It really hurts': man shares Covid-19 experience 

Gasping for breath and struggling to speak, Andy Hardwick can barely keep his head upright as he describes the coronavirus symptoms he is experiencing.

The 51-year-old is normally fit and healthy, visiting the gym at least three times a week, and suffering from asthma only occasionally. But he has been completely floored by Covid-19, and his friends and family urged him to make a video to show others how serious the illness can be.

“My spine hurts, my back hurts, my neck hurts. You don’t want to talk, you get shortness of breath if you move around, and you don’t want to lift your head off a pillow,” 

In it, he lies back in a grey hoodie, fighting to keep his eyes open as he talks in short bursts to the camera. “It does come in waves, you will feel slight relief sometimes, then it will go … This really hurts, it’s like nothing I’ve ever had before, I wouldn’t wish it on my enemy,” said Hardwick.

According to Hardwick’s wife, Nicola, many friends have said they didn’t even recognise Andy in the video. “It was like everything had just left him, all the energy,” she said.

Hardwick, a father of two from Wickford, Essex, said the illness started on Friday with a “very dry cough” which made his throat sore. “You start to feel generally crappy and then you’ll find your lungs will tighten,” he described.

He wasn’t suffering from a fever initially, so he went to bed expecting the symptoms to pass. However, he woke up a few hours later with a temperature, unable to breathe properly. “[I was] sweaty, clammy but freezing – I couldn’t get warm and I had a raging thirst.”

After calling 111, he was assessed by a doctor over the phone who said his symptoms suggested he did have Covid-19, and he was instructed to call back if his breathing deteriorated and he was in need of hospital treatment.

Although paracetamol helped to reduce his temperature, his preventative asthma pump did little to help his breathing difficulties, he said.

“If you get the cough, it’s very painful, and if you feel the need to laugh, don’t, because it’s very painful.”

His family think he probably picked up the virus while travelling to London, where he works as head of repairs and operations at Camden council, although he had been working from home since 18 March.

On Wednesday morning, Nicola said Andy’s state had improved and he was starting to breathe more easily, a welcome development after days of watching her husband suffer. “It is hard because you just want to give him a hug and you can’t. I must admit I was very scared with the way he was,” she told the Guardian.

She said she never expected the video to go viral, but is glad it has made an impact, having received many messages from people saying they’re going to change their behaviour as a result. “You do think you’re invincible. You think: ‘Oh, if I get it, I’ll be ok, I’m fit.’ But this virus doesn’t really care whether you’re fit or young or old,” Nicola said.

Advertisement

“Everyone seems to get [coronavirus] different. Some get it mild, some get it very strong, some are hospitalised, and that’s the scary part, not knowing how you are going to be when you get it.”

The video concludes with Hardwick’s plea to the general public. “Please stay away from each other, respect each other. If our parents or grandparents get this, and they’re vulnerable or not fit, I’d hate to think what it will do to them. They will become a statistic. Stay safe.”

Nigeria COVID-19 survivor: first time experience.

For Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, the symptoms began shortly after she returned from a trip to London.

The 29-year-old Nigerian activist was in the United Kingdom capital to attend on March 9 the Commonwealth Day Service, where she was the official flag bearer.

But after arriving in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, she fell ill and decided to get tested for COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The test came back positive and Osowobi was taken to a specialised facility to receive medical care. She remained at an isolation ward until last week, when she was discharged following her recovery from COVID-19.

Osowobi, who runs the Stand to End Rape Initiative, a group advocating against sexual violence, spoke to Al Jazeera about contracting the new coronavirus, her experience at the isolation centre and what she plans to do now. The interview below has slightly been edited for brevity and clarity. 

Al Jazeera: How does it feel having recovered from the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?

Osowobi: It feels great to have survived COVID-19. If you see the data of people who have passed away due to the virus, they are alarming. I'm really grateful to be alive but also grateful for the experience as I am able to share with people that COVID-19 is not a hoax like many people may believe in Nigeria.

Al Jazeera: What symptoms did you have when you fell ill? How did it feel?

Osowobi: I had high fever, was coughing heavily and had loss of appetite. I had a lot of symptoms on the COVID-19 list so I knew I had to get tested just to be sure of what the situation was because I was feeling really sick and wasn't getting better.

The virus kicked my system. It made me very weak. I was dizzy every second, I was throwing up. I lost my sense of taste but my sense of smell heightened so I could smell everything like water, food, even soaps. Everything was just disgusting to me. It was a very tough period, a very tough moment for me but I am happy I beat it.

It was an experience I don't wish anyone to have.

The Survivor Story

A 34-year-old woman contracted Coronavirus when she returned from Finland. She says that she regrets going abroad due to which she came in contact with the virus. Speaking to PTI wire service, the survivor who is from Ahmedabad, urged people to remain indoors. She said despite all precautions she contracted the virus and would insist that people stay home in order to prevent the spread. She lives in the             Ambawadi locality in Ahmedabad. After she successfully recovered from the disease, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital discharged her on Sunday.

Neighbours gave a warm welcome

Residents of her society gave the woman a very warm welcome by clapping and blowing conch when she came back home after recovery.

She requested people to not to step out of their houses. She said to NDTV, “From my personal experience, I must say that there is no alternative to staying at home. The risk of going abroad I took was absolutely not worth it. You are safe until you are at home.”

Took all precautions while travelling

The woman was one of the first few patients of Coronavirus after the outbreak of the deadly disease in Gujarat. She further added, ” When I went abroad, I took all possible precautions. I was wearing the N95 mask, cleaning my hands with sanitiser at regular intervals and also maintaining distance from others, and yet, I contracted the infection. So, my advice to everyone is to stay indoors and contact a government hospital if you develop any symptoms.”

