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Original poster

Those who refer to Covid as a 'cold' - have you actually had it?

228 replies

UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 00:16

This is genuinely not goady. I'm just trying to distract myself (spiking fever with Covid).

There have been a few people in real life who have referred to Covid like this. One was back in Summer 20 and when I told him I'd been hospitalised with I due to breathlessness he suggested I was just having a panic attack!! Everyone who has referred to it as a cold (to me irl) has not actually had it. It seems a lot on here too refering to it as a cold or 'mild' illness have not actually had it. Mild means you don't need to be hospitalised afaik - not actually mild like a cold. They often seem to believe they have had it with no symptoms (maybe that helps them not be anxious about catching it) - not that that stops you catching it again of course!

I have to say it can feel a very lonely place when you see your DC so unwell and you are feeling dreadful yourself and people (who appear to have no experience of actually having the disease) are going on about how mild it is and we put up with colds we should be able to put up with this!

However 'mild' someone might have this I would not wish it on anyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 00:49

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

It wasn’t mild for me. I couldn’t maintain my oxygen saturation above 90%, and ended up in hospital for a few days - luckily I just needed steroids and supplemental oxygen, but I have been left with long covid - if I walk down the hall to the loo and back, I am out of breath.

If I do anything, I end up exhausted. For example, I iced our Christmas cake - I’d covered it with marzipan earlier, but couldn’t do it all in one go, so went back to make the icing and ice it, once I’d had a rest. By the time I finished, I was shaking with fatigue.

No cold has ever left me feeling this ill for this long - I had covid in the spring this year!

Oh bless you. It is tough. I had Long Covid for about a year. Hopefully as we head into Spring again the fatigue will improve. Do you take Vit D? That really helped me with Long Covid.
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Theunamedcat · 31/12/2021 00:51

Yes definitely faint my eldest son nearly dropped today also but he is still testing negative his younger sib is positive and OK emotional and wheezing but OK

bumblefeline · 31/12/2021 00:52

I had covid last Dec before vaccines and it was weirdly cold like for me but with horrible gastric symptoms and muscle and joint paint. DH was hospitalised.

He has just has it again and it was just like a cold, maybe not even as bad. I guess previous infection/vaccines have done their job.

Flickflak · 31/12/2021 00:53

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 00:56

@Angrymum22

Oddly when I had the alpha strain I didn’t feel I’ll but the cough was horrendous. When I had delta the temp spikes made me feel rough but because you are isolating you are forced to lounge around waiting for every symptom. I had the alpha before restrictions started so just carried on working ( it wasn’t supposed to be in the community at the point). I think because of the whole fear/drama around at the beginning of the pandemic anyone diagnosed would be more susceptible to anxiety and possible panic which could account for breathlessness. We are much less anxious about catching it now.
Hmm..I certainly wasn't 'lounging around waiting for every symptom' I was seriously unwell. We really had no idea what the symptoms were then. I have a SMI so fully aware what a panic attack feels like and 'nope' nothing like when Covid gets in your lungs and they start burning. It is just completely different. I also have breathlessness now even though 'we are much less anxious'!
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Sodullincomparison · 31/12/2021 00:57

First round in 2020 was grim and I had severe kidney pains and dehydration but no cough.

This time is is definitely not as tough going but the fatigue is similar in recovery.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 00:57

@HesterShaw1

I had delta and felt a bit grotty. The people I know who've had Covid recently including I guess mainly Omicron now, have had three days of cold symptoms and then very quickly recovered.

Though I'm not doubting your experience. It's a weird virus.

It is isn't it? It is honestly like nothing I have ever had. I can't work out why some people get it so mild and others don't.
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Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 00:59

@Theunamedcat

Yes definitely faint my eldest son nearly dropped today also but he is still testing negative his younger sib is positive and OK emotional and wheezing but OK
It was actually how I first realised I was ill in Spring 20 - I fell over with the faintness. I wish you all well.
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Cherrytart23 · 31/12/2021 00:59

I had it back in September and have definitely had worse colds the only thing that really got to me was the headache that wouldn't shift for 2 days.

ColettesEarrings · 31/12/2021 01:04

My husband had a relative die directly from it in April 2020, and our son had it seven weeks ago with nothing more than a runny nose and itchy eyes for 48hrs a few days after testing positive asymptomatically. It's unpredictable and that's the real problem - it is less than a cold for some, it kills others, has every effect in between, and others are asymptomatic throughout. I don't know what else you want us to say, we've known this since the begining.

WithASpider · 31/12/2021 01:08

I believe I caught it in April 2020. Wasn't ill enough for hospital so I wasn't tested. Never been sick like it, no voice for 20 days, no taste, horrible fever. Dr eventually diagnosed me with post covid viral pneumonia. Had mild breathing issues ever since.
Got it again now, most likely Omicron, had a head cold for 4 days and am now fine.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 01:09

@bumblefeline

I had covid last Dec before vaccines and it was weirdly cold like for me but with horrible gastric symptoms and muscle and joint paint. DH was hospitalised.

