one for blood thinner to protect from any blood clots and Insulin to control my elevated sugar (due to steroid). At some point, listening to some devotional songs/mantras surprisingly helped to keep my mind calm and cope up with the situations. After the Sixth day, I gained more confidence but was desperately waiting to be free from the steroid medication and oxygen support.

Contrary to the popular belief, positive thinking is not a thinking that everything will work out great all the time. Positive thinking is focusing on what is present, what is going well and what we can do to make a situation better. I knew that “positive thinking” is a way of sugar-coating our reality.

When you’re unable to process or evaluate real time information and control your psychological or emotional situation, you seize on “positive thinking” as a tranquilliser. It seems to inspire your life with new confidence and optimism, but only for a limited period of time- that too in a Covid ward, it is very difficult.

Moreover, as a risk management professional, specialised in managing and mitigating the risks & Issues based on the probabilities and extent of the impacts, I couldn’t just stay idle thinking only positive side or chanting positive mantra to get the things resolved by itself.

I always find the root cause, mitigation plan and act accordingly. I had accepted my situation and ensured that negative thoughts are not looming over and determined to face each day as it comes.

Hence, I consciously avoided and made sure that my other feelings and thoughts are "not controlling" me.

I kept telling myself that " It's nothing like a normal fever but I will come out of this as quick as possible".

Since I read lot of books and experienced in participating with lot of motivational, self-development workshops and seminars, I used to give advice, tips and suggestions among my friends and colleagues. Now, it is my turn to use those skill for myself now and obviously it was those knowledge that has greatly helped me to overcame this situation far better.

Sometime, doctors who visits my room will ask me "do you have any questions for me to ask ? " or sometimes they ask " do you need someone from distress helpline to talk ?

I used tell them " I am doing great and I don't need any such support, thanks".

From day 6, I decided to experiment some things. At first, I tried to remove my oxygen support every day from day 6 to see if I could eat without my oxygen support but I was only able to cope up for 3-4 minutes.

Secondly, I tried to wash my face and brush my teeth without Oxygen mask but was able to withstand only 2 or 3min.

Then I tried to take a shower which I think was one of the bravest (It would have turned out to be the stupidest and risky ) attempt in that condition. Though it was very quick, I struggled a lot during and after the shower.

@WGH on Exercise

When I thought I was out of the woods, I started noticing the other problems. My vision was blurred and everything seemed fuzzy. I also noticed that I’d lost considerable weight (around 8 lbs) and my muscles were thin, saggy and softer (Atrophied ? )

When I touched my face and arms, I felt like I lost some sensitivity. I realised that this the side effect of these medications and was worried where would these lead to, since I was still on oxygen support and on medication. I found very hard to take deep breaths, felt like if there was something blocked my lungs. I had a slight intermittent dry cough as well which was also bothered me constantly.

I began to focus on small physical stretch exercises for my legs and arms. Later (after the 9th day) my wife had suggested to do some eye and breathing exercises together through video calls for every morning and evening, so I started eye exercise slowly but steadily without stretching my sensitive eye areas.

I never thought that walking four or five steps around my bed would feel like the greatest achievement I could make. I was left to lie down in bed or sit in a chair for the rest of the time and days.

YouTube videos, social networks and TV didn’t help me calm down and divert my mind, so I decided to continue talking to my family members and friends. Though I was coughing intermittently, and blood pressure readings was towards the upper limit, I talked to everyone who called or messaged me. Soon I felt more relieved and even I was debating with few topics with my close relatives.

I was talking to the nurse and other maids who came to work. They all sounds to be very polite and responsible people.

As far as I noticed, most of the nurse and other maids are very young women, seems just came out-of high school or college. because there is a high demand for these jobs and there is no need for any degree and it requires only attitude, responsible mindset and helping mind which they have lot. I was able to understand these from talking to few maids. While they have shared their experience, i shared my experience of traveling and working around many countries. few of them were amazed.

One had the ambition to go to New York. Another one was trying to figure out how to get an IT job.

But all the women who spoke to me were so beautiful, talented and honest and many of them posses the right attitude to take up any professional jobs with little amount of training. I have to say it was a different experience.

Delicious Food @WGH

Every crisis offers you extra desired Power

[Days 11 to 16]

Since, I was admitted in one of the Edinburgh’s biggest and best regional hospital, I got the best treatment, best support and of course very good food as well, especially a vegetarian foods that suits my diet, but I couldn’t enjoy though in initial days because of the lack of taste & smell.

Once I got my taste back, I started enjoying my food and even describing it's taste, ingredients to my wife and kids through video chat.

We can choose and book our everyday meal in advance. So, I had the privilege of choosing my everyday meal. luckily there were few options to choose vegetarian foods. Hence, the breakfast, lunch and dinner would be under my choices.

