My Experience Report of Covid-19: Pre,
During and Post – Version 1.0
-
owais
1.
DISCLAIMERS:
1.1.
I am NOT a Physician or Surgeon (i.e., Medical
Doctor) of ANY kind.
1.2.
This is NOT a prescription of ANY kind.
1.3.
This is merely a catalogue of my personal
experience and my personal understanding.
1.4.
Several references are given in this
report. These references are supportive
of the course of action I followed. I am
not giving any unsupportive references, for then I will also have to give the
analyses of those unsupportive references, and why I rejected the implications
of those and followed the path that I did.
Since this is not a scientific study nor a physician’s advice nor
prescription, but only a report of my personal experience, written for myself,
which I am sharing for greater good, I feel this course of action is justified.
2.
MY EDUCATED GUESSES / FACTS AS I KNOW THEM:
2.1.
This section is about me. It will help readers decide whether to accept
or reject my statements coming later.
2.2.
I believe in Natural Powers of ALL kinds: known,
unknown, misknown, known unknowns, unknown unknowns, unknowable unknowns.
2.3.
I do not believe in Supernatural powers of ANY
kind.
2.4.
Covid-19 is a real disease.
2.5.
Knowledge of Covid-19 is evolving science. So, we may be wrong, and I may be wrong about
what I say here. Only time will tell,
and I personally am prepared to correct myself as and when new evidence
emerges. Please do forgive me for any
information that I may give wrong due to my / our limitations of knowledge and
understanding.
2.6.
As with all situations, some people exploit this
situation for their own benefit.
2.7.
As in all matters, authorities can and will be
misinformed and wrong, as well as well-informed and right.
2.8.
Only time will tell what we, as the human
species, did wrong and what right.
2.9.
Well-tested, including time-tested vaccines are
good for us.
2.10.Covid-19 is too new and
time too short to be sure that the first vaccines that will come out, whenever
they do come out, will be sufficiently effective and sufficiently safe. Therefore choosing to NOT understand
SARS-Cov-2 and Covid-19 (here on, the/this ‘virus’ and ‘Covid’), and choosing
NOT prepare for the same, in the hope that “vaccine will save us” is a wrong
thing to do.
2.11.Assuming that “I will not
get Covid” is wrong.
2.12.Assuming that “I will die
if I get Covid” is wrong.
2.13.Fearing the Covid test is
wrong.
2.14.Fearing quarantine /
isolation / authorities’ authoritarianism is wrong. They are trying to do what they can. There will be some good steps, there will be
some missteps, but working with the authorities is the best course of action.
2.15.Not going to a hospital
for suspected Covid / non-Covid diseases, when warranted, is wrong.
2.16.Irrational fear of Covid
is, well, irrational.
2.17.I refuse to let my life be
driven by fear any longer.
3.
NOTABLE DETAILS:
3.1.
Nature of Virus(es):
3.1.1. Viruses (all kinds of viruses) do not
"live" like animals, plants, humans and bacteria. They live only in
the sense that they can replicate themselves in the patient's cells, after they
infect a human or an animal, (or even a plant - though plant viruses are of a
different kind, which cannot infect animals / us).
3.1.2. So, when we say that a virus is alive, what we
mean is that the virus is active / viable and that it can infect someone /
replicate INSIDE that patient's cells.
3.1.3. Viruses canNOT replicate outside a patient's
cells, though they CAN remain viable from a few hours to several days outside a
body.
3.1.4. After the virus infects, the person infected
can fully fight off and 'kill' all the viruses (above the level which is
dangerous for us) before he actually falls ill (ie, before he has a disease,
ie, before he shows any symptom or symptoms).
Such persons, in that situation are considered asymptomatic (ie, they do
not show any symptoms, ie, they do not actually fall sick).
3.1.5. Some people (bodies) cannot kill all the
viruses (above the level which is dangerous for them) in time and viral loads
(number of active viruses inside the patients’ bodies) become so high that they
start showing some symptoms.
3.1.6. Why do they show symptoms? Because every time
a virus replicates inside a cell, the viruses eventually break out of the cell
and the cell dies. And then, two things
happen: patients’ immune systems increase their activity against the virus, and
the functionality of the dead cells fails and their body systems weaken.
3.1.7. At some point, all the viruses (above the
level at which they remain a threat to us) become unviable. This is typically
when the patients’ bodies have killed off a huge number of viruses.
3.1.8. This typically happens in 10 days or so for
most mild to medium Covid sufferers.
3.1.9. Some patients become serious. Some even more unlucky patients indeed pass
away as well. Even in these patients,
typically, the problems that the patients face have more to do with other
problems that have been created by the virus, including, most often, problems
in the immune systems of the patients.
3.2.
Tests:
3.2.1. Tests
are too new. All of them are likely to
give some or the other wrong results.
3.2.2. RT-PCR:
3.2.2.1.
RT-PCR tests for the virus’s RNA. It is done by taking nasopharyngeal (nose and
throat) swabs and testing them with specific instruments. Typically, it takes a day for the lab to give
the results. It often gives false
positives (meaning, when we are looking for something, here, the active virus,
and it tells us that the virus is there, but it is actually not there in
active/infective form) after the infection has come and gone because it can
pick up parts of the virus DNA even after our immune system has gotten rid of
the virus (made it inactive / made it unable to cause disease / ‘killed’ it). This test and other tests can also pick up a
marker of another virus, and might misconstrue it to give a false positive
report. RT-PCR can also sometimes give
false negatives, though it is the best test as of now to find if one is
currently infected and infective
3.2.2.2.
