I didn’t finish my Iftar meal and skipped Suhoor. Once I calmed down and accepted the fact that I may be sick, I began Googling the symptoms. I read a few articles stating that mine were symptoms of COVID-19. I freaked out. I quickly contacted a few doctor friends and they said the same. They told me that the symptoms differ from one person to another. They all advised me to eat well, drink hot beverages, lock myself inside and get the COVID-19 test. I decided to wait for two days and see if I got better. I didn’t. On the third day, I called the Qatar Foundation (QF) clinic and talked to a doctor. He “examined” me on the phone so he could avoid exposure. He asked me if I had a direct interaction with anyone infected with the virus and asked a few questions regarding my symptoms. I didn’t have a cough, fever, or sore throat. My symptoms were only that I had no taste or smell, had a runny nose, and felt occasional fatigue and tightness in my chest. Fortunately, since I had no major symptoms and had been in self-isolation since it was mandated by the government early on, it seemed like I may have been lucky with a mild case. The doctor decided we could skip the COVID-19 test and prescribed a nasal decongestant. He told me to call him in a few days if I had not recovered. I called QF transportation to send a car for me, so that I could secure the medication from the campus clinic. It must be said that I am blessed to have access to free healthcare as a QF student and could afford themedicine, unlike many others in this unjust world. I took the prescribed medicine regularly until I started to recover. My smell and taste are now coming back, gradually. I was ecstatic when I grabbed my perfumed body lotion and detected a hint of a smell. Did I ever think that being able to smell my body lotion or soap was a blessing? I am not sure if I was indeed infected with the virus, but what I do know is that COVID-19 has taught me not to take anything for granted. We say that we shouldn’t do this but how many of us, in our once-normal daily lives, actually appreciate the little things like taste, touch and smell?
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