Around the time the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic was wreaking havoc across India, claiming tens of thousands of lives, a local lab, much to my disappointment, declared me COVID-19 positive.
The hospital had taken my nasal swab a day before and an RT-PCR test figured my name in the list of several thousand people in India that were falling to the vagaries of this tiny — yet fatally dangerous — virus on a daily basis. Given the dismal figures of fatality, with some of my neighbours having fallen to the virus already, it wasn’t good news at all. In simple terms, my life hung on a fifty-fifty probability that would test the limits of my body’s immunity.
A positive attitude, I presumed, would be a defining factor in tackling the virus that attempted to decimate me from within the premises of my own body.
Thankfully, I’d been given the first jab of AstraZeneca, a fortnight before. The vaccine, as many studies suggest, might have built some sort of a familiarity with the enemy virus inside my body and prepared it for a full-fledged onslaught should my defences breach on some unfortunate occasion.
Breaching my defences
I’d normally wear a mask all the time, sometimes double it up to bolster my defences but given the unpredictable nature of the virus and its uncanny ability to mutate, I’ve absolutely no idea how it broke my shield and infiltrated my body.
Now that my body was playing host to the virus, I had to devise a strategy to stop it from multiplying into a number that would eventually leave me powerless.
I must admit, I had been a little lackadaisical in getting myself tested for the infection although I had felt the signs a week before. Apart from a dry cough, my oxygen saturation level was normal and I had no fever at all. I instantly disregarded it as seasonal and thought it might disappear on its own.
This is a serious mistake and I should advise you against skipping the test, especially when initial signs appear. You must not waste a single moment in going for the test as it might endanger the lives of those who you communicate with, your immediate family members to begin with.
A positive frame of mind
Thankfully, the rest of the family was negative and I put myself behind a locked door from the moment my result came. Since my symptoms were mild and I had already taken a jab, I decided not to give in to the virus at all. At any stage, I didn’t let the virus take charge of my life and fought with it with all my valour.
Prayers and support came from unexpected quarters and it eased my discomfort. I got in touch with several doctors and all of them decided not to put me on any medication, apart from a cough syrup, inhaler and some vitamins.
I focused on a protein-rich diet, kept myself adequately hydrated, and took to exercising. The only thing that saw me through to the roughest patch was a positive attitude and the strength that one is inherently born with. I watched videos on animal life, political documentaries, old movies and kept myself positively engaged.
After a 10-day period of complete isolation, I decided to go for a retest. Much to my delight, the test came negative and I heaved a sigh of relief. I decided not to celebrate any unwanted jubilation and stayed indoors for a couple of days more.
This disease is going to stay with us for a very long time. It’s not going to go away any time soon. Remember, don’t lose hope and don’t shed your tears. That is a sign of weakness. Improve your immunity by going for a healthy diet and stay as much hydrated as you can.
The virus can only be defeated by a firm resolve and a belief that our body is capable of defeating this foe.
Farooq Shah is a journalist and columnist based in India