Now how does RT-PCR test such a small thing as a
virus RNA material? No test can sense a single strand of RNA. So what does the
test do? It takes the sample and doubles the genetic material (RNA strands or
its pieces). That is still not sufficient, so it doubles it again, and tries to
check if it can detect some detectable amount of virus's genetic material.
These doubling cycles go on until the virus genetic material becomes
detectable.
3.2.2.3.
In 10 cycles, the virus genetic material is
amplified 1024 times. In 20,
approximately 1 Million times. In 30 cycles, approximately 1 Billion times and
so on.
3.2.2.4.
At whatever cycle the genetic material (viable
or otherwise) is detectable, that is called Ct, or Cycle threshold value that
you get of your sample.
3.2.2.5.
So, this means that you had a lot of virus in
you if your Ct was 15, than if it was 30.
The difference is not just double the virus material in the sample, but
that of 15 doublings, ie, approximately 32,000 times.
3.2.2.6.
Since this test isn't a 'culture', ie, growing a
viable virus, but any genetic material, which can very well be unviable also. In case of recovered patients, it mostly is
an unviable piece of the virus RNA.
3.2.2.7.
This is because the virus typically 'lives' for
9 days before the body's defence system has cut it into unviable pieces,
anything detectable after 9-10 days in RT-PCR is generally the unviable pieces.
Since most results do not tell you the Ct number, and whether the sample
contained viable virus or unviable pieces, we have no clue whether we are still
harbouring an actual viable virus, or merely its unviable pieces. Further, we
do not even know till how many doublings the lab / kit was checking it: if they
checked it, say 34 times, then the sample was detected at 16 Billion times strength
of the original sample. However, if they
go on till, say 40 cycles, then it was detected only when amplified approximately
1 Trillion times. So, huge difference.
3.2.2.8.
This is also most likely why you read all those
reports of a goat or a papaya giving coronapositive result. That is a false positive, which will come
even when a stray unviable piece of virus has contaminated the sample. In areas where there are a few Covid patients
(asymptomatic or otherwise), it is quite likely that the papaya in question, or
the sample has been contaminated by an unviable piece of the virus RNA. I suspect, (though I have not researched the
test kits’ methodologies), that it might even show (as positive) if that piece
was a common genetic material of another coronavirus (not SARS-Cov-2).
3.2.2.9.
Therefore please do not worry after 10 days of
having given the original sample (that found you positive) or the first day of
Covid symptoms, whichever was later. You
do not need another RT-PCR test after recovery, provided 10 days have passed.
3.2.2.10.
This is also the MoHFW (Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, Union of India) protocol.
3.2.3. RAT
is Rapid Antigen test. It tests for
virus’s protein signatures. This is also
done using nasopharyngeal swabs. The
result typically comes within the hour, plus any time needed for
logistics. There are several kits
available for this test, with differing specifications. Most of them give a substantial number of
false negatives (meaning, when we are looking for something, here, the active
virus, and it tells us that the virus is not there, but it is actually
there). This is a quick test to tell us
if we are currently infected and infective.
3.2.4. For
the actual disease (ie, being sick / having symptoms, which is different from
being merely infected and/or infective), specifically the lung problems, Chest
CT scan is often taken, even when RT-PCR comes negative, if the patient is
presenting the various symptoms of Covid-19.
3.2.5. Another
test that is often done is D-dimer. It
can tell us if we are at risk of the other major life-threatening Covid effect,
embolism, which means that dangerous blood clots may be forming within the
body.
3.2.6. Do
remember that Covid can affect many different parts of the body, and thus has a
huge variety of symptoms. Experienced
Covid doctors (but not doctors who may be very learned, but have not yet worked
on Covid) can figure out the probability of Covid by the patient’s symptoms,
and may deem any Covid test unnecessary, for starting the requisite patient
care.
3.2.7. After
the immune system has defeated the virus, and gotten rid of it, we often
develop humoral antibodies for it (antibodies in the blood; there are other
kinds of immunities too, but we can test only for the antibodies in the blood,
as pointed out elsewhere in this report).
Typically, the first on the scene are IgM (Immunoglobulin M), which
actually help defeat the virus. Then,
there are IgG’s. IgG is that variety of
antibody that stays longer after the IgM production is dialed down by the
body. In Covid, both antibody
productions have been seen starting more or less at the same time. IgM production is stopped almost as soon as
the virus is removed from the body. IgG
stays for a longer period of time. One
might guess that it stays on till, in a natural setting, the threat of that virus
would have passed. For respiratory
viruses, that should typically be several months. Testing one’s blood for these antibodies
tells us whether one has been exposed to the virus in the past.
3.3.
Long-haulers: Some people are often unwell a
long time after Covid.
3.3.1. Some
people stay unwell after 10th day also. That is because this disease has TWO
separate phases: first 9 days is the Viral phase. If Covid continues beyond that, then it is
the Immunological phase, ie, the Bradykinin / Cytokine storm. For some people who have been very ill, they
can face problems even in the post-Covid phase, when the virus has gone, but
its effects are lingering. Details
below.
3.3.2. Viral
phase is when virus is causing problems.
Fever, Body pain, Fatigue, Persistent cough, Shortness of breath, Low
oxygen levels, Possible excess blood clotting etc. Even in this phase, there is a plethora of
possible symptoms, since the virus primarily acts by suppressing ACE-2
receptors, which are actually needed for proper function by a number of organs
of the body.
