People who tested positive, how are you feeling?

odyssey06 · 31-01-2021 09:33PM

The One Doctor wrote: »

Just tested positive now. Poxy feckin thing, this virus. Don't have any more money now, so at least I won't be spending.
Don't get me wrong, I'm fine, very few symptoms etc, just a bit scared. Wife has it too (I got it from her) and she has another baby on the way. She's asymptomatic.
Distractions are welcome. Tell me a favourite PC game you play or book you read or whatever to take your mind off things. I'm a bit scared as I mentioned. Pathetic, I know.
Mods please don't send this to the horrible Coronavirus forum, need a bit of a laugh.

Dont go for anything contemporary.
An epic slow immersive miniseries like Roots, North and South or film like Gone with the Wind.
Documentary like Reeling in the Years, Cosmos or World at War or Ken Burns the Civil War.

Yyhhuuu · 01-02-2021 12:06AM

jface187 wrote: »

I work in a nursing home too. I felt unwell the weekend of the 17, got a test on the 18, and results back on the 19 were positive. Work has been on to be three times about coming back as soon as my ten days were over. I explain to them I'm still not well. I assume your husband is working in a place like mine and need the staff but rushing people back will only burn them out. I still don't feel 100 percent and my partner is still unwell despite being past her ten days too. She tested positive the day after I did. My next rostered day is Tuesday, I see how I feel Monday, honestly money be the only reason for going back. Were struggling money-wise with reduced payment and I was off the week before my test due to stress, but no money from work or the government to help cover that week.

I finding it very hard. Still not fully well and upset that I passed it on to my partner. She is still very tired and it's due to go back to work Wednesday. I hope there no long-term effect on her health from this, as it would be my fault.

Also had a bad experience today in Lidl. First time out really since my isolation period. Three teenagers on top of me while putting my items on the converter belt. I asked them to step back and they laughed and sneered. Their mask not on fully either.
My items were coming through after being scanned and packing them up and they were on top of me again. I ask them to step back again and started shouting at me, the security guard came over and one of them went on about "covid not being real". I live in a rough area and it was dark. I was worried about going to my car as lots of problems with youths and knife crime, or they would see my car and attack it later as payback.
I went out later in the evening in the hopes of not as many people around. But of course, everywhere packed and on top of each other. Maybe just in this area where I live in but people just seem to have no sense here about covid or most things.

Can completely understand. No social distancing in City I live. People ignore you or insult you if you politely ask to respect social distancing. I recently was accomanying a very elderly person walking and as people passed by they didnt social distance, despite me asking them to do so. It was a very wide open space with nobody else around. Re Lidl- they have very ignorant security guards.

darragh o meara · 01-02-2021 01:36AM

hurikane wrote: »

Is the testing a 24 hour operation? What about the results is that 24 hour? Do they send out messages in the middle of the night?

I’ve been tested a few times over the last few weeks and the messages all came around the same time 16:30 which makes me think they have slots where they batch send them.

pc7 · 01-02-2021 08:03AM

Anyone in Dublin know current turn around times for tests?

dublin_paul · 01-02-2021 11:25AM

dublin_paul wrote: »

I tested positive on the 5th of January, I'm 28 and have no underlying conditions.

Most of my symptoms have gone, my sense of smell (therefore most of my sense of taste) has yet to return.

My sense of smell and taste have so disappeared that I've found it difficult to describe to other people the extent to which they're gone. I cannot taste bananas, tea, whiskey, cigarettes, smelly candles, gone-off milk, my (usually disgustingly smelly) bin.

I've had a fairly easy-going run of covid. My fever lasted only a day or two at most. In fact, I'd almost recommend to my friends & family that they should not worry about this virus (if they are not old and/or they don't have an underlying condition or are of unsound immune-system). However, I cannot understate how terrible it is to truly and fully be relieved of the sense of smell and taste, please for your sake do not willfully catch this virus.

I'm very optimistic that my senses will return (crossing my fingers, still!) but I can, wholeheartedly, recommend against doing so due to the well-known 80%(odd) symptom of COVID-19 being the loss of these senses.

