As we all recovered out of IT (Covid) together…

We live in a 2BHK apartment in a high rise building in Kandivali, Mumbai. We are a family of 6 in Mumbai – Myself, Wife & Son (3.5+ yrs), Father, Mother, Bua. Every day, we used to think that did we do enough to stay away from the Corona virus. Did we wash everything right, did we not touch any contaminated place, lift buttons, did we sanitize everything well enough, are our house maids alright? After all, we all are playing hide and seek with the Coronavirus, for now.

I used to tell my son that how frequently Ambulance sound is heard nowadays; even he started sounding off to me, “Papa baar baar ambulance ki Awaaz aa Rahi hai”. I have to admit that whenever I used to talk to him about the ambulance sound, I always had this thought at the back of my mind, that I might jinx it. In the last fortnight, my family had a battle with Covid-19, and hopefully we have won this war against the virus.

Covid swept my family – all of us

One fine evening (9th April), my father reported a mild fever and body pain; he was feeling a bit low. We soon realized that he should isolate in one of the rooms as a precaution. All other 5 members of the family shifted to the other room. During that time, there was shortage of RT PCR test kits in Mumbai and no labs (the ones we called) were taking test appointments. 4 days passed and the test was still not done.

On 13th April, during the overnight sleep, I started shivering, had a bad throat and got up at 4AM. I was quite distressed at that moment, having a sinking feeling that Covid has hit our house. I was sleeping with my son and moved from there. Later in the morning, when I woke up, we learnt even Buaji (my father’s elder sister) is coughing. I felt terrible, as now from the pattern it was getting clear that virus has made inroads in our family. My Mother, wife and son were feeling ok by then. We could now take appointment of RTPCR test for father with the help of my office colleague; we got the test done, while the reports were slow and were said to be given in 2 days.

Like my father, I also isolated myself and now was sleeping in the same room as my father, only to discover the next morning, that even my mother was shivering and coughing in the night, in the other room. The pattern of all four of us was similar, and now I was quite sure that Covid storm has hit us and RTPCR test is now just a formality. My family members still thought and were hoping that this could be a general viral infection. My father, Mother, Bua and myself shifted to one room in a way, while my wife took charge of the house and the kitchen.

After 2 more days my wife and my son also started showing symptoms like rest of us. Soon my father’s RT-PCR report came, and when he said the result had come and its positive, everyone in the room went stone silent. As it was confirmed now that the virus has hit our house. While earlier we all were trying to isolate to protect others, since everyone in the house was showing symptoms now, we all decided to mingle. In one week, Covid swept my family – one and all; a family with 3 elders (with comorbidities), 1 cancer survivor (my wife) and 1 toddler – Covid in each one of them was a cause of stress for me. We kept thinking in dismay – How did Coronavirus catch us?

Covid virus is crazy, it can develop any symptoms in anyone

• Father had fever till 100 Deg and general weakness
• Mother had bad throat, Cough, No fever.
• Bua had bad throat, Cough, No fever, terrible weakness
• Prateek (myself) had sustained fever 100-103, slight cough and bad throat
• Wife had bad throat, weakness, mild fever
• Son had fever on couple of nights

We kept Steaming and Gargling and smelling “potli”

Knowing about Covid, many people gave a lot of advice on how to take care. Steaming, Gargling and having Hot water with lemon were the popular pieces of advice. Remaining hydrated was very important. Mom made a Kaadha for all of us, which was a blend of Cinnamon, Cardamom, Ginger, Cloves, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Honey/Jaggery, Lemon and Hot water. We learnt that inhaling the vapors of camphor, clove, ajwain and eucalyptus oil can help increase the oxygen levels; Mom made a small potli for all six of us to smell throughout the day. It was slightly funny that on every small downtick of SPO2 reading on Oxymeter, we used to inhale more of Potli. We were very particular of the medicines, as prescribed by our physician; my father was managing the medicine department for each one of us. As the RTPCR test reports were delayed, we also did Blood tests in between.  

