Despite the number of lives that have been lost during the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is worthy of note that the high recovery rate, through the help of frontline workers, has been encouraging in the intense fight against the virus.
One of Nigeria’s COVID-19 survivors, author and marketing expert, Ife Durosinmi Etti, has narrated her experience at the hands of coronavirus and how she fought for her life, coming out victorious.
Read Also: Lagos Coronavirus Survivor Recounts Her Experience
In a post she shared on her Instagram page, Ife recounted how she started feeling sick and went to the hospital on June 1st where she diagnosed of a bacterial infection after a test.
She was later placed on admission as her body was not responding to the drugs.
Etti stated that one of the doctors later suggested that she gets tested for COVID-19.
The COVID-19 test result came back positive and according to her, the experience afterwards was ‘horrific’.
After receiving treatment for about a month, she tested negative on June 27 after a second test.
Read her story below;
June tested my existence. From the first day to the end! Everyday was a horror movie. On the first of June, I woke up in so much pain! It started with headaches first, then body pains. I went into the hospital and I was diagnosed of a bacterial infection.
I was not surprised with the result because someone who was also with me had also tested for bacterial infection in a totally different hospital. So I just took the medication I was given and went home.
Later that evening, my head was pounding like a machine. My body felt like someone was using a hammer to hit it all over. My temperature was extremely high, the pain all over was unbearable! I went back into the hospital at midnight and got admitted.
They gave me more pain medications through IV. None of the medications worked still. I was restless, in pain, I begged for sleeping pills so I could forget the pain. Obviously, they did not give me. I was wide awake all night.
The next day, I was discharged with a new set of medications. All they gave me did not work. I decided to mask my pain. I went back on Friday and Saturday to complain that I was not getting better. At this point, I could not really talk again. It felt like I had 3 safety pins in my throat and the inner part of my neck was sewn together. I could not talk at all.
Then a doctor randomly said I should just try to get tested for COVID since nothing was working.
She then gave me a number to one of the centers on Lagos island. I called them but they have not returned my call till date.
I then decided to take matters into my own hands. I had an AGS Tribe members husband who was a doctor, I called him immediately to tell him I wanted to get tested. Unfortunately, he was not on the island, so he could not test me.
Then one of my brothers sent a doctor to my house that night, I got tested with the Rapid Antigen test and I was positive! My life flashed before my eyes.
Once I found out, I called my hospital I was admitted at to let them know, so they could disinfect the place and also check if I could get any medical care from them.
Alas, they told me there was a care package they sent to their patients and asked for my address, saying that it would be delivered. 30mins later, I got a call that they would not be delivering it again because my result was not from Nigerian Institute of Medical Research or Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. I wept! They literarily abandoned me.
My self isolation started. The pain was continuous. I had to buy Zithromax 500mg (azithromycin), Zinc 10mg, Vit c 1000(effervescent) 1 daily
Methodex cough syrup
Then the chloroquine (please do not buy these drugs without proper medical diagnosis).
Anytime I took the Methodex, it felt like I was drinking fire! I cried. Jumped everything each time I took it! I was purging uncontrollably. There was a time I felt like I wanted to poo, I got up and I saw the poo on the floor! I could not even laugh, poo would come out. I could not sit up or hold a conversation for 30mins, I will be dizzy and weak. It was a nightmare! Literarily one month of terror. The dizziness did not stop. I also had to do the hot water and balm steam inhalation, drink the lemon and ginger mix. I did everything that I thought could help.
On the 15th, I went to NIMR to do another test, I was still positive. I could not even stand straight. It was horrific. I sent a message to my doctor to let them know I now had the result from NIMR and it was still positive.
The response I got was ok, no empathy, no nothing, no ‘hope you feel better’ nothing. I am so thankful for the Doctor who got me tested and the AGS members husband, Dr. Kayode who literally took care of me. They picked up my calls at midnight, early morning. They never got tired. Always advising me and telling me what to use or buy! It was a horrific period. During this period, my sister passed on, on my late brothers birthday, Aunty Ibidun Ighodalo passed, Olamide Alli was murdered, many died from COVID-19. June was a huge mess.
Finally, on the 27th, I was tested negative and I am just here to thank God and you all know that COVID19 is BLOODY REAL! I did everything, washed my hands, sanitized, used masks and shields but I still got it at home. I do not wish the pain I felt in the last month on my enemy! Please stay safe. You do not know how your body will react to the virus. Mine was crazy but I am thankful my breathing was not affected.
Her recovery experience is for everyone to take a cue from and observe every COVID-19 safety guideline.
As at Wednesday morning, there were 5,833,660 recoveries cases out of 10,630,276 total confirmed cases globally with 514,979 casualties.