It way only be a few weeks (if lucky) absence of these senses, but I seriously recommend against their absence.

After 2 weeks from my positive result (5th January) my sense of smell+taste came back. Now, 3 weeks on, I'm feeling perfectly fine again!

I had some lingering nasal issues, like a runny nose in the morning... and a little sinus pain. I felt that this was due to damage caused by the virus. Feeling great now!

ms.crackerz · 01-02-2021 01:55PM

pc7 wrote: »

Anyone in Dublin know current turn around times for tests?

Father tested Wednesday 12.30. Test results through Thursday evening just before 10pm (negative thankfully)

Irish Stones · 01-02-2021 02:13PM

Tested positive early last April, was tested again the last day of April, negative, and repeated it a week later, last May, negative again.
Every time I waited at least 4 days for the response to come.

As a matter of fact, I was first tested because my wife, who is an HCW, tested positive during a periodic check of the staff, she tested positive one day, they tested me as well three days later.

Initially my symptoms went from nothing to a sore throat.
I lost the senses of smell and taste for about five days, and I think I never regained them completely 9 months later. I mean, it seems to me that I still can't smell certain scents, or I smell them as diminished. I also believe that certain foods and drinks taste different to me now.
I had a sore throat and headache from April till the end of August, every single day. I ate more headache pills than anything else, and sprayed my throat with litres of soothing med.

I also felt very weak and tired for months. On a couple of mornings in April I felt so weak that I couldn't get up from the bed, not even lift a hand. Scary!

The weakness has partly disappeared now, but it is still impossible for me to walk longer than a mile, when I was a very good walker before that. No more bike for me either.
When at home I spend most of my time on the couch because I am always tired...

I had nightmares all nights for nearly 6 months, I had hallucinations a few times, I would see things or persons or animals that weren't actually there. You can imagine what driving in these conditions looks like!

I felt dizzy nearly every day, and still feeling like this every now and then, like today. I am still forgetting things that I did, saw, heard.
Also, it happened twice that I forgot I had a cat at home. Then I adopted another cat (they were two cats in all), and a month later I woke up and couldn't remember their names. Embarassing...

I still can't focus on demanding tasks, can't follow long speeches. I'm feeling morally depressed and nothing at all gets my attention or interest.

My nose is still congested several hours a day, especially after a meal, and in order to at least sleep, I'm spraying my nostrils with Vicks Spray every night before turning in. Wearing a mask is a bit hard for me, because I can hardly breath even without it.

Other than the above, I hadn't any fever, no breathing issues, my blood saturation has always been above 97%.
The only scaring day was when I felt thousands of tiny burning spots within my chest, back in April, but it only lasted a day.

Probably I told you all...

Last bit of info, I'm Italian and live in Italy.

Gruffalux · 01-02-2021 02:37PM

Irish Stones wrote: »

Tested positive early last April, was tested again the last day of April, negative, and repeated it a week later, last May, negative again.
Every time I waited at least 4 days for the response to come.

As a matter of fact, I was first tested because my wife, who is an HCW, tested positive during a periodic check of the staff, she tested positive one day, they tested me as well three days later.

Initially my symptoms went from nothing to a sore throat.
I lost the senses of smell and taste for about five days, and I think I never regained them completely 9 months later. I mean, it seems to me that I still can't smell certain scents, or I smell them as diminished. I also believe that certain foods and drinks taste different to me now.
I had a sore throat and headache from April till the end of August, every single day. I ate more headache pills than anything else, and sprayed my throat with litres of soothing med.

I also felt very weak and tired for months. On a couple of mornings in April I felt so weak that I couldn't get up from the bed, not even lift a hand. Scary!

The weakness has partly disappeared now, but it is still impossible for me to walk longer than a mile, when I was a very good walker before that. No more bike for me either.
When at home I spend most of my time on the couch because I am always tired...

I had nightmares all nights for nearly 6 months, I had hallucinations a few times, I would see things or persons or animals that weren't actually there. You can imagine what driving in these conditions looks like!

