With the country opening up more, the need for basic precaution against COVID-19 has not gone away. Perhaps areas and families that have avoided it to date see less need for precaution, but the more we move around, the greater the risk becomes.
Many of us have the opinion that, “COVID-19 will not get me. I am strong, healthy and very seldom sick.” I was in that camp, but I still got caught and it was not a pleasant experience. But I came out the other side and now I view everybody as potentially infectious and that helps provide due precaution. As far as I know, I will not get this virus again, but I would certainly not want to give it to anyone else.
Andy Doyle pictured at the Tullamore Show in 2019. \ Philip Doyle
My main problem was fever and, luckily, I did not have a breathing problem
I write this, not to appear as a martyr, but to provide a reminder of its potential seriousness. For me it started in early April. First something small that lasted a day or so and then on to the more serious symptoms. My main problem was fever and, luckily, I did not have a breathing problem. The first day I felt under the weather, it was the usual two paracetamol and early to bed. For two days after that I was flying. No issues; nothing to worry about; no thoughts of COVID-19.
Running hot and cold
Three days later and I was dead on my feet. My temperature had started to rise and at times I fitted neatly into a common description of the word “average” – head in the oven and feet in the fridge, so on average I should have been fine. For a few days, my temperature oscillated between 36°C and 40°C.
With the fever came fatigue. I was zonked
During these days I contacted the doctor to get things checked out. Having gone through a sort of removed visit to the doctor, I was scheduled for a COVID-19 test two days later. I was surprised when I was filling up the requisite forms for the doctor that I had ticked about 75% of the boxes that described possible symptoms of COVID-19. Most of them were only occasional symptoms and were not serious, but my fever was getting worse.
With the fever came fatigue. I was zonked. My temperature went above 40°C the day before I was due to go for my COVID-19 test and it just would not come down. So I got whisked off to St James’s Hospital and that was an eerie place at the height of the lockdown. But I was helped by the most lovely and helpful nurse and doctor, who could not have been kinder while risking their own health.
Within 12 hours of leaving the hospital, I got a call to say my COVID-19 test was positive
In the hospital I was tested for this and that with bloods and X-rays. I was also tested for COVID-19, so I had to cancel my test on the following day. I obviously had a bad fever, an infection in my chest, but my blood oxygen levels were good, so I was eventually sent home. Within 12 hours of leaving the hospital, I got a call to say my COVID-19 test was positive. Then every day for the following number of days I received a call from the infectious diseases unit at that hospital to enquire about my health and to offer further advice.
Tough going for a while
I do not think I was ever in serious danger, but I can also say that I have little recollection of Easter or indeed most of April. Eat a little, drink a little and sleep, sleep, sleep. The fever was severe. For a number of consecutive nights I lost between 0.8kg and 0.9kg of weight, mainly as sweat. The fever was also accompanied by terrible hallucinations, which seemed to be endless. I had never experienced these before and I certainly would not wish to have them again. Thankfully those memories are now fading.
When I got back out walking after a long period of isolation I had difficulty walking in a straight line
From my initial two paracetamol to when I was back to myself took something over six weeks. When I got back out walking after a long period of isolation I had difficulty walking in a straight line. For a few days I was like a car with bad tracking, pulling to one side. But that sorted itself out and a few more weeks got me back to physical work.
Back to square one now
When I had recovered, I was called back to St James’s Hospital for a check-up, some further testing, and I signed up for their COVID-19 research effort. That was the least I could do in the hope that it will help others.
Having spent the initial weeks of recovery keeping away from people for fear I could transmit the disease, I was told in hospital that I was no longer a risk in terms of transmitting the virus through breathing, coughing etc. However, we can all transmit it through physical contact, so hygiene remains very important.
I had barely been out of the house between the start of lockdown and being struck down
By the time I got back out in early May I could not but notice the relative indifference of some people to the risks of infection. There is still no understanding as to why some people get struck down with a serious dose while others contract the virus but remain symptomless. I had barely been out of the house between the start of lockdown and being struck down.
For me, my movements and actions are heavily influenced by my wish not to give this bug to anyone else. But I and many more like me can only do so much if people do not take basic precautions. The more ambiguous people become to the risk, the more difficult it becomes to do what is right.
A plea
For me COVID-19 was not a pleasant bedfellow and I was not even bad by some standards. I can only hope that this record of my experiences will encourage people to think of others in the actions they take and in doing this they will also help protect themselves. This virus has not gone away, and I hope that I will not get it again.
