I Got A New Life- A Covid Survivor's Tale

'How did you feel when you tested positive for Covid-19?'

'Could you prevent others in the family from getting infected?'

'Any tips to overcome Covid-19 infection?'

These are some of the questions we asked a Covid-19 survivor from New York USA.

An IIT educated engineer and a Military Veteran  from India (name withheld for reasons of privacy) is now settled in USA. We will call him Covid-19 Survivor or CS for short. CS and family live in the neighbouring area of New York city. New York has been one of the worst affected areas by Covid-19. More than 20,000 people have lost their life to Corona in NY area alone as on 31st May 2020. The family live in a gated community complex which is not a congested area.

However, CS  and his whole family got infected with Covid-19. But as he says 'By God's Mercy', they survived to tell this tale. 

Excerpts of our conversation with CS:

Ghumakkad Harsh: You must have taken all hygiene precautions. How did you then get infected and what were the symptoms?

Covid-19 Survivor: Yes, we took all precautions. But I got Covid-19 infection from the market probably by touching my face with my gloves. I started getting fever within three days. Immediately I maintained social distance from all at home. In addition to the fever between 100 to 102 F , I developed other symptoms like dry cough, fatigue, overall body pain and slight loss of appetite.

GH: What tests were done to establish Covid-19 infection and when?

CS:  A week or so after that, when I got shortness of breath and no taste I rushed to Urgent Care. I drove myself. They carried out many tests as I am 69-year old. X-Ray showed no pneumonia, EKG/ ECG showed a normal heart, Pulse Oximeter showed normal (97%) oxygen saturation level. I was also tested for Covid-19, advised rest, given Cough Suppressant and sent home.

GH: How did you feel after testing positive for Covid-19? 

CS: The next day I got a call that I am Covid-19 Positive. Initially, all hell broke loose. But I said what the hell? Having been a Fauji (defence person), how can I go down without fighting? And then the fight began- for my life! I fought by gathering mental strength and trying to stay positive. 

GH: How did you overcome the virus? Any specific treatment?

CS: I continued to behave as if nothing has happened. Kept moving around doing daily chores instead of lying down the whole day. I even kept driving as required. Did not call a cab for fear of more infection. I continued the morning hot drink of Haldi + Black pepper + Cinnamon+ Ginger +Lemon. Covid-19 in my body wanted me to lie down all the time so that the virus multiplies quickly and reaches the lungs. But I gathered strength and kept moving around the house. Drank hot-water repeatedly, continued my breakfast of fruits and ate light hot meals. I also did salt water gargling and took steam inhalation. I took Crocin/ Tylenol to reduce the fever. I also got rashes on my body since my immunity had come down. After medication the rashes reduced in few days. After a fortnight I had no fever and my appetite and general condition started improving for recovery but I had lost 15 Lbs. It wasn't the best way to lose weight! But mercifully I was alive.

GH: Who was next to get infected with Covid-19?

CS: My son got Covid-19 from me and he developed fever within a week. He also got cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite etc. His fever started to rise 103 then 104F and did not come down. His oxygen saturation level started to reduce. He was given Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin. 

GH: Did he require hospitalisation?

CS: His shortness of breath continued and became more severe. On eighth day of his fever, we rushed him to Urgent Care where he was diagnosed with Pneumonia and low oxygen saturation level. The next day, we decided to call 911/Ambulance and admitted him to the hospital. (All hospitals are converted to ICU for Covid-19). He was immediately put on oxygen and saline drips. He could not eat the hospital food as they give mainly beef. His wife remotely monitored his condition closely and in three days he was back home with no fever. In few days he also recovered. That was a big relief.

GH: Did anyone else in the family get infected?

CS: Yes, within a day of our son getting infected, our daughter-in-law also developed fever/Covid-19. But she is a brave person as she took Tylenol and continued cooking food for all of us. She kept herself moving all the time. Went out few times to market for groceries and medication etc.(She took maximum precautions while she was out and also sprayed all the stuff with disinfectant on return). Whenever she got fever she took Tylenol and kept herself very active. She never gave chance to Covid-19 virus to multiply. She recovered within a few days.

GH: Hope your wife escaped the virus?

CS: No, we were not so lucky. My wife also developed Covid-19 fever a day after my daughter-in-law got it. With shortness of breath, dry cough, loss of appetite, she lied down most of the time. She took Tylenol for fever, drank hot water, took steam several times a day and did salt water gargling. She also did Anulom Vilom several times a day (a breathing exercise in yoga). She hardly moved and was down with low fever the longest. After 18 days, she recovered. 

GH: You and your family suffered for almost a month. But you all overcame the Covid virus. Would you like to leave a message for our readers should they face Covid-19?

CS: Without being prescriptive, all we would say that should the virus attack you, fight it. Fight it with your mental strength and positivity. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to strengthen your immune system. Even if you get fever, keep moving around the house. Have faith in yourself and God. God bless.

We thank CS for sharing his Covid-19 nightmare with our readers. Am sure it will inspire and prepare them to face Covid-19 better.

The readers may also browse some of our Covid related stories listed below. Just click any link to browse the respective story.

Bouncing Back in Lockdown

Every Day is A Sunday

Stay Home Stay Safe

Happiness in Lockdown

Hope we have helped in reducing your tension due to Corona scare the world over.

People like CS are not many who have fought it successfully.

Stay safe, stay healthy. Still if you get Covid-19, fight it out as CS and family did!

Thanks for browsing

   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 1st June 2020

#covid-19 #corona #virus #pandemic #covidsurvivor #newyork #india #lockdown #stayhomestaysafe #immunity #fightthevirus

Disclaimer: Please use the experience of the Survivor in this story to build your immunity and mental strength to fight it out. Follow the advice of the healthcare professionals in your area/country.