AIBU to share my virus symptoms

[Figmentofmyimagination]

Here they are -
Day 1 - afternoon - temperature - I have no thermometer so didn’t measure it - just felt suddenly a bit hot and red in the face, but not shockingly so. By the evening I’d lost all sense of taste and smell. Made a curry using marks and Spencer tikka masala paste and couldn’t tell it was curry flavoured. Had a glass of white wine. I had already been experiencing the odd tiny sniffle in my nose but this was extremely low key. Cleaning my teeth I could still taste my toothpaste.

Next day, felt like a giant white wine hangover. Very tired - at one stage, I put my head on my hands on the table and just sat there for ages. Ignored phone calls. Still no taste and smell. No appetite but I ate sensibly throughout and didn’t feel sick or have diarrhoea etc.

Next day similar. Did some work on my laptop but went to bed at 3pm. The oddest and most unpleasant symptom was a sudden wave of nausea inside me while sitting at my desk as if I’d been invaded by something - but it passed. Bad headache but not bad enough to require a paracetamol.

Next day more of the same. Put on loads of perfume to test but couldn’t smell it. My body was clearly telling me to lie down so I took lots of rests but I carried on working in between as this was possible for me, including phone conversations about work.

This went on for three more days. On about night 5 I became anxious that maybe my chest was tightening (I’m asthmatic) but it wasn’t and I was imagining it. Slept v badly but this was anxiety I think. All through, I had a clear nose to breathe and no cough. Eventually my taste and smell began to recover. I discovered that my favourite virus food was stewed apples, which I could taste quite early on for some reason - the sugar I think.

I’m better now, although still going to bed early and won’t be going out in public quite yet. I thought I’d share my symptoms as I didn’t have either a dry cough, sore throat or a high temperature, except on day one. The clearest, weirdest symptom was the loss of taste and smell and the one scary wave of nausea. I strongly suspect this was the Coronavirus, although who knows. If it was, I was very lucky, touch wood, to have such a mild dose. It’s been quite a lonely experience as I live on my own atm so I thought I’d share my symptoms now that they seem to have abated, hopefully.

[Meercatmama]

Hi Sorry that you are all feeling unwell If you want some more information of people who have been experiencing the symptoms you have a look at the thread My lungs are on fire threads 1 to 7 and there is a one for people who are at the later stages of recovery called 30+ These have been very helpful and supportive to me at various stages as I have been ill for 26 days now with various symptoms although starting to feel better. It has not been a liner recovery but more of a two steps forward one step back one. it has been a lifeline for me especially when I was very anxious Hope this helps

[everythingisginandroses]

OP, there's always one patronising plank who thinks they know better, ignore them.

Lots of people have been experiencing these types of symptoms. Personally, I ran a low grade fever (38+) for over a fortnight. My chest has been tight and I have had burning sensations in my upper back where my lungs are. I have been extremely tired. As a healthy 44 year old this has knocked me flat and 25 days on I am still not 100%, but getting there. DH and DS also affected. We are rarely ill and none of us suffers from anxiety or any other MH problems. This has been nothing like a normal cold or flu

[mrswhiplington]

Figment I understand your anxiety. About 14 days ago I started with a bit of a sniffle. It didn't develop into a full blown cold. Lasted a couple of days. But my smell and taste completely disappeared. It freaked me out. It is only just returning. I had no other symptoms. I couldn't smell bleach, couldn't taste garlic, nothing. I didn't even want to eat, it seemed pointless except to just stay alive. Thankfully it's returning. I hope you continue to recover. There is nothing wrong with sharing your thoughts. We are all fed up and need to talk sometimes.

[Figmentofmyimagination]

thisismytime well that’s put me in my place! The truth is that living alone atm, I haven’t told any family, friends or work that I have been feeling strange and unwell for the past week. I decided not to do this as it would just worry people unnecessarily and there is nothing any of them can do about it. This post was the first time I shared my symptoms with anybody - and it’s actually been helpful - apart from your post, that is. But I won’t be back.

[redcarbluecar]

Thanks for sharing this. I know quite a few people who have had similar symptoms in different combinations. There isn’t much testing so who knows for sure? I’m glad you’re on the mend.

