A positive test- my journey so far

[CovidClara]

I have really struggled to find a description of someone with CV19. So here is my story (so far). I received a positive test back this afternoon.

Friday. I went out to the pub with 3 family members from 2 households. This is significant as my adult DD who lives with me also has CV19 and this is the only time that she has left the house for 2 weeks and so it looks like that may be the transmission point. We are in a tier 1 area.

Tuesday. I wake up with a splitting headache. I am prone to sinus problems and I thought it was that. Take ibuprofen during the day which numbs but doesn't remove it. Have a really sore throat start during the day. My DD wakes up with what she describes as a cold.

Wednesday. Slight cough, mostly dry but some mucousy. Headache continues and throat is really sore. DD still has a 'cold' and a very very slight cough. I decide to order a test online- for home testing. We dont really feel ill- this is like a very mild cold.

Thursday. Feel a lot better. Throat hurts, headache continues and light coughing. Sneezing (so it must be a cold) . Regret ordering a test as we are fine. I dont think I have had a fever, had a few moment of feeling hot maybe. DD says she feels a bit hot. We dont have a thermometer to check.

Friday. I wake up with almost no smell. Still got a headache. Throat hurts (but really very mild sore throat). The post comes and no test arrives and so I book drive through test for me and DD. We have to do it ourselves in the car- I am very skeptical that I have managed to swab correctly.

Turns out the home tests had been delivered by amazon and left behind the bin!

Friday evening I feel really cold in bed (but I live in a cold house so not unusual). Still no smell back. Headache has gone

Saturday. Feel a bit tired in the morning. Sore throat has gone. Have a slight cough. Woke up with a bad headache that took hours to go. Saturday pm- feel fine- spend 3 house gardening.

Saturday evening. I receive a text/email with a positive result. 4 hours later my DD gets a positive test result.

Turns out another person who was in the pub with us also developed a 'cold' on Tuesday and is now booked for a test tomorrow. So all 3 people got symptoms on the same day. The 4th person says they may have had a cold last week ??? but they are fine now.

DD symptoms now are: slight irregular cough. Sore throat gone. Can still smell but a bit reduced. Sneezing from time to time. Odd taste in mouth.

My symptoms are now. Low level headache, slight cough, slightly tickly throat. Sneezing from time to time. No smell, reduced taste.

At this point this is like the very mildest of colds. Lets see what happens now.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb96e8e86650c278b077616/working-safely-during-covid-19-restaurants-pubs-takeaway-services-151020.pdf

Neither us or the pub broke any rules.

From that PDF - you should only have been 1m with other mitigation

I am going to leave this thread and ask for it to be deleted.

I thought that I was being helpful but obviously all I am doing is letting the sanctimonious lecture everyone.

@CovidClara ignore them. I found this thread really helpful, thank you. Hope you are feeling better soon

@CovidClara

I am going to leave this thread and ask for it to be deleted.

I thought that I was being helpful but obviously all I am doing is letting the sanctimonious lecture everyone.

I think that's a shame, it is an interesting thread. I hope you stay ok and fully recover soon

I found it helpful too

Sorry OP, I find it an interesting thread and I wish you the best. I was honestly shocked, so I've taken that to a new thread and I won't post here again.

Please keep posting @CovidClara . The daily breakdown of symptoms is very helpful, as are the details around likely infection point,

I sat at a table with friends. We were sat at least 1m+ away, albeit we didn't have masks on as we were eating. We had it so that couples sat opposite one another so no face to face outside of our household. There was minimal 'close' contact.

Regardless that isn't how I got it!

Looking at where I have been and who with I either got it from DH - who must have been symptom free and hasn't had close contact with any known contacts;

OR I got it from a child at school, who would have been symptom free too.There is no SDing in primary schools and no mitigating features such as masks. But we aren't allowed to believe that children can spread it to teachers are we?!

Only other people I saw were two friends or my 18y DD - but that appears to have been too short a time for them to have passed it on to me (and most likely after I caught it now anyway) , not mentioning the fact that all 3 have had no symptoms and aren't close contacts of anyone either.

CovidClara Is you’d gut feeling that you caught it from person 4? Or someone else in the pub?

I have been keeping a diary note of my symptoms and changes if anyone would like me to post it, either on this thread, or a new one Let me know.

I've found this thread really helpful also. Ignore the criticism, we're all doing our best, that's all we can do. I hope your symptoms don't worsen and that you and dd are better soon.

I've had a sore throat for months and wondered at the beginning if I should have a test, however at the time the symptoms reported were only the cough and temperature. My sense of taste and smell is slightly reduced. No one around me has had symptoms so I presume I didn't have it.

Thanks

Sorry I had a strop. We honestly did not break any rules.

For the first time this evening I feel a bit unwell (possibly why a bit grumpy)This is day 7. My chest is a bit tight. I am probably coughing a little more. I feel a bit spaced- I cant focus properly on a document that I am trying to write.

