PHOTOGRAPHBYASHUTOSHSHAKTANFORBLOOMBERGBUSINESSWEEKRahulSahajpal
33
NEW DELHISahajpal’s job as a manager at an outsourcing company requires him to be up at all hours
of the night dealing with clients from around the world. That’s made brain fog, one of the
most persistent symptoms he’s had to deal with since the start of his bout with coronavirus
in early March, particularly onerous.I was never tested, because one of the main criteria at the time was whether you
had traveled internationally, or you had been in touch with a positive person. In April
the symptoms shifted to less classic symptoms, like joint pain, digestive problems,
dizziness, and rashes. I went to a cardiologist and a neurologist, but most of the
doctors said, “It’s just anxiety. You read too much. You think too much.” Then
gradually, by the end of April, things started to improve. Now it’s been more than six
months, but if I’m having a walk or I’m kind of doing any typical activity, I experience
a sore throat and a stuffy nose—like a cold. And there are still sometimes pains in my
chest,sometimestheleftside,sometimesontherightside,onandofffora shorttime.
I also get a lot of brain fogging. So I’m talking with you, and I forget what happens
two minutes back. I’m in the outsourcing industry, and I have to work with multiple
stakeholders across the globe. There are times when I just can’t speak, I just can’t
recollectthewords.It’sa bigembarrassmentforme,andit’simpactingmyperformance.
Luckily, my employer has been very supportive. If the doctors are not sure, how
can you expect people from the industry to be sure? But they’ve cooperated with me.
Whenever I’ve needed holiday, they’ve provided me with holiday. And whenever I’ve
needed leaves, they’ve allowed leaves. �As told to Ari Altstedter56
Bloomberg Businessweek (^) THE NEW ECONOMY November 16, 2020