Just Tested Positive - Success Stories and Reassuarnce

[leanderson2012]

Hi All,

Like so many others, I've tested positive today for COVID-19. So far, my symptoms are mild, and I'm lucky to not be at risk (30 yrs. old, fairly fit, no major underlying conditions with the exception of manageable asthma). However, like so many others, I'm completely panicking about the diagnosis. I can't help but go to the worst case scenario in my head.

I'm wondering if, for my sake as well as for the sake of others, there are any success stories about having had and beaten COVID that you're willing to share? At the same time, I'm also happy to share my experience on here for anyone who wishes to know, if it would provide some level of comfort for you.

Stay well and be safe everyone <3

[Amurfina]

Hi I hope you are ok. I tested positive on the 23rd September. I had a fairly mild dose (just like a bad cold) and like you I was terrified wondering whether I would take a turn for the worse but I didn’t and I was back on my feet within 7 days and felt much better on the 8th day. I still get occasional bouts of fatigue but don’t how much of that is linked to COVID and how much is linked to my anxiety and being in lockdown for so long. Get plenty of rest, take Vit C & zinc and Vit D, lots of fluids. Your appetite may disappear for a few days (mine did) so if it does just eat anything you can bear for strength. I found I could manage plain noodles, pasta with a bit of tomato sauce on and baked beans (if you guys have those over there). I also have manageable asthma and I am mid forties. Try not to panic (says me!). You will get through it. Sending lots of love xxx

[leanderson2012]

Thank you so so much Amurfina. I'm so sorry you had to go through this but I am also so glad that you are feeling on the mend. Right now I'm on my seventh day of exposure, maybe day 3-4 of symptoms actually showing, and I have the same experience as you, at least for now it just feels like a head cold, with just occasional waves of tiredness and weakness. Had I not known about my exposure I wouldn't have even gotten tested (I say this with the hopes of other people reading this will take comfort in the fact that so far this is another example of a mild case). I also am having allergies right now, and I can't tell if my "head cold" is truly a symptom of COVID, or if it's just a very poorly timed mild sinus infection due to allergies!

I've placed in an order of vitamins to be delivered today. Thank you so much again for your story, Amurfina. I hope your fatigue goes away soon, and that you're mentally okay. Thank you for being strong and sharing your story with me. Taking it one hour at a time!

[Kirbear]

Hi,

My sister has just gone back to work after having to isolate with Covid. She is early 30’s and has asthma. She said she felt different and weird but had worse illnesses in the past.

My friends mum is in a care home, she has dementia and she is in her 80’s. She’s been quite poorly but not to the point of hospitalisation. She now seems to be improving. A couple of blokes I know have it too and thought they had flu. All have said if they hadn’t known about Covid they would have assumed bad cold or flu. I know not everyone is as lucky but your odds are with you rather than against you. Hope you feel better soon x

[ankietyjoe]

Mortality for a healthy person in their 30s seems to be so low as to be irrelevant. Lower than 0.1% iirc for people under 70, as illustrated by a recent video by Dr John Campbell, who was collating global data of actual cases. Percentage would be much lower for anybody around 30.

[Pamplemousse]

Mortality for a healthy person in their 30s seems to be so low as to be irrelevant. Lower than 0.1% iirc for people under 70, as illustrated by a recent video by Dr John Campbell, who was collating global data of actual cases. Percentage would be much lower for anybody around 30.

I'm struggling with "mid-50s, morbidly obese, T2 diabetic, hypertension"

That adds up to "catch it and you're dead" in my head.

[fishman65]

I'm struggling with "mid-50s, morbidly obese, T2 diabetic, hypertension"

That adds up to "catch it and you're dead" in my head.

PM - can you shield at all? Until vaccines are available to at-risk groups? I worry about Mrs F too. Mid 50s, 15st, Type 2 diabetes, crohns disease, epilepsy, fibromyalgia.

[leanderson2012]

@Pulisa, you are spot on. So far, the fears and mental anxieties are far worse than the symptoms. My friend who had it last week (who I caught it from) hit a fever of 104*F last Thursday (Can you imagine!), and she still firmly believes that the fear and anxiety of having it was worse than the 104* fever (to help provide some comfort and additional detail - she is fine. She was knocked off her feet for a day or two, but was able to recover at home. She also has asthma, and additionally has a minor heart condition and has a bit of a weaker immune system). Of course, things could change for me where the symptoms become worse than the fear, but let's hope it does not come to that There is a much stronger chance that it will not come to that, and that I will be able to recover just fine. @Pulisa, I'm so glad this thread is helpful for you! I hope it is the same for others. It does give me a lot of comfort and help pull me out of my head. Last night when I dipped I thought, "This is it, I'm not going to make it through the night" (that was the anxiety talking). And now writing it out I realize yes, it wasn't fun but I certainly wasn't on (or even NEAR) my deathbed either

