Young, Healthy and Hit by COVID

As a physio, I have read the statistics, tracked the treatment advances and spent hours putting together COVID procedures for our clinics. I never expected to become one of the statistics myself.

Mid December I developed a tight band around my chest which just didnโ€™t feel right. I didnโ€™t have any cough, fever or change in taste/smell but it just wasnโ€™t right so I went for a test that came back the following day positive for COVID. By this time I had developed a temperature and muscle aches and two days later became confined to my bed for the next 4 days. Upon my positive result, I had taken a look at what research studies I was eligible for and signed up for the COVID dog detection study. This really wasnโ€™t hard work โ€“ I had to wear a t-shirt, socks and mask so that the โ€œcovid scentโ€ can then be used to train the sniffer dogs.

The fever finally subsided a little after 6 days and I felt a little better, however, I did start with a cough and a bit of breathlessness. On Christmas Eve I felt better again and managed to prep Christmas dinner and send a Christmas jumper picture in for the staff photo.

I woke up on Christmas day feeling pretty rubbish but just put it down to the COVID and it would resolve soon enough. I eventually got myself onto the sofa so the kids could open their presents. I didnโ€™t move from the sofa at all on Christmas day. The kids got beans on toast for lunch and I slept. I developed a burning pain on my breastbone in the afternoon and after a bit of pestering from the husband I called 111. What I didnโ€™t expect was for them to immediately arrange an ambulance. I didnโ€™t feel I was poorly enough to warrant an ambulance response.

It turned out my oxygen levels were at 70%, heart rate through the roof and blood pressure through the floor. They had me in the ambulance within minutes and phoned ahead for Resus to be placed on standby โ€“ this is when I realised I was actually quite poorly.

I was placed on CPAP which is what we call a non-invasive ventilation device โ€“ it assists your breathing by forcing the air into the lungs. My X-rays had shown that not much air was making it into my lungs โ€“ air is black on an x-ray and as you can see mine was a โ€œwhite-outโ€. I spent 6 days in intensive care in the respiratory unit โ€“ with absolutely fantastic doctors and nurses who were so compassionate and caring despite being stretched.

After a few days of CPAP my oxygen levels improved and they were able to place me onto a normal mask. They then gradually reduced how much oxygen was provided. Proning (which is turning onto your front) really helps the oxygen level in the blood during covid. I spent as much time on my front as possible to help. I didnโ€™t like turning as this made me cough but I could see how much my saturations improved and I believe this helped me wean off the oxygen quicker. The one thing that surprised me was the fatigue, I couldnโ€™t even pick up and knife and fork to feed myself at the start.

I eventually was moved to the ward, the hospital was really really busy so it took around 8 hours to get a ward space and I was moved to an elderly care ward. The staff found it amusing to have a 35-year-old on the elderly care ward but to be fair most of their mobility was better than mine when I first went down. I never expected to say to the physios I will need a zimmer frame to get up. I was far too ambitious when first allowed to mobilise thinking I would make it to the end of the ward. The end of the bed and I needed to sit down. It was dreadfully hard those first few days reaching an acceptance that this was not going to be a quick bounce back and my heart rate and oxygen levels would dictate my recovery.

I finally managed to get home after 12 days in the hospital, with a promise that I would monitor my oxygen levels and heart rate. Coming home was hard โ€“ the emotional side of knowing I may never have made it home if it wasnโ€™t for the paramedics, doctors, radiologists and nurses that acted speedily in delivering the right care. Then the physical side of suddenly finding that everything felt so far away, having had a bathroom a few steps from my bed to now having to walk down the hallway. Not being able to go upstairs to tuck the children in bed. However, the recovery continues and I am home with my family for which I am so very grateful.

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