– I was terrified of needles all my life. Even my mother always said: Child, you can hang out with whomever you want … I know that you will never be pushed. Knowing that I could contribute to a larger cause, I decided to overcome it. We ask Michał Dybowski of Ozdrowieniec about the taste, efficiency and importance of life after COVID-19.
- Michał Dybowski: The biggest stress was that the number of infections would exceed the limits of health protection, which would translate into the number of deaths. It seems to me that the restrictions allowed us to avoid a black scenario
- Ever since I had my first antibody test, my antibody levels have been rising steadily. Now I’m waiting for the fourth result. If it turns out that it is at the same level or there are more of them, I will donate plasma until it is ready.
- Calling the health center after five or six hours is not a tragedy. I waited about 12 hours for the ambulance to arrive and nothing happened. For me, it is primarily a matter of not panicking
- I believe the disease is under control, but of course we need to be vigilant: put out new fires, keep social distancing, avoid crowded places.
- This is a good time to remind the public of the importance of a healthy lifestyle that can help us get infected less drastically. I can tell everyone that it will come back every year, like the unfortunate flu and until there is a vaccine we will be defenseless.
Zuzanna Opolska / Medonet: When We spoke last time, three months ago, you became an official healer and ended isolation. Do you remember your first day “in the wild”?
Michał Dybowski: Going out to people was so strange that I found the world changed. Closed pubs, dead stores and empty streets with single passersby wearing masks on their faces. A whole new reality. The mere possibility of shopping after a month of asking parents or neighbors was fun. I was sure that due to the ubiquitous panic, just like in the People’s Republic of Poland, I would only find vinegar on the shelves, but they were sagging with the goods. What surprised me? I instinctively chose local shops and avoided huge hypermarkets. So, evidently in my head there was a message that a smaller number of people is a better solution. At the moment I have already passed. I even have a problem remembering the mask.
Poles are divided on the pace of unfreezing the economy – do you think that the restrictions were lifted too slowly?
No, I think that the pace of lifting the restrictions was in line with what common sense dictated. It allowed all of us to smoothly go through the stages of frostbite, and at the same time did not perpetuate in us the feeling that lockdown is the end of the world. The feedback I got from my business friends confirms this.
However, financially, without a doubt, everyone got their butt. Hairdressing is definitely the industry that has suffered the most. On the other hand, the risk of contamination in their profession is so great that I don’t know if the game was worth the candle.
As I said before, the biggest stress was that the number of infections would exceed the limits of health protection, which would translate into the number of deaths. This is the key thing to evaluate, and it seems to me that the restrictions allowed us to avoid a black scenario. In addition, we are one of the first countries to which the borders of EU countries are open, without the need for quarantine. So I see many positives related to the “delay” of lifting the restrictions.
My job is very much about traveling – last week I had Madrid, including London, on my schedule. I get on the plane and take it out again as if nothing happened.
I remember you were given azithromycin and Arechin at the hospital, which had high hopes for the coronavirus pandemic. Today we know that it is not effective, and its higher doses can even cause serious cardiac arrhythmias …
In fact, I took Arechin only once – in my case, the drug that worked fantastically was azithromycin, an antibiotic used to treat upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Already around the third day, she put me on my feet and the symptoms in the form of coughing disappeared completely.
Returning to Arechin, the disturbing results of the drug research were explained to me by the doctor responsible for collecting my plasma. One of the side effects of Arechin is the potential for QT prolongation in a dose-dependent manner, but the risk of arrhythmia, cardiac arrest and sudden death is mainly in patients who are already taking drugs that prolong the QT interval. Given that most Americans are firstly overweight and secondly on antidepressants to do so, there have been avalanche heart attacks overseas. From our Polish point of view, it does not matter much, because, firstly, we do not have that many people on antidepressants, and secondly, medical interviews are much more accurate. I myself remember my interview, which lasted 1,5 hours in total – first I spoke to the health visitor and then to the doctor. Before I was given Arechin and azithromycin, all possible risk factors were ruled out.
Now comment – we are getting various information – it is said that despite the mild course of infection, healers lose their taste and smell?
They must have been muffled during the infection. I think that I waited a good two months for the senses of smell and taste to fully return from the beginning of the disease.
What about decreased efficiency?
I was able to improve this very quickly – right after I found out that I had no risk of developing pneumonia, I went back to training at home. And I must admit that getting back in shape takes two solid weeks of solid training. At least that was the case with me. In convalescents whose coronavirus infection has caused irreversible changes in the lungs, the decreased efficiency of the respiratory system may persist for much longer.
An oxygen concentrator can be a booster for such people – by supplying air with an increased amount of oxygen, it supports and improves the quality of breathing or inhalation oxygen in a can intended for athletes. I also heard that the Ministry of Health is planning a pilot rehabilitation program for patients with COVID-19 disease. Anyway, at the moment when the opportunity arose, I myself used the help of a physiotherapist friend. It turned out that I had what she professionally called “pinches” in the area of the diaphragm, which made it difficult to breathe freely. In fact, to be honest, I immediately felt better after the procedure – how much placebo was in it and how much did it work – I don’t know … I’ve always been an active person and one session was enough for me, others may need a few or even a dozen or so.
What about other far-reaching effects of COVID? Have you visited doctors – say a cardiologist, nephrologist?
There was no need to do so every time I donate plasma, I have a standard blood test done. The level of erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets is almost perfect. Like the cholesterol or sugar I measure at home. Besides, I did a cardio training test and it turned out that I don’t get tired any faster or more. I also have oxygen. Of course, as I said, I gave myself a month to get it going. It’s not good right now. If a man has been locked in four walls for x weeks, a miracle will not happen …
What exactly was your test about?
