Covid returns

We have had some sort of virus for three weeks now, we did COVID tests and the tests were negative. We tested because if we had to seek further treatment we may have been asked if it was COVID and also to keep away from other people if we were positive. We have kept away from other people anyway as we have been so unwell.

Imarocker and Lemsip, still over a week to go before Christmas, so hopefully there's enough time for you to feel better! 💐

Quick update - four days in and still feeling lousy, but better than I was. Still have a temperature and am in bed. People are asking why test? Well because I was supposed to be seeing the beautician, the hairdresser and the dentist not to mention my DS and DiL (who is at risk) and the GC and really didn’t want to make everyone ill for Xmas. I think I also tested for my own benefit - just to know what I have.

Katek

I'm just curious as to how previous posters (on this and other Covid threads) know they have Covid? Are you still testing and, if so, why? Treatment is no different than for other winter bugs -rest, hydrate, paracetamol, etc - and should you become more unwell then you would take additional steps as you would with any virus. You would stay at home and not expose littlies, elderly or the chronically unwell to winter bugs anyway, so I'm not sure what benefit it is to know which particular virus we have. I'm not trying to be contentious, just genuinely puzzled.

I get told to test from time to time!
No matter how well I am feeling.
I am not allowed some places without having tested before I arrive.

Katek

There is no ignorance here lemsip - I am fully au fait of current thinking. In a recent conversation with my GP she stated that there was absolutely no point in people testing any more. There's no reporting system and doctors will treat you (if you can see them) symptomatically as they would any other winter bug. We cannot continue to act as we did in the depths of the pandemic if we are to move forward and start living with this virus. We lost a young, healthy family member to Covid in April 2020 and the after effects are still being felt. I know only too well what Covid can do lemsip but we need to move forward from outdated thinking.

It’s not outdated thinking on a personal level to take measures to protect vulnerable people Katek. The need to move on is driven by ecomomics not by altruism.

The answer Katek may be because we can. As far as I know there’s no easily available OTC test for flu, for example.

There is no ignorance here lemsip - I am fully au fait of current thinking. In a recent conversation with my GP she stated that there was absolutely no point in people testing any more. There's no reporting system and doctors will treat you (if you can see them) symptomatically as they would any other winter bug. We cannot continue to act as we did in the depths of the pandemic if we are to move forward and start living with this virus. We lost a young, healthy family member to Covid in April 2020 and the after effects are still being felt. I know only too well what Covid can do lemsip but we need to move forward from outdated thinking.

I have had a really nasty virus and symptoms have lasted 5 weeks. The worst was the cough which meant I strained a muscle in my chest, my nose streamed like a tap and I felt very unwell. I did have some aches and pains but they were only at the start. It wasn't 'flu, more a chesty cough, and I am still coughing occasionally.

I tested 4 times for Covid as a friend said she didn't test positive until she'd tested 3 times. tickingbird - you can buy tests from Amazon.

Each time it was negative so not Covid unless it's a variant that the test doesn't pick up.

I am vulnerable due to multiple health problems. I've had all the jabs, always wear a mask when I leave the house, but it must have been highly contagious because I caught it from my cleaner. When she comes to clean, I open all the windows and we keep our distance. She had no obvious symptoms but says she did "feel a bit under the weather". Later she had a cough but was better within 3 days. Here I am, still coughing a bit 5 weeks later ......

Covid returns is a strange title OP as it never went away. Like flu it here for ever and like flu it mutants every year.

Sorry you have got Covid. I had been exposed to covid many times during the early months of Covid. I have to do a LFT test ever Saturday for health reasons. Imagine my suprise couple of months ago when I tested positive as apart from feeling tirer than normal and keep falling asleep I felt fine.

But I think because the incubation period for it is 7-10 days on the Wednesday before I tested positive I had my booster jab and because I was incubating Covid having the jab stopped me having any bad symptoms. I was so shocked by the result I did the test twice. On the Wednesday I tested negative.

Sorry for those suffering bad effects from Covid. I did start to wear my mask again once the autumn started but don't always as my glasses steam up and I am disabled and need to see where I am walking or I fall over.

Unfortunately things like TB,whooping cough and measles are all back . My daughter told me meningitis is back in unis.. But I remember when my children went to college and uni they had meningitis jabs . Perhaps they don't do that anymore or people are refusing to have them.

Do a test. People are still dying from this (30 a week near us). You might pass it on to a vulnerable person, or someone who’s waiting to go into hospital for an operation, or just ruin someone’s Christmas plans. Covid is not a cold or flu. Yes, we have to live with it, but that includes taking ng precautions around other.

And it can still mutate into something nastier.

I think I may have it. Started week ago. Sore throat, headache, terrible sneezing. Thought I was on the mend but feel a bit chesty now. I’ve ran out of tests and they don’t send out anymore. I also had the number to ring for anti virals as compromised but no idea where the letter is now!

Katek Fri 15-Dec-23 21:15:30
To what end? We don't test for other viruses some of which can make us quite unwell.
............................

