Is this how Covid is presenting now?

[Kaill]

Trying to figure out what the heck has bowled me over! Testing negative for Covid on old tests (still in date) but I’ve heard that maybe old tests don’t detect new Covid?

Upset tummy, severe aches all over, hands so stiff I couldn’t use my phone, legs so painful I struggled to walk from the car park to Asda (thankfully improving now). Sinus pressure, brain fog, tired, fuzzy, can’t focus (still struggling with this). No fever, no respiratory symptoms other than a couple of sneezes! I got worse for 3 weeks before starting to recover.

GP ruled out other causes with blood tests. Basically told me to bugger off because it’s a “functional illness” ie nothing wrong. Is this how Covid is presenting now?

The sneezing was my biggest indicator, I was sneezing a lot and lost my sense of smell, but had a positive test.

Me too! Negative test but fatigue, headache, generally feeling off and horrendous joint aches especially my thumbs?! Hope you start to feel better soon

Husband tested positive yesterday (with old tests that have an expiry date of this November) started with a sore throat the day before, now has stuffed up sinuses, tired, lethargic, achey muscles. Essentially pretty flu-like.
Other people I know who have recently had Covid had excruciating headaches, and some D&V...so seems quite varied.
One of my neighbours had very similar symptoms, 3 family members, no positive tests so must be other viruses around too.

Does your husband still have the sore throat? I am day 3 of an excruciating sore throat, vomiting and I am starting up cough up phlegm (sorry) now, tested positive yesterday.

Testing seems a bit random this time, my sister had clear symptoms but was negative for a couple of days then positive on a different brand of test. A family friend had symptoms for 2 weeks and was to the point of nearly needing hospital treatment before they tested positive!
D&V seems very common this time along with migraine type headache and sinus pain. My sister had it 3 times and this was definitely the worst dose.

Tested positive yesterday on a new test (nasal swab one) after 2 days of cold like symptoms(sore throat, sneezing, mild cough) , joint aches and fatigue. Really strong positive as soon as the liquid flowed over the line.

As an aside, I don't know how or why some doctors think negative blood tests mean there is nothing wrong. Many people with my condition find their antibodies only show up once very specific tests are ordered from specialised labs. Others like me a truly seronegative but test positive from other tests. I suffered years and years of GPs telling me there was nothing wrong with me when there was !

I tested positive yesterday after some days of feeling rough with sore throat developing into heavy cough, nausea, aches, brain fog, diarrhoea, fatigue. I throat swabbed as well as nose swabbed for the test. Worried because my parents are visiting, DF is fine but DM isn’t and she won’t test. 😞

What’s puzzling me is the lack of respiratory symptoms? A couple of sneezes and a tiny frog in my throat but no flu like feelings at all. Yet I’ve been incapacitated, exhausted, bad tummy and no appetite, couldn’t walk at all for two days with bad leg pains. It was week 3 before the fuzzy head and sinus pains hit, but even now there are no real respiratory symptoms.

@Kaill could it be the flu?

To be honest I didn't test but those were my symptoms in late August. It took a bit to feel fully better again. I think it probably was covid.

Apparently there are 3 strains going around all with slightly different symptoms, I can’t remember the names but one of them has a lot of gastro symptoms. I have been possible since last Friday just coming out the other end now started with a scratchy irritating throat rather then sore no headache, body aches especially my hands and a very high fever.
ive had insomnia and felt wired.
even though I can’t taste or smell I have also been really hungry!!!
My son was first positive probably caught at work my daughter is fine but my husband feels stuffy but has remained negative for the past 3 days.

DH has all the symptoms you have listed but has twice tested negative for Covid. I have Covid currently and symptoms are: congested/runny nose, cough, heavy chest,sneezing,fatigue, ringing/blocked ears and mild fever.

Just asked DP about this - he works for the NHS on the Covid programme and Porton Down has found that the original lateral flow tests are just as effective as detecting the new variant as previous ones. You have something other than Covid. Quite possibly the flu or some other virus or bug.

Alternatively maybe your LFTs are out of date or you didn't do the test properly?

