‘We stayed positive and decided to fight Covid’
A retired Army officer narrates his and his wife’s experience with home treatment for Covid-19. As told to Kaniza Garari
Iam a retired Army Officer. A patient of home treatment and although my wife had severe pneumonia both of us have recovered well. It requires a strong willpower and adhering to medication regime provided by doctors. Recovery is slow but sure and it requires a lot of patience to stay at home and rest.
On May 25, my wife had a mild temperature and our family doctor advised paracetamol. She took it for two days but the fever did not reduce. The doctor suspected a urine infection and her urine samples were given for testing. She was put on antibiotic treatment but low-grade fever continued. As Covid-19 tests were not done by private hospitals, we took our doctor’s advice and waited for fever to reduce. It did not.
On June 4, she was advised CT scan of heart and lungs. It was found that she was affected with 90 per cent pneumonia.
On June 5, a private hospital admitted her and took swab samples.
On June 6, she tested positive and was immediately put on Covid 19 treatment.
On June 8, the doctors advised that I must be tested. I had no symptoms. Since my wife tested positive I underwent swab tests. The result was positive.
On June 9, I was admitted in an isolation ward of the hospital.
On June 10, my wife was recovering and doctors advised both of us home isolation.
They told us that they will monitor us via video counselling. It was a new offer but convincing as I had no symptoms. I was given medicines and told not to get out of bed. My wife required attention but she also wanted to be treated at home.
On June 10 we came home and isolated ourselves till June 23 in two different rooms.
Both of us wore masks. For the next few days, we monitored our blood pressure, blood glucose levels and oxygen levels. The video counselling every day by doctor required these parameters.
The doctor would make both of us walk 100 steps in the room and check our status. I was worried for my wife but she recovered well. Her oxygen levels were maintained at 98 per cent. Her recovery boosted my morale.
Doctors insisted that both of us must rest, sleep and take medicines on time. The blood pressure and sugar medicines along with vitamins and prescribed HCQ have to be taken properly. Food was given by family members and lots of fruits were provided.
My wife and I ensured that we stayed positive throughout and decided that we would fight it out. Deep breathing exercises were recommended and we would do them twice a day. Home environment and also solace that doctors were a call away gave a lot of confidence and helped in recovery. Dr Nishant Sinha, our treating pulmonologist, was very motivating and gave a lot of confidence that we would recover well at home.