Cannot believe the ignorance!!

Katek

To what end? We don't test for other viruses some of which can make us quite unwell. (Again I'm not talking about immunocompromised) Either we put our faith in the vaccine preventing significant illness or we've all wasted our time having multiple vaccinations.

How can you ignore the immune compromised Katek, they are all around us? Are you suggesting that we should just carry on, not wear masks when we suspect we may have Covid, and freely spread whatever we have to them? I wonder if you’ve misunderstood what the vaccines do. They reduce the average severity of illness. Vulnerable people who would previously have died may well still be hospitalised, those of us who aren’t hopefully now won’t be where before we may have been.

Katek

I'm in the same situation as you growstuff and was shielded during the pandemic. It's not a foregone conclusion that we will suffer very badly from Covid should we catch it. Dh and I had Covid in October and I actually wasn't particularly unwell, just took a while to get my temp down. Our treatment is pretty much the same, we just have access to antivirals if needed. I'm not so much thinking of those of us who are compromised but a lot of people without additional issues still seem to be testing. Does this mean people don't have faith in the vaccine to prevent serious illness?

No, it's not a foregone conclusion that high-risk people will be badly affected, but personally I'd rather minimise the risk for myself and others. We have the means to test for Covid, so it seems foolish not to use it. I've never been prone to viruses, but if I were to have a bad case of anything I'd keep away from other people.

To what end? We don't test for other viruses some of which can make us quite unwell. (Again I'm not talking about immunocompromised) Either we put our faith in the vaccine preventing significant illness or we've all wasted our time having multiple vaccinations.

if you are taken ill then you test! surely that's what all responsible people do.

I'm in the same situation as you growstuff and was shielded during the pandemic. It's not a foregone conclusion that we will suffer very badly from Covid should we catch it. Dh and I had Covid in October and I actually wasn't particularly unwell, just took a while to get my temp down. Our treatment is pretty much the same, we just have access to antivirals if needed. I'm not so much thinking of those of us who are compromised but a lot of people without additional issues still seem to be testing. Does this mean people don't have faith in the vaccine to prevent serious illness?

Yes, I’ve got it too at the moment, it started last Saturday evening. My main symptoms have been sneezing, and painful sinuses/blocked up nose. I don’t have a cough, and haven’t felt unwell really, just tired. I tested on Monday because I was due to go out that evening with somebody who is immune compromised, and. I didn’t want to put them at risk, but I was really surprised when it came up as a strong positive.
To answer your question Katek Covid poses a significantly more serious health risk to people who are immune compromised than colds do, so I’d always test before exposing somebody to the risk of catching it if I felt there was any possibility I had it. I guess it’s down to our individual consciences now, although I don’t personally agree with that - I’ve got very elderly parents and I don’t want anybody going near them who may have it, I’ve got the same obligation to anybody I may meet too.

Katek As far as I know, I've never had Covid. Firstly, I've never had anything like the symptoms which have been described for the different variants. Secondly, I have some test kits, courtesy of the NHS because I have a compromised immune system after radiotherapy, and I've used them whenever anybody I've met recently has said they have Covid and if I've been feeling off-colour, which hasn't been very often.

As a result of my high risk of becoming seriously ill if I catch Covid, I have a telephone number to ring if I test positive and apparently I will be sent anti-virals. So, for me and many others, the treatment isn't the same as other winter bugs.

I have no idea if the system works or if the anti-virals are effective because I've had no reason to ring the hotline.

I'm just curious as to how previous posters (on this and other Covid threads) know they have Covid? Are you still testing and, if so, why? Treatment is no different than for other winter bugs -rest, hydrate, paracetamol, etc - and should you become more unwell then you would take additional steps as you would with any virus. You would stay at home and not expose littlies, elderly or the chronically unwell to winter bugs anyway, so I'm not sure what benefit it is to know which particular virus we have. I'm not trying to be contentious, just genuinely puzzled.

yes, me too.

started last saturday 9th with sore throat and heavy cold ached all over. tested positive.
still positive today. and not well. had six vaccines which I'm thankful for.

COVID finally got me a month ago although I’d had 5 jabs. In bed for 4 days i only ate some porridge it was the worst I’ve felt for years. It’s certainly not gone away but I’d been abroad so maybe caught it on the plane.

SUMMERFLY - I hope you will be alright and able to have your surgery. I’ve had to cancel so many things. I thought I would test negative by Monday but son pointed out that I will be lucky to feel better by Christmas

Hope you’re better soon.
I’ve been poorly for almost a fortnight. Initially I had a sore throat. After a few days I felt much better, then oh my goodness, I started to go downhill so quickly with flu like symptoms. I’ve done several Covid tests and all negative. Yesterday I started to improve, but I’ve been up all night and most of the morning with a stomach bug.
I really hope I’m better soon because I’m due to have surgery on Wednesday. It’s been cancelled once so I’ve got everything crossed 🤞 Typical isn’t it?

Covid returns
Covid never went away. It’s part of our lives now.