Have you had COVID?

[Whitepriv]

Pretty convinced I have though no antigen test yet. Awful cough and bedridden for a week in early March. Relatively healthy/fit before but now a 2 minute run has me out of breath. So grateful it wasn’t worse though 😞 Anyone else think they’ve had it and on the road to recovery?

[Buddyelf]

No I haven’t had it and no one I know in my immediate family/friend circle has had it or thinks they’ve had it.
I was ill in November with a cough, mild temp that if I had now I’d probably say was COVID-19 but I think because of how early it was it was more likely a seasonal virus (having said that I never get a cough. Flu, cold etc never go to my chest so it did feel unusual).

[IpanemaSunshine]

My symptoms were:
Sore throat, mod-high temp, body aches, body tingling/fuzzy feeling, shaking all over, headaches, heavy chest, wheezes, productive but clear cough, complete exhaustion, metallic taste in mouth, extreme nausea (lost a lot of weight) and diarrhoea. Improved after 4 weeks but still have milder symptoms coming and going, chest still hurts too. I’m now 15 weeks on since first falling ill.

Not swab tested but considering an antibody test. I think I’ve had it but I didn’t get the loss of smell. So there always that doubt creeping in.

[oliviaskies]

I've not had it and I don't know anybody who has had it. Live in a very highly impacted area, which makes it a bit odd!

[cptartapp]

Positive antibody test through work. When I've actually had it I've no clue!

[SunflowerOwl]

I think I might have had it in Feb but not done the test. My dad was in Thailand around Chinese new year and came down with something and I saw him when he got back. Then I had about a week where I had a temp and extreme fatigue but not cough. I didn't even think about it until a family friend who tested positive said she had the same symptoms as me (ie no cough or bad throat). Could be anything I guess but seems a bit suspect.

[wildthingsinthenight]

No test. Still feel ill now. Exhaustion and awful pains in hands arms legs and feet. Also breathless if I do anything apart from sit/ lie down

[wildthingsinthenight]

I think so and so does my GP. Week 15 now. Just had an ECG and bloods done as GP was worried about my palpitations. It was normal. Awaiting blood results now

[ChasingRainbows19]

I work on a Ward with occasional positive patients. The only staff coming back as positive antibodies are those that had positive swabs or very obvious symptoms and were off sick before swabbing was regular.

Lots of us thought we might have had mild doses but probably not by the looks of it.

[TheHighestSardine]

I'm also waiting on an antibody test. I had a bad time in late January and have been wasted a lot of the time since. Tested negative for live infection last month, but that's not really significant.

[Soubriquet]

Don’t know for certain as this was before testing but I’m 99% sure I did

My tastes were altered, I couldn’t taste anything, I couldn’t breathe properly, I was exhausted all the time, burning hot and I kept coughing.

Took me weeks to get completely better and even now, I still get funny tastes in my mouth when I eat.

[Mustbetimeforachange]

Most early ones probably influenza B.

[scaevola]

In the early days, when testing was mainly for those with symptoms who had been itw a known case or a returning traveller, the overwhelming majority were negative. Even allowing for a 20% false negative rate, most people hadn't got it.

Which means there was a different respiratory bug, with very similar symptoms (but without the dangerous inflammation and ARDS) , going around.

I've seen commentary suggesting it might well have been human corona virus OC43, which strikes me as possible. But we won't know because it wasn't tested for

[Scrumbleton]

Was sick early March. Thumping head, sore throat, slight breathing issues - though it wasn’t Covid until I lost sense of smell. I’ve had a positive antigen test. Partner and daughter tested negatively (unfortunately)

[ReginaPhalangee]

Oh and at the risk of sounding all 'Dominic Cummings' my eyesight has completely gone to pot!!
Not that I believed a word that weasel came out with!!

[ReginaPhalangee]

I had to have bloods taken last week and they stuck a Covid antibody test to the list as I'm a teacher currently working in a reception class. I am pretty convinced I had it late March as did my two kids... results back this week so I'll update.

My symptoms:
High temp for a week
Worst headache ever for over 7 days
Confusion (couldn't work out simple tasks or remember what day it was)
'Fizzing' around my body
Stomach cramps and nausea
Aching everywhere
Lethargy

Kids' symptoms:
High temps
Sickness
Stomach cramps
Headaches
Terrible conjunctivitis
Lethargy

[Buttybach]

As the lockdown started I had two weeks of really bad breathing difficulties I went through an entire asthma pump a week.
I just had an antibody test that had results in 10m as I work in a school
It came back negative. Bewildered and now concerned as I'm asthmatic.

[SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing]

There's a study testing antibody levels in 20,000 people that's up and running. Results won't be out for a while, but it'll give a good indication of how many have already had it, and how long the antibodies stay in your system.

[Theforest]

If I havent, then I dont know what has made me feel ill for the last 2 months. At times I didnt want to go to sleep, thinking that I wouldnt wake up....

[carmelsundae]

I had it. 7 days with classic symptoms. Negative test initially however positive antibody test confirmed I did have it!

[BramwellBrown]

I had what I originally thought was a chest infection mid-December, got gradually worse, full on aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, migraines. Could barely sit up, struggled to breathe, wasn't able to walk more than a few feet for nearly a month. Started to feel better then got worse again then I developed pneumonia. Official diagnosis was a viral infection but I do wonder if it was covid, but obviously they weren't testing for it then.

I was really ill til February and still feeling a bit flu like til the end of March. I'm still not 100% feeling myself, still getting out of breath easily and my throat is still delicate, like it's not sore all the time but if I cough it really hurts and some food and drink are painful to swallow, I can't quite hit all the notes I used to when I sing and my breathing is still a bit off (I play the fife, recorder and bugle and I get really dizzy when I play now and long notes bring on coughing fits)

[Doingtheboxerbeat]

My colleague on our side of the bank of desks (there were 3 of us) is convinced that we all had it any time from December through to February. Not entirely convinced but we were all very sick for weeks on end (the 3 of us) and the ongoing fatigue that I still feel is making me think 🤔 well maybe.

[Spidey66]

No, not had it despite working throughout as a CPN. I do have a strong immune system though.

[gingercat02]

Yes. Self isolated for a week mid March, not tested even though I work in patient facing NHS job. Just had positive antibody test at work this week. Everyone else I work with has been negative

[Colabottles64]

Those asking how to get an antibody test privately - many private clinics / blood test centres are offering it for between 70-90 quid. I was able to find one locally with a quick google. The place I used had the government approved Roche (Swiss) test

[AliTheMinx]

I think DS and I had it in late December - obviously we didn't know about Covid-19 then, but we both had all the symptoms. Weakness, fatigue, horrible dry cough, hard to breathe, loss of taste and raging temperature. Neither of us have ever felt so ill. DS is usually strong and healthy, yet I had to call 111 as he was struggling to breathe one night. MIL was also hospitalised as could barely breathe, and diagnosed with a "virus". She also said she'd never felt so poorly.