Help! I have covid.

[TryingNotToPanicOverCovid]

Ive just found out Ive got covid this evening. I have absolutely no idea how. I have been walking everyday, but not going in shops or anywhere indoors. Ive been posting on these threads for a while as Im clinically vulnerable and have pulled kids out of school (this Jan/last march) and have been geberalky really anxious. We hose to shield for 2 months last March, washed goods etc.

I'm really anxious now. Are there things I can do to lesson chance of getting really ill?

I only felt like I needed my blue inhaler for first time in ages and wouldn't have thought anything of it other than my anxiety meant I was worried that if my asthma got worse they'd want to know if Id got covid so I tested to show I didn't.

Are there any false positives?

I don't want to die in the next 2 weeks. Or go to hospital.

I've liked reading the data threads and been watching the time til my predicted vaccine (group 6) get closer as both have helped anxiety. But I can't now believe I have it. I didn't think it was possible.

How bad will I get? Is there anything that can help reduce the likelihood of death/hospital.

Ive left an e consult for the dr (although I don't think they want to be consulted about covid?! Or maybe they mean get a test.)

Im so frightened.

(Namechanged as I'm probably obvious to anyone I know - say hi! )

I would take zinc, vitamin c and vitamin d and drink plenty of water.

To be honest the main thing you need to do right now is to calm down and remind yourself that the stats are in your favour. I'm pretty sure that even for people with underlying health conditions the chance of getting Covid severely is very small indeed if you are under 80.

If you take steroid inhalers for your asthma these may well be protecting you. There's a trial running at the moment prescribing budesonide as they believe it may reduce the effects of Covid.

Thankyou. I have vit D but not Zinc or vit C. I have a tesco order tue morning (eek can they still deliver!?) Though.

Im trying not to be anxious.l but keep thinking if there's things I need to do in case I leave my children .😬

Having asthma I'm also terrified of not beig able to breath.

I'll get some water now. Ive checked we've got tons of paracetamol.

Anything I shouldnt eat/do!?

Ive asked the dr by econsult if i should increase my inhalers. 🤞 they will help.

I've high bmi/asthma/ME/cfs. We've been walking everyday to try and increase fitness as my fitness is low. So I've got age on my side- 40s but if I die everyone would say "ah yes underlying symptoms."

No advice, OP, but sending good wishes. Hopefully you'll only get it very mildly.

Thankyou. I love your user name. I say that a lot!

I say that a lot!

Me too!

If you start feeling unwell get plenty of rest. I hope you get well soon. I spent most of a week in bed with it but didnt get seriously ill.
I heard recently drs recommend measuring oxygen levels? There's a £20 machine. See if someone can bring you one as if you have asthma you'll want to keep a closer eye on it

I can see why you're frightened, it's can be a frightening disease. And you've been worried about catching it for a long time.

Likewise, I can see why you'd want answers and to predict what will happen next but I am afraid you'll need to wait and see.

Right now there are two main factors in play - how your immune system is hardwired and why you are vulnerable. The first is probably the most important-and also the most mysterious. Some people, even generally frail or evc people, just arent that susceptible to severe COVID and no one knows why. So despite being classed as vulnerable you can still be lucky. It is also possible that this virus will make you sick as a dog for a couple of weeks- but that doesnt mean you'll get dangerously ill.

So things you can do.

• buy or borrow a pulse oximeter (c £20 on Amazon). Get one with a CE kite mark. Use it to monitor your blood oxygen level, for most people who get very sick w COVID this is how the trouble comes.

-take some high strength vit d, vit c and zinc every day. Wont harm, may help.

• try to lessen your chances of panicking by not trawling the internet /news for bad COVID stories. Panicking and stressing only makes things worse.

-if you are asthmatic then check w your gp about which inhalers to use. They may want to up your prescription and may prescribe antibiotics/oral steroid if you do develop sob.

-rest, drink plenty, take it a day at a time.

here is some great practical advice

www.facebook.com/164378873761138/posts/1597230947142583/?d=n

Do you have symptoms?

Does anyone you live with work or socialise outside of the house?

Some GPs are immediately issuing those with asthma who test positive with steroids. Might be worth asking?

Try and sleep on your front if possible.

this is a link direct to article

www.naturedoc.co.uk/?s=Coronavirus+&fbclid=IwAR3fG0kiddcn7nkJsCICFEzdLs4cwpe6pIN8pAnbc_R9dxOJSHcio2QifI8

My mum and I both caught Covid at Christmas. My mum also has asthma, her symptoms were bad cough , stomach pains and a headache, I had sore throat, blocked nose and ears, sore eyes and fatigue. Thankfully neither one of us needed hospital treatment. Keep yourself hydrated, take paracetamol when needed and rest. Three weeks later we are through the other side. I still have fatigue and headaches, but I’m getting better with each day. Please try not to worry, it is not a given that you will have an extreme reaction to the virus.

