How long does this "not Covid virus " last?

[MyrealnameisBernard]

I started last Wednesday with sore throat, got worse and started coughing Saturday. Got Covid test Monday which was negative but I'm breathless and wheezing and fed up. My head hurts and I'm knackered. Maybe I've just forgotten how being ill feels. Im feeling grumpy as chuff. Should I have a whisky?

Similar thing is happening to me - most of Sunday and yesterday I felt much better, overall. But today my breathing is out of whack, knees aching and my rib cage feels like it has been kicked in. I could barely remember what day it is earlier! But managed to function enough to have a giggle with the kids and get them to school, although now I just want to go back to bed and rest my ribs 😬

@baroqueandblue it’s so weird isn’t it? And your symptoms are much worse than mine - how can you go from feeling better to so far back downhill?
I had a few nights of insomnia as well. Went to bed at 9pm one night and was still trying to get to sleep at 1am

@Ohhelppp yes it's very confusing 😕 and hard-going isn't it? I had the bad nights earlier on too, sleeping better now but doesn't seem to be a guarantee against feeling like shite! Hope you improve as the day goes on 🤞I'm taking covonia and going back to bed for a bit.

Just an update - went for a PCR yesterday expecting the results back but think they''ll be negative.

@Ohhelppp - I'm peri/menopausal so between the insomnia with that and with this non covid virus life re sleep is fun right now!

@baroqueandblue

Similar thing is happening to me - most of Sunday and yesterday I felt much better, overall. But today my breathing is out of whack, knees aching and my rib cage feels like it has been kicked in. I could barely remember what day it is earlier! But managed to function enough to have a giggle with the kids and get them to school, although now I just want to go back to bed and rest my ribs 😬

I felt better at the weekend - Sunday and have felt on and off better since - not ill, ill, but certainly not at full stretch.

Forced myself to go for a nice walk in the sunshine yesterday which was nice.

[quote Ohhelppp]@MyrealnameisBernard there is no rhyme or reason to it whatsoever.
With regards to the ‘not Covid’ cold, mine seems to be going 3 days on, 2 days off. 3 days feeling like crap - but slightly different symptoms each time - then 2 days of feeling back to normal.
At first I had scratchy throat and aches, then it was head fog, aching eyes and cough, now it’s blocked nose and bringing up mucus. All interspersed with 2 days of feeling absolutely fine.
WTAF???[/quote]
Yep - exactly the same as mine. My worst symptoms were, head fog/aching eyes and teeth, palpitations and sinus issues.

No rhyme or reason to it at all!

@worriedatthemoment

Isn't it well known that lvt are not entirely reliable and also are not to be used when have symptoms That said i know of several people who had covid who only had a pcr as a positive Lvt, they had no symptoms at all , just they do 2 lvt tests a week for work, so they have there place as they pick up some

My DB has to do LFTs for his work (film) - he has no other options.

His last filming job 2 colleagues caught covid.

If you have symptoms of a cold, even mild, do a PCR. I've had a cold for a few weeks now, sore throat/earache too. Took my DS for a PCR requested by school, tested myself too, positive. DS negative.

Also- lots of LFTs in the last few weeks, all negative. Including one I did after positive PCR just out of interest, still negative.

@headinthecloudsnow WTAF?!?! It’s madness. I’ve done 2 OCRs since my symptoms started last week - both negative.

@headinthecloudsnow but you’re right, people should be testing with mild cold symptoms. The problem with that being that you generally have to lie during the booking process because they won’t update the list if ‘official’ symptoms.

I've had my first cold/virus in over 3.5 years! Started off with abit of a sore throat, which then turned into a chesty cough, mainly at night time due to nasel drip {gross}, could feel it trickling down back of my throat. Didn't sleep well the first few nights at all. Did 2 covid tests 2 days apart, both negative. DH and DC not had it, touch wood. It's going now though, after about a week. Feel loads better.

I've got something atm too and I'm properly fed up. Started last week and thought it was a reaction to my Covid jab but today I have a throat that feels like I've been swallowing razor blades and a horrible snotty nose. Ribs have been sore for nearly a week and I keep getting palpitations/breathlessness. Very fed up with the whole issue.

Posted too soon, sorry.

I feel worse than I did with actual Covid. All LF tests have been negative but I've booked a PCR just to be sure.

[quote Ohhelppp]@headinthecloudsnow but you’re right, people should be testing with mild cold symptoms. The problem with that being that you generally have to lie during the booking process because they won’t update the list if ‘official’ symptoms.[/quote]
Yes exactly I agree. When DSs school asked him to do one, I told them the booking process was saying he's not eligible as he doesn't have symptoms, the school told me to lie on the booking form so it allows a test to be done.

They really need to do away with the LFTs, so many people (myself included before PCR) will be/have been spreading it around unknowingly as the LFT gives false security!

Let us know how you get on with your PCR @QuestionableMouse

@headinthecloudsnow I remember reading about hayfever symptoms being Covid symptoms on the Summer. When I had Track and Trace call recently, they asked if DS had itchy eyes, sneezing etc.
So hayfever symptoms ARE indicative of Covid, so why are the lists not being updated?

Will do!

The rib pain is driving me mad. I'm so fricking uncomfortable ☹️

@QuestionableMouse I've taken some cough mixture because even though my cough isn't that bad I'm worried it'll get worse and then my ribs will hurt even more from coughing Thankfully the covonia has helped a bit with the rib pain, but it comes in waves and feels like being squeezed until I hurt 😞 Really restricts my breathing. Anytime I've sped up walking these last few days I get very out of breath. Singing around the house I can't finish the line of a song or hold a note for longer than a split second! Neck's achey too.

Do your ribs hurt more around the back than the front? Mine do, but I get this weird pressure in my diaphragm/solar plexus too.

Same! I've just come upstairs and had to sit down half way because I was so out of breath. I don't even have a cough, really, maybe a bit now and then. Starting to worry a bit even though I was checked out at urgent care on Friday!

@Ohhelppp exactly! People are testing positive with only a runny nose.

I am still poorly over a week after developing it.

Pcr was negative and lfts have been negative in the days before starting with it and since.

The sinusitis is murder and I have coughed so hard (asthmatic) that I have strained my intercostal muscles, bruised the internal side of my ribs and I'm not entirely unconvinced that I didn't crack one yesterday when I coughed.

I am not the fittest person normally but I can quite happily do a few miles before needing to stop unless a significant incline is involved. At the moment I cannot walk the length of my small terraced house without stopping at least once to catch my breath. The dog hasn't had more than a quick wee in the garden for over a week unless dp has been over (don't live together) so she hates me at the moment.

@Terminallysleepdeprived you poor thing! That sounds very much like Covid, but obviously not. What a shitter, get well soon.

@Terminallysleepdeprived that sounds awful. I'm struggling today to stop coughing once I start but had more energy albeit in fits and starts.
I'd be so sure I had Covid based on symptoms yet DS is more tired with mild snot than anything. Nothing like me. It's all so weird.