Read more
Care needed to prevent COVID-19 going underground
‘Despite reports, I do not feel like someone is sticking a nail into my brain’
With the country opening up more, the need for basic precaution against COVID-19 has not gone away. Perhaps areas and families that have avoided it to date see less need for precaution, but the more we move around, the greater the risk becomes.
Many of us have the opinion that, “COVID-19 will not get me. I am strong, healthy and very seldom sick.” I was in that camp, but I still got caught and it was not a pleasant experience. But I came out the other side and now I view everybody as potentially infectious and that helps provide due precaution. As far as I know, I will not get this virus again, but I would certainly not want to give it to anyone else.
Andy Doyle pictured at the Tullamore Show in 2019. \ Philip Doyle
My main problem was fever and, luckily, I did not have a breathing problem
I write this, not to appear as a martyr, but to provide a reminder of its potential seriousness. For me it started in early April. First something small that lasted a day or so and then on to the more serious symptoms. My main problem was fever and, luckily, I did not have a breathing problem. The first day I felt under the weather, it was the usual two paracetamol and early to bed. For two days after that I was flying. No issues; nothing to worry about; no thoughts of COVID-19.
Running hot and cold
Three days later and I was dead on my feet. My temperature had started to rise and at times I fitted neatly into a common description of the word “average” – head in the oven and feet in the fridge, so on average I should have been fine. For a few days, my temperature oscillated between 36°C and 40°C.
With the fever came fatigue. I was zonked
During these days I contacted the doctor to get things checked out. Having gone through a sort of removed visit to the doctor, I was scheduled for a COVID-19 test two days later. I was surprised when I was filling up the requisite forms for the doctor that I had ticked about 75% of the boxes that described possible symptoms of COVID-19. Most of them were only occasional symptoms and were not serious, but my fever was getting worse.
With the fever came fatigue. I was zonked. My temperature went above 40°C the day before I was due to go for my COVID-19 test and it just would not come down. So I got whisked off to St James’s Hospital and that was an eerie place at the height of the lockdown. But I was helped by the most lovely and helpful nurse and doctor, who could not have been kinder while risking their own health.
Within 12 hours of leaving the hospital, I got a call to say my COVID-19 test was positive
In the hospital I was tested for this and that with bloods and X-rays. I was also tested for COVID-19, so I had to cancel my test on the following day. I obviously had a bad fever, an infection in my chest, but my blood oxygen levels were good, so I was eventually sent home. Within 12 hours of leaving the hospital, I got a call to say my COVID-19 test was positive. Then every day for the following number of days I received a call from the infectious diseases unit at that hospital to enquire about my health and to offer further advice.
Tough going for a while
I do not think I was ever in serious danger, but I can also say that I have little recollection of Easter or indeed most of April. Eat a little, drink a little and sleep, sleep, sleep. The fever was severe. For a number of consecutive nights I lost between 0.8kg and 0.9kg of weight, mainly as sweat. The fever was also accompanied by terrible hallucinations, which seemed to be endless. I had never experienced these before and I certainly would not wish to have them again. Thankfully those memories are now fading.
When I got back out walking after a long period of isolation I had difficulty walking in a straight line
From my initial two paracetamol to when I was back to myself took something over six weeks. When I got back out walking after a long period of isolation I had difficulty walking in a straight line. For a few days I was like a car with bad tracking, pulling to one side. But that sorted itself out and a few more weeks got me back to physical work.
Back to square one now
When I had recovered, I was called back to St James’s Hospital for a check-up, some further testing, and I signed up for their COVID-19 research effort. That was the least I could do in the hope that it will help others.
Having spent the initial weeks of recovery keeping away from people for fear I could transmit the disease, I was told in hospital that I was no longer a risk in terms of transmitting the virus through breathing, coughing etc. However, we can all transmit it through physical contact, so hygiene remains very important.
I had barely been out of the house between the start of lockdown and being struck down
By the time I got back out in early May I could not but notice the relative indifference of some people to the risks of infection. There is still no understanding as to why some people get struck down with a serious dose while others contract the virus but remain symptomless. I had barely been out of the house between the start of lockdown and being struck down.
For me, my movements and actions are heavily influenced by my wish not to give this bug to anyone else. But I and many more like me can only do so much if people do not take basic precautions. The more ambiguous people become to the risk, the more difficult it becomes to do what is right.
A plea
For me COVID-19 was not a pleasant bedfellow and I was not even bad by some standards. I can only hope that this record of my experiences will encourage people to think of others in the actions they take and in doing this they will also help protect themselves. This virus has not gone away, and I hope that I will not get it again.
Read more
Care needed to prevent COVID-19 going underground
‘Despite reports, I do not feel like someone is sticking a nail into my brain’
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