Tom Hanks - those aren't the symptoms we've been told

[DoubleAction]

[[BBC News - Tom Hanks coronavirus: Actor and wife Rita Wilson test positive
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-51847198 Tom Hanks]]

Tom and his wife have tested positive. They dont seem to be very ill which is good news and consistent with the advice that for most it is a minor illness, but the symptoms he reports are nothing like the cough and temperature we've all been told are the only things to cause concern. In fact they're exactly what I've had all week (aching and shivers) which has been "proving" that I can't possibly have it.

I dont, I haven't been in contact and as it happens, I've been fairly isolated this week anyway, as I do feel quite ill, but I might have taken more precautions re family.

Different people have different symptoms though! They might as well draw up a list that includes practically everything (through vomiting, because some people vomit when their glands swell) right down to 'slight cough'.

I had a virus over the summer. A very nasty, extreme one that caused glands to swell all over my head and face and hospitalised me. For AGES they told me it was a dental problem, because I didn't have a temperature. I tend towards low body temperature at the best of times, so I can run a temperature and still be within what's 'normal' for most people, yet it's high for me!

I work in a shop. I am, basically, fucked.

So saturday morning I woke up feeling achy but nothing I was concerned about.
Saturday evening to Monday that ache was unreal. Nothing I've ever felt. From my toes to my fingers and head. Everywhere in between. Lethargic.
Temp of 37.8
Tuesday that's almost all but gone but consistent cough and headache now?
I just thought it was the flu. I thought coronavirus was mainly respiratory?

Symptoms of 'normal' flu:
Check if you have flu
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:

a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
an aching body
feeling tired or exhausted
a dry cough
a sore throat
a headache
difficulty sleeping
loss of appetite
diarrhoea or tummy pain
feeling sick and being sick

Shivers are a sign of fever such is listed as a symptom. Aching happens with lots of illnesses surely and isn’t necessarily a symptoms as much as it is just a feeling of being unwell?

I think everybody has different experiences of it, somebody who was tested positive for it said he only got a high temperature, no other symptoms and he was only tested because he was in a high risk area and it turned out positive. That just means that so many more people could have it without realising. Some people don't even experience symptoms they will just be carriers. Then 111 are making people think they can't have it unless they've been in direct contact and unfortunately people believe this and think there's no chance they could have it

I get the chills every time I have a fever, I thought that was fairly normal? I also get achey limbs with basically every virus I have bar a minor cold.

All the NHS advice is there's no cause for concern unless you have a dry cough and breathlessness along with the other symptoms though.

Yes, because if you can breathe, it's not a serious case. Not everyone gets the breathlessness. You're more likely to get that if you have an underlying condition.

So much confusion. I woke up Sunday with a bad cough, shortness of breath and sore throat. Then Monday started to get a fever, fatigue and aches. Terrible fever throughout the night and into to Tuesday, terrible chills. But then I started to sneeze and have a runny nose so just thought it must be a cold. Wednesday still feel choked and got a cough, today still got a cough and feel choked. Working from home but not sure if I should be concerned phoned 111 their advice was to go to the pharmacy, which I didn't, incase i was infectious and not entirely sure what a pharmacist could do, other than tell me to take paracetamol and ibuprofen which I have in the house.

Also not travelled from any countries infected or been im contact with people who have it but really how do we know that anyway

It's really hard to know. My DS today is tired, headache, stomach ache, sore throat and cough. No temperature.

However, his "normal" is very frequent headaches and stomach aches (migraine sufferer). And he has reflux so often coughs and has a sore throat.

The tiredness is unusual. Last month he had tracheitis and flu at the same time - this gave him all the symptoms of Coronavirus, but it was before it had officially arrived in this country.

The symptoms are so common that i have no idea how they know to test unless its gets really serious.

I have been ill for almost 3 weeks now. Started as 'flu' and then the doctor told me I've got pneumonia which I've been on antibiotics for a week now but still coughing. But as I haven't been abroad or had known contact I haven't been tested. I'm due back at work Monday and I work in a school and I just don't know what to do. Do I go back in with my cough or stay off longer and risk getting in trouble for my absence?

Mary, I'd call the school, I'm sure they'd be more than happy for you to stay home. Besides, you are not actually better from the pneumonia so you should rest to get better anyway.

Yes maybe I'll give them a call tomorrow. I'm worried because I got called in to discuss unacceptable absence back in October when I broke my arm, now I've been signed off for 2 weeks with this I don't want them to get rid of me!

@MaryBoBary

Have a phone consultation with your doctor and if necessary get signed off

But they may well decide today to close schools. Wait till then

I'm due to go to France skiing driving taking ferry tomorrow morning with my 8 year old. We are staying in a Chalet. My friends don't seem concerned about the coronavirus but I am worried about the fluidity of the situation whilst we there and getting stuck. I will lose our money if we decide not to go as no official FCO travel restrictions for France. Really undecided what best to do....

One of the reasons Italy has such high numbers is that they are testing far more people than any other European country

Isn't that the same for South Korea though? Numbers there are high because of testing @NoMorePoliticsPlease ?

I guess it's one way to keep numbers down..... not to test.

Are they haveyoutriedgoogle?
Um .... yes, yes they are. That’s why I said it.
I am in Aus though (and yes, they and a couple of other symptoms, have been advised from the start, not just since Tom and Rita landed)