Spastic Society of Karnataka Covid Support Group & Victoria Hospital Staff

 

My Video thanking SSK, their Covid Support team and the Doctors and Nurses of Victoria Hospital during my Covid Hospitalization.

Covid 2020 experience

As you might be aware this whole Covid started affecting the whole world in the early 2020s and how each country went through a lock down period trying to slow down its spread. 

Covid lockdown preparations

Each one had to face various issues due to the lock down some were affected very badly including financially.   Some not so serious issues as well.  We as a family followed the government guidelines diligently.  We stopped going out of the house unless absolutely necessary.  We started washing all things we buy from shops using Dettol water.  Even vegetables we washed using soap.  We started sanitizing our cloths with 1 cup of Dettol before washing them.  We started using Dettol even during our bath.  We were doing everything we can to prevent this dreaded disease as we had elderly parents in the house and also kids.  We stopped the maid and also newspaper delivery.  So, all this kind of added a lot of additional work in our household like doing utensils, cleaning the floors, washing and drying the clothes etc.  We completely stopped ordering food from outside.  And we also tried out new dishes at home which was kind of a new hobby we caught on.  We also caught on with our friends through the new Zoom app which was a new way of getting connected and all was going well. 

Covid Wave 1 peak and lock down relaxation

The first wave peaked at around September / October and then cases started coming down.  Lockdown was being relaxed in a phased manner.  Festival season started... Diwali went by... Then new year... New Vaccines were being developed and we had an idea that we will be getting the vaccines soon (at least for the elderly) pretty soon.  By now... we got a feeling that we are past Covid and we are in control.  And all that pent up demand for going out on vacation... ordering food outside started kicking in.  It was year-end and we also went to some vacation home stays and had a good time.  Since we were / are still in WFH mode, we also spent around a month at our in-law's place and had a nice time as a family.   

Vaccination

Slowly vaccination drive started to get roll off.  And by March 1st they started vaccinating the elderly.  We got our parents vaccinated promptly (both the doses).  Luckily my wife who had joined a new job in an NGO also got vaccinated as they were considered front line workers. 

Covid case hit bottom:

All was going well but when you keep an eye on the corona numbers in the state, it dipped to the lowest point in mid-February 2021 and then it started raising again. 

Please check my next blog for my personal experience with Covid.

http://gthorvey.blogspot.com/2021/05/our-covid-19-experience.html

Our Family's Covid experience 2021

So  around about mid Feb, the total active corona cases in Karnataka were at their lowest point.  If I remember it was only around 6000 active cases in the whole of Karnataka.  Vaccination of elderly and 45+ started and it was only a matter of weeks before we were all going to get Vaccinated.  Things were looking very optimistic at this time.

All was going well but when you kept an eye on the corona numbers in the state it started increasing rapidly by March.

Second Wave

  

This time we were more wary about lockdown, stopping the maid etc.  we can say we were a bit lax on that part.  But the Covid numbers were worrying as the rate was too high (we know how slowly it peaked last year).  We started to be more careful again even though we knew 3 members of our family are now fully vaccinated and this time even if we caught the virus, we could manage somehow. 

How Covid entered our home

My younger kid is the one to fall sick first in our home.  One week before that, I had gone to a hospital to get some tests done unrelated to Covid.  Our theory is I or my wife caught it there and were not showing any symptoms and passed it to our kids.  During the whole period, our kids were not going out to play with other kids. They were basically confined to our home and were watching TV etc.  

 

Covid in our family

Like I said my younger son caught it first.  He complained on stomach pain in the mid of night and had high fever.  We gave him some medication and went to the doctor the next evening as symptoms did not come down.  Immediately Rapid Antigen Test was done and it came back positive for him.  By this time my elder son also started showing fever and stomach ache symptoms and all four of us went for RT-PCR test.  Only kids came back positive and me and my wife were negative.

In a couple of days, both my kids had recovered fully and were back to their usual self. 

In the meantime, we were concerned about our parents and started looking for an empty flat in our apartment complex for isolating them.  Luckily our neighbor flat was empty and were able to get into an arrangement to shift them quite early.  The neighbor did not ask for any money for the isolation which was an extremely wonderful gesture by him.  