3.3.3. Immunological
phase is when the virus is not troubling you anymore, but your Immune System
has over-reacted and has behaved just like sometimes when kitchen gas fire
burns the house. This is typically a
hyper-inflammatory phase and can present many kinds of symptoms including
pneumonia, thromboembolism, problems with heart, liver, kidney etc. This is because once the immune system goes
haywire, there is no telling where all it will go spraying its bullets!
3.3.4. Post-Covid
phase is when we face some trouble because of the damage that the virus created
or that which our Immune System created in our body, or even the damage because
of hospital procedures. Many patients
who had serious breathing problems during the Immunological phase of Covid may
find their lungs not functioning well.
Other problems can be related to persistent cough, embolism, blood
pressure dysregulation, heart problems, thyroid, testicular function, continued
inflammation, body ache, confusion, fatigue etc. It is currently unclear if some of these will
persist even after 120 days of infection or not.
3.4.
Important – Post-Covid Complications: Covid
recoverees have to be careful and monitor their health so that the rare
post-Covid problems do not go unnoticed.
3.5.
Re-infection:
3.5.1. Fearing reinfection (after having had Covid,
and having cared for yourself for 120 days after the first symptom / Covid
positive test result, whichever is earlier), unless you are immune-compromised,
is not warranted by the current data.
3.5.2. Do remember that taking a vaccine is fooling
the body to prepare for a real virus, with the pretense of a threat by a fake
virus. Thus, it essentially means
getting a fake disease. So, as indeed, a
good vaccine is a real protection, then having had the real disease, and having
returned to peak health, seems logically to be protection enough, until
sufficient data emerges that it is not.
3.5.3. Actually if it were so that we will equally be
at risk (of the same disease, of the same or worse severity) to the same viral
disease in 45 days, as some claim, then life would not exist. Animals would not. Mammals would not. Humans would not.
3.5.4. Specific antibodies ALWAYS go down. For some infections in a few days, for others
in months, for yet others a little longer.
But record of those antibodies is kept in other parts of the system,
most of which we do not currently understand very well. So, when the same infective agent or its
relative come again, the antibodies are built before the (viral) infection (or
a relative of it) can cause a serious disease.
3.5.5. This is why we get flu (influenza / viral
fever) every few years. And, generally,
it is not fatal (except for a very small percentage of unlucky people). And flu is generally caused by some or the
other virus, including some variety of a human coronavirus.
3.5.6. Furthermore, there are multiple ways in which
body defends against viruses, not only through IgG's. IgG's are a part of the humoral response to
infection. And that is the only response
we can measure at this level of our technology.
There is also cellular response and Innate Immunity response that we
know of (but cannot measure).
3.5.7. Thus, theoretically, it is possible for a
person who defeated the infection through, say, Natural Killer cells to again
get infected. But then his NK cells will
most likely again defeat it.
3.5.8. There are a lot of scams in play currently,
making some of the data doubtful. I do
know of a private hospital (with investments from powerful people) contracted
by a state Govt for Covid, was paying money to fake patients to get fake
coronapositive reports, then get actual hospital stay and finally get factual
negative test report and be discharged.
The hospital was getting a huge amount per patient from the State Govt
funds / UN funds routed through the Union and State Govts. The expense on the fake patients’ stay was
much lower and this game has been making them a lot of money. There is complete, official record of these
patients having been positive, recovered and then being negative, without ever
actually getting Covid. Now if they will
actually get Covid, they will actually get a factual coronapositive test report
and may show symptoms (fall ill). But is
this re-infection or infection?
Officially, it will be re-infection, though actually it will be
infection.
3.5.9. In any case, infection is essentially
immaterial: if an infective agent is in the air, one WIL get infected. What matters is what happens after that. Immune system can defend us only AFTER
infection! What we need to know is
whether the person actually got sick because of this virus, after having
completely recovered from the illness resulting from it?
3.5.10.
Of course, we should take all precautions (which
is why this report), but not subscribe to unlikely ideas. I am willing to bet with anyone that in a few
years' time no one will be afraid of Covid, irrespective of whether they kept
taking a Covid vaccine every 45 days or not.
3.5.11.
In summary, I feel that half-baked reports of re-infection
will keep coming up. My take is that
this will basically be a result of fear and/or fear-mongering. These reports must be investigated in depth
before any "re-infection happens within months" hypothesis is
accepted. I very strongly feel that a
huge majority of these reports will be due to test related issues, diagnostic
issues, scams and at most immune-compromised individuals.
3.5.12.
My Bottom-line on ‘re-infection’: If indeed a
real disease cannot give us immunity, then how can vaccine, which is a fake
disease, give us any immunity? So then,
does humanity have no out? Our genes are
way smarter than we are. We must give
them the credit that evolution has put them in a balance with threats such as
this virus. And how can it be that this
virus is so different from other coronaviruses?
This same pretense in early part of the year made everyone shit bricks
and screw up lives everywhere. Unless
every single case is thoroughly investigated and all possibilities of error /
malafide intentions ruled out, these “cases” cannot be given any credence.
4.
MY COVID EXPERIENCE:
4.1.
My early experience:
4.1.1. I generally ignored Covid till the first week
of March 2020, when a number of cases started getting reported from various
parts of the country. Further, when I
heard that PM Modi was going to address the Nation at 8 PM on 19th
March, I knew that something was afoot, and that I will have to understand the
2020-Public-Enemy-No.1, SARS-CoV-2 and its disease, Covid-19.
