I was discharged from the hospital on March 21st, just before the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 24th. I remained at home throughout the lockdown and managed my daily routine without any issues. I followed my doctor’s instructions and took my medication as prescribed. A follow-up appointment with blood tests was scheduled for two weeks later. Obtaining a blood test during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging. I conveniently booked an online appointment with Lal Path Labs
They collected blood samples from my home and sent the reports to me online. Another challenge was seeing a doctor, as most of the hospital was closed. Only emergency services were operational, but even those were limited. In reality, the hospital was not even providing emergency care. Patients arriving with urgent medical needs were often denied admission. The senior doctors were absent, and only resident doctors were available to see patients, prescribe medication, and schedule follow-up appointments.
Many people who died in India during the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t succumb to the virus itself but to other underlying health conditions that they couldn’t receive treatment for. When I arrived at the hospital, the doctor’s outpatient clinic was closed. There was no one to even speak with the patients. I went to the emergency ward and explained my situation, but they were unresponsive and told me to return after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided. As a last resort, I went directly to the doctor’s personal office at the hospital.
I presented my reports to the doctor, but he became very angry that I had approached him directly. He began yelling at me and told me to return after the COVID-19 pandemic ended. I pleaded with him to simply tell me if I should stop, change, or continue my medication. However, he was so enraged that he threw away my reports without even examining them. He called his assistant, and they forcibly removed me from his office. It was a cruel and inhumane act from someone entrusted with public health.
I did nothing wrong by going to his office, as doctors were mandated by the government to be present at the hospital to care for their patients. I was also strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocols. Unfortunately, the doctor’s behavior was typical of many government hospital doctors in India. I was unsure what to do next. Should I continue my medication, stop it, or change it? My supply of medication had also run out, and purchasing medicines during the COVID-19 lockdown was challenging due to the closure of many medical shops.
Feeling well and concerned about potential medication overdose, I decided to stop taking my medication. Although I initially felt fine, the relief was short-lived. I began experiencing severe, indescribable pain in both legs. The pain was so intense that I required constant massage. My wife and mother were incredibly supportive during this time. They would take turns massaging my legs throughout the day and night. When they fell asleep, I would cry in pain and massage my legs myself.
Nothing was working, and my condition was deteriorating rapidly. I began experiencing severe stomach discomfort, weakness, and fatigue. I spent most of my time lying in bed, massaging my legs, and crying. I tried to contact the doctor at BHU again, but it was impossible. Desperate for help, I decided to visit another hospital. I went to Popular Hospital in Varanasi, where a doctor recommended hospitalization. Unfortunately, they had no available beds.
I took the prescribed medication and returned home. However, none of the medicines were effective. I felt weak, tired, nauseous, and had a heavy stomach. My fatigue and difficulty breathing persisted. The leg pain also showed no improvement. One night, feeling particularly unwell, I went to Samvedna Hospital, located near my home. Samvedna Hospital has a reputation for overcharging patients, but I had no other choice.
The main doctor was unavailable, so a nurse examined me. The nurse spoke to the doctor by phone, who requested my hospitalization. I agreed to be admitted, but there were no available beds in the general ward. The nurse explained that I would need to be admitted to the ICU due to my condition. After a chest X-ray, I was admitted to the ICU ward.
The ICU ward was not what I expected. It was a large hall with multiple beds, lacking essential medical equipment. It resembled a typical hospital ward without even a doctor present. I observed the nurse sending my X-ray image to the doctor via WhatsApp. After a few minutes, the doctor returned and asked me to follow him. I assumed he was taking me for further tests, but he instead brought me back to my family members on the ground floor.
I noticed that the hospital staff maintained an unusual distance from me. I also saw another person spraying sanitizer everywhere I touched or stepped. My family members suggested that we return home. Later, I learned that the doctor suspected I had COVID-19 and decided to discharge me from the hospital. I was frightened to hear that I might have COVID-19, even though I had no symptoms. We decided to visit another hospital the next day and then returned home.
To be continued in the part 4