Our whole RT-PCR testing experience through our office insurance authorized lab was pathetic  ( I don' want to name names but the tests were done in a sloppy way.  They had to fill some paper work for each test conducted for ICMR but the guys doing the data entry  or doing the test itself did not look professional.  Patients were made to wait in lines in scorching heat and were made to go through a lot of difficulties.  We had to send Aadhar , fill a form, scan them together and convert it to a pdf file and WhatsApp the testing guy as a single PDF file.  

Later on, we got another lab contact who do RT-PCR test at home and got our parents tested through them.  They had done a much better job and both our parents' tests came back negative.  Ever since we are isolating from them.

In another 2 days, I started getting throat infection symptoms and me and my wife again went for RT-PCR test.  This time both of us came back positive.  My wife had very mild symptoms if at all (because of the vaccination I think).  So, we both went to our family doctor and started medication for Covid. They gave us antibiotics, anti-flu and also a steroid (Dexamethasone) which my doctor said is the key medicine to control the disease.  I took plenty of hot soup, stayed hydrated and was also taking some traditional medication (Kashaya). 

We were following that medication and around 6 days after we started treatment, I developed phlegm in my chest and throat.  We took some tests which our doctor had suggested earlier including Chest CT scan.  We found I had some slight pneumonia (about 30%) in my lungs.  Our doctor changed some medication including more anti biotics.   She also asked me to continuously measure the SpO2 level using a pulse oximeter.  At this time, I was still isolating at home in a separate room.   

Hospitalization

On my 9th day since my first symptoms, My SpO2 level started decreasing gradually during the day.  So, we realized I may need hospitalization with O2 support.  We collected all the Covid related test reports along with Covid case numbers (Government related record number) and started looking for a Hospital with O2 support with the help of the NGO for which my wife worked.   The NGO support group was an extremely agile group having a lot of experience in securing help for various sick people.  My wife had informed that group on the 9th day night and they had apparently tried for a bed for me that whole night.  At around 6 am the next morning I got a bed allotted with O2 support at Victoria hospital (Very reputed Government hospital in Bangalore). 

Victoria Hospital being a reputed hospital did not have any shortage of any kind with respect to oxygen or critical medication like Remdesivir even though the time I got admitted was during the peak of the 2nd wave in the city.  Around 47000 people were getting Covid positive in the state every day at that time.  

I got admitted in Victoria.  The doctors there put me on various medications intravenously including a 4-day Remdesivir course.

During my hospitalization, it was actually during the peak of 2nd wave in the city.  May be because of resource crunch (shortage of staff??)  initially, the nurses skipped  giving some medication like anti-biotic tablets etc.. for about 3 days.  (Luckily I had the medication given by my family doctor and was taking that medication).  But they were giving the critical medicines like Remdesivir promptly.   We escalate the concern to the right authorities (through the NGO again) and my wife spoke personally to the nurses there inquiring about their problems etc.. and praised them for the work they were doing with limited resources and was able to build a good personal rapport with them.  After that all my medication was very prompt.  I kept a separate note of what medication they were giving me and if anything was due, I used to inform the nurses beforehand and used to remind them about my medication and after that I did not find any problem with the treatment I was given. 

I was in the hospital for about 1 week.  My SpO2 level started increasing gradually.   They asked me to not use Oxygen mask for a day and see the SpO2 level and it had improved a lot (above 96) consistently.  They made sure I was out of danger and did not put any pressure on me for discharge.  And after a week they discharged me.  

 

Once I got discharged, I met my family doctor again and started her prescription along with inputs from my discharge summary.  One key medication I am on currently is a blood thinner.  Apparently in many post Covid cases, there are blood clotting issues seen and hence a 3-week course of blood thinner is given.  

 

Once back from hospital, I kind of rushed back to my work (Still WFH) and got stressed out a lot.  I realized that when my congestion was getting worse after 4-5 days of discharge.  Now I have decided to take a week off from my work and concentrate on taking rest and recover fully.

When my whole family was suffering with Covid a lot of the responsibility fell on my wife but she handled it wonderfully well.  Right from managing the kids and my parents’ needs... And at the same time taking care of me.  It was because of her contacts with the NGO I was able to find a bed in time.  She stood like a rock behind the family during this whole ordeal.  

