Anyone else with Covid at the moment and finding it severe?

[DrBlackbird]

Currently I’ve got a very bad case of covid. Unfortunately didn’t have the vaccine early this year. It’s the 2nd worst case of covid since the first one back in 2020. I’ve had it several times since then, but those really weren’t bad cases. I’m wondering if anyone else has covid and if it’s a bad one.

I had this. Started with a sore throat and a scratchy cough with intense headaches. Over it now but can’t smell or taste anything. Bah!!

Hope you recover quickly! 💐

I’m just getting over suspected Covid, I was too many days into it for a test to be accurate, but it’s really knocked me off my feet and my GP said that symptomatically it ticks all the boxes. It started with a sore throat, and feeling generally rubbish, and within a few days I had a dry relentless cough, congested sinuses and felt feverish. It’s almost 3 weeks now and I’m just starting to recover.

I was offered the jab but then the offer was withdrawn due to shortages and given to over 65 s which is fine except im flattened. Massive chills and sore throat and feel trampled on by a herd of elephants! I am a man tho.... 😀

Oh, yes I had the headaches, upset stomach and lost my sense of taste & smell too. It’s either been the worst cold ever, or Covid.

Long covid here for 2 years. Wouldn't wish it on anyone. Absolute torture.

I had this too and could not function for 2 weeks. Still struggling with walking normal distances etc.

Yes, mine started with a sore throat. Like having cut glass. Now it’s constantly coughing and sinuses but it was the tightness in the chest that made me suspect. Haven’t felt so ill since the first covid.

Sympathy @AdidasBadidas and @BendyAndTired

I really hope it doesn’t carry on for two or three weeks. I’m one week into it and still feel rubbish but need to get better for start of term next week.

Nothing on the news about a particularly virulent strain, so I thought I’d check the usually accurate MN word of mouth. Did anyone find any home remedies help?

Apparently the "American Covid" is a strain doing the rounds atm - hope everyone recovers quickly https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/american-covid-strain-drives-50-surge-in-uk-hospital-admissions-xfg-symptoms-to-know-article-156265025

Ah, I wondered if there’d be news about it.

The latest cases are linked to the XFG variant, also known as "Stratus" and nicknamed "American Covid". It is not a new variant and first started spreading in January 2025. It became the dominant strain in the United States, hence the name. Symptoms include the common ones, such as fever and cough, with people also complaining of runny nose, headaches and fatigue. An additional symptom seen in the Stratus variant is gastrointestinal issues.

Are people sure they have Covid? Only I thought I had it too - cough, fever, chills, blocked sinuses, lost smell and taste etc. It turned out it was actually flu when I got swabbed at drs.

My husband has just been hospitalised as he can’t take on any fluids as his throat is so swollen and sore, we’re waiting to hear if he’s got Covid. His work colleague was hospitalised with Covid last week so we’re assuming it must be

Are people still testing for Covid? Loads of kids ill at school and lots off.

I assumed it was flu/chest infection.

But as it is unlike any previous infection, plus the tightness in my chest, it suddenly occurred to me that it might be covid. We still do have multiple tests (from travelling), so I tested myself this afternoon.

The instructions talk about taking 15 min for results to show and there could be no additional line or just a faint one. In seconds both lines showed and the covid line was v dark and strong. I’m glad that I tested as I will self isolate as much as I can. It is nasty.

@Purplestarballoon sorry to hear about your DH. When my throat was initially sore, I felt as though I had swallowed broken glass. Worst sore throat I’ve ever had. Now I’m resting as much as I can.

Thanks for this. We have all been ill for the past few weeks in my house. Might get some COVID tests ordered and double check.

I think I am just recovering from covid - but I didn’t test so I can’t be sure.
I feel completely wiped out today and had a very gurgling stomach (and violent diarrhoea) yesterday.
My ears have been bunged up and I’ve had a cough (not too bad but productive - I really hate coughing up chunks).
The worst thing was that I completely lost my voice for about a week.
It started with a runny nose, sneezing etc and a sore throat about three weeks ago.
I really need to get better now!

I’ve had something very Covidy for two weeks now. It started with a sore throat, headache and diarrhoea. I’m now quite chesty and have a tickly cough and still knackered and achy.

Hospital admissions in London due to COVID are up 80% in a week. Bad covid strain doing the rounds apparently.

I had it two weeks ago. Definitely covid as I did a test. Was like a really severe cold which came on really suddenly. Sore throat, temperature and congestion and fatigue were the main symptoms for me, luckily no gastric issues. Took just over a week to get over. I'm pretty sure I picked it up in one of the schools I work in so it's definitely doing the rounds.

Yes, our local care home has lost four residents to it in the last week. I hope it’s not a sign of another nasty winter ahead

I had this started last Saturday itchy throat and just tired out of nowhere. By Monday I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow. The pain in my whole face even my teeth hurt. Now a horrendous chesty cough. I’ve had a viral rash, itchy eyes and generally feel yuck. No sense of smell or taste. I made a red hot chillie con carne last night and I know I easily put three times the amount of spices in and it didn’t even touch the sides whereas normally I’d be reaching for the sour cream to cool it down. A full nights sleep wouldn’t go amiss without having to wake to pee and spray my throat with that antiseptic spray. I’m also really thirsty? Also now have upset belly but have put that down to the ongoing lemsips and the fact I only fancy jelly teddy bears to snack on.

Ive had covid over the last week. Usual cold symptoms but lost taste and smell so tested as was supposed to see elderly relative.
knocked me off my feet for a few days.

I think I have it. On day 4-5 now. Started with headaches, pain in the neck and shoulders, upset stomach. Had the viral rash. Now I'm onto bunged up nose and red eyes. Hopefully doesn't last much longer. I'm exhausted from feeling this ill.

That is worrying as is how early it’s started doing the rounds.

Agree @BeMellowAquaSquid that I’ve never had such poor sleep with being ill before. Not even with the original covid because that didn’t result in the congestion pouring out of me. I’m coughing every 5 minutes. Exhausting.

Thanks for the link. I think I have this now.