4.1.2. I found that almost everyone was as ignorant
about the virus as I was, and reliable information was difficult to come
by. I started trawling the Internet, and
gradually located sources that were going beyond the simplistic advice being
peddled by WHO, and as a result by authorities in India. Social media companies like Youtube became
more a foe than a friend as they, despite and because of their utter ignorance
were blocking / taking down critical information.
4.1.3. I found, at various times, Drbeen Medical
Lectures, Dr Paul Marik, Dr Zev Zelenko, Dr John Campbell, DR KK Aggarwal, Dr
Richard Bartlette, Medcram, JAMA Network, Trialsite News, Dr Navneet Kalra, Ford
Brewer MD MPH, Doctor Mike Hansen, Dr. Bruce Patterson, Dr Subhasree Ray, Dr.
Yo!, Adam Gaertner, Papa on duty, Ivor Cummins, Unherd and several others that
I cannot recall at this time.
4.1.4. I also judiciously used WhatsApp
forwards. As also the people in health
industry that I knew could give me some useful information.
4.1.5. I formed several groups, channels, etc. on
social media like WhatsApp, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and shared information
with many others trying to understand Covid.
4.1.6. Despite the lockdown and unavailability, I
started collecting the supplements, medicines, equipment etc. that I thought
was necessary for effectively addressing the Covid threat.
4.1.7. I knew that as a borderline senior,
hypertensive, diabetic and seriously obese person, I was particularly at risk
of a bad prognosis if I did get the infection.
4.1.8. My initial strategy was to make sure that I
did not get infected. However, very soon
it was obvious that this strategy will fail.
The virus was far too infective, our systems far too ineffective and my
ecosystem far too porous to keep myself hermetically sealed.
4.1.9. I, then, started working on the presumption
that I will get it, no matter how careful I personally am. The only strategy that I could then play on,
was improving my knowledge and immunity building. I had thankfully had a health
scare in August 2019, and I was already on the path of trying to become
healthy.
4.2.
Day-wise Symptoms and my Actions:
4.2.1. Late in the night on 21st July
2020, I found that I was running a fever in excess of 100 F.
4.2.2. At about 3 AM on 22nd, I woke up
with about 101 F. Since I had heard of
several people being found coronapositive in our residential complex, I decided
to work on the assumption that I was not having a random fever, or flu, but
Covid. Took Paracetamol 500,
Hydrochloroquine (HCQ) 200 * 2 tabs, Azithromycin (AZM) 500.
4.2.3. I could not sleep, and decided to start the
full my Covid protocol that I had already written out. I took Zinc (20 mg elemental), Thiamine and
other B complex vitamins that I had procured in the form of BecoZinc. I also took Quercetin 250 mg * 2 tabs, which
I had ordered the earlier from Amazon when I came to know of its importance as
a Zinc ionophore.
4.2.4. By forenoon, my temperature went down below
100 F (and has not risen above that till the time of writing, though 99 – 99.8
was observed on several days till 29th).
4.2.5. I had lunch and then took HCQ 200 * 2.
4.2.6. All these days, till the date of writing, I
have been taking my hypothyroid medicines (Thyroxine 125 mcg till 14th
Aug, when on doctor’s advice, upped it to 150 mcg).
4.2.7. I also kept taking my hypertension medicine
(Macsart cc, which is Telmisartan 40 mg, Cilnidipine 10 mg and Chlorthalidone
12.5 mg) till 25th July, whence I stopped because my BP had been
going too low (100/65) from 23rd July. I restarted it on 12th August,
when I experienced a BP spike (167/153).
4.2.8. From 23rd July, I did not take
Paracetamol because there was no fever.
There was some body ache for a few days, but I did not think it bad
enough to take Paracetamol. I started
clove-steam inhalation, which I continued till 14th of August. I also started doing Jalneti, Bhastrika and
Pranayam, all of which I continued till 14th of August. I stopped all difficult to digest foods and
ate only green broken-moong dal khichdi till 29th.
4.2.9. On 23rd I experienced no symptoms,
except temperature about 99.5 F and some body ache / upper back ache. I am not too sure if the upper back ache was
because of Covid, or because of a new work chair (I work on a computer 7-14
hours a day) that I had bought a few days back created it. I still feel that ache, though very slightly,
when I use that chair for several days.
4.2.10.
From 23rd,
I reduced HCQ to 200 mg *2 once a day, which I took for 4 more days (800*1 +
400*4 = 2400 mg total). I also reduced
AZM to 250 mg (half a tab) which I took for 5 days, and then on the seventh
day, I took 500 mg (500*2 + 250*5 = 2250 mg total). I also started Vitamin D 7000 IU + Vitamin K2
(as MK-7) 100 mcg, Vitamin C 500 mg twice a day, N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC) 500
mg, Magnesium 500 mg and Melatonin 10 mg all of which I continued till 7th
of August.
4.2.11.
On 24th, a little cough started, throat
was a little sore and body pain / back ache continued. I took some Unani medicines (Joshanda, which
is always customized and Lauq Sapistan Khayarshambari – both twice a day),
which I continued till 28th. I
also started warm water gargles and salt, which I replaced with Povidone-Iodine
(PVI / Betadine) solution on 27th.
4.2.12.
On 25th, sore throat as well as back
ache increased slightly. No other
change.
4.2.13.
On 26th morning, I noticed anosmia,
which got corrected on 3rd August.
Back ache continued on this day.
4.2.14.
