Swine flu has yet again evoked fears in the minds of people as it has killed 270 across Maharashtra and infected more than 3,500. While the health officials and medical experts have been trying to allay this fear, dna speaks to 59-year-old Laxmi Somal, who was on ventilator for 15 days and defeated the virus. Somal, a Mira Road resident, was in Wockhardt Hospital because of a respiratory problem. To be discharged within the next two days, she wants to tell citizens that instead of being worried about the disease, timely treatment is the key to getting rid of it.
I was admitted in hospital on February 22 when I developed symptoms like difficulty in breathing, coughing, sneezing and fever. On the first day itself, they put me on oxygen. But when my condition deteriorated the next day, they put me on ventilator. Only when I came out of the ventilator, had they informed me that I was diagnosed with swine flu.
And once the viral infection was confirmed, they immediately shifted me from the general ward to the isolated ward which was attached to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Not only the nurses or doctors, my relatives too came to see me by covering their faces with masks. I was also made to wear one.
When I was on ventilator, doctors had put Ryles tubes through my nose for feeding. During the past 15 days, nurses gave me protein power, milk and fruit juices.
I became very week. But I realised that one has to be strong during such an ailment. One must feel that one has to live life and think nothing has happened.
After spending 15 days on ventilator, I have been feeling better in the past two days. I can breath normally now and am eager to go home.
Doctors say that I need to stay here for two more days. I have heard that swine flu dangerous, but proper treatment can cure this disease. My family is taking good care of me.
Dr Hemant Gupta, the treating doctor and senior consultant physician at Wokhardt Hospital said: “When she was brought to the hospital, her condition was very bad. In swine flu, a patient rapidly develops pneumonia. In most cases, the patient is not able to breathe. There is a standard protocol to treat such diseases. Our doctors closely observe a patient and change the doses of medicines accordingly. Laxmi is fine now and she will be discharged within two days.”
