Despite my awareness and following proper health protocols, I along with my family fell into the grip ofCovid-19. I had a little headache, lethargy and mild fever for initial two days. On the third day, my body temperature at the starting was 101°F.
Next day, I woke up early in the morning in an uncomfortable situation with severe headache and high fever(103°F). Later on the same day, I experienced vomiting and diarrhoea. I couldn’t eat any solid or liquid foodas I had already lost smell.
I and my husband both were in the similar condition. Our health condition was deteriorating every day. Suspecting Covid-19, we called for a lab assistant for our swab collection Our samples including my sister-in-law tested positive for the virus.
We decided to stay isolated at home. When we were isolating, I personally consulted with Dr Riyaz Kahn (my daughter's family friend) over phone calls. He prescribed us to take medicines like Paracetamol, Ondem, Multivitamins, Bifilac and ORS.
The doctor also asked us to check our body temperature and oxygen level four times a day. We were suggested to notify him if oxygen level falls below 93 percent, or fever persists for more than five days. While being in isolation, we were trying our best to take care of ourselves by taking suggestion from Dr Khan.
I was feeling dizzy and weak as I didn’t like to eat anything. Although I used to feel hungry, I could not eat anything except a few pieces of apples and a few glasses of ORS. I went through a worst stage of my life.
Luckily, my sister-in-law had minimal symptoms, and her condition was not severe. She used to cook nutritious food, but my husband and I could barely eat anything.
On the sixth day, my condition started to worsen and I felt difficulty in breathing. I checked my oxygen level, and it had dropped to 85 percent.Immediately, I contacted Dr Khan, and he suggested me to start oxygen supply of 2liters per mins.
My oxygen level was constantly below the normal level. Then, Dr Khan suggested me to visit a hospital as soon as possible.
So, we also tried for the same. All the Covid-19 designed hospitals of Kathmandu were almost packed. It was so difficult to find a well-equipped oxygen bed in the town.
On the 7th day, I found my oxygen level was fluctuating at 60- 63% and my husband's at 82-83%. I along with my husband rushed to hospital in an ambulance with oxygen supply.
We reached the hospital at 3 pm. But, we had to wait for nearly three hours as the queue of patients was long.
On May 7, first day in Covid general ward at KMH, I felt happy to find neat and clean beds for both of us. I thanked the entire hospital management from the bottom of my heart for arranging everything. As soon as we were taken to the ward, on-duty sister immediately checked my blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen level and comforted us.
The next day was Saturday and on duty sisters came to take morning vitals at 6 am and asked every individual patient to have breakfast of our choice as milk, eggs and breads. It was served bed to bed, to each patient, every morning sharp at 6:30 am. The on-time supply of hygienic breakfast and meal from the canteen were really praise worthy.
On the 3rd day ofadmission, the report of my Chest CT came, he decided to shift me to the special ward. When I read the report myself I found my both lungs were damaged to some extent by pneumonia and there was probability of impending little critical condition in me. Even then I didn’t worry at all about my critical condition as I was convinced myself to fight the battle with the viruses of covid as I had a great faith on the doctors and multiple minds and helping hands of the team to defeat the covid at the end.
After I was shifted to special ward, the level of oxygen given to me was increased to 12L/mins to maintain my oxygen saturation as per required. The doctors planned to start a new medicine, i.eRemdisivir total 6 doses to get me relief from severe pneumonia. It was difficult to find, we were able to find it at our own source somewhere from Basantapur. Two doses were given on the same day and everyday a single dose was given for the next 4 days. It was given to me through Iv cannula after mixing it in saline.
I used to become anxious during night time. I often felt I’d been blessed with the prayers of my family, friends and well-wishers especially of Babylon National school family and Manab Kalyan Co-operative family as well. I’m really thankful to all of them as I was continuously receiving their love and prayers for my life and recovery, through the messengers which really worked as blessings of god to me.
Within the 6 days of treatment in the special ward, my oxygen supply was lowered down from 12L/mins to 5L/mins. I had speedy recovery and oxygen saturation level was raising well. My health was improving a lot. So, I requested the hospital if possible to shift me back to the general ward. Observing my report, he allowed me to shift to general ward. I was quite happy thinking I will have sound sleep there as it is quiet and peaceful ward, but in vein. After shifting to general ward, I had difficulty in sleeping. I felt as if I was suffering from insomnia. Though I tried my best to fall asleep by 10pm, a series of dream like situation; hallucination and delirium haunted me and I was afraid of fallen asleep. So, I used to get up at 12 Pm and sat on bed for about 2 hrs eating some dried fruits and hot water. It was quite hot at day and no rain for many days. But soon there was rainfall for three days and I felt cool fresh air as it swept away the dirt and pollution of the environment.
On my 14th days of treatment, my hand was swollen making it difficult to pass the medicine from the cannula and it was shifted in another side next to the elbow as no veins were found on hand. So, Doctor, suggested to take off the cannula and prescribed the oral tablets instead and take off my oxygen too for observation. My oxygen saturation was 89-90 without oxygen supply. The next day evening we had really a great fun in the general ward with duty sisters. After the evening meal the duty sisters involved us in singing therapy. All the patients were encouraged in singing and dancing activities.
It was really a miracle I found my oxygen saturation raised to 90- 91%the next morning. I’m really thankful to the duty sisters too as they cared us with love and showed us very good behaviour. I felt we are very lucky to get treated in one of the best hospitalsalong with an admirable team of responsible doctors and nurses and sisters. Thanks to management team for having such expert and well experienced doctors, sisters and others staffs at hospital.
The world has been at the grip of Covid 19. It has been a great threat to the present world. Till the date, Covid has taken the lives of approximately four million of people from all over the world. Nepal as a developing country has been facing a lot of problemsalong with economic crisis. The government has not been able to manage proper medical treatment for the citizens. Common people are facing the day to day problems of hands to mouth and the expensive treatment like of Covid is beyond their reach. Even those who can pay are also dying in the lack of proper treatment and beds in hospital.
In such a situation I was curious why out of the 26 beds in the general ward 10-12 beds were still left vacant there. To my question to a sister she replied that they can’t supply enough oxygen and equipment to all the patients if they admitted all the patients as per the capacity of bed. I felt very sorry knowing their limitation and many patients are losing their life in the lack of proper treatment in Kathmandu itself. Due to such limitationof hospital, the devoted team of doctors and sisters are not being able to serve in full-fledged. Had they been able to manage the essential equipment and oxygen concentrators, they would have been able to give the precious lives back to many covid victims like me.
During my 17 days treatment I felt the hospital ward like a small beautiful society and I’m at home. I found the KHM as its name‘Model’ suggests, it is really a model hospital where we can get the best treatment in an amiable environment and under the supervision of o devoted medical expertise. Hence, I, personally wish to see further promotion and enhancement of the KMH and the entire team.
With Warm Regards.
Reeta Rai, a covid survivor, Bed No.226
Vice- Principal,.Babylon National School,
Shantinagar. Baneswor, Kathmandu.