From 26th late night / 27th
early morning, I felt some problem breathing, and could not sleep at all. I was already monitoring my SpO2 on my
Pulse-Oxymeter twice a day. I checked
many times on this day, but it was always 98-99. I was monitoring my breathing speed
also. It continued to be at 12-13
bpm. I could also comfortably do my
breathing exercises which involved a 30 second breath-hold, as well as hitting
the top with all 3 balls in the 3-ball spirometer in exhalation mode. So, I am not very sure if it was Covid
related breathing problem, or something else.
It had not rained for the whole month, and in such situations, our area
becomes very dusty. There was also some
dust work going on at home. I am
allergic to dust, and generally develop breathing problems in such situations. Also, I had been taking Aspirin for the last
few days, to counter any thromboembolism.
So, the breathing issue may have been Covid related, or dust related
Allergic Rhinitis or even a bout of AERD (aspirin-exacerbated respiratory
disease). In any case, I took an Avil
and also did some Asthalin steam inhalation.
I was fine in the afternoon and had a great long nap. However, since the symptoms were all Covid
related, and a friend had died of Covid just 2 days earlier, I was a little on
the edge. Further, in my city, they were
not admitting you to any hospital unless you had an RT-PCR done. If negative, then a non-Covid hospital would
admit you; if positive, a Covid hospital would admit you. And I did not want to lose precious time if I
were indeed on the serious-Covid-patient path.
So, I called for a private lab technician who collected my sample for a
charge (4500 for test + 800 for home visit = 5300) at 9 PM the same evening.
4.2.15.
On 28th evening, after getting the
coronapositive result, I also took 1.5 tabs of Ivermectin 12 mg (150-200 mcg
per kg of patient weight). I repeated
the same dose on 29th evening.
4.3.
RT-PCR Test Result:
4.3.1. The private lab, despite taking my money, did
not let me know my result till about 9 PM on 28th. That too after a lot many calls and angry
conversations. They confirmed on phone that
I was coronapositive. When I asked for
my report, they said that the Govt does not allow them to give reports to
individuals, and they have uploaded the information to the authorities.
4.3.2. This is rather amazing that the law as
practiced is not allowing me to get my own report for which I have asked myself
and for which I have paid from my own pocket.
4.3.3. The
whole night was lost in waiting for the authorities’ calls, which I was told
will come that very night.
4.4.
Authorities’ overreach:
4.4.1. On 29th morning, 9 AM onwards, all
hell was let loose. I got no less than
50 calls and multiple visits.
4.4.2. A couple of Medical Students were sent, who
were to do contact tracing, and they said they want at least 15 names and
addresses, irrespective of whether I actually visited them or not. They said they were under pressure from the District
Authorities to submit that many names.
Since I was not going out at all, nor having any visitors, it became
quite a hassle.
4.4.3. The Tahsildar visited, shouted at and insulted
my family members for coming out and speaking to his own team, since they were
not willing to enter our home.
4.4.4. The quarantine team called and said that the
rules had changed that very day and all positives and all untested people were
to be quarantined in Govt centers and not at homes, which was the norm until
the previous day.
4.4.5. My family was sent to a center on a bus, which
took 3 hours to reach the Quarantine Center 7 km away.
4.4.6. A makeshift ambulance was sent for me to be
shifted to a Covid center (different from Quarantine Center). The ambulance driver kept me waiting in the
stuffy, non-AC ambulance with 10 other positives for about 2 hours and was
extremely rude.
4.5.
Covid Center Experience:
4.5.1. The Center was an out-of-use Engineering
College hostel. The double occupancy
rooms were converted into single / single family occupancy rooms. I got a cot, a disposable sheet and mattress
(but no pillow). Many rooms were having
some or the other problem, so I had to go room to room to find one that was
usable.
4.5.2. The area was in the outskirts of the city, so
was nice, open, windy and sunny. From 29th
July to 7th Aug, when I completed my 10 days and was “set free”, my
stay was uneventful and not unpleasant.
4.5.3. We
were, of course, not allowed out of the building. Also, of course, no one was allowed in, other
than the cleaning boys. Even the food supply, temperature monitoring by the
nurses and complaints’ redressal by the manager was done from the outside.
4.5.4. After that harrowing day, 29th of
July 2020, things settled on an even keel.
I was on 4th floor and there was no lift. So, I had to come down many times for all
kinds of things. However, I was happy
because that filled the day and kept my focus on my health.
4.5.5. The food was good, tasty, well-packaged,
well-balanced and was actually far too much in quantity. They were also giving some Ayurvedic kadha,
which I found really tasty.
4.5.6. The staff was polite, especially the cleaning
boys who used to come inside in PPE kits to clean up.
4.5.7. I needed some stuff (eg, a pillow, a kettle
for heating water etc) which a friend sent through his cousin who had the lockdown
pass.
4.5.8. I found some friends also there, so the stay
became even more not unpleasant and not uncomfortable.
4.5.9. On the 10th day, the 7th
of August, we were let off. We had to
make our own way back.
4.5.10.
I made and posted several videos beginning with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmQGdg7ZuOY
which you can see and get a fit on my Covid Center experience.
4.6.
Precautions:
These are the only things that the Govts and WHO are really talking
about. I followed all those. However, I know that those are neither
sufficient, nor humanly possible for an indefinite period of time. At most these will delay your getting
Covid-19. That is what they did for
me. Be aware that the passion with which
you believe in those precautions is not and will not be sufficient to keep you
safe forever.
4.7.
Tired of the Damocles’ Sword: I am not just happy and grateful that I
recovered from Covid, but also that I did get Covid. Now it is done with. Remaining always fearful does not sit well
with me.
4.8.
