A friend’s son has spent the last three weeks, alone in his apartment, fighting off Covid-19. His description below offers a window into the disease and into life in a besieged city.
These are his words:
I am NOT a medical professional. Just a 25-year-old guy fighting COVID-19. I have a hard time finding sources to help battle the virus at home. I have laid out here what works for me. If you are sick with a mild case and in quarantine, these steps may help you.
– David Ramer
Throughout my experience living with COVID-19, I continue to learn more about the infection. From my own thoughts and practices, I begin to break it down into two parts.
- The Flu Phase
- The Respiratory Phase
Flu Symptoms
During phase one you may experience all the symptoms of a traditional flu. Expected but not limited to fatigue, cough, lethargy, diarrhea, fever, and high temperature. You may not be able to kill the virus infection, but you can begin to fight the fever and take Tylenol to reduce the fever symptoms.
Respiratory Symptoms
Once you overcome your fever and end phase one, you may enter phase two and begin to experience respiratory symptoms. These will include shortness of breath, pain in the chest, fast heart rate, slow heart rate, and inability to take deep breaths. In my case, I had one week of fever and another few weeks of respiratory issues.
Respiratory Attacks
I believe it is important that in the instance you experience a respiratory attack you stay calm. This will begin with a pain in your chest right over your heart and get increasingly worse. Your heart may begin to race, and you will possibly break out into sweats. If you are in a panic, you may struggle to breathe and be gasping for air. I myself struggle with anxiety, when my attacks happen, I get very scared for my life.
Medical Attention
In my most dramatic attack, I dialed 911. Before the paramedics had arrived, my heart rate had receded back to a regulated pace and my body had calmed down. The two EMT’s stated that, if they took me to the hospital, I would only be treated for fever and flu symptoms. They continued on to say that the respiratory attacks should go away within a few weeks. (I am entering week three of symptoms) and that there is no cure for what I am experiencing. For the most immediate care, they advised CityMD since there were no hospital beds that night. I thanked them both for their service, closed my door and locked it.
I personally feel at this time (especially in New York City) staying home can be safer than getting to the hospital if your symptoms are mild. If you yourself or a loved one are experiencing the same episodes, then staying home is your best option. Stay strong everyone.
