Iza Calzado on surviving COVID-19: symptoms felt, medications taken, and respecting quarantine

At the Laging Handa press briefing Wednesday, Iza Calzado spoke about how she was able to survive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), detailing the symptoms she felt, the medications she took, and her recovery.

According to the actress, the first symptoms she felt was "tightening [and] dryness of the throat." It was then followed by cough, fever and lost of appetite.

In the early stages of her illness, it felt like could naturally cure it like a normal flu, Iza said.

She initially didn't want to go to the hospital to get tested because she was aware of the shortage of kits back then. Iza thought other Filipinos needed to get tested more than her.

Little did she know, her situation was getting worse.

"Nahiya po ako pumunta ng hospital agad kasi inisip ko mas marami tayong mga kababayan na mas nangangailangan na magpa-test. 'Yon pala, lumalala na yung sitwasyon ko," she narrated.

Iza admitted to doing a self-test where you had to hold your breath for 10 seconds.

"Hindi ko pansin na I was already out of breath. Feeling ko, di ba sabi po nila hold your breath for 10 seconds, naho-hold ko naman yung breath ko, so akala ko ok ako," she continued.

When she decided to get a check-up at a diagnostics clinic, she found out her white blood cells count dropped and that she had pneumonia. Those forced her to go to the hospital that very night.

"Bali po, my first symptoms yung pag-ubo, nag-start nung March 13. Ako po ay pumunta sa hospital ng March 20," she said.

After testing negative on March 27, Iza took another swab test on March 31 to make sure she's free from COVID-19.

"March 27, nag-second test na po ako at nag-negative na po ako. On March 31, nag-third test and then nag-second negative na po ako," she said.

The treatment

Iza already had pneumonia when she arrived at the hospital, and despite her test results not being available yet, the doctors treated her illness like a COVID-19 patient.

The first medicines she took were hydrocholorquine and azithromycin and then she was given anti-viral medicines used for HIV treatment.

Iza revealed a bacterial infection was also found in her lungs, "so I was dealing with two different things: a viral infection which is COVID-19, and the bacterial infection called acinetobacter baumannii."

She said she had to take separate antibiotics for the bacteria and the virus.

Although the medicines worked on her, Iza reminded the public not to self-medicate.

"'Pag may nararamdaman po kayo hayaan niyo pong doktor ninyo ang magbigay ng gamot kasi hindi po lahat hiyang sa HCQ. If you have a pre-existing heart condition, hindi po ito ang ibibigay sa inyo," Iza stressed.

Doctor's advice after getting discharged

According to Iza, her recovery took a bit of time.

"'Eto, nakikita niyo maayos na ako [but] it took a bit of time. Last week po hindi pa po ako nag-grant ng interviews kasi medyo na-apektuhan po 'yong speech ko. 'Tsaka nanghihina pa po talaga ako. Pero by Friday and Saturday umayos na po ang pakiramdam ko."

Currently, Iza said she is still recovering and respecting her body during its healing stage.

"Alam kong nasa proseso pa rin siya ng healing so kahit na feel ko marami akong energy, kailangan ko pong i-remind yung sarili ko na, I just came from a very serious battle. Kumbaga, kailangan ko din muna magpahinga," she said.

When Iza asked the doctors for advice on what she can tell the public, she said they kept stressing to respect the quarantine and stay at home.

"Ang pilit po talaga nilang ginigiit noon ay respetuhin natin yung quarantine, that we stay home. It's really the best way for us to prevent further infection," she said.

On March 28, Iza  tested positive for COVID-19. Two days later, her manager announced that the actress tested negative for the virus.

The COVID-19 cases in the Philippines climbed to 3,764 on Tuesday according to the Department of Health. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News