First Person Covid-19 stories

[dusty88]

Did she have Lab tests?

ha!

ya know, there ARE dogs learning to sniff out Covid so ... .maybe

 

[johntheplinker]

Did she have Lab tests?

Maybe a cat scan, too?

I just heard from my neighbor who is in her early forties, eight months post diagnosis from a case that gave her flu like symptoms for 5 days and no shortness of breath. But lately she's been having shortness of breath and brain fog. She had a CT lung scan done and has the ground glass lesions. The dogs think it's damage from Covid but are hoping it will eventually resolve.

Im sorry you are struggling with this so much. I hope you can get past it at some point

Thanks! Just got back from the Dr. Looks like I get to go see a specialist. They're going to see what tests are needed and get those scheduled so I can get those beforehand so I'll be that much further down the road. And O2 was 91 and resting pulse was 100 at the Dr. this morning. Took xrays, apparently no pneumonia but a LOT of what looked like scarring.
They did take swabs just to rule out flu and another infection of the Shanghai Shivers.

 

[WhitleyStu]

Wife was diagnosed positive on November 30 and I was positive on December 2. Wife had a few days of being tired, but otherwise OK. I have had a slight cough and brain fog. Last night I was having all types of visual anomalies (bright odd shaped spots in my line of sight). All in all we have been very fortunate. Today I have am feeling like I am over the brain fog. I hope I am nearing the end of this strange journey...

 

[jsharmon7]

Today is day 10 of my covid quarantine, which means I’m free tomorrow. Felt good the past few days with no observed symptoms. Today I went to the garage gym and did some moderate squats. O2 stayed at 97, heart rate only got as high as about 120, and I didn’t feel like garbage. I’d say I’m about 85%, so I feel extremely lucky. There were a few rough days this past week, so I’ll say without hesitation this virus is nothing to scoff at as “the flu.” For reference, I’m mid-30s, work out 4-5 days a week, eat like crap and probably should lose about 40lbs. This has been a wake up call to get it together. No more fast food, no more energy drinks, cut back the salt/grease, take some vitamins, etc.

 

[Hoosierdood]

Today is day 10 of my covid quarantine, which means I’m free tomorrow. Felt good the past few days with no observed symptoms. Today I went to the garage gym and did some moderate squats. O2 stayed at 97, heart rate only got as high as about 120, and I didn’t feel like garbage. I’d say I’m about 85%, so I feel extremely lucky. There were a few rough days this past week, so I’ll say without hesitation this virus is nothing to scoff at as “the flu.” For reference, I’m mid-30s, work out 4-5 days a week, eat like crap and probably should lose about 40lbs. This has been a wake up call to get it together. No more fast food, no more energy drinks, cut back the salt/grease, take some vitamins, etc.

Glad you're feeling better. I'm 100% convinced that this virus affects people based on genetics. With the flu, if you're generally healthy, you'll be fine. But this virus is weird. I've seen overweight 60 year olds come through it fine, while seemingly healthy and active 30 year olds get knocked on their butts. Of course there are also 30 year olds who have nothing more than the sniffles, and 60 year olds who are hospitalized. Doesn't seem like there is any rhyme or reason.

My brother in law who had it (mid 30's) only had about 3 days of slight fever, lost his taste and smell, but then symptom free. It was pretty easy for him. Now my sister has tested positive. All she has is a little brain fog, and said it feels like her allergies are acting up.

 

[jsharmon7]

Glad you're feeling better. I'm 100% convinced that this virus affects people based on genetics. With the flu, if you're generally healthy, you'll be fine. But this virus is weird. I've seen overweight 60 year olds come through it fine, while seemingly healthy and active 30 year olds get knocked on their butts. Of course there are also 30 year olds who have nothing more than the sniffles, and 60 year olds who are hospitalized. Doesn't seem like there is any rhyme or reason.

My brother in law who had it (mid 30's) only had about 3 days of slight fever, lost his taste and smell, but then symptom free. It was pretty easy for him. Now my sister has tested positive. All she has is a little brain fog, and said it feels like her allergies are acting up.

