I have COVID-19 and No, It's Not the Flu

[donheff]

I came in late and haven't read the links but this whole thread feels weird. All teasers about reading threads and joining FB groups, hints that there is more to CV than meets they eye, reluctance to share symptoms, no answers to how you know you have it... Sorry, if I am unfairly questioning the OP but has anyone followed all these links and figured out whether there is any there, there? Or are we talking about groups of people who have medical problems they suspect are CV but can't definitively diagnose presence of the virus or antibodies?

 

[harllee]

I came in late and haven't read the links but this whole thread feels weird. All teasers about reading threads and joining FB groups, hints that there is more to CV than meets they eye, reluctance to share symptoms, no answers to how you know you have it... Sorry, if I am unfairly questioning the OP but has anyone followed all these links and figured out whether there is any there, there? Or are we talking about groups of people who have medical problems they suspect are CV but can't definitively diagnose presence of the virus or antibodies?

I think you are being unfair to the OP. He is a long time member of this Forum and I believe he is 100% truthful about his experience with the virus. I have read all the articles cited by the links he provides and I suggest you do the same if you want to be informed. I can understand why the OP does not want to share his specific symptoms on a public forum. See my post above for the continuing symptoms 3 of my friends have. Everyone needs to realize that this virus is causing long term disabilities in people--many of whom are young otherwise healthy people.

 

[Lakedog]

I came in late and haven't read the links but this whole thread feels weird. All teasers about reading threads and joining FB groups, hints that there is more to CV than meets they eye, reluctance to share symptoms, no answers to how you know you have it... Sorry, if I am unfairly questioning the OP but has anyone followed all these links and figured out whether there is any there, there? Or are we talking about groups of people who have medical problems they suspect are CV but can't definitively diagnose presence of the virus or antibodies?

+1
My thoughts as well. From the thread title, I was expecting to hear about specific symptoms that made the OP think Covid-19.

 

[audreyh1]

Very unfortunately for both doctors and patients, COVID-19 testing is very tricky. If you test early, and even better several times, chances of a positive detection from the upper respiratory tract are good. However, if you wait until someone is quite ill, which happened a lot with the early limited testing in the US, you can miss the virus entirely as it has moved to other parts of the body. I haven’t heard about other recommended detection means but surely there have to be alternatives. Find it in the stool for example?

 

[Midpack]

Everyone needs to realize that this virus is causing long term disabilities in people--many of whom are young otherwise healthy people.

There’s no question there have been long term disabilities in some cases. But do we know how probable, or who’s most susceptible? e.g. I know the lung scarring observation came up a while back, that turned out to affect 5-6.5% of serious COVID-19 cases then, IOW not most people.

I’ve seen stories about “young people” being affected, fewer stories about “young otherwise healthy people” being affected. But I’ve never seen any evidence it’s “many young otherwise healthy people” - where are you getting that information? I don’t think it’s helpful to scare everyone without some perspective. Just because some people suffer permanent effects after Covid-19 doesn’t mean we all need to react.

It’s hard enough to follow with much the experts still don’t know/are learning...

 

[Fermion]

It sounds similar to Lyme disease in the way it lingers for a long time, unlike something like the flu where you get over it in a month.

 

[Amethyst]

Lyme is exactly what I was thinking of. One friend died of Lyme after a long and terrible struggle. Another struggled with Lyme effects for several years, and is finally well. Both were in their 40's at the time.

I do not understand people criticizing the OP for posting. OP is welcome to share whatever he or she is comfortable with; the rest can decide if any of it has value. One forum poster is not going to scare me more or less than I already am scared.

It sounds similar to Lyme disease in the way it lingers for a long time, unlike something like the flu where you get over it in a month.

 

[Alan]

I haven’t heard about other recommended detection means but surely there have to be alternatives. Find it in the stool for example?

They are trialing a saliva based test in the UK which is hoped will supplement the swab tests.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-saliva-test-for-coronavirus-piloted-in-southampton

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

Saliva testing could potentially make it even easier for people to take coronavirus tests at home, without having to use swabs. This trial will also help us learn if routine, at-home testing could pick up cases of the virus earlier.

I am very grateful to everyone involved in the trial who is helping us develop our understanding of the virus which will benefit not only our but the global response to it.

The new saliva test will be significant to increasing testing capacity and accessibility as it does not require the use of a swab, which some people find uncomfortable. The test has already been shown to be highly promising and the pilot is undertaking further validation against polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nasal swabs.

Weekly testing as part of the pilot will help to identify coronavirus cases early on, including for those with no or minor symptoms, meaning those who test positive can isolate within their households. The details of those who test positive will be shared with the NHS Test and Trace programme so contact tracing can start immediately.