[notanotherjigsawpiece]

I had very similar symptoms to the OP last week. I got swabbed as I’m a HCW - it wasn’t Covid-19. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing for most people, due to a lack of testing.

[Thisismytimetoshine]

I wish people would stop doing this... All other illnesses have not gone away, you know. People listing common cold/flu symptoms as "my experience of Corona" is unhelpful at best.
Pointless attention seeking at worst.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Is everyone sharing symptoms definitely diagnosed with CV? If not you may have had a different virus with similar symptoms.

[JoMumsnet]

Hi Figmentofmyimagination

We're going to move your thread over to our Coronavirus topic now.

We're really glad that you're on the mend. Take it easy.

[Figmentofmyimagination]

soupdragon sorry - I didn’t realise. I was just feeling a bit lonely this morning so I posted on here.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

No one knows if any of this stuff it covid or not as you can’t get bloody tested!!!

Op I agree about this virus springing an attack once you think you’re on the mend. So just take it easy, carry on resting and don’t push yourself back to ‘ordinary life’ too soon.

[SoupDragon]

There is a whole separate topic for the virus.

[Figmentofmyimagination]

avocuddles I really feel for you being pregnant.

[Figmentofmyimagination]

vegas888 I don’t know whether it is covid19 but I’m erring on the safe side - eg intending a massive deep clean when I’m better. The loss of taste and smell made me suspect, along with the wave of nausea which felt quite sinister and like nothing I have ever experienced before. Obviously could be another unpleasant virus. If so, it is not one I have ever encountered before. Still haven’t recovered taste and smell 100% although definitely improving. Still resting a lot.

[scochran]

I can't know if it was covid or not. I would say, though, that I am being just as cautious as whatever i had was awful and I certainly don't want another illness to follow. I am pretty fit and usually healthy but that was hard going.

[pennylane83]

I started with headaches and an upset tummy for about a week. The 2nd week also started to feel waves of nausea, got a stuffy nose and muscle pains especially in neck and arms. On week 3 now, still have all week 2 symptoms (feels like i've inhaled chili powder up my nose) and the glands in my neck are now very swollen and causing my lots of trouble with my ears (clogged/sensitive hearing/soreness). It actually feels like there is something moving in my neck. No temperature, sore throat or cough though so go knows what bug i've picked up!

[MouthBreathingRage]

I've had odd symptoms, but I am wondering if there's a similar-but-not-covid virus going around. Day 1 lost all sense of taste and smell, day 2 woke up feeling like I'd been run over by a lorry (or 5). This followed by my sinuses being on fire for days and a bearable sore throat. My lungs felt squeezed, bit breathless, but they're always like that when ill due to a previous bout of pleurisy. It all passed fairly quickly, bar the loss of smell that is better but not completely recovered. Due to no cough and only one day of having a temp, I'm guessing I didn't actually have Corona, but I did have the fear for a day or two.

[Avocuddles]

My symptoms..... (note I'm 36, pregnant and have mild asthma)

A few days of feeling a bit run down, thought nothing of it.
Friday (day 3) - Start coughing and aching a bit, but not enough to stop most activities. Decide to sleep in separate rooms to be on safe side.
Saturday (day 4) - feeling a bit worse, mild fever, all sense of smell and taste completely disappears - to the extent that wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between tea, coffee or water, and can't smell any cleaning products at all
Sunday (day 5) - more tired, more aching, more coughs
Monday (day 6) - much the same, nosebleeds, congestion
Tuesday (day 7) - same but worse, find it a real struggle to leave the bed. Still no sense of taste or smell and struggling to eat.
Wednesday (day 8) getting worse, just walking from bed to en suite makes me feel breathless. Still have a low level fever. Develop urinary incontinence, wetting myself when I cough
Thursday (day 9) - probably the worst day. Add upset stomach and digestive pains to the above. Really struggling to eat anything and don't leave bed all day other than to use bathroom. Have telephone consultation with GP who arranges to call me back next morning.
Friday (day 10) - still feeling really rough in the morning. GP arranges for paramedics to come visit. They check my stats and are happy for me to continue recovery at home. Friday afternoon I finally start to feel a little better.
Saturday (day 11) - start to a get a small proportion of smell and taste back, though still very restricted. Have a little more energy. Still isolating from husband (other than when he drops off food)
Sunday / Monday (days 12-13) - progressive improvement, still feel very tired, aches, congestion
Tuesday (day 14) - most of smell and taste have returned. Still tired and aching but improving daily. Still coughing and struggling with incontinence but again improving.
Wednesday (day 15) - continued improvement.
Thursday (day 16) - still coughing but less frequently, still congested but might be a pregnancy thing. Temperature is normal, appetite is back and husband finally returns to our room!