Day 9 here.

Starts with sore throat, the kind that feels scotched. Aches, mild headache and dizzy/fog feeling. Oddly felt like I could collapse. Escalates into stomach pains and d&v and constant nausea. Aches intensify.

Start to feel better for a day or two, then a second wave hits. Dry Coughing - mild. Can’t stand up properly. Migraine level headache. Severe back pain and can’t speak. Lost my voice entirely. This is by far, much worse than any flu or any covid I have had before. I am in a really bad way ( 46 and healthy)

Get everyone you know whom is elderly or vulnerable VACCINATED immediately - that is my best advice.

I have no doubt this winter we are going to lose thousands and thousands of people to this. I can’t understand why people aren’t talking about it, where are the urgent vaccination calls on the radio and TV? We are sleepwalking into a very rough winter. I know we are sick of it but it’s brutal this time.

My test didn’t show positive until day 6

This is by far, much worse than any flu or any covid I have had before
Me too. I’ve never been so incapacitated in my life. Four weeks since the first symptoms and I’m still struggling to do a little shop round Asda because my legs are giving way. The mental fog is so bad I can’t even read a book. And this is an improvement on how I felt two weeks ago! I’ve never heard of a flu being this bad, especially with virtually no respiratory symptoms. But it must be a virus because the doc says there’s nothing else wrong with me.

I was meant to be vaccinated tomorrow! Could have done with rolling it out earlier

I started yesterday not feeling quite right in the afternoon at work and as evebing progressed began to feel achey and throat husky, went to bed early with some paracetamol but woke up feeling 10x worse. Cokleague had a mild cold so though at first may if picked that up but I feel a lot worse, so much so thatI have taken a day off sock, I can wh but hurt too much and can’t really concentrate for more than couple mins
wasn’t planning to test this winter but BF is due to visit next week and undergoing chemo so will need to as if covid will need to stay away longer, where as if a cold and no symptoms left will be fine fo meet up

Here they are vaccinating 247 - 7 days a week so I damn well know they must be now aware of the issue. I guess they don’t want to cause panic.

I am so sorry you have been ill for so long op. I hope you feel better soon 🙏🏻

I really want some answers!

What happened to herd immunity?
What happens to our bodies if we are ill like this every year?
Why isn’t anyone being held accountable for this?
This has scared me because I realise they probably just don’t know…

I got (what I presumed to be) the flu 5 years ago. I literally could not get out of bed for 3 days, not even out the door to the shop a 2 minute walk away, I could only make it to the 20 step journey to the fridge to get the 2 litre bottle of 7 Up I had. I was in another city to where my home is.

After 3 days I had to drive 3 hours to get home to my kids, (they had been with their dad). I thought I was better and brought them on a walk, I was delirious. I was literally crying with delirium. Anyway it took me about 3 weeks to recover. The (real) flu, can be very intense.

Where is "here" @Lastchancechica ?

I don't get why some posters on this thread seem so determined to put their symptoms down to Covid.

I caught Covid at a family get together last summer and was, luckily, mildly ill for a few days. This is only anecdotal, but I've had worse viruses, etc pre-covid. When a friend had flu she could barely get out of bed and found she couldn't tolerate having the radio or music on, never mind watch something on telly.

SW England.
All of my prior covid infections have been fine, usual symptoms nothing to write home about. I found the whole thing a total overreaction.

But this is a whole new ballgame. I literally can not believe how bad it is. I have been bed bound for 4 days, I am now in a chair today at least. I have had the flu and it’s a couple of days in bed. it’s nothing like this.. I am in a great deal of pain.
I am now desperately worried how much contact I have had with elderly and vulnerable people. This would not have occurred to me before. I am very much an anti mask- anti covid person.
It is hurting me to use my phone to message here. I haven’t the energy to watch TV as my eyes hurt.

It’s utterly shit, and kind of terrifying that this is emerging, and the public is not aware and are carrying on with normal life, little do they know.

@Lastchancechica - incorrect: only the over 65s and those with underlying health conditions are getting the current covid vaccine so where is your information coming from?

Why are you scaremongering?