Corona Virus

Heathen414

So, corona is with us forever. It's endemic now meaning always here. The only good thing is despite the changes each year, the virus gets less severe.

So for most it's only a cold. There is a trade off where the potency drops as the virus gets easier to spread. Seems each year less severe. I had last summer and thought it was a weird cold until took a test.

Have been told by my Dr to do test for any URI as on a DMARD for Psoriatic Arthritis

Do you live in a country that still tests?...I'm uk ...I'm a nurse and work for NHS and we don't test

To Eartmother, my stepdaughter is a consultant aneathsatist at a hospital in East London. At the beginning of the pandemic she was ringing her father in tears saying" they keep dying, we can't help them," thankfully as the pandemic went on they discovered better ways of helping their patients. It was an absolutely hellish time for the NHS staff, and certainly not "a con."

I’ve booked my booster for next Wednesday. I don’t particularly like having them, but having lost my DH to Covid early in 2021, I feel I owe it to my family to do everything possible to avoid catching the infection! They’ve all had it several times and at times have been very ill with it.

Babs03

I had flu recently, was horrible, did test for covid but was negative, was worried about my OH getting it because he has underlying health probs. Was also worried about him getting the flu so glad we have separate bedrooms.
We still test if feeling a bit ropy when visiting a vulnerable friend who shielded during the pandemic.

When I had COVID the test was negative. Had one done at hospital and it was positive. Not sure I have great confidence in them.

Earthmother9
Don’t be ridiculous.

Bamm

I have had seven vaccinations, two each year and have now been invited for one this spring. I am thinking to forgo this one and have it each year in autumn. I have had Covid twice, not very severely and tested if ever I feel that kind of illness starting. I am 78 with no underlying conditions and no medications. I just hope it's the correct decision.

You probably had Covid not very severely because you had been vaccinated.

I caught it just before Christmas so spent Christmas alone instead of with my family as I was too poorly to face the 200 mile journey to stay with them as planned. They were ill the week before me, so may have already had it but they hadn't tested so I didn't want to risk giving it to them. It was the 5th time I've had it and each time has been different. I only tested as I was planning to travel and felt a bit off, but a couple of days later I felt pretty awful so I was glad I stayed at home. I had to put on a good mask and go shopping for food after testing as I'd used everything up in preparation for going away!
One of the previous times I was barely ill at all but we were all testing regularly then so I knew I had it. Now that people aren't testing regularly I guess people won't even be aware they have it if they get it very mildly.

Covid affects organs whether or not there are noticeable symptoms.
Every reinfection increases likelihood of internal scarring and damage, leading to an increased likelihood of ill health in the future (eg heart attacks, lung infections etc )
Epidemiologists are very concerned about ill health in later life for often infected school children
It is possible that these more frequent occurrences of ill health are already happening, and investigations of long covid in the US are revealing similarities to other incurable long term chronic illnesses such as M.E.
Sadly our government decided to call mitigations restrictions, and failed to install relatively cheap HEPTA filters in schools and other public spaces. The current government is not enforcing mask wearing in hospitals, and has stopped testing, so that the only counted cases are those so bad that they are in hospital.
Mitigating actions would also protect from influenza and pneumonia
This from the Office of National Statistics
In the week ending 7 March 2025, 15.4% of registered deaths involved influenza or pneumonia (1,853 deaths), while 0.7% involved coronavirus (COVID-19) (83 deaths).
In the same week, influenza or pneumonia were the underlying cause of 5.2% of deaths (622 deaths), while COVID-19 was the underlying cause of 0.5% of deaths (60 deaths).

Easily Googled Delila

URI - Upper Respiratory Infection.
DMARD refers to anti-rheumatic drugs.

I had flu recently, was horrible, did test for covid but was negative, was worried about my OH getting it because he has underlying health probs. Was also worried about him getting the flu so glad we have separate bedrooms.
We still test if feeling a bit ropy when visiting a vulnerable friend who shielded during the pandemic.

I wish people would test. My daughter was very ill recently, in bed for 6 days, unheard of. She thinks it was a flu type virus then she got a secondary chest infection. I dropped tests off on day 3. I’m immuno suppressed and very concerned about the risk of covid

OP, what are URI and DMARD?

We were enrolled on the testing programme from August 2020. Every month someone came to the house. We did the swab tests and blood tests then they were taken for analysis. Then we were sent the testing kits and had to post them back for analysis. We were always sent a report to say we were clear or not. We still have a monthly questionnaire by email. I got COVID after returning from a cruise. We were all fairly isolated on the cruise, . so I assume it was caught at an airport. A very mild dose. Fortunately

I have had seven vaccinations, two each year and have now been invited for one this spring. I am thinking to forgo this one and have it each year in autumn. I have had Covid twice, not very severely and tested if ever I feel that kind of illness starting. I am 78 with no underlying conditions and no medications. I just hope it's the correct decision.

Realky

My friend had COVID and then had a cough for a long time. Then she had pneumonia. She was told that was now far more likely to be susceptible to infections because COVID had weakened her lungs. She was very fit for 70 years before then.

I'm the same. Since having COVID any cold I get turns into a chest infection they go on for weeks. Last one turned into pneumonia and that isn't fun.

Earthmother9

I thought the whole thing was a con from start to finish.

Well you’re wrong…!

It doesn’t pay to be blasé about Covid.
There are new strains always present.
And predictions about another wave, although not sure when that is.

Just be sensible and get your jabs if eligible.

It is all very unique to each of us. Some sail through, some get very ill, and some are still dying. Very few folk get to be vintage, without picking up health issues along the way.
I still test if I have been under the weather, but planning to meet any vulnerable darlings.
This year's version of pneumonia was especially vile.

I've never been invited for a vaccination since the start. I had two then decided I'd not bother with any more.

But it seems nobody wants me to have one anyway!

As far as I’m aware I’ve never had Covid, I’ve tested whenever I’ve had a cough or cold but it’s always negative. I had a very serious dose of pneumonia, the hospital were so concerned about my X rays they thought I might have had lung cancer (thank goodness it wasn’t) but again no trace of Covid. My DH had it and we took sensible precautions and I didn’t catch it - maybe I’m immune?

Earthmother9, you are entitled to your opinion, of course. However, I suspect my brother whose Father in law died of Covid, would dispute your assertion that the whole thing was a con from start to finish; as I also imagine would the thousands upon thousands of other people who lost their loved ones to this dreadful disease. Then, of course, there are the very many people who are suffering long term effects from it - or are they just part of the con, in your view?

My friend had COVID and then had a cough for a long time. Then she had pneumonia. She was told that was now far more likely to be susceptible to infections because COVID had weakened her lungs. She was very fit for 70 years before then.

I thought the whole thing was a con from start to finish.

When people use the word sick I never know if they are unwell or vomiting. My DS said he’d been sick for 3 weeks and I had to ask him in what way.

That sounds awful Milliedog.
I will definitely go for mine. Its just at the GP surgery so even if it's Easter Sunday, I should be able to make it.