Prepared today, 11th July, 2020

I am Felix Chisoni, Assistant Librarian working for the University of Malawi, Kamuzu College of Nursing. I recently contracted Corona virus and now
living with Covid-19. I am sharing my lived experiences with Covid. I will share the rest of my story elsewhere. In this short document, my key focus is on
what I am doing to keep going. I am recovering, thank God. It was worse and terrible.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a trained healthcare worker hence follow this when you can’t find any doctor. I did some of things mentioned here because this is
what is circulation world over. The hospital still remains our trusted source of information and care. SO kindly visit your nearest doctor if possible.

I will keep updating this document until I test negative.

INTERVENTION WHAT I AM DOING COMMENT
 Tablets
o Pain killer, Other tablets can work too for
 Buffen*2, Paracetamol For fevers. I am only taking Buffen. fevers. You need these regularly.
 Aspirin (half tablet)
o Dexamathason (4 tablets)* 3 times a Dexa.. to minimise shortness in breathe I crosschecked Dexamethason with
day Lung tonic for dry cough. Wold Health Organisation Website.
o Good morning Lung Tonic (5mls 3* a A friend who has since recovered
day) and is based in LL recommended as
o Cintrizine 1*1 day well.
o Ethromicine *2 3 times a day
o Multivatamin Ethromicine for cough NB
o Vitamin C 1*3 a day Please do a quick internet search to
Multivitamin for improved appetite find what these drugs really do.
Vitamin C for …….. Take only if that’s what you should,

I completely lost appetite but now I

can take half meals.
 Keeping Warm  Please keep Warm. Preferably in bed and well I cough a lot when I catch cold.
covered. You can go out to bask in the sun but
leave immediately you feel like catching cold.
  Take warm meals at least.
 At first I used to boil water then bow on top of
the bucket, covered in a blanket. I found this
very helpful in clearing my chest. I can’t explain
why.

 Herbs Pawpaw leaves- Boil a leaf, add salt (at least one  I have taken this paw-paw
teaspoon. Take 3 times a day. drink a lot
Tea made of:  I haven’t taken much of this
Garlic, Ginger, Tumeric, Lemon, Black pepper, but will give a try. I have
Honey- Boil to half amount and drink twicea day. only been able to take a
mixture of ginger and
Artemisia. 3 days they say. lemon.
 I haven’t yet tried Artemisia.
Kuukamila ( At first I used just pure warm water, it was Not found but someone
helping). Later I switched to bluegum leaves, Neem, claims it’s helping a lot.
Nkhundabwi) Boil all these, covered myself with a
blanket ontop of the boiled water for 15-20 minutes.
Boring experience but I felt much relieved afterwards

 Thermometer Test temperature regularly. You know if things are

moving or not. You can even change painkillers if fevers
are not going down.
 Exercise They say regular exercise but it’s not possible for
somebody who is experiencing extreme shortness in
breath. It’s misleading. I have a Canadian doctor friend
of Nigerian Origin, a former classmate at my masters in
the UK. He gave a tip which I found very useful.
Cough Exercise
Inhale air as much as you can, hold for a couple of
minutes 5-10 seconds then exhale. Do this for 3 to 5
times, Try coughing to clear your airway. Continue this
as many times as you can every day. This pushes
oxygen into your system and clears your airways and
 breath adequately.
 Isolation Complete Isolation from family. Only my wife in full
mask is coming in to deliver meds and food. She can’t
stay long either
 Meals Eat well, take loads of fruits and vegetables, . More
proteins to boost your immune system
Enough liquids. 2-3 Waters a day.
 Sleeping positions Sleep in every position. It’s not possible to sustain one
posture for so long
However, there is a clip of a lady circulating on social
media from the US, Doreen Chisiza. She mentions so
many things including sleeping cha fufumimba. I find
this very helpful. We can’t afford everything she
mentions such as not sharing toilets etc. But we can try
our best to learn from her tips.
For a home its hard but am trying. I
can’t run away from visiting the
toilet, bathroom and basking on the
sun probably to acquire Vitamin D,
am told its very essential. By I need
to go out quickly and not come in
close contact with anyone. We cant
be perfect but must balance.
Due to lack of appetite, I survived on
Custard as it was easy for me to
swallow. I am working hard now to
diversify my food intake. I guess
Multivitamin is assisting a lot in
improving my appetite. Try
everything that can keep you going.
We are different. Drugs can’t work
on an empty stomach.
Sleep in the most comfortable
position. On your stomach if
possible