If you have tested positive - does this sound like I have it??

[laura081008]

For a while now I’ve been experiencing an odd sensation in my throat.

I find it really hard to explain, but it feels cold, tight and uncomfortable. Occasionally It also feels tickly.

For the past few days this sensation has really intensified and it feels different to normal.

I haven’t got a continuous cough and it’s not affecting my chest, but I do feel like there’s tight band around the bottom of my ribs if I take a deep breath in.

The sensation in my throat is just awful and I have no idea what it could be, but it’s causing me so much anxiety.

I suffer with anxiety and OCD both of which have been very bad recently, but I’m really not sure that anxiety can cause a sensation this bad in my throat??

It seems to come and go throughout the day.
Could this be a coughing episode if I’m not actually vocally coughing? Does that make sense?

The sensation is really starting to panic me and I’ve considered calling 111 but I don’t want to waste their time.

I’m thinking of ordering a test to rule out covid.

If you’ve tested positive; does this symptom sound familiar??

Also, I know one of the symptoms is shortness of breath, so the tightness around my ribs. Is that shortness of breath?

I’ve not had it but what would be the harm in just ordering a test anyway?

Anxiety is a terrible thing and could be making your symptoms worse, but either way with a test you will know.

Do you suffer from hay fever? If you take an antihistamine does it improve?

I haven’t taken an antihistamine, I’m breastfeeding.
Online says loratadine is fine but the pharmacist told me it’s not safe in breastfeeding!

Mine started with fatigue and a headache that wouldn't shift. Then a burning feeling in my throat that I'd liken to breathing in v cold air or fumes when cleaning the oven. I had the right band feeling around my chest.
This went on to the burning being in my lungs, you'll know when you get it as it's unlike anything I've known. Your lungs feel increasingly heavy and painful. There's more symptoms but that's the main ones.
What I would say though to be practical, is ensure you drink enough. I was drinking 4-6 litres a day, and you're constantly thirsty. When you're so unwell you're just in bed, sit fully upright at all times, even when sleeping. This will make breathing easier, make the lung pain etc easier. I used loads of pillows and blankets.
Definitely call 101, and don't worry about calling them whenever you're concerned. They're really supportive and do help. I posted on here when I was scared, definitely reach out yourself if you need to .

Have a look on the national breastfeeding network site and the drugs in breast milk fact sheets. There is one specifically for hay fever and breastfeeding.

I am breastfeeding and take loratadine, the GP advised that it was fine. Do you have an email consultation option for your GP? You could check it with them.

If I’m honest what you’re describing sounds like hay fever to me, especially if it’s been going on for a while (so I’m assuming more than a day or so).

@wallyrag did your symptoms come and go or where they persistent?

I can have hours of feeling fine, then the feeling in my throat comes on again.
I wouldn’t say the tightness is my chest, it’s much lower down in my ribs.

Could be. I only had very very mild burning sensation in chest. I thought it was just because I had camped overnight. Turned out it was Covid. One brief episode of temp 37.7. Few days of cough about three times a day. That was it. I was so surprised my swab was positive.

@elspethmcgillicuddy do you know how you contracted it?

I haven’t left the house for months. So I don’t understand how I could’ve caught it.

I use a delivery service for my shopping and have only left the house for a very few walks.

I have the exact same feeling in my throat at the moment. I think it’s anxiety (my sister has the same thing and is on medication for it).

Having said that I did have a few days of feeling breathless at the end of last week.

@laura081008 I'm a GP. Very likely from a patient but will never know. No one else in my surgery has had a positive test.

I've had Covid and also suffer from Anxiety. Your symptoms sound classic anxiety symptoms. The feeling in the throat is very common and so is chest tightness/shortness of breath.
Covid I had a very bad cough and was unable to breathe properly for a couple of weeks. Literally struggling for breath, so very different to tightness in ribs. If you think it will help your anxiety though get a test

@laura081008 mine were persistent from what I remember

No one will really be able to tell for sure. Its best to try and relax as getting stressed about it will only cause your immune system to go down. I know it's hard but in most cases coronavirus is mild.