Your chances are still very small that it will be severe. Stressing yourself out will certainly not help.
The four people I know who have had it really only had cold like symptoms and two had a lingering cough for a few weeks. You are more likely to have the same than end up in hospital.

Thankyou both. I have an oximeter (anxious about covid last year....).

I have Vit D. Ive been taking 4000 a day for a month (since thriva said I was low on vit D) so I assume I just keep doing that. I woneered if I should take more.

I don't have bit C or zinc. I could obtain for Tue morning when I get a supermarket delivey. Or I could get a friend to get some.

I'm aware I could be v ill (hopefully at home) and wondering how best to prepare for that. I have a ton of paracetamol. Lots of food in the house and husband can sort kids.

Ive messaged surgery so hopefully will get a reply. I will have to cancel a blood test (re low vit D....) Im v aware Id like not to have low vit D and be healthier but I cant sort that now.

I can make sure I have some things by my bed. Clear my room out a bit. I'll pack a hospital bag just in case.

My kids have spent a year knowing we're avoiding covid because I'm higher risk (not going in shops/etc) ... I dont want them to lose me. And I want to try and be nornal for them.

I've had Covid and am asthmatic. I definitely used my inhaler more, but also read somewhere that it doesn't help because the way your breathing is restricted is different. But if it helps, go for it - my doctor said don't worry unless you use it more than 8 times a day (bearing in mind I have mild asthma so rarely use it).

My main advice would be to just hunker down and relax. DH and I both had it and spent a decent amount of time in bed. It knackers you out, so if it's not necessary, don't do it. We also suffered from back pain, so stock up on ibuprofen (if you can take it) or paracetamol.

But in general, we had bad flu for just under a week each, coupled with me being short of breath, but not unmanageable so (e.g. couldn't run up the stairs, but could walk up slowly if I paused for breath at the top). 2 weeks later we were mostly fine, a month later we're completely fine

I know it's different for everyone, but statistically, you'll feel rubbish, but be fine. So just don't panic, but give yourself plenty of time to recover.

Cross posted with more people. Thankyou.

I am okay with tired (I have chronic fatigue anyway) I just dont want to die or go to hospital. Or feel like I I can't breathe (Ive had chest infections before which frighten me.)

If the dr doesnt reply tomorrow to my emessage I'll ring then.

Only symptom is I needed my blue inhaler, my chest is slightly tighter. And the odd cough - not really in the day. But nothing Id have worried about normally. Im scared its coming.

BookShark. Im glad you're okay. 2 weeks of feeling tired and a bit rubbish would be okay. I so hope that's me.

ProudAuntie. Noone works outside the house or going indoors anywhere. I have had a walk with one other person at a distance. We have had tesco deliveries. We've been passing people outside each day though but I thought we had pretty much 0 risk.

Kids didnt go back beginning Jan. Our biggest risk had been school or so I thought.

@TryingNotToPanicOverCovid
I am so sorry you have caught this. Do yry to follow your user name - it is what it is now and the calmer you can be the better. Covid does seem so random - you could well get away with only mild symptoms. I hope you do!!

How on earth do you think you caught it? Were you, or anyone in your household within a metre of anyone? Can you in any way work out what happened.

After all that time shielding and avoiding life - it seems so unfair.

There is a lot of evidence now that asthmatics aren’t as badly affected by COVID as first thought. As pp said they suspect we are actually somewhat protected if using steroid inhalers!? Try to stay relaxed as anxiety will only exacerbate your respiratory symptoms and follow previous advice x what are your oxygen levels?

I also have no idea where I caught it. I assume via an asymptomatic DD as she was in school pre-Christmas, but didn't get her tested so don't know. Otherwise, I work from home, get shopping delivered etc. - I should have been fine. Unless it was the one time I ate out - but that was with DD and DH (who caught it after, and therefore presumably from, me) But that's why this new variant is so scary.

Take care of yourself and hopefully you'll feel right as rain in a week.

I’m so sorry OP. I wonder if this is the infectiousness of the new variant at play. Does it require wearing masks outdoors? Very concerning.

Try not to worry OP I know a few people classed as vulnerable who got it and were fine.

My 72 year old dad (who could be classed at risk) recently got it and although he wasn't too great, he didn't need to go to hospital. He rang the GP for advice and they put him in contact with the Covid hub who were great, they called him regularly and they were on hand for advice or if he took a funny turn at any point so hopefully you have the same support,

They couried him out an oximeter too.

Try to keep positive and get through one day at a time. X

Try not to panic. What type of test did you do? The quick tests are not accurate so if one of them it could be wrong. What symptoms do you have? Try to remember alot more people survive this with no serious affect. Hope your feeling better soon.

I know you say you don't go anywhere but for walks outside OP, but does anyone you live with go to indoor places like work or the supermarket?