Malaysian Youtuber, Haoren uploaded a 15 minutes video on his Facebook page, it was a horrifying experience of his friend fighting for life as a Category 4 COVID-19 patient, with SPo2 levels dropped below 70%. But he survived with a “life-saving Technique”!
▼ His friend, Jack took social media to share a post of his survival story. Haoren read out Jack’s post in his video and also make a phone call to Jack and asked more about the details of him contracting the deadly virus.
The post read:
Never ever thought, i’m nearly in the god of death list.
This is our experience.
Me and Wai Ling experienced fever. Thus, we went for the Covid test, and sadly the both of us tested positive. According to MySejahtera and KKM guideline, we underwent home-quarantine. We were taking Panadol, Lianhua Qingwen capsules, vitamins and some supplements, to boost the immune system.
At that time, our conditions were quite stable, but of course, symptoms started to appear including fever, cough, headache, diarrhea, lost of sense of smell and taste and so on. We kept monitoring our body temperature and oxygen level. Although, we have been very careful but still we underestimated COVID-19.
5 days after we infected, our body temperature went up to 40°C. Even after taking Panadol, 3 hours later body temperature still went up. It was like on and off, we were getting weak and suffering even have our food. Thus, we were only on liquid diet and had sleep deprivation.
▼（Picture for illustration purpose only ）
On the 6th day, i realised i had finished all the Panadol. Averagely, i took 8 tablets a day, but my fever was still on and off. Hence, i decided to look into the problem. But according to Ministry of Health (KKM) latest guideline, Covid patient do not need to report themselves in CAC unless they were notified. Thus, we only quarantined at home. However, we did not want to wait anymore, but to go to CAC for assessment.
On that time, Wai Ling sister’s gave us a suggestion to look for Dr. Yap in Poliklinik Tanming Jaya. Firstly, thinking about CAC will be full of patients, and our bodies were too weak, we probably couldn’t stand a long wait. Then we decided to give it a try to look for Dr. Yap.
In short, what i can say is Dr. Yap is really our saviour!
2 Days after having the medicines from Dr. Yap, we did see some improvement, no more fever and sense of taste and smell are slightly better but not that sensitive yet, cough ease a little too. We thought we were in the midst of recovery. But on that morning, i had breathing difficulty, SPo2 level dropped to 94%. The following day, Wai Ling didn’t sleep at all but closely monitored my condition. She started to buy oxygen tank just in case i need it. At one point, i was coughing blood, SPo2 level dropped to 92%, Dr. Yap immediately wrote a letter so i could admit to hospital Serdang soonest.
With that letter, the both of us packed some essential items and drove to hospital and rushed to the Emergency department.
I’m truly lucky, very very lucky.
The moment i reached hospital, i got a breathing aid device. But i only got a bed at night. I was asked to rest at the stretcher for a few hours before i got a bed. The moment i got my bed, i was truly exhausted. The following days i was on breathing aid device for 24 hours.
At that time, we have completed our quarantine period. Thought we should be ok and in the midst of recovery. But on 3rd day of my admission, i felt dizzy and shortness of breath, i couldn’t even go to toilet which is like 10 steps away from bed. Feeling suffocated, even unwilling to speak. I was then told by the doctor, my SPo2 level dropped to 70%. and i will be placed in ICU.
In the same time, the doctor called Wai Ling and told her my condition deteriorated. I was in the ICU waiting list, a possibility to get intubated with airway rescue devices. Wai Ling called me right after that, the two of us seemed on the verge of collapsing. As, intubation means you are with 20-30% surviving rate. I don’t even know whether i have a chance to survive. I even did a deathbed confession.
The only thing left in the conversation, was crying and breakdown. Wai Ling also mentioned an elderly ex-colleague who also a category 4 patient survived from the deadly virus, as a breathing technique save his life, he recovered fast and already discharged from the hospital. Thus, from that moment onwards, with a breathing aid device and SPo2 level of 80% i started to practise the same breathing technique, slowly breathe in small amount of air. Yes! It’s a ” Breathing” exercise, simple and yet hard for me.
But i found the more i did that breathing technique, the better it was. My SPo2 level increased. Although it’s not that stable but i felt more energetic. Thus i kept practising. Also i listened to the doctor’s advice, asked Wai Ling to buy me the Incentive Spirometry, a hand-held device that helps people to take slow, deep breaths. It’s like exercise equipment for the lungs to keep them strong, but under the circumstance of stable SPo2, you may remove the oxygen mask to do a minute or two and repeated the exercise. During my admission, Wai Ling also boiled me some Chinese herbal soup, with the hope it help.
▼ Shopee：【Click here】 | Lazada：【Click here】
We been trembling with fear for 2 days. Besides, the daily injections, blood test and so on. I was not informed anything, until a midnight. I was told to go fasting, then the two of us was in fear again thought my condition deteriorated, and medical team getting me ready to send to ICU, we cried with no tears. Lastly, only i found out the fasting was for the x-ray, and i verified that with doctor too. As through observation, my physical and mental conditions improved. Hence, they dropped the idea to send me to ICU, although my SPo2 level was still low, and i’m not out of danger yet.
I continued the breathing exercise, and slowly i can walked to toilet to pass urine, but when i walked back to bed my SPo2 will dropped to 70-80%, the moment i put on my oxygen mask the SPo2 will increased to around 91%, the shortness of breath is like you went for a race. Although, i did not have appetite, but i insisted to have my 3 meals and drank water. I knew, no starving as i need strength for the lungs exercise. With that, i only stand a chance to survive.
