I feel ropey. How likely is it I have The Plague

[MiraWard77]

I'm freaking out. I need a grown-up to tell me what to do.

Last night I had a bit of ear-ache and a tiny bit of a sore throat. It made me worry.

This morning I woke with a mildly aching throat and a bit of a headache. Nothing awful. I'm tired too, and have a mildly raised temp: normal for me is 36.4°, in the achey ear it's 37.6. Not A Fever. But raised for me.

Of course, I'm thinking this could be the beginning of The Plague. COVID

I've got DH & two young DCs home with me. Should I hole up in the bedroom (en-suite) and try to avoid sharing my death-germs. Or assume it's nothing unless I get a Proper Fever and The Cough but risk infecting everyone else before symptoms really show.

We've been staying in since schools closed, DH has been doing the supermarket run. BUT, I went out to give blood last Thursday. 5 days ago.

I can't tell if I'm a bit tired and anxiety is making me feel "ill". Or this is the actual beginning of something and what I'm feeling is real.

(Also, for info, I'm a serial name-changer, if you're a post-searcher)

Take care of yourself, drink plenty of fluids, eat well and rest up. As you should do with normal illness. It is likely to not be CV, but if it is it is likely to be mild. It's up to you whether you isolate from family, maybe I would if someone was particularly vulnerable. Otherwise, like if I have a tummy bug, I might not hug them or prepare their food and drink, but I would be in the same room as them. I don't actually think it's practical to isolate from young kids. I don't think I would try. Hope you get well soon.

That is, if someone else can prepare the food and drink.

Thanks @ScrapThatThen, I needed that firm but gentle sense!

Yep, I woke up, realised I didn't feel great (and I've been feeling pretty great during lockdown) and was immediately climbed on by a 4 year old. So no, not easy to distance from them.

I'll take it easy today and see what happens. Hopefully nothing and I'll be embarrassed for overreacting!

Luckily I do have a very competent DH.

How are you feeling today x

Morning, the achey throat subsided. Headache persisted. Spent the day going "what am I on about, I feel fine" and then going "wow I'm tired". 🤷‍♀️

Just had a good sleep and woken up feeling better, I think. Certainly not worse. Not quite normal though.

I don't think it's COVID. I'd feel worse, wouldn't I?

Not necessarily Mira I think we are to assume that it is and follow protocol.

Is an achey ear a symptom of CV? Sounds like you had a very mild ear infection??

No idea @jomaIone, I felt a bit off after staying home for a month (except to give blood a suspicious 5 days ago) and obviously assumed I had the dreaded death virus.

It probably is something I've cultivated myself in my own ear canal.

@Northernsoullover, in the absence of the official symptoms of cough & fever, DH went out to pick up the shopping (the last click & collect). I've obviously stayed in.

Having got up and moved around I've got a bit of a slightly swollen feeling throat and niggly headache. But nothing I could really put my finger on.

Is it best to do my usual morning workout or take another rest day?

Does exercise help to shift viruses or weaken your system?

I am pretty sure I’ve had it, I got the cough first and the tiredness and viral symptoms came after.
Well, I say that I got the cough first. My chest started bubbling first - when I was breathing out, it was very strange. I’ve had coughs and chest infections before but nothing like that.
When I was ill I felt better one minute and then awful again, it came in waves.
Other people I know have said the same, I don’t know if it’s something to do with the body fighting off a new virus.
Hope you’re ok anyway op.
Lots of fluids, paracetamol and rest.

Thanks @DaphneFanshaw.

Definitely no cough or chest bubbling.

I definitely feel more alive today. At the moment. I think it maybe be psychosomatic

One thought though. Could this be hayfever? Except yesterday is probably the only day in the last month I didn't sneeze.

Maybe I'll take an antihistamine and see what happens?

It’s so confusing at the moment isn’t it. I think we’re picking up on every symptom at the moment and panicking, well I know I am 🙄

Yesterday I had a headache, extra tired and a bit of the sniffles and like you, I kept thinking I’m fine and then the next minute thinking I have Covid. I wonder if a lot of us are just stressed and run down at the moment.

I did still exercise yesterday, so not sure if that made me feel better or worse 🤷‍♀️

You could always start your workout and if you start to feel a bit ropey then cut it short.

Also,@DaphneFanshaw, I hope you're recovered and feeling well, and hope it wasn't too bad.

