Following the recent stories circulating about the experience coronavirus disease (COVID-19) survivors, more Filipinos who have recouped from the disease have come out to share how the virus change their body state for the worse even after they have fully recovered.
Benjie Mabida and Marialyn Patosa Morial-Jumadas, two COVID-19 survivors based in the UAE, said that even months or weeks after they have been declared fully recovered from the disease, they have noticed that their bodies are not how they were – noting that they always get tired, sore throat, and breathless easily.
Mabida, 33, said that he was diagnosed on April 19 and was put in an isolation facility after he experienced fever and muscle pains. He said that for 22 days, he gargled three times a day as well as took multivitamins every day, before he was declared recovered on May 10.
However, he said that despite surviving the disease with only mild symptoms, he still experiences irregularities in his body, and that he felt that his body has never fully recovered.
“Hanggang ngayon mayroon pa din akong panunuyo ng lalamunan lalo kapag hindi ako nag-gargle. Kaya ngayon halos hindi ko na mabitawan ang nilagang luya,” he said.
He added that his body has definitely weakened as well, and that a few walks under the sun makes him gasp for breath already.
“Mahina na talaga ang katawan ko, hahabulin ko na ang hininga ko kapag na exposed sa init, ‘di katulad dati,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jumadas, 28, said that aside from breathlessness – even from just mere talking – her heartbeats have become faster now.
“Lagi akong hinihingal kahit nagsasalita lang ako. Tapos lagi na din mas mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko,” she said.
The Filipina was diagnosed on June 1 after she suffered from sore throat, headache, fever, and dry cough. She said she relied on natural treatments and medications and vitamins in order to treat COVID-19.
However, like many other survivors, she felt that her body has also deteriorated drastically.
“Sinusubukan ko mag-exercise pero hanggang 15 minutes na ang pinakamatagal ko kasi hindi ako makahinga kapag mas matagal pa,” she said.
She called on others to just follow the regulations to ensure their safety, because the disease seems to linger for a long time even after recovering from it.
“Please lang po, sumunod kayo sa mga regulasyon kasi hindi madaling magka-COVID-19, sobrang hirap po talaga. Pinaka-importante talaga yung distance talaga sa mga tao at hugas kamay talaga lagi,” Jumadas said.
Meanwhile, Mabida also asked people to have the discipline because it’s much easier to follow the safety rules than to survive the disease.
“Sa mga violators ng COVID-19 safety regulations, nilalagay niyo lang ang sarili niyo sa panganib. Magkaroon tayo ng self-discipline dahil ito lang ang kailangan para matapos na agn pandemic,” he said.
