God, I couldn't have it for the second time ... could I?

[eatsleepread]

Well, obviously I could, but it would be unlikely surely.
I had Covid - a particularly bad strain of it - back in January. I am in my 40s and received my first vaccine (AZ) 18 days ago.
On Friday evening I started a cold, but wasn't too worried as there were no actual Covid symptoms. Today I have a very runny nose, sore teeth, a bit headachy and I can't taste my food. I'm convinced it's just a sinus-y head cold, but have obviously ordered a Covid test anyway.
I think I've blocked it out, but pretty sure I started off gently with the cold the first time around, before it properly hit.
I've always been very careful, but like most of the population, was starting to go out for the odd drink or meal.
Would love to know what you think my chances are of having it particularly if you're reassuring. I just don't know if I can go through it again.
Thanks.

Ok so short answer is yes you could (not that rare unfortunately) BUT - if it is and it might well not be - it is very likely you'll have a much milder dose second time round.

I know quite a lot of people (long COVID forums) who have had it twice but all those who had a bad time the first time had a much milder version the second (me included).

That said, there's not much COVID around at the mo (I caught it at the height of the first and second waves) so it could easily be something else.

Thank you for your reply

It's funny, but it's like a normal cold doesn't exist anymore! We've stopped thinking of them as just that.

It could be. I had my vaccine a couple of weeks ago and tested positive on Monday.

I had similar symptoms to the ones you have described. Once they passed I've had no other symptoms. Hopefully if you are positive it will pass quickly.

Technically you could, as I think it's 3 weeks before the vaccine offers your the highest protection, and you have only had one. Only way to be sure is test. I had a particularly nasty cold last week. I've been double vaccinated, but still wanted to be sure as didn't want to risk passing it to anyone who hasn't. Test was negative, I think I just felt particularly rubbish as I haven't been ill since having Covid 6 months ago, and I've not had a cold for over 18 months.

This is something I've been wondering ...

Many of our older family members have been vaccinated for flu in the past and then been very ill straight afterwards. One went to hospital with pneumonia. Well before Covid I was worried about these vaccines and how they'd made our parents so ill. I wondered whether they'd sparked off an immune reaction that then wouldn't stop ... is that possible?

With you OP - could it be that your body thinks it has Covid again and is fighting it off - which is what the vaccine is meant to do. Hopefully it will calm down soon.

But could it be possible that the immune system carries on fighting for a while ... hence the feeling that you've got Covid again?

I am just getting over a virus. Headache, cough, fevers, chills, snotty, swollen glands and loss of taste and smell, went for a test and it was negative. There are some really nasty bugs doing the rounds a nd this one floored me.

@Dustyboots

This is something I've been wondering ...

Many of our older family members have been vaccinated for flu in the past and then been very ill straight afterwards. One went to hospital with pneumonia. Well before Covid I was worried about these vaccines and how they'd made our parents so ill. I wondered whether they'd sparked off an immune reaction that then wouldn't stop ... is that possible?

With you OP - could it be that your body thinks it has Covid again and is fighting it off - which is what the vaccine is meant to do. Hopefully it will calm down soon.

But could it be possible that the immune system carries on fighting for a while ... hence the feeling that you've got Covid again?

Flu vaccines help prevent flu but not always very effectively. So they are better than nothing, but you can still get flu.