He has just has it again and it was just like a cold, maybe not even as bad. I guess previous infection/vaccines have done their job.

That's good to hear. I don't seem to have done so well, unfortunately. It does seem milder, though. I hope I won't have to be hospitalised this time. Is there less chance of Long Covid with Omicron? Fingers crossed
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GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 31/12/2021 01:09

9 of us who were in contact over Christmas - inc. 3 young children - have all now tested positive. Five of those are asymptomatic, the others have only mild cold symptoms.
All of the adults are triple vaccinated.

A Dbro who is officially vulnerable is also +ve, but with similar cold-only symptoms.

hamstersarse · 31/12/2021 01:10

I’ve got what I presume is omicron now. I’m on day 3 going into day 4.
Had a fever on day 1, sneezing, then not much else - few aches in my shoulders today but that’s it. Still testing positive though 🤷‍♀️ and I’m going to be stir crazy very soon….I’ve total insomnia now because I’ve done fuck all today, I’ll have to find some jobs to do to tire me out tomorrow 🙄

I had the ‘super cold’ a few weeks back and it was almost identical but had blocked nose for a week and couldn’t stop sneezing. I.e, this has been like that cold, possibly slightly easier because the ‘cold like’ symptoms seem to have gone already,

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 01:11

@Sodullincomparison

First round in 2020 was grim and I had severe kidney pains and dehydration but no cough.

This time is is definitely not as tough going but the fatigue is similar in recovery.

I barely had a cough first time too. Worse cough this time. The fatigue is awful and really takes me back.
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UserBot99 · 31/12/2021 01:12

I didnt think it was as bad as a cold

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 01:13

@Cherrytart23

I had it back in September and have definitely had worse colds the only thing that really got to me was the headache that wouldn't shift for 2 days.
We have really bad headaches this time. We have all said when we cough it feels like our heads are going to explode!
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Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 01:16

@ColettesEarrings

My husband had a relative die directly from it in April 2020, and our son had it seven weeks ago with nothing more than a runny nose and itchy eyes for 48hrs a few days after testing positive asymptomatically. It's unpredictable and that's the real problem - it is less than a cold for some, it kills others, has every effect in between, and others are asymptomatic throughout. I don't know what else you want us to say, we've known this since the begining.
Well, that is fine. I guess what I'm saying is when people dismiss it as 'just a cold' when your teen is so unwell they ask you to sleep with them it feels really lonely, like you don't really exist because you should just be having 'a cold'.
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Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 01:17

@ColettesEarrings

My husband had a relative die directly from it in April 2020, and our son had it seven weeks ago with nothing more than a runny nose and itchy eyes for 48hrs a few days after testing positive asymptomatically. It's unpredictable and that's the real problem - it is less than a cold for some, it kills others, has every effect in between, and others are asymptomatic throughout. I don't know what else you want us to say, we've known this since the begining.
I'm sorry about your relative too. We had a family friend just drop down dead from it in March 20.
OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 01:18

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

9 of us who were in contact over Christmas - inc. 3 young children - have all now tested positive. Five of those are asymptomatic, the others have only mild cold symptoms. All of the adults are triple vaccinated.

A Dbro who is officially vulnerable is also +ve, but with similar cold-only symptoms.

That's good to hear. I hope you are all recovered soon.
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Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 31/12/2021 01:21

@UserBot99

I didnt think it was as bad as a cold
Ah, you're making me jealous now! My chest is getting so painful - I hope it's just all the coughing. I find it hard to sleep around this time as the nausea seems to get bad. I am so over Covid!!
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foxgoosefinch · 31/12/2021 01:24

I’ve got relatively mild symptoms, but I’m convinced that’s because I was boostered about a week before catching it. But it’s more persistent than a cold - a cold like this I’d have thrown off in a couple of days, but it’s taking longer to go and I’m very very tired and fatigued, even though I’ve done nothing but sit in my bedroom for five days.

foxgoosefinch · 31/12/2021 01:24

Oh and I also had mild nausea and mild gastric symptoms as well.

gggrrrargh · 31/12/2021 01:30

I’ve just finished my isolation as of 1.5 hours ago! I was one of the lucky ones. Only did a PCR as I had a occasional tickly cough and was going to a theatre in London so was being ultra cautious. Aside from the tickly cough that lasted about 5 days I got nothing else, not even a headache.

But I do know I have even lucky symptom wise. Combination of the jabs plus this variant being milder.

mnaab · 31/12/2021 01:32

had it early Dec. lasted about a week. I was ill and spent a few days in bed but it was generally like a cold for me but with some different symptoms to what I'd usually get (e.g. taste changing). I've had far worse viruses.

I wouldn't describe it as a cold in general though as DM had it the same time and was very very ill.