How long is this latest strain lasting with ppl?

[ruthietoothie]

Help! I've got COVID and been feeling pretty lousy since Friday. Seems like symptoms are common to what a few ppl have said already on here. At first I thought it was hayfaver but then felt feverish, achy and now just feel totally wiped out.

Wondering - for those who have had it - how long they were out of action for? I'm trying really hard to rest and not panic about work, parenting etc etc but it's hard and keep worrying about how I'll cope if not back on my feet soon.

I was really unwell with Delta and out for about a month last year when I got it so hoping for a bit of a better ride this time! Fingers crossed x

Not me but my friend had it recently, chesty, congested, tired, wiped out, got some antibiotics which helped with chest. Overall back to work but still tires easily and bit breathless on exertion. She is nearly 3 weeks in.

I've just got it for the 2nd time too. Hoping it will be over soon and won't make my long COVID worse.

Also had symptoms since Friday and thought it was really bad hayfever. On and off feeling terrible over weekend. Only tested this PM after got hold of some tests (for free - pharmacy just asked me to fill out form with nhs number, I couldn't remember mine but have kids on my phone and they said fine to use that!). This is third time for me, so far symptoms more like my 2nd time but not quite as bad (I was really fatigued then for good fortnight - this time don't feel as tired but no signs of getting better either). It's diff to first as lost sense of taste/smell the.m but vice like headache common across all 3. Also had 1 dose of diarrhoea this time, didn't get that before. Am hoping it doesn't last as long as before, got so much on this week!

@idratherbedrawing @SavetheNHS sorry to hear you're both unwell with COVID. Hope you both back to normal soon! @idratherbedrawing it sounds quite similar to me with Friday onset and thinking it was hayfaver. I just feel wiped and with absolutely no energy still and keep getting waves of nauseau. Grim! Doing my upmost to rest but I'm getting worried about how it'll be if I don't start to feel better and can't get back to work soon! Fingers crossed we are all on the mend soon. Xx

I have it currently along with my DH and elderly Mum. I thought I had bad hayfever, however my husband had severe rigors so tested and came back positive, I tested too and again positive. Unfortunately, I had already passed it on to my mum 🥴. I have been staying with her since Saturday night as she has been really poorly, bad D&V along with heavy cold. I was so worried about her I rang 111, who told me there was a 10 hour wait for a call back. Thankfully I have a good friend who is a fast response paramedic who gave me some advice and what to look out for regarding dehydration. She is slowly improving but we are absolutely wiped out. I am hoping to bring her to my house so I can care for my Mum and husband. I am day 10 and still positive. I truly believe if my Mum had gone to hospital or A&E she would have died. I was pushing fluids yesterday every hour, hopefully she is past the worse and we can all improve.

I had it in May. Went back to work on the 10th day after testing positive (I'm self employed and work in close contact with clients). By then I felt OK. My worst symptom throughout was congestion, it was such a struggle to do anything, even speak, because my sinuses were so blocked.

I have it now and it started around Tuesday or Wednesday last week. Still feeling very feverish and can't stop coughing.

I feel better than I did 72 hours ago but still feeling very rough and not up to doing much at all.

My heart goes out to anyone who is also ill right now, it's bloody awful xxx

So sorry to hear that ppl struggling with it and especially @Jimmychoo69 about your mother. That sounds so scary. Hope you all start to feel much better soon.

I'm surprised how much it has floored me. I'm on day five today and feel worse than I have since I got it. @RealHedgehog hope things improve for you soon. Sounds like you're just a couple of days behind me. @stripytees hope you feel back to full health now xx

@ruthietoothie thank you. I have managed to get her to my house this afternoon but it has absolutely wiped her out, she is now sleeping. I hope everything feels better soon. This virus just keeps giving.

This is the first time I've had covid. I have been very unwell with it I'm still testing positive today 12th day. I had sore throat, stomach problems, temp chest and sinus problems I was away on holiday and couldn't come home as didn't want my son to catch it, so my anxiety has been terrible as I was scared I'd get worse and I just wanted to come home. My doctor sent a perscription through to a chemist for clarythromycin. I'm feeling like I'm finally getting better. I'm still coughing up stuff and sinuses are bad but everything else has gone I have lost my sense of smell and taste but finally got my appetite back today I'm on my 4th day of antibiotics cough is deep down I think my chest will take a while to recover I have just rested so only out of breath when coughing. I'm finally home which has lifted my anxiety only just felt well enough to travel. My partner got it and he was better and back at work within days. I guess everyone is different but I would say its left me feeling subdude and depressed.

