I had Covid last week and while I felt bad it was nothing like when I had it in 2021. That was delta I think and completely surreal. Really high temps over a couple of days, rubber band legs, tickly cough, the worst headache I've ever had which lasted days, tummy upsets, dizziness, lost smell and taste and couldn't leave the house for 3 weeks, and took a while to get my energy back. Complete get the opera cycle of symptoms someone mentioned above!
This time similar symptoms but much more muted. Temp was 38.5 vs 39.8 and only for one evening. Slightly up the next day but down to normal after that. Tickly cough, snotty, tired, slight headache. Lost my sense of smell but started coming back the next day.
I'm not one to dismiss Covid, not after my earlier bout, but for me at least it was a lot more manageable than last time. I could do a few hours computers work in the morning after the first couple of days, slept afternoons for a couple of days and then felt gradually better. I'd say 8 days until feeling mostly better.
I'm working outdoors again now (I have quite a physical job) but pacing myself, I do get tired easily so take frequent breaks as I don't want to push myself and risk long covid (I've had CFS for a long time many years ago so know the risks!).
Obviously everyone's experience is going to be different, and there are a few versions doing the rounds right now, but for me at least, second time round was not so bad, and I was quite worried as I suffered so long with fatigue after the first round. Just putting this out there in case someone newly diagnosed needs a bit of reassurance.
I don't think that these milder (for me) symptoms help though as there is likely to be higher transmission as it does feel more like a cold at least to begin with, but whereas I (and I assume others) might push through a cold, I won't if I know it's covid because of the risk of long term effects.
💐 to everyone suffering right now, esp those with long covid. It's truly shit (basing that on my experience with CFS).