‘I’m a residing instance that you simply received’t essentially die, for those who contract this virus’. PHOTO: EXPRESS
BARA, KHYBER: It began on March 12 with high-grade fever and muscle soreness. OTC fever and ache relievers didn’t work. I used to be feverish the entire evening and my physique ached throughout. Subsequent morning, I went to seek the advice of an area scientific pharmacist. He took my temperature. And I had a fever of 104 levels. Scary!
He prescribed some antibiotic together with the OTC fever reducers. I took the meds and sweated profusely. However I couldn’t sweat out the fever. That is once I began having extra signs, like chest ache, dry cough, and a painful throat. I used to be feeling terrible. My intestine intuition advised me one thing was improper.
On March 14, I went to seek the advice of an MBBS physician in my village. After a radical bodily examination, he concluded that I had a sore throat. The prognosis was convincing as a result of sore throat usually causes excessive fever. I knew that as a result of I personal a medical retailer, and have fundamental details about frequent illnesses.
The physician modified my antibiotic and requested me to proceed ache and fever relievers. The brand new therapy routine didn’t work both. That evening, I began feeling chills. Respiration additionally turned laborious. I used to be placing all of my vitality towards respiration. My brother was alarmed. He rang up the physician to inform him about my new signs.
Tales of survivors: How I turned Pakistan’s first COVID-19 affected person
The physician advised my brother to take me to the Northwest Common Hospital within the neighbouring Peshawar district. My household instantly drove me there. I used to be examined for the common flu and different viruses. All of the exams got here again adverse. Then they requested me if I had just lately travelled exterior the nation or if I had are available in contact with a international traveller or with somebody sick.
The final time I travelled overseas was in mid-2019 once I drove to Afghanistan on a enterprise journey. And earlier than that I had flown to China in 2017. So, the 2 visits had occurred a lot earlier than the emergence of the novel coronavirus. I had additionally met some buddies from China and Australia – however that too was two months in the past. And each of them weren’t sick.
PHOTO: EXPRESS
My journey historical past advised it could possibly be something however COVID-19, however my signs indicated in any other case. Till then, my data of the coronavirus was no matter I had gathered from social media. Medics at Northwest Common Hospital suspected I used to be contaminated. So, they referred me to the Police Companies Hospital, which the provincial authorities has declared as a referral centre for COVID-19 sufferers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
When the ambulance pulled as much as the police hospital and the workers pulled me out, I realised I had one thing extra sinister. The sight of docs dressed up like khalaee makhlooq (aliens) scared me. It was one thing I had solely watched in sci-fi films. They have been carrying protecting suites, face masks and shields and different PPE (private protecting gear).
They instantly shifted me to a room within the isolation ward. Subsequent, the hospital workers plugged me into an oxygen machine to alleviate shortness of breath. Additionally they put me on IV hydration to stop dehydration. Then they took samples for lab exams. The blood sampling process didn’t really feel greater than a needle prick, however the swab take a look at was extraordinarily painful as a result of they took the pattern from deep inside my nostril.
The take a look at studies got here inside 48 hours. That is when the docs gave me the scary prognosis I didn’t need to hear: COVID-19. Nevertheless, they tried to reassure me that this respiratory illness has a mortality charge of lower than 3%. And that the majority of those that die are both aged or have preexisting well being situations. “You’re 30 years’ old. You’ve very good chances of beating the virus within a week.” I might recall one physician telling me.
Frankly, the worry of dying from the coronavirus didn’t cross my thoughts for as soon as on the isolation ward. I had religion that God will remedy me of this illness. And above all, everybody in my village was praying for my restoration. My solely concern was that no person from my household and buddies circle was allowed to see me. I used to be alone in my room, the place the cellphone was my solely companion.
On the fifth day within the hospital, I began to really feel higher. My fever started to recede – 101 levels on March 20, 100 on March 21, and the subsequent day it was regular. I used to be nonetheless coughing, although. On March 23, one other coronavirus take a look at got here out adverse. I was declared virus-free. And the subsequent day, I used to be discharged, however the docs suggested me to isolate myself as a precautionary measure. Masha Allah, I’m completely alright now. Right this moment, I went out to play soccer with my children.
Quickly after my prognosis, a well being division staff, together with safety personnel, visited my village in Bara. They screened each member of my household for the coronavirus. Our complete village was put in quarantine for 14 days. The villagers have been scared as a result of few had heard concerning the coronavirus pandemic earlier than. Regulation enforcers are nonetheless deployed at my dwelling. The incubation interval will finish tomorrow (Tuesday). Alhamdolillah, everyone in my household and everyone in my village is ok.
Seems that worry of this virus could also be worse than the illness itself. And this worry has gone viral. Folks begin worrying in the event that they sneeze, or cough, or run temperature. I get frequent calls from health-conscious buddies who attempt to self-diagnose by discovering similarities between their signs and those I had skilled throughout my illness.
Principally, it’s seasonal flu. Nevertheless, for those who’ve all of the signs collectively, I’d advise you isolate your self first to guard your loved ones, after which get your self examined for the coronavirus. In the long run, I’d say, don’t be scared; don’t panic as a result of the coronavirus isn’t a loss of life certificates. I’m a residing instance that you simply received’t essentially die, for those who contract this virus.
(Narrated to Naveed Hussain)
Comply with The Categorical Tribune’s novel coronavirus hub right here
