'Am I going to survive?' They were the first words Viswanathan Nair had spoken in weeks
They were the first words Viswanathan Nair had spoken in weeks. His voice was hoarse and he was gasping for air as a nurse checked his vitals at Footscray Hospital’s intensive care unit.
He faced a new and difficult challenge: the long road to recovery. Shortness of breath, fluid on the lungs, whittled away muscles. He also had flashbacks, confusion and scarring or inflammation of the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver. These are just some of the lingering effects of those who become seriously ill with coronavirus.
Viswanathan Nair does exercises to clear the fluid from his lungs with ICU physiotherapist Kimberley Haines.Mr Nair may not have been aware of it at the time, but the same physiotherapists helping him were rolling him onto his stomach when he was struggling to breathe. While the vast majority of those struck down with the virus will make a full recovery, a smaller, more complex cohort must undergo intense physical therapy and personalised treatments.
Mr Nair's vital organs are functioning well, but his lungs still feel like they are being crushed by slabs of concrete. Breathing techniques are used daily to promote coughing to help clear the fluid on his lungs as physiotherapists guide him from behind pale blue isolation gowns, masks and face shields.
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