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

[Wingingit15]

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.

Omicron was way worse than i expected. Nothing life threatening but it was much worse than just a cold, like full on flu, and i had weeks of fatigue afterwards.

I didn't know I had it...only found out after having a test after the event

My reaction to the first jab was worse. Felt a bit grotty, but nothing that warranted time off work. Lost sense of smell for a couple of days.

DS 4 & 7 had 24 hours of bedridden illness but then were fine. Although I didn't really think to associate all the niggles, coughs and headaches we've had in the weeks after with still being covid - that explains things.

I feel lucky it wasn't too bad but that doesn't make me complacent about catching it again or passing it on.

What I am finding from friends and colleagues is that even if the actual actuate illness was ‘mild’ that is no hospital admission, the longer term effects are not good. Many have extreme fatigue, lingering headaches, sinus issues.
This is my fear. The post viral fatigue syndrome from covid is the worrying factor.

I currently have Covid - positive LFT on wednesday night, positive PCR on Thursday. It is like a heavy cold with sneezing, snotty nose, headache.

I am double vaccinated and boosted (before Christmas) and quite glad I have got it now rather than early days where the condition was much more serious and treatments were still in their infancy. Since vaccination I wasn't ever really scared of getting it, it was always a question of when not if as I have teenage kids in schools and am not shutting myself away from the world.

@EarringsandLipstick no, all distinct infections - February 20, September 20, August 21, January 22 and now.

I'm CEV/immunosuppressed and despite having bad four jabs I've still caught it five times (although of course the first two infections were pre-vaccines). Feb 20 was before testing but confirmed later. Unfortunately vaccinations don't give the same protection to immunosuppressed people as they do for others, and I catch anything doing the rounds - including covid!

I was quite unwell and struggled with breathing, but thankfully managed to recover in a week. Having caught it has taken my fear away from covid.

I had it about 6 weeks ago, very odd symptoms, a really sore stingy rash and really tired. Nothing at all respiratory.

One day of feeling rough and done. Full recovery very quickly, but taste and smell still not quite right.

I was originally scared of Covid but not so much lately because I was triple vaccinated and heard Omicron was mild. I got it in Jan and I felt really ill for 2 weeks - like a proper flu, couldn't get out of bed etc. Then for a following 2 weeks I felt exhausted, easily fatigued by small things. A short 2 minute walk maje me feel like I'd collapse and my legs were wobbly. After that I got a chest infection which lasted a couple of weeks because my lungs were still weak. So I'd definitely say it was a lot worse than I expected. I'm scared of getting it again and an now being more cautious.

I had it in January and I felt fine, as did dh and dd.

I am 57 and morbidly obese but other than that no other issues ( i.e normal blood pressure, no diabetes etc) . I had body aches, headache, chills, bone weary tiredness but no temperature for about 48 hours, then just random but mild symptoms like a mild cough, runny nose and tiredness for about a week more

I had had three vaccines, the booster about 3 months before I got ill. I was also in a trial and ended up being allocated a 5 day course of antivirals but for whatever reason or combination of reasons , it was incredibly mild for me. I was much much more ill when I had swine flu in 2009 when I was much younger and thinner . God bless vaccines is what I say

I cannot remember the last time I felt so ill, I wasn't expecting to feel so terrible. I took to my bed last weekend but I have got better really quickly. I had Monday off work, Tuesday I worked half a day (and apparently was speaking very slowly!) but by Wed I was pretty much back to normal. So that's really surprised me that I could go from bedridden to fine in 3 days.

Just to clarify when I said it wasn't bad enough for me to take time off work I was wfh of course! We all isolated

I think it’s the use of the word mild that’s causing problems for some of us - definitely me! I think the medical community mean mild as much less likely to die, but I was unable to move for 10 days and had horrendous headaches daily for weeks after. But at no point did I think it was bad enough to seek hospital attention, so I guess that’s mild.

It was significantly more mild than I expected, same for DH and 2DC.

I was absolutely terrified. DH and DS2 are both very vulnerable (DH has had four vaccines).

We were all fine. Mild colds. DS2 was offered anti viral treatment but after discussion with the doctor we agreed he didn't even remotely need it.

I think it's made me a bit blasé about it all now though.

Worse than I expected. Thought I'd get a headache and feel a bit crap - because mild symptoms is what the media tells us to expect a lot of the time.

It hit me hard, took time off work and 2 weeks post isolation I'm still very tired. I also have a lingering cough.

@RandomDent

I think it’s the use of the word mild that’s causing problems for some of us - definitely me! I think the medical community mean mild as much less likely to die, but I was unable to move for 10 days and had horrendous headaches daily for weeks after. But at no point did I think it was bad enough to seek hospital attention, so I guess that’s mild.

Yes same here. My expectation of 'mild' was completely different.

The anecdotes match the research that's recently been released. The research shows that the after-effects and Long Covid are a major healthcare crisis. Also that it's impossible to tell who will be impacted because they are seeing the pattern across all demographics regardless of age, vaccination status, and previous medical history.

[quote TypicaIMe]@EarringsandLipstick no, all distinct infections - February 20, September 20, August 21, January 22 and now.

I'm CEV/immunosuppressed and despite having bad four jabs I've still caught it five times (although of course the first two infections were pre-vaccines). Feb 20 was before testing but confirmed later. Unfortunately vaccinations don't give the same protection to immunosuppressed people as they do for others, and I catch anything doing the rounds - including covid![/quote]
Wow, how strange.

I've CEV / immunosuppressed family members. They have taken absolutely no risks since Feb 2020 (isolating prior to the formal lockdown) and are still living a very socially isolated life - wfh, not meeting many people socially. They have to, unfortunately, catching Covid would be really dangerous for them. Thankfully they haven't.

It is remarkable - and lucky for you - that none of your infections have proved dangerous to you, despite your status. It must be strange you managed to catch Covid so easily, as I assume you were really limiting your risk.

@EarringsandLipstick unfortunately limiting risk is not something you can do effectively when a household member is a teacher! Other than that (and unfortunately having to use public transport, as none of us drive) I've been very careful, yes. I haven't met anyone socially since before the pandemic, I've been to no gigs (live music used to be my passion), only went to supermarkets at quiet times, DH wfh (I don't work) and so on. But yes. All of that counts for not much when there's a teacher in the house.

My first three infections were when I was CV, I became CEV when started new meds last year. I have rheumatoid arthritis (which was what made me CV) and now take immunosuppressants (hence, CEV).

It is reassuring that I've not been very unwell so far. That's not to say I wouldn't be in the future - as an old hand, one thing I've learned is that Covid presents differently for me every time. I know people with my condition/meds who have died from Covid, so it doesn't do to become complacent.

I'm currently on Day 5.

It feels broadly similar to how I felt shortly before I was admitted to hospital with double pneumonia a few years ago. So probably as I expected. I'm CEV.

I had it in October and it was officially 'mild'. I was sofa bound for the full 10 days, and not really right for another week or so, although I went back to work on day 11. It was about as I expected - pretty shit. I don't want it again.

I've had worse colds tbh. The tiredness was the worst part of it, but I managed to work from home right through except for one day. DH had it just before me and his experience was very similar.

Recently had it. Worse than I expected had sores in mouth and throat, exhausted, cold symptom's. And still can't walk far now without feeling really out of breath. Mid 30s and healthy