I have to remind myself that only people with dramatic experiences will bother sharing them. No one wants to read about how it was no big deal.

@Krazykitty I'm glad it's not just me second guessing myself!

I've been feeling really good while we've been locked down. Sleeping really well, eating reasonably well, exercising most days, getting out in the sun, WFH but with nowhere near the work stress that's normal. Even home schooling the kids has been nothing like the normal work/family stress.

But going out of the bubble to give blood (first time too) was a bit stressful. Maybe that caught up with me.

So feeling a little 'under the weather', (nothing even close to slowing me down under normal circumstances) made me worry.

I'm off to do a workout. I'll get my husband to post if I die mid squat-jump.

The only advice I'll give is stay in your room and get dh to sleep in another room. I got it first and it wasn't too bad but because dh caught it from me and got a hefty dose of it rather than just the fleeting dose I got then he was floored and very very poorly. I looked it up it's a real thing. Viral load. It can be mild. I was only properly poorly for about 24 hours dh was 3 weeks

That's what was worrying me, @Looneytune253. And I said as much to DH. But he dismissed it and so that ship has sailed.

If I've got COVID. Which I'm 80% certain I haven't.

But I am aware of the viral load link. And that was part of my worry yesterday.

My sister had COVID - she had mild symptoms, but as she works in a hospital she got tested and was surprised to find it was positive! She felt a bit rough and achey for over a week and then had no sense of taste or smell. I had the exact same symptoms so I’ve probably had it too. Only key workers or people who have it bad enough to go to hospital will get tested so we only hear about the bad cases.
Try not to worry and look after yourself.

I have found my people!

For the past 8 days I have had a headache (really bad at times) sore throat, raised temperature, and totally exhausted by around 2pm.

No coughing. Some slight chest tightness at times. No runny nose. Diminished sense of taste and smell but not completely gone.

Do I have The Plague?

If only we had a bloody test!

Just to give a very rough indication of how many people test positive out of those who have some sort of symptoms: in Germany you can basically get a test if you're symptomatic. Something like 8 to 9 per cent of those tested are coming up positive. So statistically speaking, if you don't have the classic symptoms of cough/fever, it's fairly unlikely to be cv. That figure will also be pushed down by people who have no symptoms but who need a negative test to keep on working (Angie Merkel had three negative tests in quarantine).

BUT, even though it's unlikely, do you really want to take that risk? You'd feel so bad if you assumed it was just a sniffle and infected others, who could get it much more seriously. I really sympathise - I've had bad hay fever this spring too and constantly need to reassess symptoms. Fortunately, cv doesn't get worse when you get close to a tree in bloom, so that's a good giveaway!

Welcome, @bluebeck! See, this is what I need, other people who might also be overreacting but who are worried they're under reacting to join me in my neurotic bunker!

@Mentounasc yep, I have to keep reminding myself that all the other normal viruses are out there too. And just because I might have one doesn't mean I've got That One.

I'll be happy when I get to 14 days post excursion.

I didn't die during my workout but HR did tend towards the high side, even for me.

Yes, I am fine thanks.
I felt rough for a week and a bit drained for a week after that but otherwise all ok.
My dc Were ill at the same time as me so we just snuggled up on the sofa watching films.
I know this is dangerous and horrible for a lot of people so I’m not trying to downplay it at all. Unfortunately we lost a family member to this so we know how awful it is. Most other people I know though have had symptoms like me and are fine now.

Thanks @DaphneFanshaw, that's what I needed to hear. I'm glad you're all fine, but very sorry to hear about your family member.

I've been wondering the same, I've had a sore throat for about 6 days, muscle aches and today a headache. I was wondering if covid. My toddler is a bit snotty today and unsettled. Probably isnt but I'm over analysing everything just lately.

@bluebeck, @AvocadoPrime how are you feeling?

I evidently did not have The Black Death. But I've just come across a thread about period flu? I've never heard of it, but I felt off on what turned out to be the first day of my period. It was so subtle I wouldn't normally pay any attention, it's just because we're locked down at home and I'm being a bit hyper vigilant to health at the moment.

Anyone else heard of or experienced 'period flu'?

I'm glad you feel better! Never heard of period flu?!
I feel crappy again today. Doctor put me on antibiotics but said it could be viral but obviously app was over the phone so no examination.
I just have no energy very phlegmy, throat still sore and headache. No temp though so I'm seeing that as a positive. Current drinking hot lemon and honey and its gross