I felt dizzy nearly every day, and still feeling like this every now and then, like today. I am still forgetting things that I did, saw, heard.
Also, it happened twice that I forgot I had a cat at home. Then I adopted another cat (they were two cats in all), and a month later I woke up and couldn't remember their names. Embarassing...

I still can't focus on demanding tasks, can't follow long speeches. I'm feeling morally depressed and nothing at all gets my attention or interest.

My nose is still congested several hours a day, especially after a meal, and in order to at least sleep, I'm spraying my nostrils with Vicks Spray every night before turning in. Wearing a mask is a bit hard for me, because I can hardly breath even without it.

Other than the above, I hadn't any fever, no breathing issues, my blood saturation has always been above 97%.
The only scaring day was when I felt thousands of tiny burning spots within my chest, back in April, but it only lasted a day.

Probably I told you all...

Last bit of info, I'm Italian and live in Italy.

Oh my goodness, you poor man. What a compelling and vivid account you give. I hope you are getting medical check ups and that you get better each day a bit more. All the very best of luck.

Irish Stones · 01-02-2021 02:55PM

Gruffalux wrote: »

Oh my goodness, you poor man. What a compelling and vivid account you give. I hope you are getting medical check ups and that you get better each day a bit more. All the very best of luck.

Thanks Gruffalux, I do appreciate your words and positive thoughts.
Actually I'm not getting any medical check mainly because the symptoms that bother me the most (the mental confusion and lack of memory) are the same that most medical reviews have described as "still to fully understand", and are called "brain fog".

I'm positive that I will gain back some of the strength I have lost, but I'm not so positive for the brain issues...

Thanks so much indeed!

pc7 · 01-02-2021 04:31PM

pc7 wrote: »

Anyone in Dublin know current turn around times for tests?

Just for info, we’re back within 23 hours, which is excellent. Negative too.

AidoEirE · 02-02-2021 03:18AM

Have to say, as someone who made a living off my taste buds as a chef, taste buds have never been the same since I had covid, a lot more stuff taste bland or of nothing. Hard to explain.

It's very weird and something I hope i get back proper.

This is weird but, ever since I got it, I feel like there's something at the back of my throat near the tonsils, like a hair or something. Comes and goes.

Still energy levels are low but nothing to complain about. Just wondering anyone get the same.

Irish Stones · 02-02-2021 08:19AM

AidoEirE wrote: »

Have to say, as someone who made a living off my taste buds as a chef, taste buds have never been the same since I had covid, a lot more stuff taste bland or of nothing. Hard to explain.

This is something I've been wondering since the beginning of this pandemic, what would happen to people who hava to rely on their taste and smell for a living, like chefs, sommeliers and the like.
This handicap will play a heavy role in their professions, and I wonder what if their judgement is affected by the disease?
This must be awful.

I hope you are back to your full senses soon!

Still energy levels are low but nothing to complain about. Just wondering anyone get the same.

Yes, me... low energy levels, always tired and weak, always sleepy.

JimmyVik · 02-02-2021 09:09AM

100% better now after testing positive 2 weeks ago.
Mild cold like symptoms for a few days. Little bit of the spins. And could feel my heart beating. Probably more anxiety than covid.

Irish Stones · 02-02-2021 09:25AM

JimmyVik wrote: »

100% better now after testing positive 2 weeks ago.
Mild cold like symptoms for a few days. Little bit of the spins. And could feel my heart beating. Probably more anxiety than covid.

This thing of the heart has been common to many people. And still is for some of them. As far as I know, covid also affects the heart, so anything can be, in my opinion

ebayissues · 02-02-2021 02:07PM

I think the Anxiety of having covid or not is there. I've woken up several times in the night sniffing body lotion to check I can smell.

Each pain, slight couch from eating or anything, I'm like is this covid

PVNevin · 02-02-2021 02:17PM

I am not a scientist, so rather than try and inadeqautely precis this piece, I'd rather quote it:

"After many months of genomic stability in the virus, suddenly, three distinct versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on three separate continents have independently acquired similar mutations involving their spike protein. According to a new report published in Wired, “that pattern is what scientists refer to as ‘convergent evolution,’ and it’s a sign of trouble ahead.” This means that separate SARS-CoV-2 viruses have acquired similar mutations that help them evade the human immune response. Examples of convergent evolution in nature include such concurrent and independent phenomena as the evolution of flight by bats, birds and insects.