 

Parents' isolation in adjacent flat

When we were going through this disease, we had to be on isolation and away from my parents who had tested negative in RTPCR test and are living next door from us (Thanks to our neighbor).  

Free food delivery for Covid affected families

During this difficult times, Sura Bharathi Sanskrit and Cultural Foundation (Affiliated with Sringeri Sarada Peetham - Shankar Mutt) provided us 3 times food along with home delivery without any charge.  Like this there were numerous organizations and volunteers (people like us) provided invaluable support to numerous Covid affected families like us. 

Philanthropy

I have to say due to god's grace we were extremely lucky to have got support from numerous sources.  Right from that friendly neighbor who allowed my parents to stay in his flat, Shankar mutt which provided food for us, the NGO who helped us secure a bed with oxygen during peak Covid wave and numerous other help we received.  I think it is high time we give back to the society more than the help we received from them.  I therefore urge all my friends to engage more in philanthropic activities like food donation, help with oxygen, medicine procurement and other general support to according to your capabilities.  I will share the donation details for the Shankar Mutt below.  If interested please donate liberally to them.  It is not just money, if people have time and resources also help with distributing food physically to all in need. 

  

Social media interactions

During this Covid time I found a lot of help groups, Covid support teams formed which were helping affected people with their needs and information.  There were a lot of groups created specifically for each major city in the country which was very heartwarming to see.  

 

Also, my social media interaction is mainly on WhatsApp and catch up with my old college friends.  Off late all social media had turned very polarized especially during election times which had led to breaking of bridges with very good friends.  I regret this state of affairs very much.

But when they came to know how many of our friends were getting affected, I noticed a sea change in the interactions.  Suddenly the whole groups had become more like a close-knit family.  Direct phone calls with many of my old friends increased.  Knowing about the wellbeing of each other's family, sharing of experiences and lots of advice with lots and lots of concern and care.  I have to say it literally melted my heart like anything.  It was like all my old friend were there for me for support.  Social media was supposed to bring friends together and make the distance disappear.  It was doing the opposite till this Covid 2nd wave but suddenly some magic happened and everything started happening the way it was supposed to be.  

 

There were other social media and TV news which were only spreading rumor, spreading fear among people.  I suggest my friends to just shutoff ourselves from negativity and only look at positive news. 

Lockdown shopping

We get a lot of forwards on the list of things we need for home isolation.   

We basically went to all disposable plates, cups, lots of hot green tea, instant soups, loads of kitchen towels, N95 masks, face shield and most important crates and crates of Bisleri water bottles.  When you are sick make sure you make your life easier.  We bought a lot of sanitizers to sanitize things we touch so that we don't give the disease to others.  We went with cans of Ethanol based sanitizer filled in Garden Spray we had bought.  That we thought would be the most effective.  Also, we had loads of hand soap, Sanitizer sprays to spray on lift buttons, door, car handles etc... basically, whatever you touch.  I personally went cashless since a year.  Meaning I make it a point I do not touch any money notes or credit cards.  All transactions however small I make using Paytm and Google Pay.  I like the idea of contact less cash transfer and I think that is the best way forward.

Home Isolation

Usually when you get Covid positive you are supposed to isolate yourself for 3-weeks as per government, I think.  But since I was hospitalized, I have personally extended it by another 2 weeks.  

Support from the Flat residents and association members

I keep hearing from my friends on how when they catch Covid they were treatted badly or discriminated by their neighbors etc. 

My the time my family caught Covid there were already multiple cases of Covid in our flat complex and all the residents and the association members were extremely supportive and were very eager to help us out and provided us with a lot of useful information for which we are grateful.

 

This Covid recover is still an ongoing process.  I will keep sharing with you guys any other update as and when I have more through this blog. 

In the meantime, if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them to the best of my knowledge. 

Details for Surabarathi Food Donation

Name: Sri Surabharathi   Sanskrit and Cultural Foundation
Bank: IDBI Bank, Banaswadi Brach, Bangalore
A/c. No.:1620104000056586
IFSC code:IBKL0001620

Donations made to Surabharathi and exempted under 80G