[healthwork, CoVID-19] ... welp.

[kaberett]

That's me... woken up with a new, continuous cough, and a general sense of grot in my lungs.

I last used public transport or went shopping on the 9th of March; since then I've been outdoors a few times a week, either popping just over the road to spin a Pokéstop or going to the allotment. Cumulatively, I've been within two metres of fewer than ten people (mostly: joggers.); Adam's been dealing with answering the door.

Current temperature 36.7°C.

I am very sure this is just the cold I picked up at the very beginning of March having decided to settle in my lungs at the most inconvenient possible moment, this being about a typical progression for me, but ugh.

Here we go. Day 1.

Comments

[rmc28]

Ugh. Good luck and thinking of you.

[kaberett]

♥

[ewt]

Ugh. I hope that you are right, and also this is mild, whatever it turns out to be.

[kaberett]

I woke up with it settled in my chest and breathing hurting a bit, which would be... an atypical progression for The Plague, I think? But is pretty much right on schedule for this lingering cold, so.

[passingbuzzards]

fever + dry cough + potentially burning sensation in the lungs sounds pretty in-line with COVID-19, actually :/

[kaberett]

No fever! And it feels like absolutely normal Lung Crap so far. (And it's clearly trying to get things moving, so.)

[passingbuzzards]

omg—i realize now that i quite misinterpreted that 36.7C (for some reason i thought this was a lot higher in F than it was; whoops). that's definitely a good sign! early-onset fever seems to be most common with The Plague so i hope very much that this means you do not have it, and improve soon <3

also, RE: antibiotics remark sighted further down in the comments: i've recently found that my physician is willing to be very flexible wrt prescribing antibiotics via teledoc when it's a matter of "this is likely the problem even if we can't test for it conclusively because it's not safe for you to come in," i don't know how your particular healthcare works but under the circumstances this would surely go for most practitioners? if you’re able to have a virtual visit with a doctor and list symptoms consistent with "at least 50% chance it’s not a viral infection" and bring up the fact that you’re considered at-risk from COVID-19 i think there’s a very strong chance they would prescribe you the thing merely on the basis of Better Safe Than Sorry

[kaberett]

37.6degC is the official threshold for CONTACT THE NHS UGH FINE, so probably you just typoed which way round those characters went? (Which I have been doing... a lot... with some data transcription in the other window.)

My GP surgery has not historically offered phone appts (but has been otherwise good), and I know that the NHS is generally pretty big on "please don't come in asking for antibiotics, they probably won't help with your cold", so I think my major concern is not adding to stress/overwhelm for already overwhelmed medics? But probably they will actually be fine about it if it comes to it. Fingers crossed.

(And if not we have some stockpile, so.)

[divulge]

Hope you feel a bit better soon <3

[alexwlchan]

Urk. Hope it is indeed just a cold, and things clear up soon.

<3

[kaberett]

I mean, the awkward bit will be gently persuading the NHS I need antibiotics if it comes to it...

[ludy]

Asthmatic friend with possible covid-19 has actually found 111 very good at getting them antibiotics and steroids quickly (obviously hoping you won't need them)

[shanaqui]

Here's hoping it will pass easily!

[vass]

Good luck. ♥

[ludy]

Best wishes.
Also Bunnys

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

I hope you feel better soon.

[redbird]

May you feel better soon.

It's weird that we are now so relieved at the thought that "it's only a cold," because with the same symptoms last year you, or I, wouldn't be thinking in terms of worst-case scenarios.

[hairyears]

Oof...

[sfred]

Bah. I hope you feel better soon.

[ilyena_sylph]

Oh hon!

Ugh, indeed!

[brainwane]

Wishing you the speediest and most reassuring recovery possible from whatever nonsense has decided to try to play around with your body at this time.

[highlyeccentric]

Good luck!

[glass_icarus]

♥

[worlds_of_smoke]

♥ good luck.

[azurelunatic]

💙💙💙

[silveradept]

Here is hoping that it is a cold and that it passes through swiftly and gently.

[hilarita]

Urgh. Don't forget to try inhaling steam if this works for you! (It often helps me, *but*, when I get sick, I also get a bit kind of stoat-shaped, and then forget to do the thing that helps...)

[kaberett]

Am bearing in mind! It is part of my standard arsenal :)

[oracne]

I hope it's just a cold, too.

[cynthia1960]

Take care.

[redsixwing]

Best wishes for you. Lousy colds.

[umadoshi]

I hope it's short lived, whatever it is.

[white_hart]

Urgh. Good luck.

[syderia]

I hope it gets better soon!

[halojedha]

Oof, lung nonsense is no fun, and nor is quarantine. Hope your symptoms pass soon!

[randomling]

Ugh indeed! I hope you feel better soon and the NHS are useful about providing meds if you need them. <3

[archangelbeth]

good luck.

[ironed_orchid]

I had a cold last week and taking my temperature and noting my symptoms actually helped to reassure me that it was very likely just a cold.

I hope the same is true for you.

This reply describes what it feels like to have COVID-19

[meneltarma]

Good thoughts for a quick recovery. Cold Crud sucks and we've had a few "oh no!!" moments here related to med mistakes, migraines, flu-ish symptoms of various kinds. It's tough knowing you'll be toast if you get it -- a panic attack from an elevated temp from lack of sleep because of anxiety feels like it could Be It based on the very vague symptoms described. Luckily it's never COVID-19 if your cough is wet or productive or wishes to be.

For people wondering if there's useful descriptions out there of how to rule out COVID-19 over cold/flu/hayfever/etc symptoms
the good news is that if you feel like you have a cold, sinus drainage, or flu symptoms with a wet cough, it is almost 100% not COVID-19 (but follow distancing protocols because you might have, you know, a cold or the flu, and have a temporarily weakened immune system). Serious cases of COVID-19 feels nothing like a cold and the only thing comparable to it is is if you got a severe case of pneumonia with no lead-up, and now you can't breathe without extreme debilitating fatigue. Becoming delirious or suffering hypoxia attacks from oxygen deprivation is a common sign it's COVID-19. If you can't breathe without sharp, stabbing pain like breathing in razor blades, it is a hospital-worthy case of COVID-19. My source on these descriptions is a UN health aid worker who is currently actively fighting off a "mild" case, who has asked me to spread this info so people know when to fight it at home and when to immediately go in for treatment.