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.

I think that many illnesses need time to recover, certainly more time than we are used to giving. It's why those people who could afford it used to go to convalescent houses when serious illnesses were more prevalent, meningitis, TB etc.

Get well soon op.
For what it’s worth the people I know who have had it (tested, confirmed) have been like you, really poorly and still poorly.
It is no cold or flu for a lot.

It will be interesting to see how this effects people long term, and the damage done by not hospitalising people sooner.

Get a test (does anyone living with you fall into any of these categories):
Who can be tested
Our priority is testing patients to inform their clinical diagnosis.
We are also testing:all essential workers including NHS and social care workers with symptoms (see the full list of essential workers)
anyone over 65 with symptoms
anyone with symptoms whose work cannot be done from home (for example, construction workers, shop workers, emergency plumbers and delivery drivers)
anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus and lives with any of those identified above
Additionally, we are testing: social care workers and residents in care homes (with or without symptoms) both to investigate outbreaks and, following successful pilots, as part of a rolling programme to test all care homes
NHS workers and patients without symptoms, in line with NHS England guidance

I hope you feel better soon

I'm sorry you're so ill OP.

I'm young, slim, healthy, but I still don't want to get it. I'm SE and if it wipes me out I won't be able to earn money. If I can avoid getting it I will.

If you took some chicken out of the fridge and saw it was three days out of date, would you still take the risk and eat it? You may get ill, you may not, you may die, you probably won't. But why risk it? This isn't a fucking cold where you take a lemsip and crack on. It makes even mild cases bedridden for at least a few days.

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.

The best information we have so far, again from Korea. Is that the virus replicates without penetrating the nucleus of the host cell. This means that it almost certainly does not lie dormant in the body. It will not reactivate at a future date and (as long as the patient suffers no permanent injury during their illness) it is not a critical illness. Once your body clears the virus, you will recover and not get sick with it again (at least for as long as you have immunity, which is an unknown time, and avoid reinfection).

There are numerous reasons for this being a long illness. It could be an immune response to detection of viral fragments. (I actually said on another thread earlier today that I don't know if this could happen but I've since learned that this is a valid theory.) It could just be that your body has been battered by it and needs more recovery time. It could have to do with exactly how the virus affected the body. It could have to do with brain inflammation.

Either way, it's long past time that we stopped assuming stats that were coming out of China 3 months ago are still correct. I'm still hearing/reading, for example, that 80% of cases are mild, while the uptodate statistic is that an absolute minimum of 98% of cases are mild. It's probably much higher as the majority of infections are not confirmed. But it's equally time to clarify that a very significant minority of mild cases, appear to be leading to a prolonged recovery time. Employers in particular need to know that if someone is infected they may not be fit for work for quite some time.

Sparklfairy Most cases are asymptomatic, or like a very mild cold.

It will not reactivate at a future date and (as long as the patient suffers no permanent injury during their illness) it is not a critical illness.

I meant it is not a chronic illness, not critical.

cooking

What utter baloney. How on earth can you say there is no evidence lockdown works? What do you think has flattened the curve in each country, three weeks after the lockdown was introduced.

I can't decide if you're mad, thick or lying through your teeth.

For those unsure of the ‘elephant’ as per my previous post I’m referring to the unknown condition of community cases (most untested, not tracked, no recovery stats) and I totally agree with an INFORMED release of lockdown and agree it’s essential.

I’m not concerned (thanks though @sunshinesupermum!) if some are rude, blasé or think they’re invincible. I just really hope you don’t receive the same level of empathy when you or someone you love get it. Hopefully by that time you will all be able to be tested right away, not refused when struggling the breathe because you’re not serious enough for hospital. I’m not seeking sympathy but just trying to acknowledge how little is known about cases out of the hospital and that our testing strategy still isn’t good enough.

Some here seem to get my point though.

@EffieIsATrinket hopefully as awareness improves there can be more analysis - I do realise it’s very early days particularly with regards to more chronic cases.

unshriven

Link to evidence, please.

Most cases are asymptomatic, or like a very mild cold.

We don't know this. Certainly there are many cases of asymptotic infection but we don't know how many cases are asymptomatic yet and we don't know how many cases which are asymptomatic at the point of diagnosis stay asymptomatic.

@YetAnotherSpartacus no one said fuck them. They’re able to shield no? They’re able to stay indoors and stay safe? Good for them. I’m not starving my kids just to keep the people that need to shield safe. Our lives matter just as much as those with health conditions.

comtesse

A lot more than a few.

Scarlet fever is not a trivial illness either but you can't compare apples with oranges.

seriously

The lockdown rules are there to protect everyone. This is not just affecting vulnerable people. If you need to work badly then trust me, you probably couldn't afford to be in the OP's position or live in a country with an unchecked pandemic.

My sister in law is having the same as you OP. Has been ill for six weeks now. Keeps thinking she's over it and then WHAM it hits again. She's late 30s, slim and a fitness fanatic. I do not want to get this.

@Moondust001..spot on, there are a number of elephants, no right or wrong one to pick, and personal choice of elephant will undoubtedly depend on personal circumstances and viewpoint

I am glad you posted on here OP.
Tbh, I think there are plenty of people losing sight of how bad this virus is, even me. Your post has made me think again just how awful it is. I should know. My brother had it and was in intensive care and fortunately has been fine since. I think people need remined that it isn't the government that is stopping them going out. It is the virus!

I dont think we can assume much from uk stats yes we might have only hospitalised 2% but most of them died and many people struggled a lot at home

20% asymptomatic according to germany (but yes it's possible they get sick later).
I think we should look at other countries they are all taking it seriously and trying to avoid getting it.
Dont just look at the deaths. There would be double that just needig icu and 8 times that needing hospitalization

OP.
I'm finishing week 6 with it and it sucks.
I haven't been tested either, but my chest x ray showed pneumonia synonymous with covid 19.
The more people who catch it the more people are going to suffer like this for months.
It's very very frightening.
I'm 39, I used to run 9 miles a week, cycle 20, 12000 steps a day and two dance classes. I'm not in a vulnerable group at all.

Unshriven Most cases are asymptomatic? How would you know?

Having been with my very sick OH during the whole time (almost 8 weeks isolation since his symptoms appeared and we are over 70 with no underlying health problems.)

I have had no symptoms at all - does that make me asymptomatic? People are not being tested so there is no evidence.

OP - how recently did you try to get tested? This week? There's more capacity now. Army mobile units are available now - there was one on my street for 2 days. Online kits too. Try again.

@0v9c99f9g9d939d9f9g9h8h no one was talking about breaking lockdown rules, we were talking about ending the lockdown... maybe read the original comments first?

Actually OP, you may as well just wait for the antibody test now. You and your family would be prime candidates as you think you had it.

I despair. I get that we need to get people back to work as quickly and safely as possible. But this attitude that we can ignore the elderly and ill is just so, so gross. So it's ok for other people to die as long as you can go to the pub again, is it?

Op, I hope you get better soon, and that you can get tested for your peace of mind.