How I Managed and Beat Covid-19 Virus Through Home Based Care

Have you ever imagined that you could one day lose your sense of smell? It happened to me recently, and Google helped the situation a bit. Look, 2020 has been crazy for everyone, and it may get worse before it gets better. Imagine losing your sense of smell to the point you cannot detect a gas leak, or get a whiff of burning food.

I travelled to the Coastal region for a four-day vacation, to relax and get away from the busy city life. After all, the body also needs some relaxation.

Surprisingly people at the Coast don’t wear masks, and upon inquiring, I learned it’s not a priority in that Swahili language that you could listen to the entire day.” Huku pwani watu hawavai mask, kwani hata polisi washazoea”. (Here in Coast, people don’t wear masks, even the police know).

The next day, I proceeded to Diani, South Coast, and like in the North Coast, people didn’t have masks unless when visiting supermarkets and malls.  By 6 pm, most places of entertainment were full, and still, no one had their mask on.

Mild covid-19 symptoms

My trip ended. Rested and happy, I travelled back home on Monday, ready for the hustle and bustle of Nairobi’s life. I woke up the following day feeling energized, and I believed the vacation was worth each second. However, the next morning I felt a bit tired, so as an African, I assumed it was the effects of my four-day trip.

My eyes felt tired, so I tried sleeping more to feel better. However, nothing was forthcoming. When I woke on Friday, both my noses felt stuffy, getting out of bed was a problem. I assumed it was the effects of the drugs, which would subside by the second day.

The baby shower and wine plus worsening symptoms

My friend will bring a new bundle of joy to the world soon. On Saturday, as planned, we went for the surprise shower at her house. Impressed by our hard work, the husband offered to treat us to wine. Since we live in the same estate, I had my four glasses and retreated to my house.

In the morning, I couldn’t lift myself out of bed. Instead, I felt as though the tum tum drums of West Africa played inside my head. I took a glass of water, and a painkiller and went back to sleep. The days that followed, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, was terrible.

Did I mention that on Tuesday, which was Mashujaa day I thoroughly cleaned my bedroom believing that it was dust causing my nose to block?

Getting out of bed was a problem; I had lost my sense of smell and taste. I experienced dizzy spells most of the day, fever, and eating had become a problem.

On Wednesday night, I looked up covid-19 symptoms, and some of what I experienced was mild Covid-19 symptoms according to the search engines.

On Thursday morning, I resorted to going for a Covid-19 test at the Kenyatta National Hospital. The health officials told me I would have the results within 48 hours, and true to their words, the results came back. I had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The news sent panic waves in my entire body. Will, I beat this illness? Will I die? Things didn’t get more accessible from there, because I remember, one evening, it was raining, and I was sweating profusely, I had to open the window, which didn’t help a lot.

The doctor in charge wrote down a prescription, which has helped me get better.

Home-based care

As many other people cramped up in small spaces, making the best decision was paramount. Luckily, my apartment has a servant’s quarter which my house help cleaned, and I spent my recuperating days there.

Because of mild symptoms, I couldn’t be accommodated in a hospital, so, my doctor advised me to self isolate at home. For one week, I treated the cough and fever with medicines administered to me by the doctor.

I used Zinc Sulphate, which helped strengthen the immune system, Azithromycin, Dexamethasone, and Zulu MR. Additionally. I doubled up the typical concoction dawa, which incorporated simple ingredients such as ginger, lemon, garlic, hot water, and a bit of honey.

I could not risk exposing other people in the household to the disease. I imagined all the needy people in Kenya in a similar situation, and indeed, we must improve our health care system.

Anytime I got some energy, I read a few pages in a novel. Friends called to check up on me although most times my phone was off because I was either too tired to talk or too sleepy to open my eyes.

Remaining focused in isolation

While in isolation, I read up on managing the disease, how to keep other people safe, and updates on drugs and vaccines for coronavirus. The internet also has many inspiring stories about people who survived the disease. Through the survival mode, I’ve learned to appreciate life more.

Imagine contracting a disease that has no cure, isolating to take care of yourself, and not knowing whether you will die or survive. Imagine your baby growing up without a mother. These things make you see life from a different perspective.

On October 26, the symptoms began waning, and I started interacting with other people in the house four days later. This was after the doctor confirmed I was well and fit as a feeble.I; however, continued monitoring my progress by keeping my chest warm. I still drink a lot of hot liquids now.

I cannot sit back and say Covid-19 is a hoax because I’ve experienced it like many other people across the world.

The human experience is no joke; we all have our stress and pain. I’m, however,  lucky I managed to beat the disease, and this condition helped me to be more grateful and stay positive.