COVID-19: A SURVIVOR'S STORY

This blog is owned and authored by OKELLO ELIOT OTWAO

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the entire human fraternity a big lesson. It is a severe blow to the healthcare system of the entire world and has affected millions of people across the world. COVID-19 is associated with a very high rate of infectivity, which has led to a high level of fear and anxiety of getting infected. Resultantly, the pandemic has led to severe restrictions on the free movements of human beings, and the lockdown of almost all countries across the World, etc. The literature on laboratory testing, preventive measures, and management protocols to tackle the highly infective virus are ever-expanding. Even the data related to the mental health issues in the front line warriors/ health care workers is well-documented.

However, the real-life experiences of the patients admitted in the COVID wards and their well-being in the COVID-19 era is largely neglected. There are few blogs/youtube videos of the recovered patients/ Corona survivors about their experience (about how they had fought with the infection, how much they felt lonely during the admission etc.) during their hospital stay, yet no descriptive data is available. In this article, I discuss the psychological issues and the lived experiences of 3 persons who were admitted with the COVID-19 infection during their hospital.

The COVID-19 designated center is being managed by a core COVID-19 team consisting of doctors from Internal Medicine, Anesthesia, Pulmonary Medicine, and Hospital administration. During the initial few days, it was seen that most patients admitted with the infection had some or other mental health issues such as anxiety, excessive worries, irritability, low mood, frustration, distress, feeling isolated/loneliness, etc. This led to the involvement of mental health professionals to provide mental health support through video-conferencing/telephonically. The 3 summaries discussed in this post are the mental health issues and other experiences shared by 2 persons and a family admitted in the COVID center.

LIVED EXPERIENCE: “DILEMMA OF BEING A LEADER- WHY DID I INFECT OTHERS, HOW WILL I FACE MY COLLEAGUES?”

49 years old male, a village leader, was admitted after he was found to be COVID-19 positive. As reported by him, as far he recollects, he possibly got infected during the visit to the hospital. He did not have any severe respiratory distress during the hospital stay and after 3–4 days of flu-like symptoms and fever, he became stable. During the initial few days of hospital stay, he would rarely talk with his family members over the phone. After he became medically stable, he came to know that 9 of his family members have also been infected and are admitted to a different hospital. He started remaining worried about their well-being. He would have frequent night time awakenings, which were associated with palpitations, sweating, and feel restless. He would have racing thoughts about the well-being of his children (9 and 15 years) and his wife. He would doubt the treating team, and as to whether they are telling him the truth about the well-being of his other family members. Within a day or two, while telephonically interacting with his friends, he came to know that 38 persons from his village have been infected and all have been traced to him as he had attended a meeting where more than 50 villagers had came. This further increased his distress and anxiety. This information led to significant guilt, and he started blaming himself for the fate of others. He started calling fellow villagers to enquire about the health and well-being of villagers and after knowing that all are doing well, would temporarily feel relieved. He started blaming himself for his carelessness, would feel shameful, and guilty of his act. He would remain preoccupied with thoughts as to what villagers would be thinking about him, will they ever forgive him, will they maintain a good relationship with him in future, whether his family members will recover or not. Such thoughts would persist for most of the day. He would also remain preoccupied with thoughts such as ‘how would he face his friends, neighbours, and fellow villagers'. He would often worry that in future himself and his family members will be outcasted, and he losing his political career. He did not have any history of mental illness or any history of substance use. A diagnosis of Acute Stress Reaction was considered. Supportive sessions were taken by the psychiatrist by teleconferencing. All his concerns were heard and his anxiety related to his worries was allayed. During the sessions, he came up with his worries, expressed his inability to help his family members, about his future, and the anticipated stigma. With the supportive sessions, he started feeling better and relaxed. Besides supportive sessions with the patient, one of his cousin (uninfected) with whom the patient was in constant touch was involved in the treatment, who was asked to motivate the patient to stay active and remain busy watching videos/movies on YouTube channels, read things of his likings on the internet and pray to God. He was discharged after his repeat tests came out to be negative. He is being followed up telephonically, supportive sessions are being continued to avoid any other negative psychological consequences.

please read the experiences of two other COVID-19 survivors in my subsequent posts........remember to stay safe, wash your hands and social distance.

compiled by OKELLO ELIOT OTWAO