By Ho Lian-Yi

DAY ZERO

On Monday (22 Jun), my mum read the news about the H1N1 cluster at Butter Factory, so I went for the test at Changi General Hospital. This was at 10am.

By then I already suspected I had H1N1. So I quarantined myself. I stayed in my room and locked the door.

DAY ONE

It was about 3am when the hospital called to say I had tested positive.

He told me I had about an hour before the ambulance picked me up.

So I showered and prepared and updated my Facebook page. I wrote: 'Confirmed that I am down with H1N1! Going hospital now! Bye bye!'

I had to do some tests - they drew my blood and tested my blood pressure, things like that. Someone from the Ministry Of Health called me, to ask me where I've been, with whom, and all the details.

I can't leave the room. It looks like an A-class ward, because I'm the only one in the room. But I'm told it's just a quarantine ward.

So far, I've been watching a lot of TV and reading a lot of SMSes.

The doctors and nurses who come in all wear masks and some kind of jacket.

My sister messaged me that my dad had a fever. Although H1N1 does not normally kill, it can cause other complications in high-risk patients. So, I'm a bit worried.

You know, actually before I slept, I heard that new Linkin Park song, the Transformers theme song, I was like, oh no, the opening day for Transformers, I wish I could go out to watch it.

It's been only 12 hours and I already miss going out.

DAY TWO

At 6.30am today, I got a message from my dad that he tested negative for H1N1 but they're going to quarantine him anyway, at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

I called and talked to him.

I was feeling very lethargic, because you keep waking up when you're sick.

I did the same old things: Ate, messaged my friends, and went back to sleep again.

The doctor told me I could have my laptop brought in, but my family members are all quarantined - how am I going to get it in?

My fever has more or less subsided, though my throat is still sore and I am still coughing.

My handphone is my only connection to the outside world right now. My friends who went to Butter Factory with me are now all very paranoid.

DAY THREE

I'm feeling much better already.

Today, I needed something from my home and there was a friend who was willing to go down to my house.

I felt quite grateful. Not everyone would be willing to go near your house when you have H1N1, because they are scared.

Sometimes not even your relatives will dare to. My friend actually had work but he told his manager he would be one hour late to pass me the things.

Under adverse circumstances, you will see who your true friends really are.

I asked him to bring my other MP3 player. The battery was flat in the one I had.

I'm watching some stupid Channel 8 show with Fann Wong in it right now. I don't usually watch this stuff.

In fact, I hardly ever watch TV.

My family is feeling quite well so far.

Only my father is in hospital. H1N1 confirmed. I talked to him. He says he feels his room is smaller than mine.

DAY FOUR

My doctor told me this morning that I can be discharged tomorrow. I am quite happy because I've been inside for quite a few days, breathing air-con.

I need fresh air!

The doctor took a swab from my nose and my throat, though not at the same time. That's how they test for H1N1.

I'm quite sick of the food here, I want home-cooked food. It's like chicken, chicken, chicken - I'm quite sick of chicken.

Do I regret going to the club and getting stuck in here? No, but I feel unlucky.

Maybe it couldn't have been avoided. Maybe you're fated to get it.

The only way to be totally safe is to lock yourself in a room the whole day. And that's impossible.

DAY FIVE

I had packed a bit of stuff, ready to go home, when the doctor came in and told me I still had the H1N1 virus, so he couldn't let me go home.

I was so disappointed. So I spent the whole day watching TV again. Very sian (bored, in Hokkien) already.

DAY SIX

The doctor tested me just now. I think this time it should really be negative. School starts tomorrow. The doc's advice is not to go to school immediately, but stay at home for one or two more days.

This article was first published in The New Paper.