The elephant in the room

[Needsomegoodnews]

So some people are desperate for lockdown to end. Fewer hospital cases. Fewer deaths. These mostly in hospitals and care homes. Mild illness for most etc etc

I’ve been ill now with classic symptoms for SEVEN weeks (otherwise v healthy, slim, active etc). Not tested (so will get flamed that it’s not covid) but HAVE now had a chest X-ray showing ongoing classic infection signs in my lungs. 3 lots of antibiotics haven’t improved things so likely viral and likely covid. I have a fever right now (again - comes and goes). No one has any idea if I’m still infectious or whether I will eventually get better (or worse) and I’ve heard of many others in a similar boat. Without better testing and knowledge of how this virus progresses how on earth can anyone predict the implications of letting it spread again even more?
I have two small children and trying to keep up with a demanding job when I can so I fully appreciate the desire for normality but nothing after lockdown can be normal. I wouldn’t wish how I’ve been feeling on anyone.

You need to get a test, it's easier now, you just tick a box saying you need to work. There's lots of viruses and this could be something else remember. Many more lives will he lost (suicide) shortened (due to poverty) etc if lockdown continues, not to mention mental health problems .... it's not a simple situation. Like many my main symptoms lasted under 12 hours, only lack of smell and taste lingered for a week, I need to work and can't because of lockdown, every day is added money to debts

From the gov.uk website, for some of the less literate posters above:

When to apply for a test
You need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms. It’s best to apply for the test in the first 3 days as it may take 1 or 2 days to arrange.

You might not get a test if you apply - it depends how many tests are available in your area.

Frontline essential workers such as NHS staff will be given priority.

@Moondust001 I’m referring to community cases - completely unknown entities unless they’ve gone to hospital. The vast majority not tested, no tracking, no idea if or when they’ve fully recovered. All things that have been mentioned as strategies but everyone is keen to rush ahead without these in place. I’m not suggesting it doesn’t happen at all and it needs to happen soon - I’m just saying we can’t ignore the implications of doing so without putting in place what was recommended. Hopefully this will be part of the plan.

@SeasonFinale I’ve had previous discussions with 111 and have been referred to their GP and back to my own GP for X-ray etc and no testing at that time but I will be trying again. Sadly the current recommendation is that tests are only carried out if within 5 days of symptom onset though. The basis of this is unclear.

Where are you getting that advice from @elephantiam please?

I'm maybe being dense here, but what is the elephant you refer to?

Yeah, I'm not getting it either. What exactly is you point? That after lockdown, people will continue to get infected and get sick? I'm pretty sure everyone's aware of that.

He appeared strong, fit and healthy just a few months ago, and was apparently one of those people who was never ill. But he very nearly died of coronavirus.

Sorry, what? The overweight, if not obese, middle aged man that's in charge of the country? Are we talking about the same PM?

@madroid There are interviews with leading South Korean scientists - I can link if you like - will be later though as I would need to find them.

In your position I would pay the £150 for a private test

I agree with the OP. We have very little knowledge of this virus yet. We don’t know whether it becomes a chronic condition, we don’t know how long any immunity lasts, we don’t know whether it may lie dormant and re-emerge years or decades later in a slightly different form ( as with chicken pox/shingles).
This is a novel virus for humans. We have to take it very seriously, and not just assume that people who get it and appear to recover will be totally fine, because that may not be true. Hopefully it is, but we can’t make assumptions at this stage.
There are many others in a similar condition to the OP, there is a thread on here about it.

Haven't rtft, but you're not alone op

blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/05/paul-garner-people-who-have-a-more-protracted-illness-need-help-to-understand-and-cope-with-the-constantly-shifting-bizarre-symptoms/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwor

Coronabored that's a shockingly unsympathetic reaction to a fellow human being no matter how factual it is or isn't. Are you a sociopath?

I do hope you feel much better soon OP. My OH had it for four weeks - all the symptoms but no hospitalisation needed thankfully. The fatigue has still been plaguing him though.

I get the impression that those who want lockdown lifted are mainly people who have not been directly affected by coronavirus either through getting it badly themselves/know someone who has or died from it/has NHS or other essential workers in their family.

Although it is mainly elderly people who in some cases have underlying illnesses who have died, plenty of younger people have been ill with coronavirus.

There have been some rubbish and unnecessary comments addressed to the OP.

I don’t see the elephant in the room.

Are you saying this is a new pathology of the disease that is being ignored? It’s not. It is being studied across the world. But it is very atypical unless you has a serious illness requiring hospitalisation. The scientists and medics are being very clear they don’t know many things and are learning all the time. Not a lot the rest of us can do except social distancing and serving the public in any way we can.

You are getting care from the NHS as will others. That care will adapt to post Covid conditions once these are known.

I'm sorry you feel so awful but your case is exceptional. Most people recover quickly.

Depends on your definition of most. Figures from Korea are that 37% of mild cases take a minimum of 4 weeks to recover. So sure, 63% is most, but over 1/3 os far, far from exceptional.

The prolonged nature of the disease in some patients is being discussed anecdotally in medical circles OP. Both patients and HCPs with stubborn and debilitating symptoms lasting many weeks. People wondering if their condition is permanent.

The elephant is that this is not necessarily a mild illness simply because you are not in ITU or even hospital. It can and does affect perfectly healthy people. That in itself is a medical point of interest not a political statement.

0P have you checked your vitamin d levels? My mum had covid like symptoms for many weeks, her vitamin d levels are shockingly low, I think she only survived because she had been for a bit of winter sun before lockdown started in early feb. Ive told herr take some every day now.
Do you take vit d? If not that could be why you were so susceptible end of winter months...

I agree with alittleprivacy

I don't think these uncertainties mean that we should stay on lockdown by the way - SK isn't on lockdown - more that a lot more education/information is needed, there needs to be a better way of communicating latest developments with the population than via some threads on mumsnet.

I don't think that the scientists think it could lie dormant in the system, I think (I am not certain) that they are saying it might take a long time to shift even if you create antibodies and we are likely to learn more about potential symptoms as time goes on.

@LemonTT But it is very atypical unless you has a serious illness requiring hospitalisation we don't know that yet. 37 percent in SK isn't atypical for sure.

Yes there definitely needs to be better testing and contact tracing. For a long time you couldn't get a test with symptoms, scandalous. I'm sorry you feel unwell and it sounds alone in how you're concerned about all this but you're not alone. I don't understand the complacency in this country when 30,000 have died. Saying they were ill or old doesn't make those deaths any more tragic. If left unchecked then everyone will know someone that dies of it.

For those saying it’s mild. Mild is a clinical definition meaning not requiring hospitalisation. It’s not a mild disease. I think antibody testing will reveal only a small percentage of people have had this. Those who think they may (like me) in fact haven’t. I took a reliable antibody test and negative. They still don’t understand this disease and long term health implications even for mildly affected can’t be ruled out. Absolute folly to open up. Look at Australia only a handful of cases and still under restrictions. I think some people have trouble understanding basic maths!

I think you need a Covid test and or a test of anything else is going on. If you have been ill for so long, you should have had some investigations what is causing it.

Pretty much anyone can order a test online now, they can't seem to give them away fast enough.