I caught COVID-19!
I was a ST3 registrar in Scarboorugh when the first wave of COVID-19 hit. It was extremely busy and I tried my best to minimize contact:
https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-experience-of-working-as-medical.html
I was quite certain that I would have got it in the first wave. Unfortunately, due to my silly needle phobia I did not get my antibodies tested and then started in Hull as a ST4 registrar in Acute Internal Medicine.
In the second wave, Hull had the most COVID-19 cases in the whole of the country. I took proper precautions and followed the local trust policy strictly.
I then rotated to ITU in December. I was given a home testing kit for COVID-19 which was given to most health care professionals working there:
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/12/08/lateral-flow-testing-new-rapid-tests-to-detect-covid-19/
I was supposed to test myself twice a week when I was asymptomatic and log my details onto the trust database which I could access from home. If I was negative, I would continue work. If I was positive, I was to self isolate and call HR to get a PCR test done. If I was symptomatic, I was to self isolate and call HR to get a PCR test done. I checked myself at the beginning of starting my ITU block and then at the end that week. I remained negative- the last self test I did was on the 6th of December: I still remained negative.
I got my flu jab on the 7th of December. I was on the non-COVID ITU that day and felt fine after the jab. I continued to work and left at around 1700. When I came home, I was exhausted to decided to sleep ( although I had been off for 2 days- had been the COVID wards reg on call on the 3rd and 4th of December). This felt unusual. I did not have any other symptoms. I put it down to the flu jab.
When I woke up on the 8th of December to go to work, I had a severe headache and body aches. I usually do not suffer from this and although these were not the usual red flag symptoms of COVID-19, I called HR, called in sick and requested a PCR test.
I was asked to come to the drive through swab testing facility in 3 hours.
I felt fine the rest of the day, other than just feeling lethargic. I was so sleepy that I fell asleep on the sofa in the evening. I then received a call from the testing team that I was positive. I was in shock- especially when a close relative who was otehrwise fit and well had passed away in my home country.
I immediately moved into a different room in my house - luckily we have a third bedroom where there is a foldable mattress and all my clothes are there. All I needed was my laptop, a few books, my phone charger and I isolated there.
I emailed my ITU team, HR and rota team and informed them that I would be isolating and hence they will need to find alternate registrars for my on calls.
From that time, I have not met my wife and toddler ( 2.5 years old) except on video call or when my wife is handing things to me.
Here is what I have been doing:
1. I use a seperate bathroom which has the door always closed
2. I have a seperate towel
3. My wife calls me via WhatsApp video as soon as we woke up
4. My wife makes breakfast ( before this, it was a joint thing) and brings it in a tray to my room. My daughter and wife have theirs downstairs. We stay on video call.
5. I then wash the dishes in the bathroom sink, leave them outside the door for my wife to collect
6. I take a shower and then throw my dirty clothes in a refuse bag which I am using as my laundry bag ( I tie it everytime I put my clothes in - when there are enough, I hand the bag over to my wife and she washes them at 60 degrees in the washing machine)
7. I then resume my video call in my room and do random stuff I never had the time to do before - studying for life in the UK ( a English test we have to give to get ILR), do a bit of online studying, help IMG colleagues, etc
8. My wife then brings me lunch/dinner - we eat 'virtually' on WhatsApp video.
9. I wash the dishes and return them to her
10. I stay in my room and continue to talk to my daughter and wife via WhatsApp.
11. I then read to my daughter before she goes to bed and she sleeps at 8 PM
12. My wife and I then watch TV shows on our own screens ( which we did before I was self isolating)
Things I bought (via Amazon) as soon as I found out I had COVID-19 :
1. Pulse Oximeter to check my saturations regularly. From my experience of working with COVID-19 patients, they develop a horrible cough and put their breathlessness down to that rather than actually low SO2 levels. When they come to hospital, they are on 15 L of O2.
2. Thermometer for myself - I did not want to use my daughters or my wifes thermometer.
What I have in my room:
1. Laptop and charger
2. Jug of water - my wife brings the water jug from the kitchen and fills this outside my room with the door closed.
3. Paracetamol - I take this regularly.
4. My clothes - luckily, this room had all my things prior to the self isolation.
GROCERY SHOPPING
Almost every store does home delivery. But be aware that you may need to put the order 48 hours in advance as slots are filled up quickly depending on where you live.
In most stores, you can edit the order uptil midnight of the night before your order ( this is certainly the case with Morrison's where I reside
So far, I have been able to minimize as much contact as possible with my wife and daughter.
I would like to thank my wife, Tayyaba for doing double the work and at the same time constantly worrying about me yet ensuring I have no issues whatsoever and keeping in constant contact with me via WhatsApp video. She has to wear a mask the minute she wakes up and takes it off right before going to bed.
My wonderful colleagues and family who have supported me throughout this time. They have prayed for me and kept in touch almost everyday.
The NHS track and trace team have been brilliant! They have been calling me on a regular basis. Not for a second have I felt alone.
Some useful links:
https://www.facebook.com/search/groups/?q=covid%20support%20groups%20uk
If you are suffering from this, are self isolating and are all alone, I am happy to lend an ear ( You can message me on Facebook at any time, even after I am back to my work routine):
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