My Covid story: Mother’s yearning for her toddler
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My Covid story: Mother’s yearning for her toddler

I was feeding food to my two-and-a-half year old boy, when I got to know that the person I just had contact with has tested positive.

Post by on Sunday, June 27, 2021

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I was feeding food to my two-and-a-half year old boy, when I got to know that the person I just had contact with has tested positive. 

By that time, I had a sore throat and had also completed Eid shopping with my family. Mohammad Shahraan, my son, was clung to me for the whole day. 

I became jittery and passed the bowl to my mother- in-law and rushed to my room to isolate. My husband made a few arrangements in the room as it was all I was going to have for a fortnight. 

I knew it's going to be tormenting for a mother in me but his and family's safety was all I had in mind. 

First two days were fine and few books were long pending to be read. 

I finished 'The forty rules of love' which I had bought November last year. Maulana Rumi and Shams Tabraizi began aboding my mind for few days. 

On the third day, I began experiencing bouts of vomiting followed by diarrhea. I thought these were the effects of antibiotics. Though the bowel movements got fine but vomiting and nausea continued for days.

My doctor told me it happens in some cases where gut gets involved. 

Day fifth and sixth were all about chills, fever and body ache. Nausea, immediately after eating, became a norm. 

After this period, I was normal again, I even cleaned my room and though I would experience mild headache and occasional vomiting too but it was all under control. 

With Coronavirus in your body, you are normal one day and not sure what will happen on the other day. 

Antibiotics till this time had already wreaked havoc to my stomach, I am already suffering from GERD and the medicines make it worse. 

I took a normal diet because I didn't feel like eating extra. From one egg I shifted to two; from one piece of chicken or meat to two. I had no beef, contrasting to the belief that beef increases immunity. 

Eid came and went by, this Eid I had bought Shahraan, a kurta pyjama. I so wanted to see him in one but to my dismay I watched him on a video call and through the window only. 

Our window meetings were frequent now except for those days when my symptoms were strong. 

Once when I waved him from the window, he asked to jump off the window so that he could touch me. 

I would cry over video calls and in isolation. But thank God for the books and phone. 

On day 10, I was as normal as anyone and wanted to get retested. I was all set to go when my husband stopped me. I still had a cold and he wanted me to complete 14 days of isolation. 

I was shell shocked that day, I was all set to hold Shahraan in my hands, to touch, to kiss him, to feed him but all my hopes were dashed. Those five days were miserable for me as a mother as I was yearning to be with him. 

On day 14th, I got tested and next day the report came negative. It was like a dream come true, I was with my son. 

I wanted to compensate for the care and love I didn't get to shower on him but when I woke from the sleep, I felt like my arms and legs cannot move anymore. I couldn't even get up on my own. 

I would be dead tired by even walking for two minutes. My body wasn't supporting me and I began believing I was better off when I was positive. 

Day after day, the restlessness, fatigue and palpitation began to set in. I began eating twice as much as my daily routine. 

I would take three eggs in the morning and two egg whites in the evening. I would take frequent meals in between which included a bowl of fruits, a glass of milk, and oats in the morning. I consumed chicken more frequently. I would experience hunger pangs more often. 

Even after days, my condition wasn't changing so I consulted a doctor. 

He said it's a normal post Covid19 scenario but asked to get my tests done and keep saturation in check. 

Though saturation and CRP both were normal but my body felt like it was crumbling. 

According to Dr Arifa, post covid weakness is very common among positive patients. She says it can be fought by following proper nutrition. 

"You should include a mixture of dry fruits in your diet which includes a date, a handful of raisins, two almonds, and two walnuts in the morning."

Dr Arifa says lentil soup is very beneficial for the weakness. 

"Keep it all natural, take vegetables and fruits in their original form. The more we cook, the more we lose nutrients."

Doctors say a strict no to the processed, fried foods. "Waking up early and getting morning sunlight makes you feel energetic, positive and vibrant. It imparts Vit D along with better absorption of calcium."

Vitamin D is considered to be very important for the body. Dr Arifa remarks that a recovered patient should spend at least half an hour in the sun. 

"Getting morning sunlight will make you feel energetic and vibrant. It will also impart VitD and help in calcium absorption."

When it comes to recovery, doctors say that it takes anywhere between four to twelve weeks for a patient to be back to normal. 

In addition to it, hydration and proper sleep are also considered to be important to recover fast, Dr Arifa says.