Pinoy who tested positive for COVID-19 shares his journey from diagnosis to recovery

A 37-year-old Filipino who tested positive with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) opened up about his experience overcoming the dreaded disease.

In an interview with Dobol B sa News TV on Saturday, the man, also known to the public as Patient 121, shared that it started with chills.

The chills had set in on March 3, but he continued on going to work thinking nothing of it.

However, by the time he got back home from work on March 5, he had a fever.

"Akala ko na normal fever lang po," he shared. "Nag-gamot lang ako. Nagtaka lang po ako kasi 'yung fever ko, it usually lasts two to three days lang. Ito medyo humaba hanggang one week na po pero wala naman akong ubo."

By March 11, after having fever for a week, the patient decided to go to the hospital to have himself checked. Since he didn't have any travel history and have no known exposure to the disease, the hospital didn't suspect him of COVID-19. However, he was hypertensive, so just to make sure, the hospital ran blood tests and an x-ray exam.

Results showed that he had pneumonia.

"Sabi nila at my age parang nakakapagtaka na may pneumonia ako so nilipat nila ako  doon sa quarantine tent nila, doon na nila ako pina-swab test," he recalled.

He was sent home and was advised to go on self-quarantine.

On March 15, his results came in: he was positive for COVID-19.

"Tinawagan kami at ni-refer na kami sa DOH sa Mandaluyong. Nag-advise na rin sakin na maghanap ng ospital na tutulong sakin. Sila din po tinulungan akong maghanap ng ospital na tatanggap sakin," he said.

Despite receiving the news that he contracted COVID-19, PH121 shared that his first thought was all of the people he encountered who he could have passed the disease onto.

"Una kong naisip...baka nahawa sila so cinontact ko sila isa-isa," he said.

He added, "Wala na ako magagawa sa sarili ko kasi nag-positive na ako. The least I could do is get in touch with the people na na encounter ko para masabihan na magmonitor na po."

Journey to recovery

PH121 was admitted the same day he received his results.

By that time, more of the symptoms of the disease surfaced.

"Malalang-malala 'yung ubo ko. Onting galaw lang hinihingal na ako," he shared. "Masikiip 'yung chest ko tyaka 'yung hininga ko parang hinahabol ko talaga."

When he got to the hospital, he was scared that the disease was getting worse, but the hospital immediately put an IV on him, gave him oxygen and injected medicine that could help him combat the virus.

Luckily, he felt better the following day. He stayed in the hospital for eight days before finally being discharged just this Monday.

"Wala na po akong fever. Hindi na hirap makahinga. Onting ubo nalang," he shared.

As of the moment, he continues to undergo a two-week self-quarantine just to make sure he has fully recovered and won't pass the disease onto someone else.

His source of strength
 
PH121 lamented that he felt anxious while he tried to recover in the hospital but with the help of praying and all the support he received from the staff and his loved ones, he felt more at peace and gave him the hope to fight on.

"Araw-araw may tumatawag, may nagtetext,  mula umaga may nangangamusta sayo hanggang bago ka matulog," the patient shared. "Nabibigyan ako ng encouragement, nabibigyan ako ng support."

The staff at the hospital were also there through all of his ails and worries, no matter how small it might have been, he shared.

"Onting pakiramdam andiyan na kagad sila. Tyaka 'yung results in-explain talaga sakin na based dito nag-i-improve na ako, na wag ako mag-aalala paganda na 'yun," he added.

He felt grateful to the healthcare workers for healing him and although they had the choice to remain home, the still chose to go to work and help other people.

Although where he got the disease still remains a mystery, PH121 shared that it's better for everyone to follow preventive measures like boosting up your immune system through exercising and drinking vitamins to further fight against the pandemic.

COVID-19 doesn't pick its victims, no matter how young and healthy you think you are. It's better, he said, to be sure and be safe.

As of Friday, the Philippines has a total number of 803 confirmed cases and 54 deaths due to COVID-19.

—JCB, GMA News