Home Quarantine Day 4-6

Day 4

By the end of Day 3, I got my first swab result, and of course, its negative.

Another day of studying goes.

I tried to relax my mind by watching some movies that I've missed for the past years.

Secret Life of Pets 2.

Greatest Showman (rewatch for the 6th time).

A call to Spy.

I think by the end of Day 4, I already got past my denial stage.

Day 5

We were once again to ask for 2nd swab today.

As I walked past the road of my hospital, I actually never realize that the building is so mesmerizing.

Simple, stable yet provide care for the folks of Ipoh for so many years.

Swab taken at 7.30am by my lovely MO, Dr Chen. 

I like how he can always joke on everything eventhough the situation is like fire burning on yr feet haha.

This time, shit just got real.

We were required to wear the legendary pink wristband, the prisoner band, that forbids us from moving a single inch out from our house.

One of the staff nurse I met that day, told me that his husband is working in the police force, and one of their job is to conduct regular spot checks on us.

True enough, police came knocking on my door in the evening.

I was instructed to lift up my hand to show the pink wristband for them to snap a photo to proof that I am at home.

So this is how it feels when freedom is being taken away....

and yeah, my 2nd swab is negative, of course!

Day 6

I woke up to the voice of my mom urging me to go downstairs, as our dear police officers are here again 'to make sure I'm alright'

Urghhhhhh

I am okay with the way they conduct spot checks but to take photos, its so frustrating.

Maybe its their SOP for doing so.

But its so uncomfortable, especially when some of your neighbours are peeking through the cement wall only to have more question marks on their head as of why police officers will come to my house everyday.

I am so bored.

I was suppose to go for BBQ session in my friend, Fadhirah's house.

It was suppose to be a last gathering among me and my colleagues, but yeah, sometimes life just cheat on you when you are most vulnerable.

It's so thoughtful of them to give me a call. They knew I wouldn't miss this kind of fun gathering especially with colleagues cum friends whom I have been working with for the past 2 years.

I even tried out the trending game, Among Us with my friends.

That is definitely a stress-relieving game indeed.

Home Quarantine Day 1-3

Day 1

So apparently I've come into contact with one of the COVID PCR positive patient while I was working in trauma clinic in Emergency Department.

This comes as a surprise as the patient was not complaining of any respiratory symptoms, but just trauma related complaints. 

I've seen the case with one of my colleague.

On the day when the result is out, I was shocked when my colleague is the first person to notify me.

Subseuently, 2 of my emergency physician contacted me.

I was working in yellow zones that day, having seen total of 6 patients from 3.00-5.00pm, and able to discharged 4 of them.

Yellow zone was busy as usual, but I'm glad we have great souls like Dr Shankar and Dr Iman to tank the zones.

I was asked to immediately go back home.

I clocked out at 5.30pm.

Sat in my car.

No idea what to do.

Later I received a call from occupational health and safety unit. Briefed me about what to do, the need for isolation.

I was so frustrated, angry and sad at the same time.

This means that I am not able to work, my service is abruptly stopped, albeit temporary.

I reached home late at 8.30pm, breaking the news to my mom, who just recovered from the trauma of my dad being hospitalized for secondary dengue infection.

Day 2 

I woke up feeling aimless. 

Although I've longed for a holiday before I'm being sent out to other hospitals, but I've never expected it to be in this way.

Most of my friends were able to see the part of me being granted free MCs..

But the psychological stress is real. This is same like the needle stick injury I got during my first posting as a houseman. You know the result is likely 99% negative but the 1% scares the shit out of you.

I tried to minimize contact with my mom, and advised her not to go out too.

I concentrated on my studies, watching one movie to divert my mind, only to step back to reality after the credits rolled.

Later that night I was again informed to take a COVID swab coming morning.

Day 3

I reached at 7.30am to the COVID container. This is a full container where healthcare workers are able to take swab for patients requiring pre-op assessment and for PUI (persons under investigations).

Usually I am the one who is taking the swab for others.

But today, the feeling is different. I was taken swab by Dr Hariz (my senior MO). 

The feeling of me not being able to serve, but for others to serve me, is devastating, especially when I'm asymptomatic!

I'm also required to fill in a google doc to assess my daily symptoms and temperature.

At noon, I was again received call from psychological unit, to assess my mental wellbeing.

All this has come too sudden.

I still need time to process.

Hopefully during quarantine, I am still able to utilize this time to benefit myself and to serve more in the future.