Medicines we were taking: Dolo-650, Fabiflu-400, Celin (Vit C), Becosule Zinc, Vitamin D3

Lab Monitoring, we did: CBC, CRP, D Dimer, S Cretinine, Uric acid, SGPT

Buaji’s O2 level dropped: The moment of grief and anguish

On the 5th day of her infection, Bua’s SPO2 level suddenly dropped from 95-98 range to 89-94 range. We got extremely scared and anxious. We got hold of a partly (20%) full oxygen cylinder from our society as a make-shift arrangement. We started search for a Hospital around afternoon, however, we were nervous and clueless on where to start. We went through a web-link which suggested the data on available beds in Mumbai across hospitals, but this was of no use. We took help of few friends and colleagues to find our way through. We did some frantic dialing for continuous 6 hours, however, whole of evening passed with no luck on Hospital. We didn’t have the RTPCR result of Bua yet (but had a HR CT Report), so hospitals were denying admission. We also tried to understand the proposal of Home ICU, which said of installing Oxygen concentrator along with a trained 24-hours Nurse and online consultation with doctor.

Midnight was approaching and we had nothing left for Oxygen support after that partially filled Oxygen cylinder. Bua's O2 level wasn’t improving. It was awful. I had a brief sleep, my father had none. Bua was lying down with face downwards, as we had read that this Yoga pose improves breathing. None of the medical shops had oxygen vials. We had a ray of hope, when one of the contact numbers of Oxygen dealer worked, who assured us a cylinder and we left home at 4AM in the night to pick this 6Lt Oxygen cylinder (we paid a whopping Rs18.5k/- for this, but that’s ok). We knew this new cylinder will last only for 8-15 hours depending on what pace (Lt/min) we run the cylinder.

We didn’t have much time with the oxygen cylinder ticking and we re-started the desperate search for Hospital in the morning. We had received the RT PCR report by now. We also submitted details in BMC’s ward war room, but it was a futile exercise. Whatsapp help forwards were of little help. In the afternoon, a Hospital connect via one of the friends clicked and we learnt of admission possibility in a Hospital in Andheri. Me and father immediately rushed Buaji to the hospital and by God’s grace we could get her admitted there. It was a huge sigh of relief. We were so thankful to my friend (and still are and will always be), whose help came just on the right time. Past 2 days were period of significant distress with bouts of emotions and tears amid helplessness to provide a basic oxygen support to the needy family member.

Better to be cautious than complacent; Each day was important

Anxiety and nervousness was there all through, as we counted each passing day. We all knew the importance of each day and there was no space for complacence in between. We had an idea that high grade fever/severe cough should not last more than 5 days, if the infection isn’t much severe. Day 5 to Day 9 are critical for the symptoms and if we clear this, we learnt, things should only be better. I had high fever in the initial days, but that started to fade off post 4-5th day; although was still sticking to the lower grade even till the 8-9th day. Me and my wife experienced a loss of taste & smell in the 6-7th day of infection. Good heavens, parents had their first dose of vaccine, which probably helped them ride over the Corona times with less severe symptoms.

What are our Learnings from the past fortnight?

• Getting RT PCR Test done is very important, as without that Hospital admission is impossible, atleast in Mumbai
• If we are Covid positive, it is our RESPONSIBILITY to isolate – from society and from family
• Oxymeter is unparalleled clinical guide at your hand, without which one would have no clue of what’s the virus doing inside our body.
• Most of the times your friends and families would be available for help, you just need to give a shout out to them. Empathy and sensitiveness are utmost valuable.
• It took a loss of taste and smell to overcome the over-eating habit as the urge to take second serving got curbed with depressed taste buds.
• One must have a family Doctor and should be in touch continuously.
• Try and avoid sinking thoughts about Corona; be positive. Medicines, as prescribed must be taken regularly even if you do not feel like taking sometimes. Steam, Gargles, Lime Water, hot water, remaining hydrated all are very very important.
• Always Gratitude to God almighty for keeping us safe. Thankful to tireless frontline workers for the incredible service.

2021 is worse than 2020, but this will pass as well

Till a few days back, we in India had a feeling of rejoice that we had beaten Corona virus. Little did we know that this happiness was short lived. If 2020 was a bad year, 2021 look much worse. The year 2021 is not just about cold statistics of second wave, but year full of grief, sorrow and pain, undeniably an unparalleled, unendurable time. Few years from now, if we are given a Time Machine and asked to skip one year from the history, I am sure many of us would choose to skip year 2021 more than skipping 2020. We have to mask up, be very cautious and stay indoors as much as possible. This is a tough time for all of us – It’s a terrible disease and everything else is secondary. Focus on saving lives; hopefully this will pass too!

We now tell our son, that whenever he hears the sound of ambulance, he should say, “God Bless the patient”. I am glad to hear him shout that wish out loudly everytime he hears the ambulance sound now.

Only few days back (8th April) we celebrated 75th bday of our Bua; this week we welcomed her back from Covid fight