Are you unvaccinated? Have you had covid recently? How was it?

[Lessofallthisunpleasantness]

Asking for a friend.....

I had it in September (delta I believe). I felt pretty grim for a week then pretty much fine again, although felt pretty tired for a few weeks beyond that. When I say pretty grim I was ok as long as I stayed still in bed as much as possible, had a headache and just felt bleurgh, and I got dizzy when I stood up. Oh and when I first came down with it I felt feverish for one night. I lost my taste and smell on day 3, they came back about a week later, gradually.

My friend was unvaccinated (due to uncontrolled anxiety about the vaccines) and she had covid recently. She is 50, a healthy weight and no underlying health conditions. She was very ill - she collapsed at home and one of her dc had to call 999 because she was unresponsive. She spent a week or so in hospital, which was very scary for her as a single mum, and of course for her dc. Thankfully, she was able to return home after that but she is now really struggling with long covid. She is also struggling with lots of what ifs and she is feeling really guilty about not having had the jab. And her dd is traumatised by what happened - relieved to have her mum back at home but angry at the risk that she took.

I know another couple who are very anti vax. So far, they have stayed covid free, but they are convinced that they will fight it off if it hits them. I hope for their sake that they are right.

Not me, my dad (healthy, slim and active 48 years old). Two months ago, so it was Delta.

He started off with a fever and headache on Monday, progressively got worse, got a cough midweek. On Friday morning my mum had to take him to hospital because he was having difficulties breathing and was very lethargic. They kept him in until lunch and gave him oxygen until his saturation improved. He was then recovering for another week at home, constant headache, no smell or taste, extreme tiredness. He was constantly tired and felt pretty weak for a couple of weeks after, but seems okay now.

Mum and siblings who are all vaccinated got it at the same time. Sore throats, headache for 1-2 days and loss of taste, but that was it for them. Really thankful they’re all well now.

I had it two weeks ago. Unvaccinated due to discussions with GP about previous health complications. I was really fatigued for around 4 days. Spent most of my time asleep and awake doing things for maybe 3 hours in 24 hour period. Got breathless walking up the stairs from kitchen to bedroom when getting food. However after those 4 days I woke up normal, no issues- been absolutely fine since. I have in the past been knocked out with the flu much worse and for much longer.

Mmmm thanks. It's interesting isn't it. I feel the unvaccinated have are being very much vilified for their choice yet lots of people do make different choices that we disagree with daily but this has become so contentious! I also cannot truly work out whether they are really coming off worse or not. I have only one really strongly antivax person I know and I don't know if they have had covid. They wouldn't take a test anyway so they wouldn't know if they did anyway.

Not me, but a few people I know:

30's, couldn't get vaccinated for medical reasons, sick for a month.
40's, didn't bother with vaccine as never gets sick, got covid and was in bed for 10 days.
40's, hospitalised, touch and go for a bit but made it through
60's, underlying conditions, sadly died

Also know some doubly vaccinated people who were sick for a week or more, still no energy

There is masses of data to show that unvaccinated people do a lot worse with Covid.

Of course not everyone who's unvaccinated will get very ill. But it's a big and unnecessary risk to take.

I'm unvaccinated and caught covid 4 days before my 1st dose beginning of this month so now can't get a vaccine until my full 28 days has passed after testing positive.

For me it was ok from day 1-4 as I just had headaches and felt sleepy and oh I lost my taste and smell on day 4. From day 5-8 It felt like death. I had all types of pains in my joints and felt nauseous. I lost a total of 10lbs as I didn't feel like eating and then on day 9, I just woke up as if nothing happened. No build up you would normally get from a flu or norovirus as you are recovering by day and can feel you are improving. Covid was literally like I'm nearly dying on day 8 and suddenly on day 9 I can run 10 miles. I still don't have my smell or taste though.

” I also cannot truly work out whether they are really coming off worse or not.”
OK, I’ll bite
Straw polls on mn won’t give you any meaningful answers. There is abundant research showing that vaccination makes it much less likely that you’ll be seriously ill or die if you get Covid. This is based on studies of millions of people’s vaccination status, test results and symptoms. That doesn’t mean that some vaccinated people won’t die and that some unvaccinated people won’t be fine. But you have a much better chance if you’re vaccinated.

