My Story Surviving Covid-19, May 2020
By: Jason Bayly
Tags: Covid 19, Covid Diaries, Coronavirus

So I don’t post much on social media, I like to be the quiet guy people don’t notice. But this seems to be the most effective way to let you all know what I’ve been going through over the last couple weeks. I wanted to share my story, some wisdom and a reminder to not get complacent. I’m now officially a Covid-19 survivor.

On Monday May 18th I started to develop a fever, diarrhea, nausea, body aches, cough and pains — generally felt crappy. I got tested (nasal swab) on Tuesday and received a positive test result for Covid-19 the following Saturday. I knew I had the virus as this was unlike any illness I’ve had before. That entire week I told myself it would be mild symptoms and that I would get through this at home (taking Tylenol to control the fever), hospital is not an option. This was not to be the case.

As my symptoms worsened that week, the cough especially got worse and my energy was drained, preparing food, doing anything resulted in a crushing fatigue. My friends & family were checking in constantly and I put on a brave face, “I’m still breathing ok, I will get through this”.. I eventually lost the ability to care for myself (I live alone), and had to have someone call 911, this was the day after memorial day.

Prior to calling 911 I had to organize my power of attorney and primary care directive — just in case the worst happened. I also need to get my will sorted out (a little late I know). This is a PSA to get your affairs in order.

I was taken to the ER at CPMC Davies Campus, where I had a fever of 104 on arrival. I was transferred to CPMC Mission/Bernal Campus — which has been setup to handle Covid-19 cases.

I spent one night in an isolation room and was transferred to the ICU the next day. The thing with Covid is it gets into your lungs, causing pneumonia and you lose the ability to absorb oxygen. But I thought I was still breathing ok, so what’s the problem? Without the correct levels of oxygen in your blood (90% plus), you feel lethargic, sleepy and cognitively challenged. While i was waiting to be transferred I was contacted about a clinical research program for the drug Remdesivir. Remdesivir is a broad spectrum antiviral used in the past to treat Ebola. It had seen positive results in shortening the duration of the Covid infection, less time can also mean less severity. So I signed up.

It became pretty obvious that I needed to go onto a ventilator, as I was diagnosed with Pneumonia. I was terrified, people don’t survive being on the ventilator was what the news had been telling me. I thought I was going to die. At this time I met Lara (not her real name) a respiratory therapist from Russia, an older woman who became my ICU mama and convinced me that I wouldn’t die and that she wouldn’t let that happen. She reminded me of my late mother. She held my hand and helped me process the consent I needed to give. I was then intubated and put on a ventilator. I won’t go into all the details, but the sedation drugs (Propofol) was tricky and they couldn’t get my dose right to induce a coma. The paralysation drugs were in full force so I was unable to move or communicate, and I was fully conscious (yet sedated) during the intubation procedure. I remained on the ventilator for a week. Lara would visit often at first and tell me to fight and that’s what I did.

That week started as a blur, the sedation was heavy to begin with and the crazy lucid dreams began. I later learned about a condition called ICU psychosis — basically the drugs can cause you to lose touch with reality, hear and see things and generally lose your marbles. At one point i thought certain nurses were trying to do me harm — so i managed scratch out on a piece of paper — Less Sedation. So they lowered my dose and the crazy subsided. This meant a new reality of being conscious whilst intubated, they usually prefer to keep you knocked out — apparently its just easier on everyone. Nurses included.

So for the next 4 days i had to remain somewhat sedated but aware i was intubated. My hands were tied down (to prevent trying to remove the tubes) and my only way to get attention was the button on the bed controller. The only way to communicate was to write on a pad, impossible at first. It was about this time they started to give me updates on my progress and started discussing when I could be extubated. Lara came in to give me the news and to let me know she was watching over me. It was also during this time I got to know my nurses and experience a kindness and tenderness from strangers I have never experienced before. No matter their gender, race or religion they showed me so much compassion, empathy and support. I was terrified and would often simply hold their hands whilst they were in the room unable to communicate. I am so blown away by the risk these people take, the kindness they show to strangers and their humanity in such trying conditions. I met nurses from all around the world and for all of them I will be eternally grateful — as they are my personal heroes.