My symptoms were mostly neurological. Change in taste, light-headed/detached feeling, seemed like I was driving my vehicle in a video game rather than real life, and had some anxiety. I had a few days where I’d get slightly short of breath with moderate activity. Never had fever, chills, fatigue, etc. I feel like I had it pretty mild, but I had some foggy times in there.

 

[CZB1962]

I have no way to know for sure but I may have had it twice. Back in mid March I got a mild dry cough that rapidly turned into an horrible dry (non-productive) cough. I got a raging fever with body aches that lasted 3 solid days during which the chest congestion started with wheezing. Since Covid was new and no test was available, I was not even allowed to go to my Doctors office. All I got was a telephone appointment which was basically if you think you are going to die, go to the ER. I was down a solid week and was less than full capacity for another week after that. It may have been some other type of flu but whatever it was, it was bad.

Jump forward to September and I got a call from a coworker that he had tested positive so I packed up and went home. That was about 10AM and I felt fine. By 3:00 PM I knew something was wrong because I started feeling feverish with aches. I went and got tested and sure enough, it was positive. I did have two days of fever and some mild congestion but all in all it wasn't really all that bad. This time I lost my sense of smell and everything tasted extremely salty. It was so odd to not be able to smell.

My wife also got it and she had a little bit harder time. She also lost smell and everything tasted salty, but she had more chest congestion and coughing. She has asthma so it was concerning. It was several weeks before she was back to normal.

 

[Ballstater98]

Sunday, 12/13 - update on FIL

A few things to report over the last couple days. He has been moved back to a regular room for now. There are more critical patients that need the ICU beds. He is currently battling another fever. They did find bacteria in the urine and are waiting on the blood cultures so they will begin treatment for that. He had been on just room air yesterday but is back to needing oxygen today.

Tomorrow he is scheduled to get a PEG tube which is a feeding tube in his stomach. They are pausing the NG tube feedings right now as he isn’t seeming to tolerate them well and is having discomfort. They will continue to monitor the fever and decide if he’s stable enough to have the procedure as scheduled.

He’s been pretty drowsy the past couple of days. It’s almost like his days and nights are getting a little mixed up. The nurse said this can happen or the Covid patients end up with insomnia.

I'm wondering if he'll need to carry around oxygen for the rest of his life...

 

[Hawkeye]

OK, my wife decided to get tested on Wednesday. No really solid reason to do so. A very slim chance that she had been exposed ~ 2 weeks before that. Maybe. But absolutely no symptoms in either of us. Well she got her test results yesterday ~4pm. Positive.

And we had one of our daughters visiting for the weekend and one of our son's nd his GF there too. We were all a little flat footed by the revelation. I knew she had tested but with no real significant reason to and no symptoms I guess I had put it out of my mind. She had not warned any of the guests.

Her self-isolation period is 12/7 to 12/19.

Now she did the contact tracing call today. I got a text from IDOH and did an on-line and did their little quiz. My quarantine period ends 1/2/2021. and they recommend I test. Which I will do tomorrow.

We know another couple who got tested the same place ~ a week ago. They had a positive result, followed by a call a couple of days later saying "nevermind" - false positive.

 

[d.kaufman]

OK, my wife decided to get tested on Wednesday. No really solid reason to do so. A very slim chance that she had been exposed ~ 2 weeks before that. Maybe. But absolutely no symptoms in either of us. Well she got her test results yesterday ~4pm. Positive.

And we had one of our daughters visiting for the weekend and one of our son's nd his GF there too. We were all a little flat footed by the revelation. I knew she had tested but with no real significant reason to and no symptoms I guess I had put it out of my mind. She had not warned any of the guests.

Her self-isolation period is 12/7 to 12/19.

Now she did the contact tracing call today. I got a text from IDOH and did an on-line and did their little quiz. My quarantine period ends 1/2/2021. and they recommend I test. Which I will do tomorrow.

We know another couple who got tested the same place ~ a week ago. They had a positive result, followed by a call a couple of days later saying "nevermind" - false positive.