@Angieyy1 sorry to hear you're so unwell with it and that it's stuck around so long and impacted on your mental health. It seems quite common that it does impact ppl mentally. My latest (odd) symptom is what looks like a UTI including blood in my urine. What a horrid virus x

Oh that's not good, have you seen your GP or been in touch? I've had bronchitis growing up and had some pretty bad coughs and never thought much into it. This has just frightened me I was so nervous during the pandemic that I didint go out even when we could. I guess the news didn't help at the time. Hopefully I'm on my way to recovering. I hope you get better soon xx

I think I'm feeling quite a lot better than I was last but still a bit fuzzy round the edges (don't think I could cope with a tricky meeting at work for example).

DH also tested positive Monday and was a lot worse than me yesterday, in bed with fever when I took take daughter to school and did some cleaning (work tasks harder tho). He's on his feet today.

Felt well enough to go into work today - wanted to be there for boss's last day/leaving party - but tested positive again though faint so didn't. Maybe it's power of suggestions but since positive test I do actually feel a bit worse no, headache has come back a bit. Overall it's still def not as bad as my last bout in Jan 23, however with that I felt worse again after about 8 days when I was testing negative. Really hoping that doesn't happen this time!

I do think seeing a positive test alters how you feel its that dread of it never ending and I feel like the longer it's lingering in my system the more damadge its doing ( thats just my thinking) tmrw is day 14 for me and today still a positive test although faint I'm hoping by the weekend it's negative.

@idratherbedrawing hope you continue to feel better and feel brighter today. I had a bit more energy yesterday but am feeling pretty wiped again today and also got quite a bit of nausea. Not much fun. Tempted to go back to work tomorrow but going to see how I go.

@Angieyy1 sorry you're still testing positive. Hope that changes for you soon

I’ve been positive for about ten days and still feeling rough. The headache is what I’m struggling most with. My two dc have it as well. The little one has only just started showing symptoms so I’m worrying about how it’s going to progress with her.

@Upinthenightagain to still be feeling rubbish 10 days in is no fun! I've got a work trip next week and can see that at this rate I won't be going anywhere. Does anyone have tips for what they are finding that helps? I just tried to go for a short walk and it totally wiped me.

Sorry your kids started with it too. Hopefully it'll only be very mild for them. Take care

We are slowly recovering here. Mum is still totally wiped out but eating more and I have managed to wash her hair and shower her today but it has worn her out. I feel quite anxious today 🤷‍♀️ not sure if it is because I have done all the caring, or because I have a sebaceous cyst on my back which has become inflamed. I have rung my GP to request anti-biotics but am now waiting a call back between 2-6 today 🥴. My dealings with the NHS have not been good this week, I don’t feel we have a service anymore. Just looked up if I can get it removed on NHS, nope classed as private procedure now. I can afford it but what about others who cannot. I digress, hope everyone continues to improve and have no set backs.

Me and my 8 month old currently have all these symptoms, but haven’t tested as my tests were out of date. If it persists I will get hold of some. I’ve never, to my knowledge, had Covid before. And I haven’t been unwell since way before I was pregnant - even then, I can’t actually remember the last time I was this unwell. Baby has never been unwell, either.

My partner had what we thought was a stomach bug last week, and as he can suffer badly from hayfever, we didn’t connect the two lots of symptoms.

Currently on day 2ish. Baby is happier today, sleeping well. I’m using Nurofen and Calpol, he’s only ever needed one dose after his vaccinations and one when cutting a tooth before… doing these every 6 or so hours. He had a temperature the night before last and yesterday morning, which seems to have broken. We’re weaning and he’s loving food, but only nibbled a little veg yesterday. He’s showing more interest today.

He’s breastfed, so I’m forcing myself to eat and drink a lot! I’m hoping breastfeeding will help!

Wishing all a speedy recovery!

I got symptoms on Saturday and tested positive. Initially it was hay fever and sore throat, but it pretty quickly turned into fever and pain everywhere with some D&V.

So today is day 6. I feel mostly ok, but after I get through one or two tasks I collapse in a heap.

I was quite poorly for 3 days but not right for two days before and about 5 days afterwards. It's such a disruptive virus.
My out of date tests gave me a positive line straight away.

I'm sorry that so many of us are suffering with it. @Forhecksake that almost exactly describes how I feel. I did two small tasks today and then had to go back to bed. It's grim and making me feel quite panicky. @Noosnom sorry you've suffered with it too. It's a long time to be out of action. @ThankGodForDancingFruit I'm sorry your ill and having to juggle a baby. That's always so tough. Sending get well soon wishes your way

Sorry to hear you’re all feeling really poorly with this. My DH had it and felt rough for a few days, DC had a fever for one day and then was fine, and I’ve tested positive yesterday and am completely asymptomatic and feel completely fine right now. We will see if it stays that way!

Hope you stay asymptomatic @Lalarara10 - I'm still pretty much only fit for resting and starting to feel panicky about when things will improve. Does anyone have any tips of things that have helped with their recovery?

I am finally feeling better other than a blocked nose and sinus issues my cough has now gone and I tested negative today 15 days since I was first unwell. Its a relief I wish you all a speedy recovery Its been mentally draining for me