Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

If you e recently had covid, how did it compare to expectation ?

117 replies

Wingingit15 · 18/03/2022 20:04

Interested in knowing how your covid compared to your expectations. Personally I have been in fear of it for the last two years but touch wood so far has not been that bad. It has really changed my perception of risk rightly or wrongly.

OP posts:
BeanStew22 · 18/03/2022 21:16

I’m on day 18 so pretty fed up Sad

I’m normally a v healthy& robust person, surprised at how bad it’s been
I’ve had proper ‘laid up in bed’ flu twice , but that’s been over for me in a few days

2 weeks of illness, and now a serious lack of energy/inability to get back to my usual routine has been worrying. I’m concerned about long term impact and DEFINITELY don’t want this again!

lemonnandliime · 18/03/2022 21:21

I think there have been so many varying accounts of what it feels like, and people who have died, people like Derek draper and people who barely get so much as a sniffle, it's impossible to know what to expect.

For me it was about the same level of discomfort and feeling unwell as when I had flu.

I had extreme headaches and pressure behind my eyes
Body aching constantly
Sweating/chills/fever
No appetite
Throat felt like it had been hacked at with razor blades
Earache
Painful sinuses and blocked nose
Barking cough
Exhaustion even from doing nothing

It didn't kill me, or put me in hospital, but it was very unpleasant and I wouldn't wish it on someone elderly or vulnerable.

User65412 · 18/03/2022 21:22

I have it now for the first time and I'm surprised at how bad I feel. I'm 30, healthy and jabbed. I am however pregnant (6 weeks) and I'm sure that's why I've got it now after avoiding it for so long. Or maybe I just feel extra shit because I'm pregnant.
I went to the Dr thinking I had kidney infection - that's what my symptoms pointed to. Cough has now developed, awfully bunged up and lots of aches and pains. Can't wait to be rid of it!

MamaBee23 · 18/03/2022 21:26

I'm unvaccinated and have just recovered from covid for the second time. The first time I had covid, I would say it was very similar to the one time I've had the flu with the addition of spotty covid hands and feet. It lasted a few days and I was fortunate to recover quickly.
The second time was a really mild cold. If I hadn't have tested, I would have had no idea that I had covid the second time around.
I'm not sure if that's because this variant is milder or if I have built some immunity from having covid the first time. Who knows.

LightSpeeds · 18/03/2022 21:27

I had it last week. It was just like my reaction to the jabs but lasted longer. It was like having a bad cold (without the sneezing runny nose). I had a high fever and heart rate on the first day, just feeling unwell for the next two days and recovering for the next 3 days. I wouldn't have known I had COVID if it wasn't for the LFT.

Interestingly, I had insomnia rather than exhaustion, so no 'tiredness' hangover so far (I'm now day 12).

ladygindiva · 18/03/2022 21:30

I'm day 3 of testing positive. Day 1 I felt nothing. Since late on day 2 I've felt snotty and bunged up, a bit tired and the odd aching muscle and that's all so far. I'm tentatively relieved. I'm 47 and healthyish, though I have a few vices and wouldn't describe myself as fit.

ladygindiva · 18/03/2022 21:31

Oh and I'm fully jabbed boosted etc.

EdgeOfSeventeenAndThreeQuarter · 18/03/2022 21:32

I’m CV, only partially vaxxed, fat, smoke & drink. Felt rough for 24 hours, v tired for 3 weeks and absolutely fine now. No rhyme nor reason with this one. Fully expected to be v Ill - but not once did I consider even phoning the gp. 🤷‍♀️

RefuseTheLies · 18/03/2022 21:35

I've had far, far, far worse colds. Grateful I got omicron tho and not delta. I am unfit and unhealthy - I thought covid would fuck me right up. My two kids barely had a cough or sneeze between them.

80sMum · 18/03/2022 21:39

I had it in mid January and the symptoms were very mild. It felt as if I had a cold coming, but it never actually got going. I had a slightly swollen and mildly sore throat, a bit of a headache and felt quite tired. I didn't need paracetamol. I had no fever.
Symptoms wore off after a day or two. I continued to test positive for 10 days though.

DeadButDelicious · 18/03/2022 21:42

I found it to be very mild. Bit of a sniffle, slight cough, no temperature, very slight aches. I was 'ill' for maybe 2 or 3 days and then back to normal.

I suspect I have been lucky.

HerRoyalNotness · 18/03/2022 21:42

Well I’m glad we got the milder omicron. I feel like shit all the time anyway (autoimmune conditions) so the extra was bad headaches for a couple of days, sneezing and cold like symptoms.

