“I saw a character with black wings”: the story of a doctor who defeated the coronavirus

Nail 40-year-old doctor who remained in hospital for 150 days after being infected with Covid-19, “miraculously” recovered from the disease and decided to share his experience. The woman was one of the first patients to be treated with Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

It is Anushua Gupta, who works as a doctor in Greater Manchester, UK, and decided to share his experience in the journal Anesthesia Reports. the April 1, 2020, the woman was admitted to hospital and three days later she was transferred to intensive care. “To lack worst fears they were becoming reality, ”he said.

Because of low oxygen levels, Gupta began to experiment “Visual hallucinations of a figure with black wings.” Before being induced into a coma, she says, when her condition worsened, she said goodbye to her family. “I called my husband Ankur and asked to see our daughter Ariana, who was 18 months old at the time, during a video call, since I thought I would never see her again “, remember. That night she was sedated, not knowing it he would remain in a coma for the next two months.

When her condition worsened, Gupta was fortunate enough to receive a vital support. the April 13 the doctors decided to treat her with ECMO for 34 days, a treatment that involves removing deoxygenated venous blood, adding oxygen (and removing carbon dioxide) outside the body, and returning now oxygenated venous blood to the patient.

Only four days later to introduce the treatment, the woman started to improve and the doctors described the situation as “miracle“.

On May 23, she was subjected to a tracheotomy to help her breathe, while the sedatives were gradually reduced. Finally, on September 1 of last year, he was released. “My daughter has been my driving force, supporting my determination to improve myself. My husband, who owned the fort when I was gone, continued to support me in every way, ”she adds.

“When I woke up from the coma, I realized I had no voice. He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t swallow, he couldn’t move his arms, his legs. I felt paralyzed ”, He remembered. The GP said that his “recovery is by no means complete” and Gupta continues with symptoms described as Extended Covid. Due to the time spent in therapy, suffered from multiple pulmonary complications, difficulty swallowing and he has completely lost his voice, even if thanks to the support of the therapists, he gradually recovered it.

He also explained that at the beginning I couldn’t sit up straight feed me, brush my teeth or hair, wash myself or even hold a pen. “Thanks to an immense contribution from the physiotherapy team, I gathered the physical and mental strength to be able to slowly stand up and stand up using a special device called a rotation stand. I learned that the vital role of rehabilitation after intensive care cannot be underestimated“.

He also received wide support psychological to help deal with her daughter and family’s separation anxiety, as well as the trauma of her physical recovery, by learning various coping strategies, including meditation. “I try to keep a very positive outlook on life and I feel that I was given a second chance“, revealed.

THE NATION