This comes on top of the routine testing of asymptomatic staff in health and care settings already taking place using existing testing capacity.

 

[Rianne]

Another Reader, I appreciate this thread. DH was sick for weeks, high fever and many symptoms. After approx a week of his symptoms his test came back negative. The ex-ray of his lungs showed a spot of pooled liquid. Actually, he was tested twice, both negative. These were Covid symptoms, I"m sure. We were able to physically separate in our house, I sanitized everything he touched and kitchen was off limits to him. He had his own bathroom, I did not get sick. His temp was >104 degrees for several days but he refused to go to the Dr until it was unbearable. We drive separate cars and he did not touch the dog.


Thank you for the articles. In our county, more than 50% of the cases are people under 41 years old. "Recovered" in the statistics only means did not go to the hospital and feel somewhat better. I believe these symptoms can last much longer than the media states.

 

[gwraigty]

I'm sorry you feel that way. I want to present a personal perspective on this disease in hopes of helping people understand it. No one else on this forum has come forward.

Not true. I came forward and posted of my probable Jan./Feb. COVID-19 experience in a relevant thread that's probably either closed or buried back a few pages. I didn't start a whole new thread dedicated to my sole experience, not that there's anything wrong with you doing it, but it makes experiences shared a few months ago easy to overlook. I also recall a few other people sharing their experiences, possibly in that same thread. There can be a tendency for people to focus on the more serious scenarios and overlook those of us who have already shared their more mild to moderate experiences. I suspect that a dedicated thread describing mild to moderate symptoms with a full recovery wouldn't generate much interest here.

I'm sorry that you're still ill and hope that you gradually recover.

 

[harllee]

There’s no question there have been long term disabilities in some cases. But do we know how probable, or who’s most susceptible? e.g. I know the lung scarring observation came up a while back, that turned out to affect 5-6.5% of serious COVID-19 cases then, IOW not most people.

I’ve seen stories about “young people” being affected, fewer stories about “young otherwise healthy people” being affected. But I’ve never seen any evidence it’s “many young otherwise healthy people” - where are you getting that information? I don’t think it’s helpful to scare everyone without some perspective. Just because some people suffer permanent effects after Covid-19 doesn’t mean we all need to react.

It’s hard enough to follow with much the experts still don’t know/are learning...

Midpack- I determined that "many" young otherwise healthy people are having long term affects by reading the articles that the OP cited above. I guess "many" is too vague a term--maybe I should have counted the number of healthy young people discussed in those articles. In any event I personally know 3 people--one age 52 and 2 in their mid 40s that were otherwise healthy and that are having serious long term effects.

 

[Another Reader]

+1
My thoughts as well. From the thread title, I was expecting to hear about specific symptoms that made the OP think Covid-19.

The reason I don't share symptoms publicly is that I do not want to get into an argument here about whether I have COVID or not. All that would accomplish is to get the thread shut down. I attached links to articles in which others describe their symptoms to give you a general picture of what people are experiencing.

This is a novel virus. No human immune system has been challenged by this virus until now. Like any new disease, there will be a broad variety of responses. Many symptoms and the disease course I am currently experiencing are the same as those experienced by others in the support groups and the articles.

I will say I spent four days in Stanford Hospital last month while their doctors investigated significant neurological and cardiac issues. At this point, I cannot drive. Some daily tasks are difficult. I have not recovered.

 

[Another Reader]

There’s no question there have been long term disabilities in some cases. But do we know how probable, or who’s most susceptible? e.g. I know the lung scarring observation came up a while back, that turned out to affect 5-6.5% of serious COVID-19 cases then, IOW not most people.

I’ve seen stories about “young people” being affected, fewer stories about “young otherwise healthy people” being affected. But I’ve never seen any evidence it’s “many young otherwise healthy people” - where are you getting that information? I don’t think it’s helpful to scare everyone without some perspective. Just because some people suffer permanent effects after Covid-19 doesn’t mean we all need to react.

It’s hard enough to follow with much the experts still don’t know/are learning...

Estimates from Britain are 5 to 20 percent of cases are showing signs of extended symptoms. They went through the initial wave at least month earlier than we did. Almost no one was tested. Diagnoses were largely presumptive, based on symptoms.

 

[Another Reader]

Not true. I came forward and posted of my probable Jan./Feb. COVID-19 experience in a relevant thread that's probably either closed or buried back a few pages. I didn't start a whole new thread dedicated to my sole experience, not that there's anything wrong with you doing it, but it makes experiences shared a few months ago easy to overlook. I also recall a few other people sharing their experiences, possibly in that same thread. There can be a tendency for people to focus on the more serious scenarios and overlook those of us who have already shared their more mild to moderate experiences. I suspect that a dedicated thread describing mild to moderate symptoms with a full recovery wouldn't generate much interest here.