I just went to the gym, put on the barbell, and almost rubbed my personal best. For sure, the earlier exercises on the mat at home and later in the park helped me stay in shape.
Many people gained weight during the pandemic. Were you on a scale?
Unfortunately, I have an electronic scale which is very precise and measures the level of body fat. Week after week we liked each other less and less, and finally stopped being friends. In total, I gained four kilos of “something unwanted”, which is a natural consequence of sitting at home. Even a simple walk would do for anything, and so I could only go up and down the stairs. Up, down – you can get bored or go crazy. Fortunately, now adipose tissue is turning into muscle and that is the biggest plus.
I watched your movies and I know that you donated plasma not once, but four times – not a bad result …
Yes, and best of all, since I got my first antibody test, my antibody levels have been rising steadily. Now I am waiting for the fourth result, which will make me addicted to whether I will give it up. If it turns out that the level of antibodies is at the same level or there are more of them, I will be successful for two reasons. First of all – high production means that my body is ready to fight infections in all of them. Secondly – I am taking part in a research project carried out by the Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration and a potential concept of saving lives, of which I am very proud. Especially since I was scared of needles all my life. Even my mother always said: Child, you can hang out with whomever you want. I know you will never hit hard. Knowing that I could contribute to a larger cause, I decided to overcome myself.
And what impressions?
Good – even recently, at the Center for Blood Donation and Blood Treatment at the Ministry of Interior and Administration, to which I was assigned, I received a booklet. I laugh that I am collecting money for the title of “Meritorious Honorary Blood Donor” and for the rest of my life I will not pay for drugs. Apparently, I can also account for plasma donation in the annual tax return, which I had no idea about, but that’s what I’ll be worried about in the next tax return …
And fear of the needle?
The first time I didn’t even feel it. The second time I thought I was going to get out of my way – it hurt so much, but I treated it as an “accident at work”. Anyway, they called me and said: “Mr. Michał, let’s fight again”. I thought: risk-physicist, if it hurts again, I’ll let go. It turned out that I didn’t even feel the sting. Recently, instead of 400 ml of plasma, 600 ml of plasma were taken from me and I must honestly admit that I was, to put it mildly, “unconscious”. I was recovering for at least two days. I think that two things decided about it – firstly, a larger amount was taken, and secondly, before that, the procedure was performed every three weeks, and this time only two were passed between the third and fourth sampling.
Do many convalescents donate plasma multiple times?
From what I have heard, they are mainly doctors and representatives of services: military and firefighters.
Then tell me, how does plasma donation work in practice?
First, a blood test is performed as standard, and if the results are ok, a medical interview is carried out. Then I report with the blood donation card, sit down, give it back and that’s it. At the end I get chocolate.
How long does it take?
Longer than donating blood – when collecting 400 ml of plasma approximately 27 minutes, for 600 ml approximately 37 minutes. The whole process is based on the fact that the machine called a cyclical separator collects blood, then centrifuges the plasma, which goes into bags taken by doctors. However, the rest of the blood flows back into the bloodstream. In order to collect 400 ml of plasma, the separator takes a total of about two liters of blood from me, gives me 1550 ml, and 50 ml remains in the machine cables. While the blood collection process is not particularly painful, the process of pumping blood into a vein under the appropriate pressure may cause slight discomfort.
How do you look at the care in the hospital and the work of the health department in retrospect. Have you been a great optimist, has something changed?
Nothing – I’m still very happy. I also receive positive feedback from my friends who fell ill. Calling the health center after five or six hours is not a tragedy. I waited about 12 hours for the ambulance to arrive and nothing happened. For me, this is primarily a question of not panicking – most of those infected have a mild course of infection, and the number of fatalities to date is in the upper range of annual flu deaths. Therefore, I believe that the disease is under control, but of course we must be vigilant: put out new fires, keep social distancing, avoid crowded places. The masks protect us from particles transmitted by airborne droplets, but even the WHO recently admitted that airborne transmission of the coronavirus is not out of the question. So, in fact, there is no effective method – we are defenseless. Whatever we do, we won’t be able to do it anyway. Perhaps the right path is air disinfection systems: ozonation, ionization, UV lamps, which are likely to become the standard in the future. I think we will take care of hygiene on a completely different level.
Half of the holidays are over – are you afraid of the second wave?
As with the first illness, I see no reason to be afraid. The more that I have a high level of antibodies. Of course, it could be a mutant virus that will appear out of nowhere and surprise us again. Based on the experience I have gathered, I am going to be prepared, that is, have an oxygen cylinder at home, an oxygen concentrator, a supply of antibiotics, and even Arechin. I will definitely keep working on my own immunity – exercise, health, nutrition, sleep.
This is a good time to remind the public of the importance of a healthy lifestyle that can help us get infected less drastically. I can tell everyone that it will come back every year, like the unfortunate flu, and until there is a vaccine, we will be defenseless. My only concern is that the European Commission is allowing a vaccine to be developed and implemented without clinical trials. I myself would rather bear the time and financial consequences of carrying them out than administering an unproven medicinal product to people. I am absolutely in favor of vaccination, but let’s agree – let it be tested. When, as an exception, we decide to take the faster path, I say: belt.
This may interest you:
- What does it mean when someone has recovered from the coronavirus?
- COVID-19 hairdressers served 139 clients and no one got infected. How it’s possible?
- “I lost my health insurance in the midst of a pandemic”