Dr. Lau’s Chaotic Covid Chronicles
A Lone Warrior
At 40, self‑employed Mr Lau knows that missing a week of work can set him back. When he tested positive on Sept 19, the reality of having to lock down at home hit hard.
Isolation Without a Care Pack
He got the official isolation letter on day 4, finding himself alone and without an oximeter (though he wasn’t sure he had one). The MOH website told him home‑care packs were only for those lacking a device, and Mr Lau never received one.
Talk‑Toys Gone Stale
Trying to get help, he called MOH. “They promised to forward my case, but nobody ever texted back.” The frustration capped off because his work schedule was suddenly wobbly.
- Mortgage on his clients – lost deals
- Unclear when he could return to the office
- Zero support from friends
A Helping Hand from Home
His wife, who wasn’t in quarantine, came over to toss in fresh meals and get rid of trash. Despite living at her parents’ house, she tried to be there for him.
Tele‑Medicine: A Gentle Check‑In
He got several calls from a tele‑medicine service checking on his health. “It was nice, but I still felt isolated,” he said.
Safety First: Keeping the Distance
After the 10‑day recovery window passed, he was advised by MOH to keep extra distance for another week. That meant he avoided meeting his primary‑school kids, who weren’t yet looking for vaccines, and skipped client visits entirely.
“I went down to buy groceries, but I bagged everything upstairs, not wanting to get anyone infected,” he explains.
Bottom Line
COVID can leave more bone‑drying dust than you think, and without clear instructions it feels worse. The guy says if he had no family at all, he wouldn’t have survived the daily grind. He urges the government to streamline the process or at least educate people better.
Tip
Hold Off on Those ART Kits: Why Waiting Makes Sense
Don’t Drop Your House of Kits on the First Day
When you’re down with COVID, your doctor might tell you “Skip that first wave of ARTs. Even if you start them right away, they’re unlikely to do anything cool because you’re probably still fighting off the virus. It’s like trying to put a band‑age on a wound that’s still bleeding.
In reality, your home recovery often takes a few days to get a grip. The body needs that “first‑few‑days” window to turn that pesky virus into flat‑dots that the tests can actually see.
Mr. Lau’s Day‑by‑Day Truth‑Check
Mr Lau, a 40‑year‑old freelancer, turned his home office into a testing laboratory.
- Day 0: Doctor’s advice: “No ART yet.”
- Day 5: He does a quick test. Result: Positive.
- Day 7: One more check. Result: Negative.
So what does that tell us? The pandemic piggy‑back on that “waiting period” is to let your body, like a very slow but determined superhero, finish the job. Once the virus is under control (the test goes negative), that’s your green light to unleash those ART kits.
Quick Tips to Make Your ART Kit Count
- Buy just enough kits for the waiting period plus the last few days of your recovery.
- Keep the kits stored where the temperature stays steady; a fridge is pretty much the ambulances of well‑preserved cleaning supplies.
- After your test comes back negative, schedule to use your kits in the next 48‑hour window – that’s when they’re most effective.
- Remember: A home recovery is a marathon, not a sprint, and each day is a new checkpoint.
Bottom Line: Be a Patient Home‑Recovery Hero
Saving your ART kits for the later stage of home recovery ensures you’re not throwing away precious supply and gives your body the best chance to beat the virus. Think of it as planning the perfect encore performance – the audience (your body) needs a few days to warm up before the grand finale.