Why would you have to quarantine for almost 3 weeks? Thought CDC had now dropped it down to 10 days

 

[Hawkeye]

Why would you have to quarantine for almost 3 weeks? Thought CDC had now dropped it down to 10 days

With no symptoms they are saying the quarantine is 14 days from my last exposure. The last exposure date is projected as my wife's last day which is the 19th, or 10 days from the date of the positive test. If I test positive tomorrow, I guess it would be 10 days from tomorrow then or 12/23 instead of 1/2? I dunno, its all kind of crazy.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

With no symptoms they are saying the quarantine is 14 days from my last exposure. The last exposure date is projected as my wife's last day which is the 19th, or 10 days from the date of the positive test. If I test positive tomorrow, I guess it would be 10 days from tomorrow then or 12/23 instead of 1/2? I dunno, its all kind of crazy.

So we should be rooting for you to test positive (shorter quarantine)?

 

[d.kaufman]

With no symptoms they are saying the quarantine is 14 days from my last exposure. The last exposure date is projected as my wife's last day which is the 19th, or 10 days from the date of the positive test. If I test positive tomorrow, I guess it would be 10 days from tomorrow then or 12/23 instead of 1/2? I dunno, its all kind of crazy.

I got ya.

 

[Hawkeye]

Honestly, I'm hoping for no symptoms either way. And when I give blood in January have it come up with antibodies!

The crazy thing for us is that we have both been pretty much in quarantine since late February. We just haven't gone out much, limited travel, followed the social distancing guidance and masked, sanitized, washed, etc.

And it seems to really be getting more and more prevalent. Most of this time we've not known anyone who was positive. Now we are hearing more and more. For example, our daughter just found out that one of her friends that they spend some time with in Inday got her positive result today.

 

[hoosierdoc]

So we should be rooting for you to test positive (shorter quarantine)?

you can do 7 days after exposure if you have a negative test i believe

 

[Hawkeye]

you can do 7 days after exposure if you have a negative test i believe

The IDOH seems to be 14 days from date of positive test or 14 days after DOLE. But, I'll get tested today and we can see what they tell me after I get my test results. Going to the IDOH center. I've been told the rapid test has 30% false negatives. And I'm not in any rush, I guess, since I'm already exposed (or not) and we are pretty much in quarantine/isolation anyway.

 

[adws943]

I did the Kroger antibodies test. It showed strong antibodies present. Never ill and never exposed as far as i now.
Blood type O positive

 

[Hawkeye]

I did the Kroger antibodies test. It showed strong antibodies present. Never ill and never exposed as far as i now.
Blood type O positive

Just a PSA, the American Red Cross is currently testing blood donations for COVID antibodies. Since donating blood is a good thing, you can now do a good thing and find out if you have COVID antibodies for free. You get your results in ~2-3 business days.

https://www.redcross.org/

 

[dusty88]

you can do 7 days after exposure if you have a negative test i believe

The CDC made an alternative quarantine recommendation because they thought it more likely people would follow, and they think it will be 97% effective.

You can reduce your quarantine to 10 days IF you aren't going to be exposed to any high-risk people on day 11-14

You can reduce your quarantine to 7 days if you have a negative test on day 5 or after. Again, continue to day 14 as far as avoiding any high risk people

It's still ideal to quarantine for 14 days; the knowledge hasn't changed. It's more a factor of trading people's reality for a small payoff.

Local or state health departments can choose their own quarantine time though. Not that anything is being enforced in the US anyway. But those might be relevant to an employer.

CDC page here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/201...arantine,and update recommendations as needed.

Indiana version of same https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/20_Family quarantine_12-4-20.pdf

 

[ws6guy]

I'm going to get tested tomorrow, cannot get in any sooner. Yesterday got a fever that spiked to 103 and Tylenol only brought it down to 102.5. Last night the fever dropped to 101 which feels great compared to 103 The body aches are severe as to be expected with a fever but man the headache that has accompanied this is brutal. So far no breathing related issues!

Strange thing I noticed late last week is that my face felt off, like feeling flush when you have a fever. I didn't have a fever and my BP was normal.