Editor
GILGIT:
I’ve lived my worst nightmare. It wasn’t the coronavirus, however the extended therapy [read: observation] in isolation that made it a hellish expertise. Imagine being confined to a tiny room with no social interplay by any means for nearly a month. Doctors and nurses have been the one guests, who, too, would examine on me a couple of times a day.
If you’re sick, you want your loved-ones round you. The sense of getting somebody who cares about you offers you power to struggle sickness. Conversely, social isolation makes you extra weak to illness. Your immune system doesn’t reply correctly in isolation and it takes you longer to heal.
In my case, it wasn’t me alone; my spouse additionally shared the isolation ordeal at Mohammadabad Hospital, in Danyore, Gilgit-Baltistan. Interestingly, she didn’t have any signs, however examined optimistic for the virus. We each have been within the isolation ward, whereas our 5 youngsters have been at residence – alone and nervous.
The ordeal began after a visit to Iran. My spouse and I went in a bunch of twenty-two pilgrims to go to the holy shrines in Iran. We principally stayed in Qom, although our pilgrimage additionally took us to Mashhad, and to neighbouring Iraq.
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On Feb 22, we have been getting ready to return to Pakistan after we heard in regards to the outbreak of some contagious illness in Qom. Until then, I didn’t know a lot in regards to the coronavirus.
On Feb 25, we took a flight for Lahore. At Tehran airport, they didn’t permit anybody to board the flight with out screening. Neither of us was sick. At Lahore airport, we have been screened once more. We drove to Rawalpindi the place we stayed for 2 days. While fellow pilgrims dispersed, we took a bus for Gilgit on Feb 28 and reached our village Nomal, some 15km from Gilgit metropolis, within the night.
In the evening I felt feverish. I took it for journey fatigue, took over-the-counter fever reducers from my neighbour and tried to sleep. It didn’t assist. I began having chills.
Next morning, I referred to as up the District Headquarters Hospital Gilgit and instructed medics about my journey and fever. A crew of medical doctors instantly got here to see me and my spouse. We have been then pushed to the DHQ hospital in an ambulance. They took samples to check us for the novel coronavirus, whereas we have been shifted to the Civil Hospital Basin. The samples have been despatched to National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad for PCR take a look at as a result of the ability wasn’t obtainable in Gilgit-Baltistan. I misplaced my urge for food however I attempted to force-feed myself in order that I may collect some power to struggle off my sickness. After a few days, our take a look at reviews have been obtained from NIH: each of us have been optimistic for COVID-19.
After the prognosis, they shifted us to the Mohammadabad Hospital, the place we have been to remain for the subsequent 25 days. Interestingly, by now my fever was gone, whereas I had no cough, no muscle soreness, no sore throat, and no shortness of breath. My urge for food returned to regular [I started eating more than I normally do]. My spouse remained asymptomatic all through all this time.
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I’m a 51-year-old ex-serviceman and my spouse is 45. I had heard that the coronavirus may very well be deadly for folks of my age and older. Doctors sought to reassure me. But truthfully, I wasn’t scared one bit. It is a part of our religion that each residing being has to die in the future. I knew if I used to be destined to die, I’d die it doesn’t matter what. But if my time will not be up, this virus can by no means kill me.
We have been examined a number of occasions throughout our 25-day nightmarish sojourn. We had no signs, however would nonetheless take a look at optimistic. I’ve heard that my spouse’s reviews have been blended up with one other affected person’s on the NIH.
Luckily, the PCR testing facility was made obtainable in Gilgit within the meantime and we have been examined regionally for the primary time. The outcomes have been unfavorable and a repeat take a look at a day later confirmed the virus was out of our our bodies. It was an enormous aid.
We have been discharged from the hospital on March 28, however medical doctors mentioned we should always keep away from socialising for 14 days. We’ve rented a home in Gilgit metropolis to spend these two weeks right here. It’s been 5 days now and we’re counting the times until we’re utterly within the clear.
My recommendation to the sick: Don’t dread this virus. Keep your religion in God and energy up your will, Inshallah you’ll defeat it. To everybody else, I say take all precautions attainable. If not out of concern for the virus, then consider the ordeal isolation can create.
(Narrated to Naveed Hussain)
