Loneliness hurts more than virus, say patients

The patient from Purasawalkam recalls hospitalisation, quarantine and mental issues she went through during the 14 days of her treatment. It is not really the disease or physical health that is difficult to recover, but the isolation is what affects an individual more, she rued.

D Jayanthi had returned from USA on March 17 after visiting her son and daughter-in-law along with her husband. “Upon arrival, I was feeling normal, but was asked to stay in home quarantine. After two days, I had a fever of 101. It was just like a normal fever, chills, cough and body ache. However, we decided to not waste any more time as we had a travel history to USA and I along with my husband went to Stanley Medical College and Hospital,” said Jayanthi.

She and her husband were hospitalised and their samples were sent for testing. While her husband was sent home after his sample tested negative, she was asked to stay back. “They sent the samples for confirmation and a day after, I was tested positive,” said added. Soon after, her helper was also checked and found to have been infected. The helper has recovered and returned home.

Despite being a diabetic, Jayanthi did not face any health complications and her fever subsided soon. However, staying alone took a toll on her mental health.

Talking about overcoming the sense of loneliness, Jayanthi says that she started talking to the patients in the next room over phone.

“There were not even enough nurses or doctors who I could talk about my depression over being alone. Doctors would come at 1.30 pm and then around 9 pm. Even the other couple got discharged before me and then I had only my phone,” she said.

Jayanthi said that the hospital food, attitude of the doctors and uncertainty over her health made her hospitalisation even more difficult. Denying the claims of the state health department’s specific diet based on the patient’s health condition given to the patients, Jayanthi said that there were no diet plans as claimed. “I felt like my 14 days of hospitalisation was like 14 years of ‘Vanvaas.’ The moment I was told that I am being discharged, I felt victorious,” she said.

However, Stanley Medical College and Hospital authorities said, “All of us, doctors, nurses and workers are trying hard to cure the patients. The patients cannot expect home food. They have to co-operate with us to help us deliver better healthcare services.”