Can Covid (or any virus) 'reset' your immune system

[BetterSinceCovid]

I had Covid a few weeks ok. I was a bit poorly, but mostly ok, certainly not the most ill I've ever been. I'm unvaccinated if it's relevant.

Two weeks after my first positive test I felt completely back to normal. But not back to normal. Really good.

For a good few weeks/month before i caught Covid I had been blighted by headaches and nausea which would come and go to varying degrees but I would find myself taking ibuprofen almost every day.

Since having Covid I have felt much better and haven't had any headaches or nausea and have loads of energy!

Is is possible for a illness to give your general immune system a boost? I can't see any other explanation. It's so odd. I'm very grateful obviously.

@BetterSinceCovid

I spoke to my friend yesterday again on this topic. Apparently the NHS study she is part of on this is struggling to find enough people who feel/ got better post Covid. I guess it's only natural that those who feel better after Covid don't not bother reporting it or contacting their GP. But the study really is essential to better understand long Covid and thereby help those unfortunate to have a more negative outcome.

I've had a verruca on my foot for about 25 years. (The one on my other foot disappeared during pregnancy.) I went to file it down before I went out the other day, and it's gone!! I wonder if I have been exposed to covid and I haven't realised.

I’ve been looking for a thread like this and did comment on a similar one a while ago but had no response.
I haven’t had one cold sore since having my first jab in May. I’d honestly get one at least once a month - always on my bottom lip. Have suffered for years and years. There have been several times since the first jab when I “should” have got one (if I’ve picked my lip - without fail I’d always get one if this happened). However, I’ve had nothing.

It's the cross immunity, or paradoxical immunity - the body fights Covid, then this effort stimulates general immunity, in some cases helping the healing of other viral infections. PP already talked about healing of molluscus contagiosus or verrucas. There was even a study about such a case:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.14022

@TeloMere

BetterSinceCovid The problem is I didn't take a PCR test so I'm not sure they would accept it

OP if you didn't take a PCR test then you may not have had Covid.
Perhaps you had a random virus for a few months that eventually got worse and then you recovered and felt better.
You mentioned a positive test so I'm assuming it was a lateral flow test.

The reason I didn't take a PCR was because DH and the 2DC all developed symptoms and took PCR tests which were positive (this was after being in contact with a family member who had tested positive so we were expecting it!)

By the time I developed symptoms a week later and got a line on the LF it didn't seem worth it to take a PCR. I did take a few LF a few days apart and the line for stronger then faded. I suppose it's technically possible it wasn't Covid but it does seem much more likely than not.

Measles can reset the immune system but resetting as in clearing its memory, which is bad and the opposite of what you’re talking about.

Who knows, it may be possible?

I have no idea, I've never thought about it like that, but I have experienced it following every illness I've ever had including Covid!
I always feel great for a few weeks following recovery of any illness. I always thought it was a bit of a trick of the mind, as in because my body doesn't feel completely shite with the illness anymore, it makes my 'normal' (chronic fatigue) feel amazing.
I felt especially good after covid, I thought it was just because I was finally allowed outdoors and was grateful I could taste, smell, wasn't aching etc. Essentially just feeling positive and happy had an effect on my body afterward. If any of that makes sense!

Not covid but DS was unwell for months a few years ago then suffered fatigue for a few years and recurring bouts of various viruses (sinusitis mainly and the good old GP diagnosed 'viral infection' - after a really bad episode of tonsillitis a couple of years ago all of the issues he had going on previously disappeared. I do think it's possible that something changes with certain viruses.

I'm not a medic, so this is just my opinion, but I do wonder if some low level ill health is down to undiagnosed auto immune conditions. We live such a clean life these days, without constant infection that maybe our immune system hasn't enough to do and can turn on itself.

Maybe infection with a virus or taking a vaccine diverts the immune system into doing something useful, rather than creating trouble?