Recovered patients must be doubly careful: Doctors

Hubballi: “It’s been two weeks since I recovered from Covid-19, I am experiencing extreme fatigue and am unable to do my regular work. Based on the suggestion of my friend, I visited a physician, who checked my parameters, and advised me to take some pills and to consume nutritious food and do mild exercise,” says a-46-year old. He works in a private company, and had mild symptoms.
Many patients who recovered from Covid-19 are facing one or another problem.
A-55-year old woman who recently recovered from Covid-19 is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being discharged from the hospital. She was in the ICU in KIMS Covid hospital for seven days, and on oxygen support, as she developed an acute breathing problem.
“When I close my eyes, a picture of the ICU comes before me. The deaths of patients used to come to my mind, and hence I was unable to sleep properly,” she says.
Doctors from Dimhans diagnosed her with PTSD and advised her mild tranquillisers and some exercises to calm her mind.
Dr G B Sattur, a physician and cardio-diabetologist from Hubballi, said that patients who recovered from Covid should be extra vigilant, as they may develop some complications.
Dr Sattur advised patients who recover from Covid to take a six-minute walk test. They should walk for six minutes, and check the saturation level in the pulse oximeter, if the saturation level dips below 90, then they should seek medical help, he said. He also advised patients to do breathing exercises to increase the capacity of their lungs. He said that heart-related complications were also noted in the post recovery stage in patients.
Dr Pradeep Kallolimath, a neurologist from Huballi, said Covid-19 increases the risk of thrombosis in the body. “This can lead to ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. Neurologists have also come across cases of cerebral venous thrombosis and brain haemorrhages during Covid. The virus can also cause encephalitis and meningitis. Cases of GB syndrome were reported following viral infection in some parts of Karnataka,” he said.
“Patients who have recovered from a severe case of Covid-19 may develop memory problems and pulmonary fibrosis, which might have long term implications,” said Dr Kallolimath.
Doctors are advising Covid-19 patients to get a detailed health assessment done to avoid future complications.