Lives lost due to fear and lockdowns: Many lives
have been lost and will be lost because of the fear of Covid and the
lockdowns. While all that may have been
necessary to bring focus on the work that we had to do, but that was not the
solution. Unfortunately, everyone seems
to think that it is, and that is what has prolonged this misery for far too
long. And many people are losing their
lives and years from their lives because we have been misinformed and
misgoverned.
5.
NON-STANDARD MEDICINE & PRACTICES:
5.1.
Unani – for cough, thinning the mucous,
expectorant and airway clearance:
5.1.1. Joshanda (customized).
5.1.2. Lauq Sapistan Khayarshambari.
5.2.
Ayurvedic – for general immunity boost: Kadha.
5.3.
Cloves’ Steam Inhalation – for airway clearance
and improving oxygen availability.
5.4.
Jalneti + Bhastrika – for airway clearance.
6.
PREPARATION PRE COVID:
6.1.
Food / Drinks that I started taking / avoiding:
6.1.1. Preferring Vegetables and Fruits in best
nutrient supplying form.
6.1.2. Avoiding Processed Foods, Sugars, Starches,
Carbohydrates, Refined Seed Oils.
6.1.3. Avoiding drinking cold water or eating cold /
frozen foods.
6.2.
Supplements taken that I felt were good for
building Immunity:
6.2.1. Vitamin D
6.2.2. Multivitamin
6.2.3. Zinc
6.2.4. Quercetin
6.2.5. NAC / Glutathione
6.2.6. Melatonin
6.3.
Equipment that I arranged:
6.3.1. Pulse Oxymeter.
6.3.2. Thermometer.
6.3.3. 3-ball Respirometer.
6.3.4. Blood Pressure Monitor (since I have
hypertension).
6.3.5. Oxygen Concentrator (As an emergency measure,
should oxygen be not available when needed).
6.4.
Exercises that I started doing:
6.4.1. Physical Activity (1 hour walk on the terrace)
6.4.2. Pranayam
6.5.
Tests that I did for myself and family, to
establish baseline (most of them as a part of an offered package):
6.5.1. 25 OH Vitamin D
6.5.2. Vitamins B-9 & B-12
6.5.3. HS-CRP
6.5.4. Serum Copper
6.5.5. Serum Zinc
6.5.6. Liver Function Test
6.5.7. Thyroid Profile
6.5.8. Renal Profile
6.5.9. Cardiac Risk Markers
6.5.10.
Complete Hemogram
6.5.11.
Diabetes
6.5.12.
ESR
7.
JUSTIFICATIONS FOR ACTIONS DURING COVID:
7.1.
Water, water, water:
7.1.1. Well hydrated systems are able to fight
viruses better. Lots of data points
available.
7.2.
Positive mindset:
7.2.1. No war is won by those who expect losing
it. We will win!
7.3.
Monitoring Oxygen Saturation, Pulse, Blood
Pressure, Sugar, Lung Capacity, Temperature:
7.3.1. These are some of the primary problem points,
as my study of Covid had informed me.
7.4.
Sleep:
7.4.1. Without good sleep one cannot have good
immunity. So, good restful sleep is a
must.
7.5.
Started using Listerine Mouthwash regularly:
7.5.1. If hand hygiene and face hygiene is important,
why not teeth, gums and tongue hygiene?
7.5.2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200810103239.htm
7.6.
Warm water Gargles – with salt or Betadine
(Povidone-iodine):
7.6.1. If hand hygiene and face hygiene is important,
why not mouth and throat hygiene?
7.6.2. https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiaa471/5878067
7.6.3. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200710/Laboratory-testing-confirms-effectiveness-of-BETADINE-antiseptic-products-against-SARS-CoV-2.aspx
7.6.4. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200630005731/en/Laboratory-Studies-Confirm-Effectiveness-BETADINE%C2%AE-Gargle-Mouthwash
7.6.5. http://ph.betadine.com/en/covid-19
7.6.6. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/can-the-humble-betadine-help-fight-covid-19/articleshow/75562922.cms
7.7.
Jalneti + Bhastrika:
7.7.1. If hand hygiene and face hygiene is important,
why not nose and nasal cavity hygiene?
7.7.2. http://www.lungindia.com/article.asp?issn=0970-2113;year=2020;volume=37;issue=3;spage=246;epage=251;aulast=Singh
7.7.3. https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/cover-story/deenanath-docs-claim-jalneti-is-helping-them-steer-clear-of-covid-19/articleshow/76737827.cms
7.8.
Lower temperature Steam inhalation:
7.8.1. No good reason, except that several people had
suggested cloves’ steam inhalation. I
kept it at a temperature that did not hurt.
If that did not help it was unlikely to hurt me in anyway.
7.8.2. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/asian-heart-founder-writes-to-icmr-on-two-possible-steps-for-covid-containment/article31269663.ece
7.9.
