Coronavirus survivor speaks about ordeal after 12 days in Glasgow hospital

A Coronavirus survivor in Glasgow is telling MFR about his experience of fighting, and winning, his battle against the deadly disease.

Only a few days ago, Mark Hollinshead was hooked up to machines at the QEUH battling acute pneumonia brought on by Covid-19.

He’s one of 719 people in Scotland to have tested positive but the 59-year-old is now home and recovering after the ordeal.

Mark told MFR: “It started at the end of February when myself and my partner went for a weekend in Switzerland to see a concert.

“That was right at the time when the news was breaking in Italy about Coronavirus taking a grip there.

“On our return after passing through Zurich, Heathrow and Glasgow airports, we both started to feel ill in early March.

“My partner had a cough and a light fever and I went into feeling really ill with shivers, sweats, aching behind the eyes and a degree of nausea and dizziness.”

Fortunately, Mark’s partner’s symptoms didn’t develop horrendously, but his problems were only just beginning.

He continued: “I left work early on my first day back and lay in bed for a few days, I was going hot and cold with shivers and my body was shaking.

“At that point my body felt really weak.’’

It was 12 days before Mark reached crisis point. He spoke to his GP but was told he probably had a virus. When his partner phoned back two days later and explained the tightness in his chest and other symptoms the doctor agreed to ask for a test.

But Public Health Glasgow refused and the following morning Mark became gravely ill and his partner thought he was having a heart attack.

Mark continued: ‘I lost my appetite, my smell and hearing started to weaken, and it was at that point I got extreme pains in my chest.

“We thought it was something else, I was sweating profusely; a shirt I’d put on was ringing wet within minutes.

“We realised it was something more serious so my partner called an ambulance and I was taken into Queen Elizabeth University hospital.

“I was admitted into the high-dependency unit for observation and given lots of drugs and antibiotics, which helped get rid of the chest pain which was my main concern.”

Mark, who admits he isn’t someone that gets scared easily, then started to worry as doctors worked round the clock to stave off the Coronavirus’ attack.

He said: “For the next 48 hours I was on a drip and attached to a heart monitor and oxygen to monitor where I was at.

“The frightening thing for me, and I don’t get frightened easily, was my breathing, which was difficult.

“Slowly over the days that progressed and my blood pressure started to normalise.

“My temperature started to come back to normal and the medication was working.

“After that the doctors started to lower the amount of oxygen that was topping me up.

“That was only a few days ago and the good news is I’m now out of hospital after 12 days.”

Mark is now urging others to take the Covid spread seriously as no-one can ever predict when they could be carrying the virus.

He warned: “I’m a fit, 59-year-old, I’ve run marathons and never thought this would happen to me or my partner, but it did.

“We got through it thanks to the brilliant support of the NHS staff and doctors who have watched me over the past while.

“It’s been a very tough time and the past few weeks haven’t been pleasant at all.

“I just thought it was a flu but it turned out to be acute pneumonia caused by Covid-19.

“It’s a dreadful invisible killer; no-one of any age is immune to this so we all need to follow the guidelines.

“Stay at home, keep a clear distance between you and your family.

“I’d love to see my children and new granddaughter and now that I’m clear or Coronavirus I hope that happens very soon.”

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• coronavirus