Another week on from that I'm still not quite 100% in terms of energy but pretty good. Hope this helps give a sense of how long and slow this illness can be! Please note that I wasn't tested but GP / paramedics are confident of the diagnosis given I had pretty much every symptom on the list.....

[vegas888]

Can I ask how you know for sure it was Covid19 and not just another virus?

[AppleJane]

Unless we are tested, how do any of us know if we've had it or not? It could be a different virus.

I worry that people might think they've had it and are now 'safe'. Please don't stop being cautious and still protect yourself just in case.

We desperately need tests.

[Umnoway]

The only person I know who has had it is my Step-Dad. He is mid fifties and had a stroke a few years ago so is considered high risk.

He started off with a temperature and constant cough so the two classic symptoms. By day 2 he literally couldn’t get out of bed, he was only dragging himself out to use the toilet as little as he could get away with. He said it felt a lot like the flu, he was just totally wiped out by it. On day 4 he started with chronic diarrhoea. He had to force a bowl of soup down each day but really had zero appetite, just drifted in and out of sleep all day and night. By day six he started to feel human again and managed some toast and stay out of bed for a good hour. He’s on day nine today and feels more human but still not 100%. No chest tightness or breathing problems thankfully, just said he felt like he had both the flu and norovirus combined.

[missingeu]

Started a week ago
Day 1: loss of smell and taste, fatigue and muscle ache. Headache
Day 2-5 continue loss of smell and taste, fatigue, musche ache plus exterme sore throat. Like it was burning, hurt to swallow or speak. Headache. Woke up in pain every morning.
Day 6: loss of smell and taste, slight sore throat and cold like symptons. continued fatigued.

Just feel lucky to have it mild -and some difficulity breathing.

Looking foward to getting back to normal, working and walking the dog.

[Maybeimweird]

Around 6 days ago I developed a dry cough, wasn't sure if it was caught from the kids as they had had colds etc, I felt like I've had a head cough, no runny nose but headache etc I've took paracetamol everyday for a headache but not sure if that's from coughing and the pressure of it. Today I have been woken by an almighty sickness feeling, I am so nauseous, I've had to get up to go to the bathroom as I could feel it coming on but not actually been sick yet!

I wish we could just know either way, my sister lost her sense of taste and smell last week and she's never poorly I live with her

[scochran]

I had no cough. Maybe some nighttime temperatures. Broke into sweat doing stuff round the house, too.
My youngest had the sore throat, cough and some sickness and diarrhea. He has been ok for a week but last night said he felt I'll agsin.. just when I thought it was calming down.
Also noticed my cat keeps sneezing. I am not even going to Google that. He have a enclosed garden so hasn't been anywhere but here.

[Callimanco]

As I posted in the lung thread, the key features of a weird virus I recently had was panicky feelings, dizziness and a day of diarrhea to begin with. The panicky feeling - coupled with a fast heart beat and insomnia - was unlike anything I have ever had with an illness before. At the time I thought it was a tummy bug and wasn't worried about the disease itself and I experienced the anxiety as a sudden inability to cope with the news and the situation - but it went as fast as it came, after about 3 days, and now I think it was a physiological response of my immune system
It was illogical for my "panic attacks" to subside when they did as it coincided with respiratory symptoms starting. I had a sore throat with thick mucus that was hard to clear, and a feeling of having inhaled powder or chilli. The cough was minor and intermittent and I recovered in about 10 days, bar frequent indigestion for another couple of weeks.