My extubation was delayed to ensure I could breath once the tubes were removed, so I spent a period of time being ventilated and then demonstrating I could breathe without ventilation. Once removed, having to be re-intubated is very risky, so they make sure you’re able to go it alone. The tubes were eventually removed — cough and they’re gone. OMG this was the moment i knew I was through the worst of it i could breathe again and i was going to get better. It was at this moment I turned my phone on and rejoined the world. The outpouring of support on my phone from family and friends was overwhelming and humbling. I got to have my first drink of cold water in over a week, and one of the nurses spiked my water with some OJ (which they are not supposed to do) — I’ve never tasted anything so sweet and soothing.

From this point on my recovery was speedy, the next day I was transferred out of ICU to an isolation room and spent 2 more nights to complete my Remdesivir and antibiotic treatments. The ICU nurses all clapped as i was wheeled out, I was their success story, everything they worked so hard to ensure. I was the project they shipped (out of the ICU). I have never felt so humbled and grateful in my entire life.

My message to everyone is that this is survivable, even when severe. Go to the hospital before things get desperate, your strength matters, getting treated before losing all your strength plays a huge part in your recovery. Take it seriously. Keep a thermometer at home, the severity of the fever is linked to how well you are, just because you can breathe doesn’t mean you are getting enough oxygen.

I’m now recovering at home, this means being on oxygen support 24hrs a day, at about 30% of normal stamina, naps are good stairs not so much fun. I need to work my lungs to increase their capacity and ensure the damage isn’t permanent. It’s slow going, but each day I feel stronger.

In terms of how I contracted the virus.. It caught me by surprise as I’ve been very strict since starting the lock down in early March. It comes down to the grocery store, the corner store, walgreens (chemist for the aussies) and the weekly Lyft ride I need to get the groceries back home (I live on one of the biggest hills in SF). I got complacent, i did not observe proper sanitation process, i did not have gloves on (but i wore a mask) I touched an unclean surface and touched my face. It could of been the Lyft driver or previous passenger who transmitted the virus in the car. It could also be the food I get delivered or other packages. Whatever it was I will never know, the only thing that matters moving forward is to improve my self awareness and mitigate personal risk.

I have been told I’m no longer contagious, the virus usually runs its course over 2 week and starts to die. I will continue to test positive (for a few more weeks) as my body sheds and disposes of the dead virus. I should have some immunity for a period (but there is no definitive science here yet), this means I could potentially catch this thing again. This terrifies me the most.

Fun fact the virus can only live on any surface for 3 days, if you don’t need to open that Amazon package, let it sit there for 3+ days. Use gloves, wipe down anything that comes into your house, your home is your protective bubble, try to only bring clean things into your house, or have a sanitisation process to mitigate risk. Did you wipe down the last food you had delivered? Did you wash your hands after touching the food delivery bag and packaging? We all have to outsmart this thing, it’s the only way to ensure we avoid it.

Please don’t be complacent, please keep away from other people and surfaces you don’t know to be clean. All the protests on TV, whilst the cause is so so deserved — spreading Covid and contributing to a surge like no other is sure to come next. Seeing everyone like that terrifies me and the infection rates are starting to climb again. I was lucky the hospital wasn’t busy and I received the best care and had my own room. This can change in a heartbeat, when the hospitals are at capacity the level of care will drop, it’s inevitable. I was lucky to get Covid-19 when I did, a couple weeks from now — could be a completely different story.

So many people to thank. My doctor at CPMC Mission/Bernal Campus was Dr Dan Goodman, an infectious disease specialist. His entire team of nurses and respiratory specialists all contributed to my outcome — far too many to name, these people are my heroes. I will be contributing to the noise at 8pm every night in honor of these brave and beautiful people.

Feel free to donate here https://www.sutterhealth.org/cpmc/ways-to-give/philanthropy/covid-19

My sisters, my family and my crew. I don’t have many close friends here in the US and SF all of them stepped up to care for me, coordinating efforts and constantly checking in, they know who they are. My manager and friend Brendan McWeeney, I knew I made the right choice to work for this guy and sign-on at LinkedIn. Thanks guys! And all my old colleagues so many offers and support, it’s been so overwhelming and humbling. I am so grateful for all of you.

This virus is out there, the numbers are only as valid as the number of people who get tested. The testing is only reliable 40% of the time. Nasal testing is the most reliable form of testing. Most people have mild and or no symptoms at all — they will never show up in the stats (unless tested). Don’t fall for the news that this thing is no longer an issue. SF has had a similar story as we move towards reopening. This virus is real its out there still, no matter what fancy info graphics they use on the news — please all be smarter than that. Complacency is what will cause you to become infected.

Please take care, this thing is real, don’t let my story become your story.