The breakfast would be the combination of Cornflakes, Weetabix, White rolls or brown breads with a butter and Jam. For lunch, there would be a an Indian and english style food such as rice, veg curries, dhal fries, rice puddings with fruits or veg salads and for dinner there would be noodles, pasta with cheese toppings, potato mash, veg fries, lentil soup and etc.,

Some days, they even served ice cream, cake and some sweets along with lunch.

'Ice cream' and 'Ice water' are not suitable to eat during the sick time, but, contrary to this popular belief, I was served Iced cold water to drink and Ice creams to eat.

It was quite different experience altogether, but I was reluctant to drink iced cold water for few days and wanted to drink only warm water. But in few days, after confirmed with doctor, I started taking Ice water to quench my thirst and for my hydration needs.

All these experimental activities helped me to keep my adrenaline high throughout the second half of my stay at hospital. At some point I almost forgot that I was a Covid patient, under close observation in hospital. I knew that there were no U-turns.

So I started focusing to firm up my weakened muscles and decided that the only way to move forward was to keep moving and be positive (yes, I know, sugar-coat). That is how i started my journey of physical and mental recovery. One of the risky things I tried was to take shower again while I was still on the oxygen support and again this time also I couldn't withstand more than 5 min without oxygen support.

The treatments progressed, so my health also improved. One by one, my symptoms somehow subsided. Finally, on Tuesday night, two doctors came to my room and told me that I had a consistent and improved oxygen concentration level since yesterday, so they immediately removed my oxygen support (cannulas).

Needless to say, it was a big relief to get rid of them. Since I was struggling to manage even 5 min until yesterday, I was worried and surprised at the same time, "how could I cope up throughout the night without the oxygen support ", but I have to say that I slept well after long days and I slept through the night without any problem.

Next day, doctors collected my blood samples again and also examined my heartbeat, sinusoidal rhythms and other parameters and said "you are making good progress" and they said they satisfied with my recovery progression. I felt such a sense of relief that I was out of danger.

I asked the doctor, if I could walk a little distance out side of the isolated room. The doctor had immediately allowed to walk outside the room and around the lounge with a face mask. I had a short walk outside the room and cafeteria and I was able to manage a brisk walk for about 50-100 steps in and around the corridor.

It was a quite satisfying walk for me and it must have been for the doctor too, because he was watching me walking around the lounge with ease, and he he looked at my when came back to room and raised his thumbs up to cheered. Perhaps, this was, one of the key reasons to determine my discharge date quickly.

My BP / O2/ Pulse Rate @WGH

Resilience In the face of life challenges

I must admit, It was a life changing experience. Spent 16 days in the hospital and in an isolated room with lot of uncertainties are really changed many perspectives.

This is my first hospitalisation in my entire life so far. It has given me different experience with a variety of thoughts and filled with indescribable emotions.

While Covid-19 will always be remembered forever by the generations for the panic it caused. As a techie person, I saw some silver linings in terms of how the technological advancements can be utilised to combat this pandemic and to end effectively especially in healthcare.

I couldn't imagine how we would have managed this pandemic days without a WiFi, VPN and advanced Network technologies. We managed day-to day needs of vegetables and groceries through online home delivery and we haven't struggled to go to offices for work. we were able to work from home.

Lot of learnings, self realisations and personal lessons from this experience which i can't explicitly describe here.

My sincere thoughts on this subject would be is, treat your symptoms whatever they may be, on priority.

If your medicines work on your body to recover, your mind also needs to work equally to recover. You need to fight against this in your mind too.

Stay hydrated and eat healthy food. I found that it’s probably one of the hardest things to do, remembering to drink often and getting enough fluids.

Unlike last year, the healthcare staffs did not scare anyone with wearing full COVID protective gear and keeping distance with all the patients. Instead, they worked very freely and casually with all the covid patients.

This was possible only because of the vaccine drive which was prioritised for all the front-line workers which in turn greatly helped the citizens/public.

Everything was monitored remotely, such as patients oxygen level, pulse and heart rates.

All these things made me realise how the advanced technology is remarkably helping the mankind especially in healthcare. In particular i was amazed to see how this technology is supporting to combat this pandemic situation where everyone adhere to minimum contact.

Finally, the day arrived which I was eagerly awaited for.

On the 1st of October, I was told by the doctor that I am doing great and all the progressions towards recovery are very satisfactory and I can be discharged today. It was a big relief to me at the time.

Honouring the Blessings

My quick recovery was possible only because of the doctors' proactive approach in closely monitoring my health condition 24x7, tracked all my key health parameters, and administered with required medicines on time as per the schedule on a daily basis.

I extend my thanks to the entire crew at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.

