My COVID-19 Journey: I Didn’t Think It Could Worsen. But It Did.

It was a very cold, foggy day in Dubai last Jan. 20, so when I had chills at the time, I didn’t think much of it. I went about my normal work routine. But by mid-afternoon I was feeling quite fatigued, and by the time I left the office, I was feverish. I made it home without incident, told my husband Albert I wasn’t feeling well and would take a nap first. I changed clothes and went to bed.

I remember my husband waking me up to ask what I wanted for dinner but I didn’t have an appetite. He checked my temperature and it was 41 degrees Celsius. I still didn’t think much of it and took paracetamol and went back to sleep. The fever subsided but it was on and off. Then that same night I received a message from the office that a colleague, a close-contact – tested positive for COVID-19 and that we had to home quarantine. Told myself, “Ah then I should take a swab test.” It surprised me that I didn’t panic or worry that I might have been infected, too.

Both my husband and I went for a swab test the next day. Less than 24 hours later, we both received negative results.

I had an on and off low-grade fever for the next three days as I continued taking paracetamol. On the fourth day from the first onset of fever, I started coughing. It wasn’t bad at first, but it quickly worsened in the next couple of days. I was feeling fatigued all the time. I decided to have another swab test, six days from the first one. This time – the result was positive. It was Jan. 28.

Even before testing positive, at the onset of my fever – my husband and I decided that we would sleep separately, and I wore mask even at home. I started using disposable utensils for my meals and made sure that I had my own plate as well as dishwashing sponge. I think those precautions helped keep my husband safe. Even while he was taking care of me before my hospitalization, he didn’t get infected.

Yes – I was positive for the disease, but praise Jesus that He kept me at peace. We informed my family in the Philippines. I didn’t think it could worsen. But it did. My coughing became so severe that my core and my back hurt. During this time, I was taking cough syrup as prescribed by our doctor and it gave me temporary relief. When I started having shortness of breath – my husband brought me to a health assessment center accredited by the Dubai Health Authority.  There were protocols to follow. If one is COVID-19 positive with mild or no symptoms, they can quarantine at home; if this is not possible, they are taken to a quarantine facility. At the health assessment center tests are done for COVID-positive patients to determine if they need hospitalization.

I was immediately given oxygen when I got to the center and it gave me relief. After some tests, including a chest X-ray – I was told that I had to be hospitalized but that I would be picked up from home once a hospital was ready to receive me.  My husband took me home.

The next day, as I was feeling much worse – couldn’t walk even short distances (like from the bed to the bathroom) without getting breathless so my husband took me back to the center. At this point, my oxygen saturation level was at 89 percent (when it should be 92 percent and up). Again, I was immediately given oxygen and had another chest X-ray. This time, I was not sent home and was told to wait until they were able to confirm a hospital where I could be confined. I was not just positive for the disease. I had COVID-19 pneumonia. 

It was already late in the evening when an ambulance finally came to pick me up from the center to take me to one of the newest infectious diseases hospitals in the United Arab Emirates located in Dubai Industrial City near Jebel Ali.  It was my home for the next 11 days.

I was confined in a two-bed room and had three roommates in the span of 11 days. My first roommate – who was already there when I arrived – was an elderly Syrian woman. She was discharged on the third day of my stay. In the evening, a Filipina became my roommate, but she was discharged after four days. A Thai lady was my third roommate, and she came early morning of my ninth day in hospital. The severity of our infection varied, but I guess I had it worse than them since I stayed the longest in that room.

I was on oxygen until my eighth day there, with gradual improvements in my breathing. By the sixth day, I was weaned from wearing an oxygen mask to a nasal cannula (a tube in my nose). And by the ninth day, I was off oxygen! The other “challenges” I had while in hospital were the many injections I received (direct on both my arms, on my tummy, or via the cannula tube on my hand) aside from insulin (I’m diabetic and my blood sugar levels fluctuated on the high side), blood thinners and corticosteroids. I had bruises because of these. I was woken up at night to have those injections, to be given medicines or sometimes to draw blood for tests. I had chest X-rays every third day during my hospital stay. I had three swab tests during my confinement.

COVID sucks! Until now, I suffer from some lingering effects. I have difficulty sleeping. I have suffered from headaches. I didn’t have asthma but now I do (hoping it’s temporary). I still have coughing fits. I was treated for bronchitis just a month after recovering from the disease. I still tire easily.

COVID-19 is real and lately it has been hitting me closer to home. I have family, close friends and churchmates who have tested positive. Thank God most of them either have no or mild symptoms. But there are some who are not as fortunate.

I’m thankful that I was here in Dubai when I got infected. I had the best hospital care – and for residents who are COVID-positive and who require hospitalization, medicines and treatment – these are provided for free. I’m grateful to the UAE government for looking after its citizens and residents. I only had to get better! Having no stress or anxiety about getting hospitalized or buying medicines or where to get them from – were such a big factor in my recovery.

I’m so blessed that I have a strong support system. My husband who took care of me in the best way possible! My family with whom I’d have Google meets for prayers and just to chat. My friends who prayed for me, and who always asked how I was doing. But I’m most thankful to my Jesus – He gave me peace during those uncertain times, and He healed me! 

Let’s all do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Let’s keep ourselves informed. Let’s not rumormonger. Let’s practice health and safety protocols at all times.

About the author

Maria Elena Custodio Alba moved to Dubai in 2004, worked as an editor of hospitality publications and later joined the Emirates Airline corporate communications team in the United Arab Emirates.