TypicaIMe · 18/03/2022 21:44

I'm on my fifth infection currently. Going by previous infections, this one is a lot worse than I would have expected - they've all been very mild comparatively (one was asymptomatic). I had no reason to think subsequent infections would be any different. Particularly as I'm quadruple jabbed and assumed I had some extra immunity from having had it four times before!

nopuppiesallowed · 18/03/2022 21:44

I had a mild case of Covid in January 2021, seemed to recover and then Long Covid hit me like a ten ton truck. Was so ill that the dr sent me for an Xray (scarred lungs) then when I saw her in person, sent me straight to A and E. My oxygen levels were fine but I couldn't breathe properly. 14 months later I have fatigue so can't go for walks and have to pace myself - I make the bed and clean the sink then need a rest. I get chest pain. If I was still in paid work, I would have to call in sick. Before this I did lots of Am Dram with leading roles and no problem remembering pages of script. Took a very small part in a pantomime and had to drop out as I couldn't come out with the few words I was given and chasing around the stage made me breathless. A couple of days after the last rehearsal I went to my body went into meltdown and I had to go to bed every afternoon for a week. Coronovirus can be horrible but Long Covid is pretty ghastly. Oh - and it's done something to my heart so am now waiting for a cardiology appointment. Sadly I caught it before I was called for the vaccine....😬

nopuppiesallowed · 18/03/2022 21:45

By the way, Mumsnet is being wonderful for me - I spend ages on it every day as I'm doing an awful lot of sitting 🤗

DuckyNoMates · 18/03/2022 21:48

@TypicaIMe

I'm on my fifth infection currently. Going by previous infections, this one is a lot worse than I would have expected - they've all been very mild comparatively (one was asymptomatic). I had no reason to think subsequent infections would be any different. Particularly as I'm quadruple jabbed and assumed I had some extra immunity from having had it four times before!
Woah! You've had covid 5 times?! You poor thing!
IKnowYouDontTurnTheLightOn · 18/03/2022 21:51

Have been fairly complacent the last two years but am now recovering from it and will definitely be much more wary - don’t want to go through this again. Still feel exhausted and breathless and have been isolated from my kids since last week Sad.

Grumbleandgrouch · 18/03/2022 21:53

I’m a parent and teacher with asthma so tried my best to avoid covid but I was kind of inevitable that I’d get it. I had heard omicron was mild and didn’t affect your chest much so was hopeful I’d be ok. Sadly it wasn’t mild for me and made me very breathless and gave me an awful cough which exacerbated my asthma. I ended up on steroids and antibiotics. I was cautious before but am now even more so. I really don’t want to get it again.

MrsAliceRichards · 18/03/2022 21:57

We were very careful as one of my dd's and I are classed as vulnerable (not UK). We caught it in January and the dose itself was grand for all of us, about 48 hours of high temps and aching muscles but that was it. We all had slightly sore throats before that but they were gone when we got the temps. However, we have been suffering since. Both kids have had tonsillitis and the older one has had fatigue. I am disproportionately exhausted in relation to the dose itself and although I wouldn't claim I was fit beforehand I'm finding walks are really taking it out of me but it's starting to get better. So the dose itself was actually fine for us but the after effects lingering and not nice.

dizzydizzydizzy · 18/03/2022 22:02

The period I was testing positive was a bit worse than I was expecting. The after effects are much worse. I am fit and healthy, triple vaxxed and thought I would shake it off quickly, I was positive for 10 days mid Feb. Before that I used to run about 20 miles a week, swim and do Pilates. Now I'm signed off work and spending half my day in bed, I get exhausted if I do a few basic household chores and have coffee with a friend. It's a horrible illness.

TypicaIMe · 18/03/2022 22:03

@DuckyNoMates I'm immunosuppressed and catch everything going! That said DH is on his third round and he's as fit as a flea.

LyndaSnellsSniff · 18/03/2022 22:05

I had it at the end of February. I had a slightly sore throat and felt a bit pre-coldy. The positive LFT was a huge surprise. By day 3 I felt quite tired but that was as bad as it got.

In all honesty I've had worse colds.

I fully appreciate that I was extremely fortunate.

minniep · 18/03/2022 22:07

I'm shocked at how unwell DS aged 6 has been. He gave me a big fright to be honest. I didn't expect any of the children to get so unwell

Mogtheblackcat · 18/03/2022 22:07

I’m on day 3 and feel rubbish. Headache, blocked nose, very sore throat and exhausted. I’m triple jabbed but over 60 and overweight. Having said that I caught this at a social event, and several friends are also positive and feeling much like me, even the thin marathon running fit ones. I can’t wait for it to go. And I’m very glad I’m vaccinated. I’ve only once had flu and this is worse.

Hope90x · 18/03/2022 22:15

@Easymeasy

I had it and was tired and pressure behind my eyes for a few days but it was nothing like I expected especially as I am not vaccinated.
Same.