News & Updates

CORONA: A BEAUTIFUL NAME FOR A VILE VIRUS

Jun 11, 2020

I was so excited as the transition from lockdown level 4 to level 3 loomed, with the prospect of the property industry kicking back into action after its lockdown slumber now real – and then,  that Thursday morning, I felt my body temperature rise just that little bit above where it should have been…

“Oh dear, possible onset of man-flu” I told myself as I headed home in accordance with protocol. My temperature never rose alarmingly, but was accompanied by the chills, and I felt like I just couldn’t get warm throughout Thursday afternoon. There was a bit of nausea, nothing too serious – but then the upset stomach took centre-stage and it felt like my insides had been pushed through a Nutri-Bullet. “Ah, it’s just a tummy-bug” I told my wife – “I’ll be fine in a few days”…

Having had a fever I submitted to a COVID-19 test, just to rule the Coronavirus out. I went through to a testing facility on Friday morning for the uncomfortable extraction of a nasal swab, still convinced I was just dealing with a tummy-bug. When I received the SMS from the lab on Sunday afternoon that the test result had come back POSITIVE for COVID-19, I was most surprised!

I continued to experience a dull headache and generally felt that I was not “firing on all cylinders”.  I was not confined to my bed, and able to move around the house, but just not feeling well. I was convinced that recovery would be a day or two away and that strength would return soon – but throughout the week there was little change, and the fatigue and lethargy in fact worsened. I never experienced any real respiratory symptoms, but if I walked the rubbish bin to the road, or picked up one of the kids, a shortness of breath was noticeable. Coronavirus definitely deserves some respect – it held me down for longer than I would have thought it would!

After 8 days from the time that I had first shown symptoms, I felt the virus leave my system. There was an immediate increase in energy levels and I felt I was on the road to recovery. Today is the 14th day since I first showed symptoms, and I am fully recovered. I am hopefully full of COVID-19 antibodies, and therefore Corona-proof!

Interestingly, my 9 year old and 6 year old also fell ill last Monday, with the same tummy-bug like symptoms (so much for COVID-19 not manifesting in kids). They suffered from fever, vomiting and diarrhoea for about 3 days but, as kids do, bounced back quite quickly. My wife was also sick, but with the dry cough and more respiratory-like symptoms – so it really does manifest differently in each individual.

Like Cyril Ramaphosa has said: don’t be afraid, be prepared. Stay Safe and Be Strong.