FFS! Dodged the Covid bullet for 3 years and now here we are…

[MintyCedric]

Went to a festival last week/end. Came back feeling a bit ropey as expected and decided to take a test this morning.

Two glorious bright pink lines came up!

I’ve had all the jabs (last one about 10 months ago) and so far it just feels like bad allergies/beginning of a cold with a slightly iffy tum.

DD is at work for the day then decamping elsewhere. I’ve ordered more tests and a grocery delivery. Can do some work from home if I’m feeling up to it which I am atm. Have thermometer and pulse oximeter purchased back in the early days…

…any other advice or ideas what to expect. I hope hunker down, good food (still have my appetite and taste thank God) and lots of fluids will knock it on the head pronto.

Whose medical advice do you follow on this issue?

My consultant.

Day 5…FFS 😡☹️

Still not massively symptomatic but I’m barely sleeping. Don’t know if that’s virus related or anxiety (although I’m not consciously feeling anxious anymore).

If you’ve had it…how long did it take for you to get a negative result?

I’ve got two jobs - one of which can’t be done from home, the other is freelance but I’m meant to be helping out in the office next week (covering holidays). Trying to think of ways to sort logistics so I can support from home if needs be 🙄.

The first time I had Covid, it took 12 days to go back to being negative. The line faded slowly away until it disappeared entirely.

This time it's gone now on my day 5.

I think the "rules" now are you're allowed back into the world after a full 5 days?

Yes, I think that’s right.

The thing is my real world consists of:

19yo DD who doesn’t want it and has just started a new job

84yo CEV mum

Same age colleague who is still recovering from Long Covid over a year ago.

Might be alright for evening job Monday if they’re happy for me to go in. It’s mostly opening up/locking up so I don’t have much contact with anyone.

I was almost completely unable to sleep when I had covid, so weird. First time i had covid it took me 10 days to test negative and the second it was more like 5 days.
Thanks for being cautious, OP. I see most people on this thread think covid is no longer a thing but it took a young adult from us just recently

@YomAsalYomBasal I’m so sorry for your loss, that’s awful.

I cared for my elderly parents through the height of the pandemic. My dad was on the end of life pathway and the abject fear I had that I’d catch it and either pass it on to him, or be unable to be there for him if he needed me was horrendous.

I’ve also got a track record of two bouts of whooping cough, one of which resulted in a collapsed lung.

I think it’s great that some people haven’t had experiences or medical stuff that makes them err on the side of caution, but no need to look askance at those of us that have a difference experience.

I don’t desperately need to be outside my home right now, so I’m happier to tuck myself away and not potentially put anyone else at risk.

Also completely unable to sleep is bang on.

The last couple of nights it’s been 4am with the help of diazepam and even that’s taken a while.

I’m normally a bit of a terror for an afternoon nap but even that’s not happening - it’s like I’ve completely lost the need to sleep.

I got it for the first time in January. Tested positive for the whole 10 days. Then got bronchitis! So 3 weeks off work and should have stayed off longer. But I recovered with no lasting effects except that I believe it tipped me into perimenopause.

Hi OP

I caught it for the first time ever too this past week. Still testing positive a week on.

I got quite unwell with it, shivering, temperature, cough, runny nose, dizziness, couldn't stand up etc. Suffering with exhaustion now, just so tired all the time so not sure how long that will last.

I have to keep testing too for a variety of reasons due to my parents in their 70s who can't afford to catch it and I wouldn't want to give it them anyway.

Hope you feel better soon.

I personally wish all people would still regularly test and if they are positive, stay in the house and don't pass it onto other people!

It's so selfish to go out and spread it to everyone.

This was day 7 for me OP

Was just a mild cold for me. I was still enjoying a glass of red and chilling out. Tbh it was preferable to being at work!

I've tested negative today OP after 6 days of positives, first time for Covid for us too. I still feel like I've got a bit of a head cold but I'm so pleased the aches have gone, they were the worst for me (and the fever) unlike yourself I've slept and slept and slept (usually a crap sleeper) it did go onto my chest for a couple of days but nothing too harsh. Hope with the asthma yours doesn't. Also I found ibuprofen way better than paracetamol though I'm not sure if you're okay to take them with your other symptoms.

@ChiPawPrint hope you’re on the mend soon too. I have just realised that I’ve lost my sense of smell…taste still there but will see how long that lasts.

@RootbeerLolly I’ve not felt too rough aside from being really achy for the first 24 hours, occasional bouts of shivering, and sweating buckets every time I attempt to do something other than lounge in bed. I managed a roast dinner and a glass of red last night 😁

@Meadowflower2023 they advised against ibuprofen if asthmatic at the beginning but I think they came to the conclusion it wasn’t an issue after a year or so.

I did cold and flu capsules or paracetamol for the first day or two but haven’t taken anything since Thursday.

Hope you continue to have a speedy recovery.

@MintyCedric I'm exactly the same, can't smell much and everything tastes like cardboard 😂

I’m one of those people who develop LC, despite no risk factors at all.

My first advice is REST. Please rest now and any time you are feeling ropey/tired in the next 3 months. Yes it will feel over the top but believe me, you dont to want to be in the 10% who struggle to recover.

Then anti histamines can be helpful. Vitamin C and D.

And THANK YOU
Thank you for taking it seriously enough to still test, avoid people etc….

Is it how you look after yourself though?

Still ill with chicken pox, spots haven’t scabbed but it’s not supposed to last more than 5 days so I’m going out!

Feeling rotten with flu but I’m supposed to be ok after 5 days so I’ll go out despite being knackered?

I mean no one would do that.
It used to be that when people were ill with contagious stuff like D&V, chicken pox etc… they were careful to not give it to people.
Why are we not doing that with covid? I don’t understand…..

@AsterixAndPersimmon Exactly. I find it so selfish to go out and mix with people knowing you have Covid. I wouldn't mix with anyone knowing I had flu or a bad cold because it can be really bad for some people if they catch it.

I'm not advocating OP goes out and infects people. She was worrying about needing to go to work so I was just advising what the latest guidance is now.

I think the advice is 5 days because you're unlikely to still be contagious by then.

As I've always said - it's not selfish when you have no choice. Many employers insist you come to work if you have covid but are well enough; many people can't afford to lose wages if they feel well enough to go to work.

It shouldn't be that way, but until anything changes (and I'm not holding my breath that it ever will sadly) that's how it is. Please don't vilify people who have no choice.

And I say this as an immunosuppressed person who's had covid nine times and counting!

are you testing for yourself, Lana, or for someone you live with? Per consultant's advice, I mean. What does consultant want you to do (or not do) as a result of the information?

didnt know testing was still a thing....odd.

I caught back in April 22. Work were emailing like mad things, begging me to come back, even though I still showed postive at day 5 (I work for NHS).