Worried I have Coronavirus

[ohshit2020]

I know this might sound silly or far fetched but hear me out..

I'm very rarely ill. Probably once a year if that. But now I have the most horrendous cough, I can't catch my breath sometimes when the coughing starts. It's come out of nowhere and I'm absolutely floored.

Im seriously worried that it's something sinister. Like I said I'm rarely ill so this is out of sorts for me. I feel like I can't function because of the sore throat, coughing and general feeling of being unwell.

AIBU here? It's just so scary with everything that is going on at the moment, I'm thinking all sorts in my head.

Dear OP - there has been a nasty cold doing the rounds this winter with a horrendous dry cough which sometimes will catch the back of your throat and make it difficult to breath - back of the throat though, not deep into your lungs. If you have shortness of breath with pain in your chest - other than sore ribs from coughing - then it would need looking into, but try some hot honey/lemon to ease your throat/cough? And paracetamol to help you rest.
From what I've read, the new coronavirus can be distinguished by dry cough and breathing difficulty - possibly with high temperature - & sneezing/runny nose not necessarily.
Look after yourself, and if you're worried do a phone consultation with a GP or 111. Get well soon x

I know it’s scary when there’s a global emergency happening, but the likelihood of you contracting coronavirus without being in China is basically nil.

Make sure you keep your fluids up, take ibuprofen and paracetamol alternately, and if your symptoms get a lot worse call 111 for guidance.

I was worried beginning of last week when me an my child started with temp an sore still have them a week on with terrible cough now tho aswell but I now know its just a bad cold. Hearing about this virus everyday scares us into thinking the worst thankfully I was able to calm my nerves an think before running of to the nearest hospital telling them we have it 😂 hopefully it passes soon tho i feel like death

Have you had the flu jab, OP?

Because you’re far, far more likely to a) contract flu and b) die from it than you are even to get Coronavirus, let alone die from it.

If you ‘take the [Coronavirus] pandemic seriously’, due to the ‘young Chinese girl’ your DH works with, but you haven’t been arsed to spend £12.99 on a jab to protect yourself from common British flu, then I think you probably have racism, not Coronavirus.

@ohshit2020

It's extraordinarily unlikely that you have Coronavirus. In fact, it's nigh on impossible, unless you have just returned from Wuhan. It's also not nearly as deadly as it's being made out. Those who have died have been elderly or immune compromised. There is a nasty cough/chest infection going around at the mo. coughs can linger for weeks. If you're worried about your cough/chest infection, you can always speak to a pharmacist, or failing that,a Dr.

All I have thought about since all this began is how fortunate I feel not to be Chinese or Chinese looking at this time as I cannot imagine the shite they are having to put up with in public spaces out and about, and how scared they are feeling in their own skin

Thoughtlessinengland, I'm part Asian, I've had family who have received racism as a result and I feel rather wary in public now. The media are irresponsible arseholes for whipping up people into a frenzy against anyone who looks Asian, nevermind what nationality they are and if they have never been nor know anyone Chinese!

I suffer health anxiety as well OP. I understand your mind, I used to be the same.

A sore throat = cancer
Chest pain = heart attack.

It was endless. You only have to wave a blood pressure monitor at me and it shoots up alarmingly, horrible white coat syndrome still.

It eventually got too much for me and started to affect my day to day life and my family so I went to the GP (a feat in itself, since I was terrified of being told something awful) and cried it all out. He put me on a low dose citalopram and it regulates me. I still panic initially, then I can rationalise my fears into something more realistic.

You’ve not got Corona my sweet xxx

Have you sought help for your health anxiety?

I think that may be the appropriate step to take here when you get over the cold.

I read online a runny nose and sneezing is notably not a symptom of coronavirus so I wouldn’t worry! I also have health anxiety it’s hard to get yourself into a panic - look at the statistics and try to think rationally. And worst case scenario (and really really really unlikely) if you have it - it isn’t anywhere near as dangerous as the media makes it out to be so nothing to worry about!

I'm also never ill

But I've got the most awful sinus cold with the most intense sore throat (it's actually on fire!).

There's an awful bug doing the rounds.

I had an awful viral chest infection recently with all the symptoms you have.

DS2 and DH currently have it right now so it's definitely going around.

You have my sympathies OP because it really is awful but as others have already said its incredibly unlikely to be coronavirus.

It's a tough time for people with health anxiety at the moment. Get some rest.

I very rarely get ill I hadn't had antibiotics in over 11 years until this year and i had similar symptoms to you. What started as a sore throat and cough turned into a nasty chest infection. Hope you feel better soon

OK - so let's say you were to have Coronavirus. WHO advises to treat as for flu - a) plenty of fluids, b) paracetamol / ibuprofen to reduce fever, and c) rest. So treat as flu.

Oh, and UK gov says please, pretty please, don't go to GP but phone 111.

111 are used to dealing with The Worried Well - so if you're not reassured by the thread, you can always waste their time phone them

I had a very similar sounding thing which came on on the Sunday before Christmas. We were due to host on Christmas Day, and had to cancel because I was so unwell. Utterly miserable, and I am still not quite right now because it went into my sinuses. On the plus side, I lost weight over Christmas because I couldn’t eat!

Feel better, OP, there are some horrible bugs around just now.

I thought it stayed with a fever, then cough and difficulty breathing, no sneezing or sore throat. It's a bit like pneumonia, is hard to take a full breath.

Sounds more like you've got a horrible cold to be honest. Hope you feel better soon.

Also sneezing ridiculous amounts

Sneezing isn't a symptom of 2019-nCoV, which infects the lower airways (hence the risk of pneumonia) rather than the upper airways & nose. It is a symptom of the common cold, which is frequently caused by other coronaviruses.

Ariadne OP is very unlikely to have Coronavirus, however she could still be quite unwell.

oh, yes, @SoftSheen - I quite agree - meant to dismiss Coronavirus and not her cold / flu and associated breathing difficulties (which of course merits medical attention, unlike Coronavirus fear)

hahahaha! DD has a young Chinese girl best friend who regularly visits her close family..... in Manchester. Her friends at school send her on to the crowded commuter trains first so they can get seats.

True fact
People can have flu without knowing it

Another true fact...
You can have pnemonia with very little symptoms too

Almost zero chance you have coronavirus as only 2 cases in UK of of 67 million people. Even in China its 20,500 out of 1,319,000,000 so only a 0.0000155% chance in China. Really not worth worrying about in the UK.

I've got a bad cough and cold, it's just the season for it.

Health anxiety = formerly known as hypochondria.

I have the same symptoms its easing off now the sneezing has been awful my pelvic floor held up better than I expected after three children

If you think you have Coronavirus, ring 111. They will go through the checklist. Surgeries have signs up saying that anyone who thinks they have Coronavirus should not enter surgeries, but to go home and ring 111.

@BirdieFriendBadge CV is no more worrying than the flu etc.

Why have the two people in the UK been quarantined then?! Why ha be multiple people died from it in China then?!

Get your facts right