A Scare

It's been over a month since we tested positive, and just when we were getting over that experience, I began feeling sick again. It started with a cough, so I began gargling and nebulizing. Then came the fever. I was worried, even though everyone assured me that it was probably nothing. I took a dolo and felt better almost immediately. Then a day later, the fever was back, and this time with a vengeance. The dolo wasn't working, and I had terrible body ache. So then I was put on an antibiotic. Two days later, the temperature was higher. Then I was told that it was time to test for Covid again. 

This time I wept; more out of anger and self pity. I bawled my eyes out. All around I heard about people meeting up with friends and going on holidays. I hadn't stepped out in 8 months, and I was sick again. It was just unfair. I wept for my children, and for all that we had been through during the last two months. Then when I felt better (after that childish display), I washed my face, got ready, and stepped out for the first time in 8 months. We drove to the hospital for my second Covid test, a chest x-ray and some blood tests. 

Despite being on the road after so long, not much had changed. The roads were still full of people. A majority wore masks, but almost everyone had their noses out. At the hospital, the ER was full. A steady stream of sick people walked in, while nurses in PPE suits checked their oxygen levels. I looked through the glass partition and saw a young girl on one of the beds, gasping uncomfortably. A young child was wheeled in behind me. As I moved aside, a woman with dangerously low oxygen levels was helped inside. I moved aside, not touching anything. Then I found I needed to go to the fever clinic beside the ER. There, a grumpy nurse told us to leave saying they didn't test after 3.30. Then we began wondering if we could go to another hospital.

As the husband went to get the car, I waited outside. I saw a young mother leave the hospital with her newborn twins. A big car full of family members drove in, to take them home. Their excitement had me smiling into my mask.

The next hospital also said they were done with testing for the day. So we gave up and decided to get the lab technician to come home for a swab. I was also feeling feverish by then. Nonetheless, we made one more stop at a diagnostic center, for a chest xray and some blood tests. 

The xray technician was a friendly Malayalee who chatted non stop. I responded with equal enthusiasm, but began feeling better only when she handed in my report. The lungs were clear. Phew! 

To celebrate, we decided to take home pizza for the kids, and the husband bought some beer. Then we went home, so I could bathe and wash off anything I may have caught outside. An hour later, my fever was up again and my body pain was back. 

Then this morning, the technician came home for my swabs. I didn't have a fever today, but spent most of today sleeping. I woke up to find that all my blood reports were normal. Even my arms and legs didn't feel like they were going to fall off. I was coughing a lot and my throat felt sore, but I felt better. 

Then came the report I was waiting for! As per government protocol, we aren't required to retake a Covid test after completing the prescribed quarantine period. The health officer had said we would be negative after 17 days, so retesting was not required. Since we weren't planning on attending any parties, we decided not to test. So now I was a wee bit apprehensive about whether I would still be positive. I had read about people who stayed positive for months on end. Would I be one of those unfortunate few? Thankfully, by God's grace, I wasn't! I finally had my Covid negative report! If I wasn't exhausted, I may have danced and screamed with joy, but I was so relieved.

I thanked God! My doctor said, it was obviously just a mild chest infection, so I need to continue with my antibiotics.  The children laughed, and the husband teased me about all the drama the previous day. We laughed for a bit, before I called my worried parents to tell them the news. I am still coughing, and I am tired, but something tells me I will be sleeping better today.