If you do Twitter I suggest following the epidemiologist Meaghan Kall, who posts summaries of the latest findings and statistics. Also a scientist called Chise who posts a lot about statistics from different countries.

If vaccination really wasn’t reducing serious illness and death, it would be almost pointless. If there wasn’t really strong evidence that the vaccines were beneficial, they wouldn’t be approved for use.

Dp just had it he's 30 normal weight goes to the gym but smokes

He had a cold and has lost his taste and smell he went back to work on day 11

I'm vaccinated didn't catch it my children didn't catch it.

Glad he was ok

He has a needle phobia

Had covid in August unvaccinated and pregnant. It was milder than a cold. I didn't feel unwell. Only tested as a colleague tested positive. She was more unwell than me (she'd had first vaccine only)

I'm not vaccinated, have had covid, no symptoms. Im not anti vax just chose not to have it as had obviously have some natural immunity so didn't see the point in taking a vaccine I didn't need. Personal choice.

Me and dh caught it in October, he at the time was double jabbed, me none due to needle phobia (recently had 1st dose). I was no where near as bad as dh. I felt really rough the first day or two then not too bad, the worse part for me was loosing my sense of taste and smell for a few weeks

I’m 50 and had covid last Dec before vaccines were available. Felt very tired, lost my smell and taste for weeks but apart from that was ok. My partner was testing positive for 4 months (she’s a nurse) and still has ongoing symptoms such as breathlessness and joint pain a year on.

I’m now triple vaccinated

My 11 yo has just had it, unvaccinated as shes too young. She was really ill for 2 or 3 days, temp, dizzy, lethargic, projectile vomiting, just whimpering as felt do poorly. She was much worse than my 14yo who had it in the summer before teens could be vaxed. Hers was a mild cold although she was ill when the isolation ended with dizziness, lethargy and vomiting for a couple of days. It wasnt conformed but I suspect both had delta variant due to its dominance in our region at the time and symptoms.

My friend had it a few weeks ago and he felt better than his vaccinated work colleagues (who it hit it from)

Interestingly his unvaccinated wife, who slept in same bed the whole time, never got it and nor did the kids.

My 70 year old mum got it before the vaccines and just felt a bit sick

I had Covid before the vaccines came out. Worst few weeks of my life, and still battling long Covid.

No-one thinks they’ll develop long Covid - until they do! Worth considering if you’re debating having a vaccine.

I had Delta in July. I'd had 1 vaccine. No underlying health issues, but am obese and 62. I was put on a ventilator and then got Pneumonia and had a stroke at the same time. I woke up 2 weeks later, unable to speak, swallow or move any of my limbs. After a total of 6 weeks in hospital, I went home, had physiotherapy for 5 weeks.

Now, I can do everything I used to do, including driving.

My husband and son (40 in July) both had Delta in July. Both unvaccinated. Husband felt rough for a few weeks, but son was in hospital for 3 weeks, neither have underlying health problems. 2nd son is unvaccinated, 37, no health issues, hasn't had a day off sick for 10 years.

Unvaccinated but have anti bodies and therefore natural immunity. I'm not sure when I got covid it must have been before March 2020. I seem to remember feeling a bit groggy but that was all. I work in an office with fully vaccinated people. Most have tested positive in this recent wave. I haven't. It could be luck but ultimately I trust nature and if I'm healthy and have natural immunity I don't see the point messing around with my immune system - which has always served me well ( no days off sick on 15 years and counting).

Almost everyone I know locally came down with covid last December. We all had a range of symptoms. Most of us were mild and recovered at home. One person had to go in to hospital for oxygen and one got very ill and was in hospital for 3 weeks. She was very nearly intubated but something worked in the end and she recovered. She was on medication for underlying issues. No long covid with anyone.

@TheCreamCaker

I had Delta in July. I'd had 1 vaccine. No underlying health issues, but am obese and 62. I was put on a ventilator and then got Pneumonia and had a stroke at the same time. I woke up 2 weeks later, unable to speak, swallow or move any of my limbs. After a total of 6 weeks in hospital, I went home, had physiotherapy for 5 weeks.

Now, I can do everything I used to do, including driving.

That's amazing. Glad you're ok.