Dr. Stephen Goldstein, an evolutionary virologist, explained that the variants becoming more infectious is a real benefit to them, from the standpoint of their survivability. They have arrived at the same solution to their dilemma at the same time. If random chance created these mutations, it would improve their odds to acquire the ability to invade as many people as possible. However, it appears that there are selective pressures to these mutations which aid the virus to evade a person’s immune system. Vaccines could create these selective pressures as well, but they have been introduced too recently in the course of the pandemic to be the dominant factor presently. (See the link to the study: mRNA vaccine-elicited antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and circulating variants .)

According to Dr. Goldstein, “The convergent evolution of wilier versions of the virus might just be a consequence of so many poorly managed government pandemic responses, which didn’t marshal sufficient resources or inspire the kind of collective action required to not just crush the initial curve, but keep it crushed.”

However, as the virus runs rampant and governments attempt to vaccinate the population quickly in ways that violate protocols without containing the epidemic and looking to force schools open, the consequences could well be additional “convergent evolutions” that produce an extremely virulent strain of the coronavirus.

This danger was stated most succinctly last week by Dr. Katherine O’Brien, director for Immunizations, Vaccines and Biologicals at the World Health Organization:

“Risk of variants relative to the vaccines is ever greater when the transmission is very high in the communities. Not only because of variants that have occurred but because of the possibility of additional variants emerging under the pressure of vaccines. … We have these amazing tools, and the urgency is to deploy them. But we risk something about those tools if we are also not suppressing transmission to the maximum degree possible where those tools can be effective is setting when there is limited transmission. … We have to emphasize about the importance of really crushing transmission now while we are rolling out these new vaccines.”

ShineOn7 · 02-02-2021 02:18PM

Irish Stones wrote: »

Mental list of scary symptoms

* Goes to basement with 9 months supply of beans and rice till it's my turn to be vaccinated *

jc11 · 02-02-2021 03:45PM

Do they ring you with positive results or is it just through text? Waiting on sons results today

pc7 · 02-02-2021 04:02PM

jc11 wrote: »

Do they ring you with positive results or is it just through text? Waiting on sons results today

It'll just come through text message, we only waited 23 hours in dublin this week which is very good I would think. Best of luck, hopefully its negative.

Flintstones90 · 02-02-2021 04:59PM

Anybody aware of current turnaround for test appointments? I’m in Waterford, contact tracing called on Sunday but didn’t say how long it would be, I didn’t really mind too much as I had no symptoms but I have since started to develop some.

My partner got his text within 2 hours of being notified he was a close contact a few days before. Dunno if he just got lucky with an appointment or whether I should be following up.

Galadriel · 03-02-2021 09:48PM

AidoEirE wrote: »

Have to say, as someone who made a living off my taste buds as a chef, taste buds have never been the same since I had covid, a lot more stuff taste bland or of nothing. Hard to explain.

It's very weird and something I hope i get back proper.

This is weird but, ever since I got it, I feel like there's something at the back of my throat near the tonsils, like a hair or something. Comes and goes.

Still energy levels are low but nothing to complain about. Just wondering anyone get the same.

How long ago did you have it? I was diagnosed a month ago, some of my taste and smell is back but not all of it. It's hard to describe, hope it comes back eventually.

avfc1874 · 05-02-2021 12:02PM

Lost taste and smell. Strange to have no taste or smell at all. Couldn't taste or smell my coffee no mater how strong it was made . Slowly coming back after two weeks.
The weakness I felt wasn't like a normal tiredness more of a brain fog through the whole body. I miss my coffee &#55357;&#56866;
I'd say i have about 50% taste and smell back. Its strange to lose 2 senses over night

Homelander · 05-02-2021 12:05PM

Thankfully for me it was short and sharp, few days of bad flu-like symptoms and then gone. Did get extreme fatigue after that for about two days, but no loss of taste or smell, or any lingering effects in general.

