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Original poster

Are there data on how unvaccinated people are reacting to the mega cold?

72 replies

Bellaisoneluckywoman · 29/10/2021 11:39

For context - I am not in the anti-vaxer camp. I've had both vaccines and am booked in for my booster.

BUT....

I got the dreaded 'mega cold' thing nearly a month ago now and am still not fully well. Not is DH (who is also fully vaccinated).

A vaccine sceptic has told me 'the vaccine destroys your immune system'. Now - this may well be utter nonsense, but I have been shocked and frankly quite scared by how ill a sodding cold has made me.

So - am wondering if there are any data on how unvaccinated people have been responding to the same mega cold virus. I would find it hugely reassuring to know (rather than hope/assume) that they are responding in exactly the same way. If not - would rather suggest that the sceptics have a point.

Whether that is enough to offset the risk of dying from Covid is another question, clearly, but am trying to be entirely objective hre.

Are there any medical experts on here who might know the answer to this question? The data must be out there.

OP posts:
Haffiana · 29/10/2021 13:21

My relative had to have 8-hour chemo infusions every single day for 2 weeks in order to destroy his immune system. That is what it takes.

RichTeaRichTea · 29/10/2021 13:22

This isn’t really a logical question. If someone who isn’t vaccinated has a “milder” cold then it isn’t a “mega cold” and as there isn’t a test for it there is no way of knowing whether two people with differing symptoms (and differing severity of symptoms) have the same cold virus.

Anecdotally, as someone who is double vaccinated and has been fully exposed to all the bugs over the last year through work and children at nursery, I have had loads of colds and coughs (and endless negative covid tests) but nothing that could be described as a “mega cold”. I had bronchitis a few weeks ago, resulting from a cold, maybe that was it? It’s impossible to know really.

SirensofTitan · 29/10/2021 13:30

[quote Whyevencare]@SirensofTitan the OP is asking about this mega-cold going around, how the hell am I supposed to know if that's what I have. Is there a test for that, eh no Confused
She's interested in others experiences therefore I've giving her mine Smile[/quote]
Unless you know that you have the same strain of cold that she's talking about how is your experience relevant?

I don't really understand your point, as you say there's no test for the so called mega cold but if you feel not too bad by definition you dont have it.

makelovenotpetrol · 29/10/2021 14:16

It's a cold fgs. I think people need to get a grip. And yes I've had "the" cold. and covid And Im severely immunosuppressed. Honestly people are losing any sense of reality at this point. .

Ontopofthesunset · 29/10/2021 14:25

My husband who is asthmatic and had Covid fairly badly (not hospitalised but ill for a month and lost 2 stone) last March/April had a really bad cold a few weeks ago. We both have had both our vaccinations as well as Covid and I didn't catch it from him, or if I did I had no symptoms.

He always suffers badly with colds as they go to his chest, and I don't suffer much at all. I've also never had symptomatic flu as it's described on here, though he and our son were both pretty ill with it in the bad 1999/2000 flu season.

So I don't think you can deduce anything from getting a bad cold. So many things affect your immune system, from sleep and diet to when you last had a rhinovirus etc.

underneaththeash · 29/10/2021 14:26

I only have on friend who isn’t vaccinated (she has developed mental health problems over COVID, but is hopefully turning a corner now).
I unfortunately gave the horrible ‘not COVID’ cold to her.
We were both equally unwell, mine only shifted when we went on holiday last week, she’s a bit bunged up still.
I also gave it to my son -15 who was unvaccinated and very unwell, DS -13, who had 2 days of snuffles and DD -10 who had a pain behind her right eye for 3 days and a bit of a headache and sinus pain.

Cookerhood · 29/10/2021 16:35

I think the scientists might have noticed if the vaccines destroyed your immune system.

dementedpixie · 29/10/2021 16:42

I didn't know there was a mega cold going about. Is it only in specific areas of the UK?

Sugarandtime · 29/10/2021 16:51

Those who have had this very bad cold, have you all still been wearing masks when out and about?

Sugarandtime · 29/10/2021 16:52

As in not stopped wearing one. Not only wearing one because you have a cold. (If this makes sense)

RichTeaRichTea · 29/10/2021 16:54

I have continued to wear one in some circumstances but not in others and I haven’t had an especially bad cold, just lots of normal ones. I catch everything from my children though, so mask wearing is immaterial

AuntMasha · 29/10/2021 17:04

My dh has this mega cold atm and has really suffered with bad congestion, sore throat, tiredness, etc — it does seem to drag on in his case.

We’ve both been double jabbed and dh also has had the flu jab recently. I haven’t caught it, even though my immune system must be weak due to me having minimal contact with the outside world.

GreenTeaPingPong · 29/10/2021 17:13

I honestly think people have just forgotten how shitty a heavy cold is.

You would only think this if you haven't had it! My DC and I still have a chesty cough 3-4 weeks later. It is definitely the most ill I have ever been from a cold. (Negative PCR btw)

Interesting question, though, OP. My DC are both unvaccinated and one had it (the mega cold) worse than the other, I'm vaccinated and my severity was somewhere between them, so my anecdata suggests there is no correlation.