The person who called from track and trace said I was the most upbeat person he had ever spoken to on a call. He wouldn't come round and walk the dog.

@Ijustneed it's so hard to know isn't it ? DH and I were convinced we had it in March - classic symptoms- but couldn't get a test and recent antibody test was negative for both.

OP if you have what I had you may need to take a few days off work to fully recover. After Day 7 I thought I was getting better but flaked out after an hour or so at wfh and had to take the rest of the week off and felt much better around Day 12.

@NaturalLight

CovidClara Is you’d gut feeling that you caught it from person 4? Or someone else in the pub?

Person 4 now has symptoms- so it looks like someone else.

Not the server- I have spoken to the pub and she is fine and hasn't been ill at all. They were rigorous in keeping 1 server with a mask. This is our local and we do know the staff well.

I keep saying pub but we were in the restaurant- we had a 3 course meal with drinks. No-one was drunk- we had 6 drinks- 1 person had no alcohol and the other 3 had 2 drinks each.

DD didnt go to the loo (someone asked earlier). I did once- wore mask, sanitised hands before and after. Washed hands with hot water and the rather lovely soap they have. I used my own loo roll as well (TMI)

I find it interesting that so many people who have tested positive are saying a headache was one of their symptoms, but that's never mentioned as a symptom to watch out for.

In February half term (so before COVID was massive here, when they were only testing people who had returned from China), I had a massive headache for 2 days. Felt like horrible sinus pain, which I've never expert before. Felt chills and shivery one evening. Had a sore throat when I swallowed for about a week. I continued to go to work every day and it felt no more than a mild illness.

Did the antibody test in July and it showed positive for antibodies - and the only time I've felt remotely "ill" was back in February, I can't think of any other time.

I have had a tight chest ever since, but found out today my iron levels are seriously deficient, so it could be that causing the chest pain and not lingering COVID.

Positive test, but only tested after losing sense of smell and taste. Other than that my smokers cough disappeared completely, felt a bit tired, sweated a lot. I was completely fine by day 9. Sense of smell and taste returned after 2 weeks.

Very similar to us. Dh tested tuesday morning as found that three people at his work had tested positive and his slight runny nose now had a cough with it. I started to feel a bit rough tuesday and it progressed from there. Dh didnt get his positive result until Friday evening.
Had sore throat, runny nose, aches, feeling feverish but no raised temp. From Saturday I lost my taste and smell and they are still missing. Very tired. Also we have both had awful sleep at night, which for me is very unusual.
Dd2 who is 3 also had awful sleeps last week. Now I wonder if she has had it too but she hasn't had anything else of note. Dd1, 5, has had no symptoms at all. We haven't had either of them tested, just all stayed at home.

This is my journey so far, incase its useful to anyone.

I am 47y. I am clinically vulnerable - have PsA and take methotrexate. I teach in an infant school across all year groups, so 290 children a week. No SDing, etc. but have been trying to be careful due to my own health - lots of anti bac everywhere!!

Tuesday

• noted on ZOE app that my chest felt a bit tight; have had a ‘bit of a cold’ on and off since returning to school last month. Throat sounds hoarse but isn’t sore. Even being careful (clinically vulnerable for Covid so care being taken) hasn’t prevented colds!

Thursday

• chest much tighter; started to wonder if cold had ‘gone to my chest’ and to be aware incase I get a chest infection. Voice still a bit hoarse

Weekend

• much the same over the weekend, with my chest. Had some pains in my legs - wondered if might be getting a flare up of arthritis perhaps, something else to keep an eye on. Throat no longer sounds hoarse at least.

Monday

• by time I got to school and been up and down stairs my chest was feeling much tighter and I felt out of breath on moving around, especially on the stairs. Concerned I might be getting a chest infection so went to walk in centre in the morning

Walk in centre went in a blur. Heart rate was 150+ (somewhat normal for me if feeling ill) but blood pressure dangerously high (stage 3 hypertension crisis level) Temperature normal at around 37.0c Nurse practitioner called Cat 2 ambulance. Hadn’t arrived by time DH arrived so he was allowed to drive me to A&E; couldn’t come in with me though due to restrictions A&E started investigations for pneumonia and blood clot on lungs. Took bloods and chest x ray - all clear/normal. Temperature normal. ECG was normal. After a few hours sent home with instructions to call own GP tomorrow to investigate blood pressure, which was still stage 3. Heart rate had come down to 120ish. At no point has anyone been concerned about covid and I was in the ‘green’ zone at A&E.

Tuesday

• called Gp as instructed for a phone appointment; GP asked me to go in for BP test. went straight away. He’s not happy as BP still stage 3 level. Heart rate around 100 bpm so slowed down a bit. Temperature normal and chest sounds clear. He got second opinion from another doctor. Neither happy. Sent home to await another call.