Terrible that it can vary from entirely asymptomatic to devastating short/long term (or both) for people from the same age group with no underlying health issues.

picturehangup · 06-02-2021 11:26AM

Update: I was diagnosed on 27th December, had a strange sensation in face and a massive cold sore, together with strange sensations on the left side of my face, which are still there. Had also a weird feeling of drooling from my mouth, yet nothing there. This has persisted, to the point where I was beginning to wonder whether I had a mild stroke.
Noticed some odd blisters some weeks around my waist where I had shingles a number of years ago. Visited A and E on the advice of my Doc yesterday, and it seems that the covid reactivated my shingles from years ago. This thing will floor you one way or another. If anyone has odd symptoms like mine, better to get them checked out.

The One Doctor · 07-02-2021 04:07PM

picturehangup wrote: »

Update: I was diagnosed on 27th December, had a strange sensation in face and a massive cold sore, together with strange sensations on the left side of my face, which are still there. Had also a weird feeling of drooling from my mouth, yet nothing there. This has persisted, to the point where I was beginning to wonder whether I had a mild stroke.
Noticed some odd blisters some weeks around my waist where I had shingles a number of years ago. Visited A and E on the advice of my Doc yesterday, and it seems that the covid reactivated my shingles from years ago. This thing will floor you one way or another. If anyone has odd symptoms like mine, better to get them checked out.

I had mild chest pain, a mild cough and lost my sense of taste for a week. That's it, nothing
floored me.

That said, someone else could have a much rougher time of it.

ShineOn7 · 10-02-2021 07:33PM

Has anyone found a one stop online pharmacy selling all of this?

Reducing viral load:

1. Betadine or saline gargles twice daily

2. Saline nasal spray or drops with a few drops betadine in it twice daily

3. Saline nasal rinse in a soft squeezable bottle as needed (250ml cooled boiled water, 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda,1/2 tsp salt +/- few drops betadine)

4. Steam inhalation with Vicks especially if having loss of smell

5. Nasal decongestants eg. Otrivin nasal spray, phenylephrine, antihistamine tablets also helpful

It's from this excellent video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZoBb-ngk5k

For example, it doesn't look like Betadine is on sale with any Irish pharmacy. Just Ebay is showing and, well, feck that buying pharmacy supplies off Ebay

Saline nasal rinse is sold out on my usual go to pharmacy sites too

Any website links where I can get all the above in one shop would be great

Thanks

The One Doctor · 11-02-2021 10:42PM

If you have mild symptoms then a pulse oximeter (for reassurance) and painkillers are all you need.

Shoving stuff up your nose is not worth it and just adds to the distress. Don't bother, it's a waste of money. Your body will deal with the virus fine on its own.

The pulse oximeter is handy, I have one and it reassured me that I was fairly ok even when I felt a bit under the weather. Below 96% is not great and I'd be calling the oul' GP. Mine never went below 98% and I have pretty small lungs.

One important thing that REALLY helped me was to stay hydrated, at least 2.5L per day. Turns out I have been underhydrating myself for years and I could've got into trouble if I'd kept going like that.

I've had no symptoms for the last two days and am allowed out tomorrow, thank fcuk.

JP Liz V1 · 17-02-2021 01:22AM

Yes plenty of fluids

I've bad back pain

Ken Tucky · 17-02-2021 03:31PM

First symptoms were Friday so I'm on day 6.
I am flat today, no energy. Mornings are particularly grim. Back is sore, area where the lungs are but temperature after about 12 hours without paracetamol was below 37.8.
Had a couple of pills to take the edge off.

Lungs feel fine and I'm doing a few breathing exercises. Had a bit of phlegm up but nothing compared to a chest infection.

The tiredness though..still trying to pace around the room just to keep myself going but today has been the worst so far.

Anybody out there start feeling better after a certain day???

Gruffalux · 17-02-2021 03:37PM

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Yes plenty of fluids

I've bad back pain

Did you get it JP Liz V1? How are you doing ?

People who tested positive, how are you feeling?

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