Thread on #MyCovidJourney and some things I learnt along the way.
Will be happy to answer any questions that I can.
Please ask - I have nothing better to do and my limited internet connection only allows twitter and whatsapp.
Will be happy to answer any questions that I can.
Please ask - I have nothing better to do and my limited internet connection only allows twitter and whatsapp.
First questions first - HOW DID I GET IT?
No confirmed answer but most probably I got it from Cocoon hospital when I went there for a checkup on 18th November. It was a closed AC space where I had to wait for slightly less than an hour.
That's the only exposure I had.
No confirmed answer but most probably I got it from Cocoon hospital when I went there for a checkup on 18th November. It was a closed AC space where I had to wait for slightly less than an hour.
That's the only exposure I had.
I believe I have been extra careful during the entire crisis, more so because my wife was pregnant after 9 years of marriage.
This is our first kid.
The only other possible source of infection is amazon / swiggy / medicine delivery folks but that is highly unlikely.
This is our first kid.
The only other possible source of infection is amazon / swiggy / medicine delivery folks but that is highly unlikely.
HOW DID I FIND OUT?
I had gin after a very long time on 19th November. I got a great glass and tweeted about it as well.
Now Gin and Tonic is something that I rarely have. I think last time I had it was in 2018
I had gin after a very long time on 19th November. I got a great glass and tweeted about it as well.
https://twitter.com/ravihanda/status/1329422378447765510
Now Gin and Tonic is something that I rarely have. I think last time I had it was in 2018
I used 60 ml of gin with 300 ml of tonic water and some lime and ice.
And I did that twice.
Now 120 ml in a sitting is not something that is significant but hey - it is gin. And it is tonic water. Something that I don't have regularly.
And I did that twice.
Now 120 ml in a sitting is not something that is significant but hey - it is gin. And it is tonic water. Something that I don't have regularly.
20th November, I woke up with a hangover.
It welt weird.
120 ml and a hangover.
But then again - naive me blamed it on 30s catching up with me and moving away from my regular single malts / wheat beers.
It welt weird.
120 ml and a hangover.
But then again - naive me blamed it on 30s catching up with me and moving away from my regular single malts / wheat beers.
When the hangover persisted till lunch, I started to get a little worried. Even my ego got dented a bit that it takes me so much just do digest 120 ml of hard liquor but I let it be.
Did not say anything to my wife or to my parents, who are doctors. I SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT!
Did not say anything to my wife or to my parents, who are doctors. I SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT!
In the evening (same day - 20th November), I felt slightly feverish so I checked my temperature. Came out as 99.
That happens. Nothing odd.
But probably the kid / pregnancy made me paranoid so I gave dad a call. Told him about the hangover part as well.
That happens. Nothing odd.
But probably the kid / pregnancy made me paranoid so I gave dad a call. Told him about the hangover part as well.
A small remark from him about being responsible because the wife is so close to full term and an instruction to get tested as soon as possible. Complete isolation began.
Booked a test then and there.
The guy confirmed he will come the next day (21st Nov)
Booked a test then and there.
The guy confirmed he will come the next day (21st Nov)
Just to be safe, both me and my wife got tested in the afternoon of 21st November.
Got the reports early morning of 22nd November. and I shat my pants when I saw I was positive with a CT score of 18.
Also, a bit relieved that my wife was still negative.
Got the reports early morning of 22nd November. and I shat my pants when I saw I was positive with a CT score of 18.
Also, a bit relieved that my wife was still negative.
I was feeling perfectly fine. Fever was still 99 but no discomfort what so ever. I didn't know what was in store.
First thing in the morning, I went to a lab to get some blood tests and lung scan done.
First thing in the morning, I went to a lab to get some blood tests and lung scan done.
Surprisingly, a lot of people don't do that because of lack of knowledge or willingness to spend money and effort.
PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT.
A covid positive result just tells you if you have it or not and how infectious you are. That's it.
PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT.
A covid positive result just tells you if you have it or not and how infectious you are. That's it.
To know the real status, please get the necessary tests done.
My test reports were not good. Specially lungs. The guy whose lab I got the tests done at is a friend of dad's. My smoking history became clearly visible and got a huge trashing from dad over the phone for that.
My test reports were not good. Specially lungs. The guy whose lab I got the tests done at is a friend of dad's. My smoking history became clearly visible and got a huge trashing from dad over the phone for that.
Dad pulled a few strings and got me admitted in Fortis. It is not easy to get a bed. I repeat - it is not easy.
Money will not help you.
You need connections - Doctors / IAS / IPS / politicians - to get a bed in a good hospital
Twitter / whatsapp groups isn't going to work.
Money will not help you.
You need connections - Doctors / IAS / IPS / politicians - to get a bed in a good hospital
Twitter / whatsapp groups isn't going to work.
It took a long time to get settled in. I reached Fortis at 7 PM and got the first medicine at 1130 PM.
Those guys are really crowded, overworked, tired.
I am conflicted about sharing details about my treatment because it might push people in the wrong direction.
Those guys are really crowded, overworked, tired.
I am conflicted about sharing details about my treatment because it might push people in the wrong direction.
The biggest problem that I faced was to explain to staff and doctors what I was feeling.
I mean, what is chest congestion supposed to feel like? How do you feel breathless? These are vague terms and their intensity is hard to define.
I wish I was more articulate.
I mean, what is chest congestion supposed to feel like? How do you feel breathless? These are vague terms and their intensity is hard to define.
I wish I was more articulate.
Something that really helped was carrying my own oxymeter, my own BP monitor, and my own thermometer.