Thank god, i was better day by day, i’m able to go toilet and cleaned myself up. The report showed my lung was 50-75% damaged, but luckily the rest of my organs like heart and kidney are not affected. Also no blood clot in my lungs. With no comorbidity, survival rate is basically higher. Compare with some other patients in the ward whose been sending to ICU or passed away. I started believe, besides the medical frontliners efforts, the Chinese herbal soup help too.
Day 6 of admission, i was improving physically and mentally, only with not very stable SPo2, with average of 96%. The doctor gave me a lighter oxygen mask, and reduced the supplemental oxygen. But, because i’m still adapting to the change, at night my SPo2 dropped to 90%. I was depressed, especially at night listening to the broadcast about the ICU admission, wondering will i be the next one.
3 Days later, doctor reduced the amount of supplemental oxygen twice, i started to get used to it with SPo2 at around 94%. I was able to remove my oxygen mask sometimes, walking around the ward. But the amount of oxygen i breathe in was very little, shortness of breath and fatigue. The next day, doctor change me a oxygen tube instead of oxygen mask and reduced the oxygen flow. Me and Wai Ling were happy, because every move on reducing of oxygen flow mean i was one step closer to the recovery.
Day 10 on admission, my supplemental oxygen was removed. But, i was still on observation for my SPo2. One thing i found crucial, emotions can affected a patient’s conditions. After the problematic patient next to me discharged, i had a speedy recovery, not my lungs probably but mentally. And on the same day, after a blood test. I was told i can discharged from the hospital. I can’t wait but to inform Wai Ling immediately. So happened, she was at the hospital lobby, supposed to pass me the Chinese herbal soup. Ended up, she picked me up. But, at that time i hardly walked far or more than 10 steps, so i need to sit on a wheel chair to get to the car.
Only after walked away from the hospital lobby, i was relief and glad that i survived.
I even shed a tear, thanked god. Touching on hands that fulled of holes from jab, bruises, swollen arms because of uncountable blood draw. When we think back, everything happened so fast, we probably don’t even have enough time to respond to it. I nearly defeated by the deadly virus.
I have been discharged for sometimes, things are getting better. But still, i hardly walked from bedroom to toilet. I will still need Wai Ling to push me to toilet with the computer chair. Until now, I’m still doing at least 2 sessions per day, 1-2 hours per session to walk slowly, my vital capacity is improving. I felt myself able to breathe in at leat 50% of the oxygen, and my body weight never dropped anymore, and with stable SPo2, around 97% and still improving. Hopefully i will have speedy recovery, and things get back to the way that they were.
Hopefully with some of my experience i can help those who are unfortunately infected with COVID-19, or those with condition deteriorated to Cat 4.
1）Although you are weak, and with low SPo2, please spend sometimes to do breathing exercise within your ability. At least, sit on the bed 1-2 mins to practise the breathing technique and try your best to walk a few steps. Do not give up, or too rely on the breathing aid device. Do not think patients shouldn’t do anything just laying on the bed and rest. You are ok to rest and but not to stop fighting, defeated the deadly virus. Hang in there, your future path is waiting for you, not only the distance between your bed and the toilet but the day you reunite with your loved one. So, please practise the breathing technique that be taught by the nurses. No doubt, it was hard but hang in there. Although eating and drinking might be hard too, but please do not forget to eat and drink water.
Stay positive & determine, believing that you can make it. Taking down the oxygen mask on and off to breathe. Remember, you might be succumbed to the virus because of your laziness and reliance.
2）If unfortunately you are infected, please do not underestimate COVID-19.
3）Chinese herbal soup, which i believe helped. The recipe are as follow. Please consult your Chinese medicine practitioner.
4) If you are infected and you are obese, please be cautions. Because in the same time, your risk is higher and most of the patients in the cat 4 ward are obese.
5）Don’t give up, don’t give up and don’t give up! Breathing exercise is the only way to heal.
Weather is good today, but sadly we are still hearing sirens from ambulance everyday. I’m praying to the god, hopefully all the patients in the ward can discharged soon and no more patients in ICU.
It is not inevitable to be able to breathe well, i treasure it.
At the end of the video, Jack was sharing the breathing technique. But please take note, only do it under the circumstances your breathing is stable! And the following are the 2 devices needed for the breathing exercise :
▼ 1. Incentive spirometer – Shopee：【Click here】 | Lazada：【Click here】
▼ 2. Oximeter- Shopee：【Click here】 | Lazada：【Click here】
▼ Q : Is Jack vaccinated?
A: He was infected few days after his 1st dose of vaccination.
▼ Those who were infected agreed with Jack, the journey to recovery is not easy.
▼ One shared,” I was a Cat 5 patient and was in ICU, half conscious. I’m glad i survived but my body will never be 24-year-old body again. Yes, doctor suggested me to do the breathing exercise too. For the Chinese herbal soup recipe, best is to consult Chinese Medicine practitioner. Don’t ever think, you will be fine after vaccination. My dad was vaccinated but he was in Cat 4 when he infected.”
▼ ” Both my parents infected, sadly my dad couldn’t make it. Around 10 days on my mum admission, i was informed she might need to be place in ICU. I was totally breakdown. After my mum discharged, she told me:
- As long as she feel ok, she will do the breathing technique.
- Expose to some sunlight for Vitamin D
- Even with no appetite, you must eat something, just eat slowly
- Try to walk around if condition allowed
- Stay positive
Thank god my mum still recovering well. Please stay safe, everyone!
▼ Thanks for the vlog that you shared! It’s a useful information!
Info via：Haoren 朱浩仁 / Facebook | Jack Tan / Facebook
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