Thread by @kjamali

1/ After almost three weeks, I am out of #covid19 isolation; some #symptoms persist. It's been a crazy ride that I wasn't prepared for. In order to help others be prepared, I wanted to share my journey from day 1 of symptoms onwards - everyone has a unique journey; here is mine.

2/ First of all, let me say, I have tried to trace back where I got infected, and have no clue. I have generally been quite careful but did take a trip to Muzaffarabad. Since I dont know day of infection, my count starts from day of symptoms

3/ Day 1 (of symptoms) - My stomach feels slightly off; nothing more than slight cramps. I put it down to eating chips and what not on the the drive back from Muzaffarabad, late the night before

4/ Day 2 (of symptoms) - When I wake up, I feel a sharp pain in my back but only for a moment: I also put this down to the drive from Muzaffarbad to Islamabad. Stomach cramps persist and during the course of the day, I feel like I am developing sniffles.

5/ However, no fever. I've been told that's the key symptom so I'm fairly comfortable, particularly since my daughter has flu so I may have caught it from her. In either case, I decide to put on a mask even at home and go to bed early

6/ Day 3 - I wake up and my body aches a lot more and the stomach is also much worse. I have a very weird light headedness that I have never had before. Now I'm getting worried. I call a friend to set up an appointment to get tested. He tells me to show up the next morning.

7/ Day 4 - I go and get tested. I know someone at the hospital so they promise to process my test swiftly. They don't have a nasopherengal test though; I'm told they don't do these tests since they lead to infections - doesn't make sense. Nevertheless, no choice. I get tested

8/ My test result comes back a few hours later - Covid-19 is not detected. I breathe a sigh of relief and go to an external meeting. However, I make it a point to wash my hands before hopping in the car with colleagues and dont touch the mask until I come back home

9/ I come home at 6 pm and go to sleep immediately. I dont wake up till 11 am the next morning

10/ Day 5 - I havent eaten much and my stomach feels better. Apart from the lightheadedness, I feel better. Im invited out to dinner and since Im negative for Covid19, I go. But I was wrong; I come home and have to rush to the bathroom; my stomach isn't holding much

11/ Day 6 - I wake up in the middle of the night with severe joint pain in my legs. I can't go back to sleep. I'm convinced this is not a normal flu and decide that I need to go get a nasopherengal culture from the closest Shaukat Khanum lab.

12/ They need me to be carrying a copy of my NIC. I request them to make an exception; they do and scan it for me. I wonder why Shaukat Khanum doesnt make some ancillary income by charging PKR 50 for the copy; I would have paid. Results the next evening. I go home and sleep

13/ Day 7 of symptoms - I got body aches, joint pain, light headedness, stomach cramps and chest congestion. Im lethargic.

Still no fever.

I'm convinced I have covid19.

I get an email from SKMH at 6 pm

Result:
SARS-CoV-2: Detected
(i.e., i have covid19)

14/ I immediately move rooms to fully isolate. I make calls to everyone I have met in the last 10 days. They all react kindly. My wife is having flu-like symptoms by now and so is my other daughter - sad that my wife and kids will need to be tested.

15/ Day 8 (2 of isolation) - back ache, joint ache, fatigue, cough, upset stomach plus cramps, can barely stay awake.

Still no fever. Wife, kids and a friend crashing with us get tested. Wife is isolation too now.

16/ Day 9 (3 of isolation) - Alhamdulillah both daughters come out negative - they both actually have the flu. Wife however has #Covid19. Her symptoms get worse. I'm still in bad shape. Yakhni (bone broth) is our best friend.

17/ Day 10 (4 of isolation) - Lost my sense of taste and smell. We are now using disposable plastic plates for both my wife and I. We see our kids twice a day when we sit across from them in a big open hallway room and eat meals (from plastic plates)

18/ Day 11 (5 of isolation) - Symptoms still being added on - now the right side of my haw hurts. Some research shows this is a rarer symptom. I try working for a few hours and it completely exhausts me

19/ Day 12 (6 of isolation) - Joint pain is better but can feel dull muscular pain in specific muscles randomly throughout the day - all other symptoms persist. Wife's symptoms peaking.

20/ Day 13 (7 of isolation) - Realize I can taste again - one less symptom to deal with =) Also note that the stomach cramps are almost gone. Fatigue and muscle pain continue to play a role and now I also have jaw pain!

21/ Day 14 (8 of isolation) - I am feeling slightly better and also realize its been 13 days since I've been sick. Can't remember the last time I was sick for so long. Decide to take my chances with a test to see if it still comes out positive

22/ Day 15 (9 of isolation) - still COIVD-19 Positive = / symptoms continue to go up and down. Feel decent some parts of the day and terrible other parts

23/ Day 16-20 (10-14 of isolation) - finally sleeping slightly less and have the energy to read, attend a few meetings out of my room. Wife is also doing a lot better.

24/ Day 21 of symptoms (15 of isolation) - My doctor tells me that I don't need a test and can start being around others. He informs me that I could test COVID19 +ve for up to 3-4 months! I had no clue! Do some research that also corroborates the same

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

25/ Day 22 - Day 28 - While I keep getting better, some symptoms persist. My jaw continues to randomly hurt. I start coughing at times. I still have body aches; my back particularly hurts in the morning. I get tested again, just for kicks

26/ Day 30 of first symptoms, i.e., today - My test comes back positive again.

My doctor reassures me I'm not a risk to anyone. I go out now, but still wear a mask to be careful. three symptoms persist, jaw pain, back ache and cough. Still weak but getting there.

27/ Dont take #COVID19 lightly folks!