Our COVID/Corona 3rd Wave Experience
Disclaimer: These views are of a non-medical person. Please cross-check with medical professionals before you come to any conclusion based on what is written below.
My wife was having considerable body pain, a couple of nights before the new year. She also had some cough, the next morning. So we went to the doctor to get some medicines for the body pain but he asked us to take the RT-PCR test for COVID/Coronavirus.
We were puzzled. We thought it was perhaps a mandatory procedure, and gave the test anyway.
That night her cough increased. The next day the hospital confirmed that my wife was positive for COVID/Coronavirus.
Hospital Admission
We went and saw the doctor who suggested that we get her admitted. The pi value in the RT-PCR test result was quite high and hence they said it would be better for them to monitor her for 3-5 days in the hospital. Besides, by being in the hospital when the virus is active, she would minimize the chances of spreading it to others.
We did the RT-PCR test for me and my mother too. Both of us tested negative.
Hospital Experience
The hospital was continuously monitoring her BP, Sugar, Oxygen levels, etc. To our surprise, we found that her Sugar level was around 400 (more than double the normal value) and they immediately started giving insulin to control it.
It seems high sugar or BP levels were one reason for lower immunity and these need to be kept in check, even for double-vaccinated people like us. They asked us to check the sugar level 15 days after all medication stopped, to confirm if the medications caused the spike in sugar values.
The hospital also gave her medications (immunotherapy) to improve her immunity. They also gave her glucose drips, and medications to prevent blood clots (I guess that happens with some COVID-positive cases). They took x-ray to confirm that the virus is not affecting the chest region. On the last day, they even took CT Scan to make sure everything is clear.
I guess they were monitoring to see if the virus affected the lungs, etc. Once they were satisfied with the progress and didn’t find any delta strain that could affect below the throat, they then advised home isolation.
I should appreciate the hospital staff for taking up and treating corona cases, in spite of the risks involved.
How Much does Private Hospital Charge for this COVID/Corona 3rd Wave?
The doctors said they would need to monitor for 3-5 days. They finally discharged her in 5 days.
Per Day, on average, it cost us Rs. 20,000/- including ICU charges, pharmacy bills, CT Scan, X-Ray, Insulin, RT-PCR, etc. My wife did not require oxygen or other forms of life support during her stay. I am mentioning this amount so that you get an idea of how much it will cost if private hospitalization is required for Corona 3rd Wave.
The hospital we admitted her was our familiar, relatively small, private hospital. It could be more in bigger hospitals or depending on the type of treatment required. It could also be less in the case of Govt. Hospital, home isolation, etc.
As I write this, my wife is already out of the 10-day home isolation, after the 5-day hospitalization. She is cured and fine.
Destination Infinity
Happy to note your wife is now fully recovered. Both must have gone thru scary experience. Glad you both faced it bravely and did not panic.
Thanks, SG. We did panic, it doesn’t show through in the blog post. But we managed it as well as we could.
Destination Infinity
I’m glad she’s fine now despite all the anxieties. We may say the 3rd wave wasn’t much severe, but going through a positive report will cause fear to anyone since we saw the worst in the previous waves. I think the anxiety has all the possibilities to raise the sugar and bp level when covid affects. Despite the medicine and all, you sound very supportive, like a booster to eliminate her out of the covid. Take care
Thanks for your encouraging comment, Jeevan. Ya, anxiety is definitely there during such difficult situations.
Destination Infinity
Glad to know that your wife has recovered. Let’s hope these times are behind us soon.
Ya, I hope there are no more variants and this one gets classified as an endemic soon…
Destination Infinity
During the third wave, around January 22nd, which also happens to be my birthday, we tested positive for COVID. I thanked my lucky stars coz we got the milder version. I have seen from close quarters how bad the 2nd wave had been. Even my kids were down this time. The after effects of COVID lingered long. I had severe gastric trouble, vomitings, indigestion, motions. You name it, I had it. Each of us had a different symptom. Mine were gastric, my husband was lethargic, kids had no appetite. Yet to get my booster though. May get it in May. Doctor told us we could wait till May for our shot.