Yes - hospitals have that but it is always good to have a backup and make detailed notes of that.
Keeps your paranoia in check, specially if you are someone like me.
Yes - hospitals have that but it is always good to have a backup and make detailed notes of that.
Keeps your paranoia in check, specially if you are someone like me.
Got the necessary medications and also some steroids. Man - they are the bomb! :)
I really really liked how I felt on the steroids. And as of now, I am slightly worried about that fact - that's how addictions start.
I really really liked how I felt on the steroids. And as of now, I am slightly worried about that fact - that's how addictions start.
When I asked the staff member as to what this injection was - he told me it is the same stuff that Trump got. :)
It was called Dexona and it is not costly.
It was called Dexona and it is not costly.
Kid was born on 24th :)
That took away a lot of tension to be honest. Made me feel relaxed and I think my recovery in real terms began after that.
That took away a lot of tension to be honest. Made me feel relaxed and I think my recovery in real terms began after that.
On 27th, the doctor said he is willing to discharge me. I refused because my wife and kid were getting discharged on the same day and I did not want to cause any confusion.
The extra day might cost a bit of money but hey - peace of mind is important.
The extra day might cost a bit of money but hey - peace of mind is important.
Finally got discharged from Fortis on 28th. It was a long drawn process. Started at 11 in the morning and went till 7 PM.
Mostly because of insurance claims and clearance.
I have pretty good insurance with 10 L cover from Religare.
Mostly because of insurance claims and clearance.
I have pretty good insurance with 10 L cover from Religare.
Still, nearly everyone I spoke to made me concerned that I will have to pay a significant cost because the insurance companies are denying a lot of claims.
Another thing that worried me was the approval letter from Religare.
Another thing that worried me was the approval letter from Religare.
Fortis had sent an approval request on 25th itself for 80k. Religare had replied on 26th that they approve 40k.
This made me think that Religare would pay roughly half of the bill. I was pissed. I was annoyed. But most importantly - I WAS WRONG.
The pre-approval means nothing
This made me think that Religare would pay roughly half of the bill. I was pissed. I was annoyed. But most importantly - I WAS WRONG.
The pre-approval means nothing
It is just a formality that they need to do.
How much will your insurance cover, how much will be cashless - all of that would be known only at the time of final bill and discharge.
Everything else is irrelevant.
How much will your insurance cover, how much will be cashless - all of that would be known only at the time of final bill and discharge.
Everything else is irrelevant.
It took a lot of phone calls. A lot of back and forth between Fortis, and religare, and me but the enitre bill was converted into cashless and I was discharged on 28th evening from Fortis.
My bill amount was around 1.2 L and I had to pay around 7000 out of pocket for it.
My bill amount was around 1.2 L and I had to pay around 7000 out of pocket for it.
Post that, I could not go home because of the new born so now I had to look for another place to stay.
Found out a random small nursing home with a covid care room and just booked myself there.
Not too costly so didn't care much about that.
Found out a random small nursing home with a covid care room and just booked myself there.
Not too costly so didn't care much about that.
Since home isolation was written on the Fortis discharge ticket, it doesn't matter where I go - I will have to pay out of pocket for that.
I tried to get covid hotels (Marigold / Royal Orchid) but finding beds there is also difficult.
I tried to get covid hotels (Marigold / Royal Orchid) but finding beds there is also difficult.
So I came to a small hospital called Jyoti Nursing home in Vidyadhar Nagar, Jaipur. Very helpful and very nice staff. The food and the facilities suck but hey - they aren't really a priority right now.
Taking a leaf out of my dad's book, I thought I will now try to pull my contacts. So who do I know - DAARU WAALAS!
Marigold, one of the covid hotels, has a bar manager who is a friend of a friend. He has said he will try and get me a room in there tomorrow.
Marigold, one of the covid hotels, has a bar manager who is a friend of a friend. He has said he will try and get me a room in there tomorrow.
Hopefully, I would be tweeting from the comfort of a proper hotel with a nice shower and may be some non veg food :)
Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed.
The biggest problem in this entire journey, at least for me, has been mental.
Not being able to see the kid. Seeing a roommate aunty pass away. Talking to doctors, staff members who are clearly depressed / sad / tired but still trying to fight on.
It is hard out there.
Not being able to see the kid. Seeing a roommate aunty pass away. Talking to doctors, staff members who are clearly depressed / sad / tired but still trying to fight on.
It is hard out there.
The biggest lesson has been to stop smoking tobacco.
I promise to myself, to my kid, to anyone reading this - I will not be touching tobacco again.
There are things that I don't want to quit but I will probably become a better cook. Tobacco - never again.
I promise to myself, to my kid, to anyone reading this - I will not be touching tobacco again.
There are things that I don't want to quit but I will probably become a better cook. Tobacco - never again.
The big worry - I might have picked up some BP issues because of covid or its treatment that followed. Doctors have said that it is common but it will need to be closely monitored for months.
Let's hope it doesn't become something concerning.
Let's hope it doesn't become something concerning.
The big hope - another week and I will hold the kid in my arms :)
As of now, he looks different to me in every pic and every video that my wife meticulously sends every few hours.
As of now, he looks different to me in every pic and every video that my wife meticulously sends every few hours.
End of thread.
Please ask any questions you have.
I have time. I am bored.
I am avoiding phone calls as I am still in the hospital but I am active on whatsapp if you are trying to reach me.
Cheers!
Please ask any questions you have.
I have time. I am bored.
I am avoiding phone calls as I am still in the hospital but I am active on whatsapp if you are trying to reach me.
Cheers!
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