Pranayamas:
7.9.1. https://www.ayush.gov.in/docs/yoga-guidelines.pdf
7.10.Vitamin D:
7.10.1.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/988/htm
7.10.2.
https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2020/05/18/Supplementing-above-RDA-may-help-combat-lung-infections
7.10.3.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/988/htm
7.10.4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCOm3X-2l4o
7.10.5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Ks9fUh2k8
7.10.6.
https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/columns/new-study-may-prove-vitamin-d-cheap-effective-treatment-for-covid-19
7.10.7.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7276229/
7.10.8.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dJ1VNakIvXBUEvqoQeV8FL8-R1PSgMJz/view
1.1.1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972032533X
7.10.10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mth0LqC9z4
7.10.11. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770157
1.1.1. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85596
7.10.13. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/88456
7.10.14. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40520-020-01570-8
7.10.15. https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/new-study-shows-vitamin-d-may-be-cheap-effective-treatment-for-covid-19-can-reduce-risk-of-hospitalisation/650342
7.10.16. https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2020/08/19/Study-adds-weight-to-link-between-COVID-19-and-vitamin-D
7.10.17. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/vitamin-d-deficiency-could-elevate-risk-of-covid-19-study/article32534446.ece
7.10.18. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200804/Can-Vitamin-D-help-combat-the-coronavirus.aspx
7.10.19. https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2020/06/14/bmjnph-2020-000110
7.10.20. https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/06/20/more-evidence-that-lack-of-vitamin-d-is-linked-to-covid-19-severity.html
7.10.21. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/comment/vitamin-d-covid-19/
7.10.22. https://theprint.in/health/vitamin-d-supplement-calcifediol-could-reduce-death-risk-in-covid-patients-spanish-study-says/498904/
7.10.23. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/936928
7.10.24. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120305311
7.10.25. https://www.firstpost.com/health/link-between-low-vitamin-d-levels-high-covid-19-infection-risk-established-by-israeli-researchers-8643851.html
7.10.26. http://www.ijmr.org.in/article.asp?issn=0971-5916;year=2018;volume=148;issue=5;spage=548;epage=556;aulast=Kamboj
7.10.27. https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/latest-studies/story/70-90-of-indians-84-pregnant-women-88-mumbaikars-are-vitamin-d-deficient-1593102-2019-08-29
7.10.28. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3942730/
7.10.29. https://elemental.medium.com/a-supercomputer-analyzed-covid-19-and-an-interesting-new-theory-has-emerged-31cb8eba9d63
7.10.30. https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2020/04/28/Clear-link-between-vitamin-D-deficiency-and-severity-of-coronavirus-say-researchers
7.10.31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5aCePGyOgg
7.10.32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMFsLFAE5o
7.10.33. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8277775/People-low-levels-Vitamin-D-likely-die-COVID-19-infection.html
7.10.34. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8339351/Vitamin-D-deficiency-risk-factor-severe-COVID-19-men-study-finds.html
7.10.35. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8432321/Government-orders-review-vitamin-D-role-Covid-19.html
7.10.36. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/930660?src=wnl_tp10n_200605_mscpedit&uac=127834AR&impID=2406378&faf=1#vp_1
7.10.37. http://imj.ie/vitamin-d-and-inflammation-potential-implications-for-severity-of-covid-19/
7.10.38. http://imj.ie/vitamin-d-and-inflammation-potential-implications-for-severity-of-covid-19/
7.10.39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V21MLAGaB0
7.10.40. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cen.13097
7.10.41. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/coronavirusrelateddeathsbyethnicgroupenglandandwales/2march2020to10april2020
7.10.42. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40520-020-01570-8
7.10.43. https://youtu.be/EP81YMvs4yI
7.10.44. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/derm.1.4.9063
7.10.45. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835877/
7.10.46. https://neurosciencenews.com/vitamin-d-coronavirus-mortality-16349/
7.10.47. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ije/2010/305054/
7.10.48. https://www.firstpost.com/health/coronavirus-outbreak-an-inexplicable-link-between-people-with-vitamin-d-deficiency-getting-infected-with-covid-19-8370781.html
7.10.49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHFD62SqJ9M
7.10.50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVg8opQkQXc
7.10.51. http://www.drdavidgrimes.com/2020/05/covid-19-vitamin-d-ethnicity-and.html?m=1
7.10.52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln14EpYqDug
7.10.53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRwts0iztVs
7.10.54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zK8LgVx2G8
7.10.55. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8NyMDoYJV4
7.10.56. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y07-HCBttGs
7.10.57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXw3XqwSZFo
7.10.58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwwTBF14Plc
7.10.59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fxw3nTZYlA
7.10.60. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMFsLFAE5o
7.11.Zinc (Beware of its Copper
reduction effect):
7.11.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5JgieJJVkk
7.12.Quercetin:
7.12.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM2A2xNLWR4
7.13.Vitamin B:
7.13.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbUsn1nK1s
7.13.2.
https://www.eatthis.com/vitamin-b12-deficiency-coronavirus/
7.14.Vitamin C:
7.14.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZJixjgu3tk
7.15.NAC:
7.15.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr_6w-WPr0w
7.15.2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8kKWgsGIU8
7.16.Glutathione:
7.16.1.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7172740/
7.16.2.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00288
7.17.Multivitamin:
7.17.1.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.01.20112334v2
7.18.Magnesium:
7.18.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4PXaCu-9KE
7.18.2.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.01.20112334v2
7.18.3.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3685774/
7.19.Melatonin:
7.19.1.
https://www.evms.edu/media/evms_public/departments/internal_medicine/EVMS_Critical_Care_COVID-19_Protocol.pdf
7.19.2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JefAqwFmheU
7.20.Vitamin K:
7.20.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1YqdgI_Wwc
7.20.2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSbHkMb_FKI
7.21.HCQ: 400mg twice on first
day; 400mg once daily (or 200mg twice daily) for 4 more days. This is total 2400mg. (Higher doses are known to be problematic,
especially for heart patients. Also,
once a patient goes into Bradykinin/Cytokine storm, then it is probably useless
or worse). Starting HCQ as soon as
symptoms show up / test comes positive has been seen to be useful. Since there has been a lot of controversy
around HCQ, it makes sense to read up more on it.