I'm sorry that you're still ill and hope that you gradually recover.

I apologize if I missed that. Are you completely recovered?

 

[audreyh1]

I apologize if I missed that. Are you completely recovered?

There was a long thread asking people if they had Covid-19 or knew someone who did and to please share experiences. There were lots of responses, but it was eventually closed due to off-topic bickering, and that’s been a while now. Given your long absence you would have missed it, and it’s no longer available anyway.

 

[youbet]

What I would like to do here, with the approval of the moderators, is to tell my story.........

How about getting on with this? The references to web sites, folks posting on other forums, individual FB pages, etc., are ok, but it seems that what caught my (our) interest is that you requested that the mods allow you to tell your personal story. But you seem more interested in just advertising alternative sources of information than the so-called "mainsteam."

This is an anomymous forum. You can give personal details. Please do. There seems to be lots of interest in your specifics.

 

[gwraigty]

I apologize if I missed that. Are you completely recovered?

I'm recovered in the most critical areas. Occasionally I notice a salty or bitter taste that may be a residual long-term thing, but nothing that interferes with normal functioning. Sometimes when it's hot & humid it seems to take more effort to breathe deeply when I'm walking briskly with trekking poles, but that could be normal for me under those specific conditions. I don't notice it otherwise.

 

[Winemaker]

I came in late and haven't read the links but this whole thread feels weird. All teasers about reading threads and joining FB groups, hints that there is more to CV than meets they eye, reluctance to share symptoms, no answers to how you know you have it... Sorry, if I am unfairly questioning the OP but has anyone followed all these links and figured out whether there is any there, there? Or are we talking about groups of people who have medical problems they suspect are CV but can't definitively diagnose presence of the virus or antibodies?

+1

 

[timo2]

What I would like to do here, with the approval of the moderators, is to tell my story and to provide a different insight to the disease that what you see in the main stream media.

Thanks for the information you have provided so far. I've shared the links with others. I would be interested in your story. Perhaps the mods could put this thread in the COVID sandbox so people that want to can ignore it better?

 

[Chuckanut]

As I have mentioned in another thread a friend of mine who is very active and fit (skier, backpacker, builds fences, overhauls automobile engines, etc.) came down with CV19 and was flat on his back incapacitated for four weeks. Thankfully, he seems to have made a full recovery.

Interestingly, his wife was tested three times. She never had any symptoms and all three tests, weeks apart, never showed she had the disease. They were together until his diagnosis, after which he moved into another bedroom. She spent the four weeks wearing a mask, cleaning everything all the the time, and avoiding her ailing husband while trying to care for him at the same time. Not fun for either of them.

 

[Alan]

Thanks for the information you have provided so far. I've shared the links with others. I would be interested in your story. Perhaps the mods could put this thread in the COVID sandbox so people that want to can ignore it better?

It is and always has been in the COVID-19 Containment Forum if that is what you mean.

To ignore a thread select Thread Tools - Ignore this thread. To ignore an entire Forum select Forum Tools - Ignore forum

 

[sengsational]

The reason I don't share symptoms publicly is that I do not want to get into an argument here about whether I have COVID or not.

Let's all agree to stay completely away from that topic in this thread.

 

[Amethyst]

I agree! I think it would be very rude. He thinks he has COVID, his doctors think he has it, and that's good enough for me.

If (let's say for example) somebody male were to claim he had dysmenorrhea, I might challenge that (if I could get ahead of 100 other challengers), but in most other cases I'll keep my skepticism to myself.

Let's all agree to stay completely away from that topic in this thread.

 

[Nemo2]

If (let's say for example) somebody male were to claim he had dysmenorrhea, I might challenge that

Loved Othello...pity she was killed.

 

[Midpack]

Midpack- I determined that "many" young otherwise healthy people are having long term affects by reading the articles that the OP cited above. I guess "many" is too vague a term--maybe I should have counted the number of healthy young people discussed in those articles. In any event I personally know 3 people--one age 52 and 2 in their mid 40s that were otherwise healthy and that are having serious long term effects.

WADR respect, that's anecdotal. Every indication so far is elderly with underlying health conditions are at FAR greater risk than elderly otherwise healthy or young (under 55). There will always be exceptions, but that's not a basis for all of us to assess our individual risk.

On average over 100 people are killed in auto accidents every day in the US, but I don't know anyone who doesn't drive out of fear. I am sure there are a few people, but VERY few.