Muffinsandfruitcakes · 29/10/2021 17:28

You would only think this if you haven't had it! My DC and I still have a chesty cough 3-4 weeks later. It is definitely the most ill I have ever been from a cold. (Negative PCR btw)

Sorry I cannot be of any help op. I've been ill with a nasty cold and have a nasty cough for about 3 weeks. My dc also have the same. Two nights ago I was coughing all night (apart from 2 hours) and i thought I was going to die. My chest hurt so much with all that coughing. I've had a negative pcr and am double vaxxed. Seeing the above post has made me relax a bit knowing that it's just a nasty virus going round and I'd not just me and my dc.

BackBackBack · 29/10/2021 19:10

@Sugarandtime

Those who have had this very bad cold, have you all still been wearing masks when out and about?
Yes I have still been wearing a mask, but not at work which is where I am 99% certain I caught it because most of my office has had it.
BackBackBack · 29/10/2021 19:11

@Muffinsandfruitcakes

*You would only think this if you haven't had it! My DC and I still have a chesty cough 3-4 weeks later. It is definitely the most ill I have ever been from a cold. (Negative PCR btw)*

Sorry I cannot be of any help op. I've been ill with a nasty cold and have a nasty cough for about 3 weeks. My dc also have the same. Two nights ago I was coughing all night (apart from 2 hours) and i thought I was going to die. My chest hurt so much with all that coughing. I've had a negative pcr and am double vaxxed. Seeing the above post has made me relax a bit knowing that it's just a nasty virus going round and I'd not just me and my dc.

I was just like this with it - coughed so much and had a raised temp, so went and got a PCR done (negative).

It's luck of the draw - I've still got it lingering after 3 weeks, but DH hasn't picked it up from me so is fine.

prettybird · 29/10/2021 19:21

Anecdata: I got the megacold and felt really bad for 3 or 4 days (blocked nose and sinuses, splitting front of head headache) but recovered within a week.

I very generously gave it to dh Wink, who was floored for 2 weeks and after 4 weeks has only really just recovered.

We're both double vaccinated (AZ - 2nd one in June).

herecomesthsun · 29/10/2021 19:52

Are there data on how much batshit nonsense is going to have to be refuted in the name of placating ani vaxxers? (not accusing the OP of being an anti vaxxer, but it seems that anti vaxxers think they don't have to justify their random ideas at all, but raise all sorts of nonsense quibbles about vaccines that actually have saved many many thousands of lives etc etc)

Londonwriter · 29/10/2021 19:58

@Sugarandtime

Those who have had this very bad cold, have you all still been wearing masks when out and about?
I caught it off my one-year-old DS who, presumably, got it from soft play.

I carried on masking throughout, in fact, I masked outside because I felt embarrassed coughing and sneezing everywhere. The surgical mask was quite useful as it ended up doubling as a tissue (once I’d stopped wearing it).

Sugarandtime · 29/10/2021 20:17

@herecomesthsun

Are there data on how much batshit nonsense is going to have to be refuted in the name of placating ani vaxxers? (not accusing the OP of being an anti vaxxer, but it seems that anti vaxxers think they don't have to justify their random ideas at all, but raise all sorts of nonsense quibbles about vaccines that actually have saved many many thousands of lives etc etc)
Why do people like you have to go straight in with the typical nasty name calling? Then OP asked a simple question which everyone is allowed to do whatever the subject, yet there always seem to be people who go straight in with uncalled for name calling.

I wish mumsnet would ban the use of lot of these words.

prettybird · 29/10/2021 20:19

I'm in Scotland, so yes, we are both wearing our masks when we're out and about.

I may have caught the cold while at rugby training (when I don't wear my mask Wink) - and I'll let you come to your own conclusion how dh caught it a week after me Wink

herecomesthsun · 29/10/2021 20:21

@Sugarandtime The OP is not an antivaxxer, so this does not apply to them.

All the stuff about vaccines making people more likely to get The Bad Cold is actual batshit nonsense however, not sure why we should be beating about the bush regarding that?

Bornlazy · 29/10/2021 20:27

I had lots of viral type things last year and several negative PCR tests so my immune system was exposed plenty but this virus I have right now is horrendous. Our whole house has had it and it is honestly the sickest I have felt in a long time. I have had a high temperature, dizzy, sore throat, sore head and hacking cough. It feels more like the flu than a cold to be honest. I am double vaccinated.

Artie30 · 29/10/2021 21:28

I've been double jabbed and I can only speak for myself but both dc have caught the cold going around. They were sneezing, coughing, sniffing and spluttering on me - and screaming at me when trying to get covid test done!! I was fully expecting to catch the cold. But I've escaped it! It's been 2 weeks since kids have had the cold and not even had a sniffle!

Volhhg · 30/10/2021 01:07

I thought I read that the mRNA vaccines can provide some protective effects to other coronaviruses? I think it may still be being studied but I'm sure I read that this was a thing

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