Read books and remembered God

Rita Bachkaniwala from Surat is also a Coronavirus Survivor. She told India Today, “I had dry cough and fatigue. My infection was limited to my throat only and did not reach my lungs. Therefore, I did not develop any breathing difficulty. This was because I went on time to get tested. If people have dry cough or fever and think they might have Coronavirus, they should get themselves tested immediately.” On being asked about anxiety she says, ” I didn’t have anxiety or fear. I was reading. I also have exams coming up. So I studied. I surrounded myself with positivity. I would meditate and spend my time with God because I am very religious as well.”

However, there are thousands of patients still in the hospitals and fighting the disease bravely. Hrishi Giridhar is one such person who is currently in a hospital and fighting bravely against the deadly disease.

On 3rd of April, Hrishi posted on Instagram about his experience while fighting the deadly disease. He told people about the symptoms he had. Majority of which was fever, lethargy and weakness.

Hrishi says, “I was admitted to Kasturba hospital. The nurses and doctors are friendly and helpful. I feel like I am in very good hands. The rooms, wards and the washroom are clean. They have kept multiple multiple sanitiser bottles in every room. The doctors and nurses seem to know every patient and their symptoms.”

Doctors ensuring good mental health

Talking about the doctors, he said: “A doctor took rounds to every room and talked to every patient just to ensure that their mental health is okay.” To this, he further added, “This was one of the nicest and most reassuring things to happen to me since I came to the hospital.”

Hrishi further says “I have seen many patients who got recovered and were discharged. I am grateful to all the doctors, nurses and cleaners who are  helping me and ensuring that I am comfortable. I urge you all to follow the state’s orders to stay indoors and stay isolated, and to not unnecessarily take actions that may put more pressure on the healthcare system.”

Another experience of 22 year old girl

As the world battles Covid-19, Tobi Akingbade, a 28-year-old entertainment reporter in the United Kingdom, has shared the good news of her recovery from the novel coronavirus and written about her journey on Twitter in hope that it will help someone in need.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Tobi Akingbade, who goes by the handle @TobiRachel_, wrote about how she contracted the virus, symptoms she developed and her road to recovery. Akingbade said she was conflicted about sharing her experience on social media, but was encouraged to "share hope and good news".

"A lot of us may not get access to Covid-19 testing kits and calls with NHS 111 feel scripted, I’ll share my experience," wrote Tobi Akingbade while hoping to help people with her experience. Akingbade has also written as to how she couldn’t be tested for Covid-19 despite showing symptoms.

Tobi Akingbade wrote on Twiiter, "I survived coronavirus. Spent nearly 2 weeks indoors + in quarantine as my body fought it off. Yesterday, I took my first steps downstairs, headed straight to my garden + took a deep breath. Wasn’t gonna share this online but I’ve been encouraged to share hope & good news."

Writing about her 12-day journey, Tobi Akingbade said on Day 1, she was informed that she had to isolate herself since she had met a person who had come in contact with someone with Covid-19. "Nothing serious I told myself, but I decided to social distance anyway. Later I found out I’d been in direct contact with a confirmed case 5 days before," she wrote.

Writing about the symptoms

 Tobi Akingbade said, "Day 2: I develop a very dry cough. And a swollen gland I developed 2 days before Day 1 became very prominent. The cough was persistent making speaking for longer than 40 secs hard. I was extremely fatigued. I’m anaemic and well acquainted with tiredness but this was chronic." "A good night sleep did not help. My chest was painfully tight, at first I blamed work anxiety. I developed a fever (was hot + cold at the same time). I struggled to walk and my breathing became shallow + difficult. The muscles in my neck began to ache," she wrote about Day 3.

Referring to Day 4 as the scariest day, Tobi Akingbade wrote, "Woke up feeling like I’d been run over by a truck in my sleep and then thrown of a cliff. The muscles in my face ached. The muscles in eyes hurt. Every muscle hurt. My persistent cough became extremely painful. Developed a painful migraine. She added that she called NHS 111 who confirmed her suspicions and instructed her to self-isolate."

Day 5: "I slept a lot. Keeping my eyes open was painful and a core. Wore sunglasses to use my phone. The sunlight made my migraine worst. My body ached and my breathing became worst. Coughing didn’t help. I could feel my lungs getting heavier, every breath got shorter," the UK-based journalist wrote.

On Day 6, Tobi Akingbade said painkillers did not work and that she was scared to sleep. The next day, she says, she noticed that she had lost the ability to taste food. "Nearly passed out brushing my teeth as it was obstructing my breathing. NHS were too overstretched to help, she wrote on Twitter. I was begging God, I didn’t want to die this way," Tobi said.

On Day 8, Tobi said as advised by Twitter, she ran a humid shower. "I drew my curtains for the 1st time, still needed sunglasses. Body aches stopped. Migraine not so persistent. Coughed less but it was a nauseous and brought up yellowy phlegm from my lungs," Tobi wrote and said it was on this day she found the strength to find hope as her body temperature came back to normal.

Tobi Akingbade added: "Day 9-12: Saw improvements slowly. Was able to hold my breath for 8 secs now. Slept less, was able to WFH at times. Called NHS again due to a scare with breathing, unable to get medical assistance but the problem solved itself. Became physically restless on Day 11." Tobi Akingbade said it was on Day 13 that she walked down the stairs for the first time after falling sick. "Thanked God and walked around my garden. Wasn’t sure I’d remember what fresh air would feel like," she wrote.