My Covid 19 Journey
by Dave Albarado
It has almost been 2 years since we started lockdowns and began to hear words like protocol and health standards.
The fact is that the Coronavirus disease (Covid) has changed the way we live our lives. As social animals, our routine changed because of social distancing.
For almost 2 years, I was able to avoid getting Covid. There were several instances in the past where I had close calls and had to be tested. I almost thought that I was strong enough not to catch it.
But all of those myths changed especially when I exhibited flu-like symptoms on January 14, 2022. Initially, I dismissed the signs as regular flu. I experienced the denial stage. But a trip to the swabbing center changed everything–as I tested positive for Covid.
The moment I was told via text message that I was positive I felt numb. I admit I was in denial. “This is a joke,” I told myself as I stared blankly at the screen of my smartphone where the result was sent via a text message.
“There should be some istake somewhere,” I told myself. Again I was in a denial stage. I can’t be positive–I am not sick. Then I started to cough and my nose was stuffy. This is just a kind of flu, I told myself, as I questioned if the RT-PCR test was indeed accurate.
I took the usual paracetamol and some anti-allergy pills. Then I calmed myself with the comforting words of my doctor through the
text message saying that as a fully vaccinated individual, I will have mild symptoms.
Then, I talked to my doctor to ask her how long should I be in isolation; and I was told to “hide” from society for 14 days as this is based on science. However, I was adviced by another doctor to stay in isolation for 7 days as this period is the new guideline. It only confused me. So, I decided to get re-tested after 7 days to determine if, indeed, I could finally break free from isolation. Was I already negative of the virus? More on this later.
The first person who learned of my situation was my girlfriend–Diana–I felt that she was in disbelief, too. But there was somebody who really insisted to have my RT-PCR test because she never wanted me to take things for granted and from the way I looked, she said that I had Covid. She is not a doctor, but she sees things from a mother’s eyes. “Gi Covid lagi ka,” she said. And it was her firm instruction that pushed me to have my test – and the result was positive. Ma’am Ardy, indeed, was right!
So, I immediately went to a room and I started to isolate myself because I didn’t want my girlfriend to catch what I had. At this point, I was slowly beginning to accept my fate. I told myself that I would be fine because the vaccines work. As I laid on the bed where I would be staying in isolation for the next 14 days, I began to wonder what will happen to me. Then, the horror stories of Covid cases flashed before my eyes as if they were scenes in Netflix’s Squid Game movie. But I quickly dispelled my fear because I was convinced I have the best healthcare professionals helping me to overcome this challenge.
The first few days of my isolation were smooth. I didn’t go to the hospital until my temperature was over the normal level. The next thing I remember was somebody telling me firmly: “Muadto ka na sa hospital karon dayon. I called up the doctor. Ug miingon siya nga kinahanglan ka ma xray kay galling ug duna kay infection sa lungs. Remember you have comorbidities. The doctor will call you after our conversation. Move fast. The ambulance is being arranged and you will be in the hospital by 7 tonight. My daughter-in-law has arranged everything for your lab tests including cbc. Mao nay mando sa doctor.” I realized that I was again talking to my Managing Editor, Ardy Batoy on the phone. And nobody says “No” to her.
As I slowly moved to the next step, I was trying to figure out where I got Covid. I could no longer tell where I got it, in all honesty. Yes, I went to a press conference, then to a dining area, then took the tricycle several times, and then to the radio station. And to think that my closest contact for the past days was Ma’am Ardy, herself. Did I get it from Ma’am Ardy? But she was well and up. Is there a possibility that I will transmit the virus to her? Anyway, at that point, I was more concerned about the possibility of my condition getting worse than knowing where I got the virus
The trip to the hospital seemed to be a long journey even if it was very near. If there is one place I don’t want to visit, that is the hospital. When I arrived at the laboratory, everything was ready. Thank you, Ma’am Rose Batoy for the assistance. Thank you, Ramiro Community Hospital for the speedy service. And thank God, my lab results were good. I didn’t have pneumonia and didn’t have anything to worry about, according to my attending physicians, Dr. Corazon Entero-Lim and Dr. Bryan Cepedoza. Whew!
To find out if an isolation of seven days is enough, I decided to get reswabbed. But lo and behold–I was still positive of the virus. However, my doctors assured me that the PCR just detected dead particles of the said virus. That is why, I still tested positive. My doctors further told me that while I was positive (after the reswabbing), I could not anymore transmit the virus because I am fully vaccinated.
Then again, I. continued with my isolation, this time with more determination to get a negative result before I return to work – for my sake and for the sake of the people I meet in the office.
While in isolation, I marveled how great the vaccine is. The vaccine prevented me from hospitalization for a moderate or a severe case of Covid.
I realized that my gamble to choose getting vaccinated paid off because aside from cough and colds and occasional fever, I didn’t have any other nasty symptoms like difficulty of breathing, loss of taste and smell, and body malaise.
I always checked my oxygen saturation from time to time and never did it go below 97. It was amazing that finally Covid appeared to be just like the ordinary flu.
As I continued in my isolation, I suddenly remembered a person who was a neighbor and who had Covid, too. He had severe Covid and was comorbid. He was hospitalized and died. He was unvaccinated. If only he was vaccinated, I told myself,
he would have still been alive today.
At this time, I could only thank my lucky stars that I by the grace
of God, I was able to survive Covid because of the vaccine. The vaccine saved me and I believe if every one is vaccinated the pandemic would end in a snap and we all go back to our old normal.
Covid is a scary disease for the unvaccinated. Getting vaccinated is an act of kindness to a fellow human being.
The moment I finally tested negative, it was a relief. Again, I can see the world in all its brilliance and shortcomings.
My Covid journey has become a teaching moment because I learned that the way out of this pandemic is cooperation. We need to follow the protocol and ensure we are vaccinated. As I was ready to go to the office, I called up Ma’am Ardy that I already got cleared and that I would be showing her my CLEARANCE SLIP.
Ma’am Ardy said: “Thank you, Lord! Pero ikaw sa ang mo report sa office Dave kay I am in isolation right now. Days after my last exposure to you, I developed the Covid symptoms. Without your knowing it, I had myself tested for the virus, ug POSITIVE ang resulta.”