GP calls back and asks me to go straight to hospital; he’d arranged for day admission on the Same Day Emergency Clinic. Concerned about my BP and the fact that A&E sent me home. DH came home and took me in - again he can’t come in with me. Various tests - blood, ECG, BP checks, etc inc routine swabs for Covid and MRSA. On open day ward for investigations. BP still sky high, all other tests are normal. Given beta blockers and then an under tongue spray but no effect. Eventually given anti BP medication. Chest really tight, but breathing not too bad as not moving much! By early evening BP started to drop but not enough - top number still over 180, so have to be admitted overnight. Moved to open ward on AMU. Dreadful night as really bright and noisy, very little sleep had due to this, constant admissions and BP tests all night. tried to sleep propped up to help chest.

Wednesday

• long wait begins to see doctor, but BP now below 180 so hopefully can go home

About 9:30/10am over hear a phone call from ward with my name - have tested positive for Covid! Currently on an open ward with 7 other patients of varying ages and illness!! Not one medic at walk in centre, A&E, GPs or hospital wards have suspected this. all actions to get me into a side room, away from others for first time my temperature is raised - 37.8c. In next hour drops to 37.1c during the afternoon i start to develop a cough; chest still tight and breathless if I walk about but ok if still called school and friends to let them know, as potential contacts; DH now come home from work to begin SI BP come down to stage 2 hypertension (top number is below 180) so can go home around 3:30pm. R collects me, along with my new BP meds, with instructions to SI, call GP for a follow up of BP in a fortnight. coughing increases over evening, and really breathless when have to climb two flights of stairs to bedroom! Temperature now down to 36.6c again.

Thursday

• Coughing more today. Temperature is still low - 37.1 this morning, but mid 36c later on. Chest feels really tight today. Breathing is fine when resting but walking around makes it worse. Going up stairs makes it really struggle. Chest and breathing is by far the worse symptom!

No other symptoms from the long list T&T sent. A new BP machine has arrived from Boots. Tsted it out and positive news - bp is currently much lower (low stage 2). It’s still a bit on the high side. BP dedication has kicked in - phew!

Friday
No real change today and feel much the same as yesterday, but don't feel much worse either. Same symptoms though have some aches and pains in my arms and legs today which could be linked I think - not as sharp as the ones I had in my leg before (which is one of the reasons why they were investigating blood clots initially.)
Spent the day moving very little due to the breathlessness and chest; disadvantage of a three storey house!
No obvious contact tracing we can see - have gone back over the past week or so, but we've been careful. We've social distanced and worn masks when out, and not been anywhere crowded where that wasn't possible. R and M have had no symptoms either. We don't know any close contacts who have tested positive or have had symptoms beforehand, so hard to tell

Sunday
Still no real change today or yesterday. Although still feeling somewhat grim, I don’t feel any worse so hopefully it’s reached it’s peak. It’s not so bad if I don’t move.
Cough, tight chest, breathlessness, some aches and pains in limbs, ectopic heart beats, heart rate slightly raised. No raised temperature. Oximeter says 95-97% Blood pressure stabilised at ‘hypertension stage 1’ with medication.
Seem to have developed a weird taste thing yesterday evening/today. I can smell and taste but everything has a metallic after taste at the moment. Its another day of rest!

Monday
Still coughing, chest tight and breathless if doing anything but no worse again. Coughing lots if I talk much. Ribs feel sore. Spent almost all day laid in bed, though propped up working on iPad as feeling really tired today and have achy legs and arms today.
Seem to be able to taste fine today after having a metallic taste all day yesterday.
Blood pressure much the same as yesterday - stage 1 hypertension, so seems to have stabilised now. Oximeter is reading 94/95% which is closer - though not convinced on its accuracy tbh, seems to give lowish readings in general. Heart rate is mid 90s with a few ectopic beats still. Temperature is fine.
DH and DD still have no symptoms despite being with me before and after all this.

I find it interesting that so many people who have tested positive are saying a headache

I haven't had a headache but since I tested +ve several school staff have (i didn't have close contact with them!) - almost all have commented on having a horrid headache.

Wow, this sounds exactly like me. Minus the sore throat. I was absolutely exhausted though. I didn't lose my smell until the Friday after feeling ill from the Sunday. I was offered a test so took it on the Wednesday-it wasn't until my smell had gone the alarm bells started ringing.
I got a positive test on the Monday.
I was ill for just over a week. Headaches have now subsided.
I have felt much worse.
Maybe I've been lucky 🍀

Oh and my 2 girls have not picked
Up anything from me 🤷‍♀️

My symptoms have felt pretty similar to when I had pneumonia several years back. I wouldn't say it has been worse than that though, but very similar feelings/symptoms.Hopefully recovery will be quicker than that though!

@DameFanny

Sorry, just honestly shocked

Why shocked though? This is the fudge the government put in place. The guidelines don’t intend people from two households to be sat at different tables. I’m fairly certain they are aware that all the different legislation & guidelines are nonsense when read together.