@Pamplemousse, I hear and totally understand your fears. What you're feeling is real and honest and understandable. But try to remember that there are absolutely no guarantees with this, either for it to go well or poorly. Remember though, the numbers are on your side. There ARE people with similar (and worse!) conditions than you who have made it. If you do catch it (which I hope you don't), remember that this right now just feels like a bad cold for me, and for many others. If this was 2019 (what a simpler time!) and I was having the exact same symptoms, the only day I would have taken off of work is today. Every other day (so far!) has been a mild head cold. I know it's different for everyone, but it's very possible you will be the same. And you can get through a head cold

@Lencoboy, I'm sure you're fine! But of course, if it helps or you feel as if it could be an issue, get tested just for peace of mind. I have had so many similar symptoms during these past 7 months (and the past 30 years) and it was never anything more than just a sinus issue that resolved itself in a few days. I will say, the one thing that has separated this for me was the waves of fatigue and weakness I felt. That felt different than "just the sniffles", so I hope you and others can find comfort in knowing that, while my symptoms were mostly benign, there was something a little more "off" about them that differentiated them. Sunday night (5 days after exposure, and the day I took what would turn out to be my positive test), I got out of the shower and just felt so tired all I wanted to do was crawl into bed. It was a familiar feeling, the kind of tiredness you get when you are truly sick/getting sick, but it was different than the normal "long day, stressful day" tired.

I had a burst of energy earlier this afternoon, similar to one I had yesterday, so I think my pattern is that in the afternoon I feel my best, and then I slowly get a little weaker as the evening comes on. I can feel myself starting to dip right now, both in terms of energy/overall wellness level and, in response, spiking in anxiety. So what does this mean for me? Probably a similar night to last night. Will I still freak out and panic if and when I hit my low low point? Ohh yes. But I'm also hopeful that the perspective from last night will help diminish it slightly.

I can continue to post more updates if this is helping others (It's definitely helping me!). Stay safe everyone. We'll be okay <3

[leanderson2012]

Thank you both for sharing your story and for the data. That does help a lot. @Kirkbear, I'm glad that your sister is feeling better and I hope she continues to feel okay! And that's an amazing story about your friend's mom. It goes to show that it's not always (in fact, usually not, per what @ankietyjoe shared), debilitating.

I'm sharing an update to my symptoms with the hope that it will give some people comfort to know what it's like. I am finding comfort in hearing other people's stories and day by day progressions, and I hope this might provide some comfort to you too if you're looking for it:

I'm on day 8 of exposure, day 4/5 of displaying symptoms. The first 3-4 days of symptoms were completely fine, and I normally wouldn't have given what I was feeling a second thought. Occasional waves of tiredness/weakness, and some congestion. Felt like a mild-occasionally moderate head cold.

Last night though was a "bad night", but here's the good news! It wasn't even that bad! I felt incredibly weak and tired, more so than I have in awhile, and it hit me pretty suddenly. I ate some food and immediately felt nauseous after it and was shaking. I did a DIY steam (aka put some boiling water with essential oils in a bowl and stuck my head over it with a towel), then took a hot shower. I try to stay in the shower for as long as I can to take advantage of the steam, but I just couldn't muster up the energy for a longer shower last night (keep in mind, I was able to stay standing and walking through all of this, and could even get the energy to put my dishes in the sink!). I crawled into bed and called my parents (completely panicking), and spent the next 45 min-1 hour going between my bathroom feeling like I was going to throw up, and laying in bed. Then, after about an hour, I felt better! Not great, but definitely not bad. The hardest part was the fear and hanging up the call with my parents.

Today, I definitely feel a little worse than yesterday, but it's not bad. It's gone from a mild head cold to a bad head cold. I've lost my appetite and can tell I'm losing/have lost my sense of taste, but I truly am okay! Honestly, it just feels like a bad head cold now, and my main symptom so far is lost of congestion. No fever or problems breathing at the moment. Weirdly enough, my gums are bleeding a bit when I brush my teeth, but I wonder if that's more of a side effect from mouth breathing 24/7 at the moment

Am I scared about what could happen in the next few days? Absolutely. I am petrified, and my anxiety spikes like no other. I don't want to pretend like I'm completely fine, but I also want people are are afraid of it to hopefully take comfort in my story so far. I was petrified of getting it, and now I have it, and so far I'm still here!

[pulisa]

It sounds as though the fears are far worse than the symptoms? This is such a helpful and insightful thread and hopefully it helps you too by writing it all down and keeping things in perspective? Let's face it..you wouldn't be able to or feel like writing such a detailed account of your experience if you were truly "struck down" by covid!

Thank you so much and look after yourself.. Get well soon!