Whilst there was once a time when Coronavirus seemed like a far away issue that would never get here, it is unlikely that there is anyone who has not been affected in some way in 2020; be that physically, mentally, or economically. You are also, by now, very likely to have known someone who has contracted the virus – with varying reports of how it has affected them. With the first vaccine given this week and as we all start making plans for Christmas, local resident, Beckie Eschle, shares her experience and the importance of not being complacent in the fight against Covid-19.

Beckie says: “I woke on a Tuesday morning with a sore throat, but did not think anything of it. I attended a hospital appointment in Bath, as I did not feel unwell.

“As the week went on, I started to feel like I had a heavy cold or flu – I still went to work, as I was not displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, attending a further appointment at the RUH on the Friday.

“On Saturday and Sunday, I began to feel really ill, spending most of Sunday sleeping. I was still not displaying any COVID-19 symptoms. I struggled to even get out of bed.

“Overnight on Sunday I developed a cough – and my temperature was 39. I managed to book a test for the Monday afternoon at the Bath Park and Ride: I drove myself, but how I managed I will never know.

“During the afternoon, my breathing started to deteriorate and I felt worse than I had at the weekend. I knew I could call 111 or 999 if things took a downward turn, but I still did not think I had COVID-19.

“Tuesday, a week later, is a complete blank – I spent all day in bed with my daughter (who was having to self-isolate) checking on me regularly, and ensuring that I maintained an adequate fluid intake.

“On Wednesday morning, at 6 am, I received a text to say I had tested positive.

“I called work to inform them of the result and within ten minutes they called back with company track and trace: I was barely able to talk, but between us, my daughter and I answered all the questions.

“NHS Track and Trace then called and, again with help, we gave them the names of people I been in contact with: we than also informed all family and friends to let them know.

“This was beginning to hit me hard and fast – and I felt myself deteriorating through the day – I was struggling to breathe and started to feel really dizzy.

“At 4.45 pm my daughter contacted 111 as I could hardly talk, struggling to breathe, and the cough was worsening. The call handler arranged an ambulance.

“A short while later, the ambulance service called: there was a seven-hour delay with ambulances and the clinician advised that, as it was unlikely I would need admission, the ambulance would be stood down, and they would arrange for an out-of-hours GP to visit.

“The GP arrived sometime after 11 pm; by now, my oxygen stats were at 82, and my temperature 39.7: she immediately arranged an emergency ambulance as I needed to be in hospital.

“I was admitted to a COVID ward and immediately put on oxygen, and given drugs to help me fight the virus. I still could not believe that I had COVID-19 – or where I had got it from. My daughter was at home, distraught, as she was aware how ill I was and was terrified her mum was going to die: as she was self-isolating no one could visit her and give her the support she so desperately needed at a time such as this.

“On the Friday afternoon, 36 hours after admission, I took a turn for the worse. The Consultant’s decision was that I need to be a ventilator: if there was a bed available on the Respiratory Ward then I would go there – if not, it would be Intensive Care.

“I was then taken, at high speed though the hospital, to the Respiratory Ward and put on the new style ventilator. The staff on the ward were great – they kept talking to me as they knew I was slipping away. I had to fight – I was not ready to go yet – this was not going to beat me – and my daughter was at home in isolation and was not allowed to see me. I had not yet finished with living – I had to beat this.

“I spent five days in a locked room (so that people could not inadvertently walk in), on the ventilator, with staff in full PPE every time they came in to see me. I agreed to be part of a clinical trial where I would receive blood plasma from a survivor of Covid-19, in addition to the standard treatment for the illness.

“Gradually, I started to turn the corner and was slowly taken off the ventilator and put on oxygen.

“On the Wednesday morning, the consultant came to see me: he said he couldn’t believe that I pulled through – they were so close to losing me. He said it was a miracle.

“I was gradually being weaned off the oxygen, and he said that if my oxygen stats remained good when off the oxygen, then I could go home the next day: he said that I would need help, as I was still very weak and my lungs were not good.

“On Thursday morning I was given good news – I could go home that afternoon. I was warned that I could end up back in hospital, as COVID-19 makes its own rules: it was fantastic news I could go home, but I was scared and worried.

“The Ward sister took me to the car, where my daughter was waiting to collect me; the change in the outside air temperature resulted in me struggling to breathe – something that still happens today.

“I have been home now three weeks but have to test my stats every couple of hours to make sure I have enough oxygen.

“When I first got home, I could do virtually nothing for myself – I couldn’t even put my own toothpaste on the toothbrush and needed to stop and rest three times when climbing the stairs.

“Four days after being at home, my breathing deteriorated and my oxygen stats were getting lower: I was worried I was heading back to hospital to be put back on a ventilator.

“I contacted the GP who arranged for me to attend the COVID-19 clinic at Elm Hayes Surgery: I was thoroughly assessed by a doctor there and was able to go back home, having been advised that if, at any time, I was concerned or worried I could call them for advice.

“The road ahead of me is a long one – at the moment I take each day as it comes: some are good, others are bad. I am gradually beginning to do a little more for myself; I fatigue very quickly, and still have no sense of taste and smell.

“It will take me a long time to fully recover and be back to the person I was before I was unwell. To this day I do not know how I contracted the disease.

“To all those who feel that the Government-imposed restrictions are unnecessary, I can tell you, they are not.

“No one knows how COVID-19 is going to affect them – and that is the scary part of this illness: I never dreamt it would affect me the way it did, as I am fit and healthy, apart from being overweight – and that I nearly lost my life because of it.”

Editor: Thank you to Beckie for sharing her story so openly, and we all wish her a speedy recovery.