Reinfected

[Flippetyflipok]

I've just had a positive test. I was ill last April, and had ongoing long covid. Ironically only chatted to GP this week who said that no one has any idea re recovery.

Has anyone else had it twice? I'm hoping second time not so debilitating - I didn't have to go to hospital or anything but felt like crap for weeks.

@Flippetyflipok

oh dear, I know it's all unknown but it's really not reassuring when GPs say that! Mine has been supportive in referring me for MRIs and to see a neurologist but also admits they don't know much (anything).

I'm improving thanks but god it's been a rough ride. My main remaining symptoms are intense earaches and headaches, lack of balance (this was awful and I struggled to walk but has improved a lot in the last 2 months), tinnitus, nerve pain and sleep problems. Sucks. How about you?

I know 2 people currently reinfected (with positive test results for both infections to satisfy the skeptics). About 9 months between first & second infection. Second infection symptomatic for both, yet to see how long/severe the illness. I’m hoping it will be milder as one of them was v ill in March although not hospitalised.
BNO newsfeed has a Twitter feed that tracks genomically sequenced reinfections around the world, I think over 2000 now (obvs not reflection of real number as so many people not even tested never mind sequenced in March/April)

My neighbour had Covid in March - positive test. He developed long covid very badly - has all sorts of complications and actually attended the long covid clinic this morning for the first time. It's been so bad he had to take early retirement.

He tested positive- along with his whole house back in December. Said it felt like he had been catapulted back 9 months.

Hope you feel better soon OP 💐

The problem with requiring confirmation of early cases is that there was no testing for the general public. I often think how strange it must be to think you might have covid and actually be able to get a test, because back when I thought I had it that wasn’t an option. It stands to reason from looking a hospital numbers and deaths at that time that many people were infected, but almost none of them will have been tested.

Outside hospitals I mean.

@Porcupineintherough interesting that flare ups didn't give a positive test. I also thought this was just a cold at first, maybe triggering some long covid. And I WFH and keep to the rules, DD also likely the crack in the defences. Bah!

@hollieberrie gosh, that sounds awful. Long covid is just so debilitating for some. I'm relatively fortunate, just had persistent kidney pain since April, no clear cause. Initially GP ordered a bunch of tests but they all came back clear so they can't treat anything... I spent the last few months seeing if diet/exercise/losing weight helped, it didn't make any difference to kidney pain but maybe puts me in a better fighting position now! Really hope you continue to improve, I found it very weird to adjust to an unknown illness for an unknown amount of time.

I’ve had it twice. First time in March, confirmed by antibody test and the symptoms. Second time in august where I was pretty much asymptomatic. Had a routine test for work where lots of people caught the virus. Had many negative tests in between so unlikely to be flare up. Was very surprised.

@Ladydowntheroad thanks for your support! I'm a bit surprised by all the denier responses.

I don't think there have been many "denier responses." There has been a mixture of comments, but I think the ones you deem to be from deniers were merely pointing out that your thread title was misleading due to no test and therefore no definite diagnosis earlier in the year.

I believe you OP. Hope you feel better soon 💐

My daughter's father just got a positive text, 9 months after the first. Am so worried while I wait for my results. He was allowed into the house during handovers as we thought he was lower risk.

@Justmuddlingalong

I think as you never had a test in April, you can't honestly say you've been reinfected.

This is, imo, a 'denier response' - it is instantly sceptical.

@whatswithtodaytoday

There has been a large-scale study of frontline staff which found no cases of reinfection: www.journalofinfection.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0163-4453%2820%2930781-7

It might be a flare-up if you're feeling run down?

I heard about this study too. It's really strange how the study seems so certain that there is no reinfection but there are anecdotals everywhere about reinfection. Either the study caught no one with the new strain or there are a lot of errors in testing?

The virus has mutated , as they do, so if someone has had it once we can’t be sure that they can’t catch a different strain , another reason for us not to be complacent and to still follow the rules.

I think we have had it twice. Once in March where we were really sick. Thought we had pneumonia ! Also no taste or smell, then again, positive this time, at the of November and wasnt really unwell at all. Just no taste or smell.

We have people at work (hospital) who had antibodies in the summer (all tested) & are testing +ve now. Lots actually & it's very scary.

Hope you feel better soon OP

@Justmuddlingalong why is it misleading? Reinfection is possible, and based on the evidence I believe I have been reinfected. I asked for others' experiences of similar.

Were you busy last year before mass testing was available pointing out to sick people posting concerns about having covid that their titles were misleading?

Probably. Youd get the occasionalbitch one on the "lungs" threads back then giving us the "well how do you know you've got it when you've not been tested" whilst we were all lying there in our respective beds terrified by the bewildering array of symptoms and trying to breath.

Reinfection is possible, and based on the evidence I believe I have been reinfected. Then your thread title should say you believed you had been reinfected. It didn't, and pointing that out doesn't make me instantly sceptical or an covid denier.

@Justmuddlingalong first rule of holes: when you're in one stop digging.

I'm in no hole. I'm not digging. I'm stating my point of view. All perfectly within guidelines.

Nothing in the guidelines says you can't deny everyone's lived experiences of covid, no.

Just makes every thread bloody tedious, as people pop.up with gotcha all the time.

Oh ffs. And the opinion that anyone who disagrees with a post about covid is a denier? That's tedious too.

I thought we were all aware that reinfection was possible....

Interesting to hear about your kidney pain. I think I had covid at the end of Feb, at the time didn't realise it but all the symptoms matched and I was ill for a good few weeks, luckily managed to stay out of hospital. Suffering with various symptoms since but in June I started with awful kidney pain. Tests don't show anything. Originally treated for kidney infection but antibiotics didn't really help. Still in pain most days 6 months on.

I think tbh I'm just really sick of posters trying to discuss the reality of covid, and people who don't believe asking for proof or casting doubt.

Its time to discuss the real issues, not constantly question whether the issue exists.