I thanked every staffs, who visited my room, whether they were the staff nurse or the cleaning personnel, I thanked them from the bottom of my heart. I expressed my gratitude in person to all the staffs at Ward 43, before I was discharged from the hospital.

I am grateful to the entire eco systems, that helped us to buy essential things online and deliver them at door steps especially when my family was in quarantined, can not go out for 14 days. Thanks to my Wife who took care of herself and the Kids back home while I was in hospital.

It is not even a bit of exaggeration if i have to say i have touched a near serious situation of COVID infection and narrowly escaped from getting into critical stage.

I strongly believe my parents’ blessings, close relatives, friends and well-wishers’ prayers had helped me recover quickly. As many of my UK colleague said, I repeat, I'm truly blessed and lucky.

Life can change within a blink of an eye !

It’s like I've been given a second chance.

The recovery phase is as important as the treatment phase.

Now I've started doing some Yoga mudras and eye exercises to restore my health.

I follow some meditations and breathing exercises twice a day to strengthen my heart and lungs, and I have also started doing lighter physical exercises such as sit-ups, climbing stairs, walking short distances.

These are helping to improve my strength and abilities back again. I want to express my gratitude to my wife once again for her understanding of the crucial nature of this recovery phase. Her support in adhering to my diet and incorporating regular exercise into my daily routine has been great.

Every Covid recovery story is unique within itself yet there may be similarities with others.

Looking back, I had never imagined I would scrape through if I was ever infected by the coronavirus, but here I am sharing with you all my story of surviving the dreadful virus. Co-incidentally I happen to hear a song “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” in my youtube recommends.

I’m recovering better day-by day, but of-course there’s still a ways to go !

October 29, 2021

My Post-COVID:

Recovery is progressing well.

I had the 1st dose of Pfizer Jab today.

November 02, 2021

I must take the vaccine at the end of the 4th week from the day of discharge, as instructed by the hospital, hence I got my first Covid vaccine.

The first day was very normal, but from the 2nd day there was a slight fever with arm and body pain for a few days, which disappeared after a few days.

I temporarily stopped doing breathing exercise and physical exercise for a week.

November 2021

Road to Recovery

Even though, it's more than a month now from the date of discharge, I still feel the post-Covid effects of being tired, less agile while walking 300 - 500 steps.

We need to re-learn our bravery after our Covid episode. I still had to fight my protective instincts.

As part of the recovery phase, one need to make sure your lungs feel comfortable and do some basic breathing exercises up to the extent you can with caution not to strain yourself immediately but not to be relax too.

Go for a small walk within your house or just outside. Initially walk at the speed you can and how much you can. Try to increase every 2 to 3 days the speed and distance. But always be comfortable with whatever you do. Nothing should be forcible to your body.

I took my mean at a fixed time everyday, and fruits like Papaya, Melons, Kiwi, Apple, Pomegranate and plums taken daily for few weeks after discharged from the hospital. all these have helped me gain a good balanced recovery in a short span.

Reading and listening to music, watching movies or whatever it give relaxation, i tried those activities. I had started meditating for some time. It doesn't need to be in a spiritual way, but it needs to calm down our mind and body and helps to recover your inner organs.

My learnings from this experience are ;

When you are diagnosed and positive, don't panic and read/watch all the covid related news Don't read/watch all the covid messages and WhatsApp forwards that come your way while you got any symptoms or when you are admitted in hospital. Some of them can trigger panic unnecessarily.
Please don’t take it too lightly either and do get yourself treated as soon as you feel any symptoms. Do not be in denial and wait for more severe symptoms.
Keep in touch with your close friends, family and colleagues and let them be your source of strength.
Keep calm, do yoga or breathing exercise as much as you can.
Getting vaccinated, practicing social distancing, masking and hand hygiene to manage the virus are the only reliable ways forward.

as far as COVID is concerned, no person goes into danger by the virus itself.

All the life threatening stages are caused by our immune system which over reacts in fighting the virus. If this over-reaction is not controlled in the second week or the second stage, the patient moves to the third stage in the third week.

I strongly believe my kids school was the source of my Covid infection, because, there are many positives cases were identified in their school those days.

My Covid experience was little scary indeed, but it is nothing compared to our imagined covid experience, that we had built up through social media and TV news in our head last year - in sharing my experience, I hope it allays your fears about the virus and treatment.

December 24, 2021

My Post-COVID recovery:

I am doing well in my recovery progress.

Today, I got my 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccine.

December 29, 2021

Like everyone, first few days after 2nd dose was little feverish, body pain and I couldn't raise my arm for 3 to 4 days.

Stopped doing all the heavy physical activities such as my breathing exercises and walkings for a week, just not to stress my body and heart.

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