7.21.1.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924857920303423
7.21.2.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477893920302817?via%3Dihub
7.21.3.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-020-05983-z
7.21.4.
https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)30534-8/fulltext
7.21.5.
https://www.ejinme.com/article/S0953-6205(20)30335-6/fulltext
7.21.6.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhLD1P5nH30
7.21.7.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/hydroxychloroquine-and-fake-news
7.21.8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBma_0oAiMI
7.22.Ivermectin:
7.22.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHUEzoC1RmU
7.22.2.
https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-38896/v1
7.22.3.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7434458/
7.22.4.
https://medicaldialogues.in/medicine/news/doxycycline-and-ivermectin-combo-may-be-new-effective-covid-19-treatment-65868
7.22.5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDzBdDhyJzI
7.22.6.
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/anti-parasitic-drug-killed-coronavirus-within-48-hours-in-lab-australian-scientists?fbclid=IwAR1F5xFyzh2Ige6KOyx2gQw8ZLmY1IFSpi3yi_neiuhA_NS3rWwntiQ_xqQ
7.22.7.
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-38896/v1/517669d0-6fd7-4521-93f1-12219193ca5f.pdf
7.22.8.
https://chemrxiv.org/articles/preprint/A_Combination_of_Ivermectin_and_Doxycycline_Possibly_Blocks_the_Viral_Entry_and_Modulate_the_Innate_Immune_Response_in_COVID-19_Patients/12630539
7.22.9.
https://unb.com.bd/category/special/dr-tarek-alam-unleashing-the-potential-of-ivermectin/54846
7.23.Azithromycin 500 mg /
Doxycycline 100 mg twice a day:
7.23.1.
Some antibiotic is deemed necessary to make sure
that opportunistic bacteria do not wreak havoc.
I used AZM because that is what I had with me. However, usage of any antibiotic can be
dangerous, so I talked to my doctor about it, and anyway kept its use strictly
limited.
7.23.2.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7290142/
7.23.3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCxHqlIvxbY
7.23.4.
https://medicaldialogues.in/pulmonology/news/doxycycline-rationale-for-use-in-covid-19-68527
7.24.Montelukast:
7.24.1.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7321662/
7.24.2.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200812/Novel-strategy-provides-new-hope-to-fight-COVID-19.aspx
7.24.3.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7211747/
7.25.Pulmoclear:
7.25.1.
After I ran out of the Unani meds for loosening
mucous, I switched over to Pulmoclear.
7.26.Omega 3 Oil Fatty Acids
soft gelatin capsule (with EPA & DHA) 1000 mg:
7.26.1.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00752/full
7.27.Aspirin:
7.27.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9CvTz6XS4A
7.28.Thyroxine, Macsart cc, Avil
& Asthalin:
7.28.1.
These were specific to me.
7.29.Inhaled steroids: Steroids
use requires a lot of knowledge, so despite reports of success of some I
steered clear of any such experimentation. One must talk to one’s Doctor for
any information about these.
7.30.Other steroids: These can and should be used only at
hospitals. Since I was not at the hospital,
I did not need or use any.
8.
POST COVID PROBLEMS:
8.1.
BP Spike:
I experienced a BP spike on 12th Aug. I restarted my BP
medicine and it settle down to my long-term levels.
8.2.
Tests: I
got some tests done on 13th Aug.
Notable tests and results:
8.2.1. ESR was high at 63 mm/hr.
8.2.2. HS-CRP was a little high at 7.92 mg/L.
8.2.3. Covid Antibody Test – I got positive result:
2.61 (Index).
8.2.4. 25(OH)D was a little lesser than expected, but
still a healthy 52.99 ng/ml.
8.2.5. Cardiac markers, Liver Function Tests, Renal
tests and Lipids were normal.
8.2.6. TSH was 22 uIU/ml, after which my doctor asked
me to increase Thyroxine from 125 to 150 mcg.
8.3.
Physician consultation: I consulted a physician
on the ’Net and he said all this was to be expected and asked me to do some
more tests, which I did and posted to him, but he did not respond. Since those were OK (given in the next
point), I have deferred further consultation till I cross my Day 90 / some
symptom comes up.
8.4.
More Tests:
These were ordered by physician as above. Chest X-Ray, ECG and Echo all came back to my
pre-Covid normals.
9.
FUTURE PATHS – I plan to keep updated and share news about the
following in future versions of this report:
9.1.
Innate Immunity
9.2.
TH1 path (Mild)
9.3.
TH2 path (nAbs)
9.4.
Vaccine
9.5.
Drug Protocols
10.
LATEST RESEARCH: These
are some nuggets of new knowledge that I have come across since my Covid-19
experience. Some of it is referred to
above.
10.1.Supercomputer study: https://elifesciences.org/articles/59177. Articles / Videos about this study: https://www.hpcwire.com/2020/07/28/supercomputer-powered-research-uncovers-signs-of-bradykinin-storm-that-may-explain-covid-19-symptoms/,
https://www.olcf.ornl.gov/2020/07/28/computational-gene-study-suggests-new-pathway-for-covid-19-inflammatory-response/,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDbRfur36sE.
I thank everyone who has read all this. Once again, please note that I am NOT a
physician or a medical professional of any kind. This is NOT a prescription of any kind. This is merely reporting my experience. I wish you all the best. The virus will lose. WE WILL WIN.
Cheers, owais.
12th September, 2020. Bhopal.
- O-
