Just How Many Members Here Have Had COVID Experiences ?

[mikem]

The lockdowns were mainly to prevent the NHS being totally overwhelmed by numbers of patients, it was always going to struggle with a pandemic.

 

[Alex]

I thought I had it last year was ill for a while fever, weakness, coughing etc. But the test I took was negative. It spread to my tonsils and I had a very bad time with that not being able to eat properly. Whatever that was left me with a weird muscle twitches in my calf for about 3 months.

Luckily neither me, my partner or either of our parents have caught it or at least have not been symptomatic. However, it has killed a caving friend of mine. Maybe because we don't interact with any kids? Can't say I have even had a cold for over a year now.

The biggest effect on me, meant I was waiting a good 12 months for a medical treatment, which thankfully is now finally being treated because at this it's painful as F***.

 

[royfellows]

I know its not why you called, but the effect of the lockdowns deserves some thought.

I was lucky in that the house had been driving me silly for some time. Everywhere I looked things needed doing, I have an outbuilding as big as the bungalow and the windows were dropping out.

The outbuilding was the subject of the first lockdown. First task was to take inventory of what materials I had to formulate a plan. Without going into details it worked out well. Second lockdown I could at least buy stuff so got stuck into the bungalow.

I suppose its called "occupational therapy".

My overall point here is that life is a sort of game of chance with various doors and windows continuously opening and closing, big mistake is to take anything for granted such as the continuity of the everyday existence with which you are familiar. One needs to be prepared to duck and dive with it but never give up.

I am fully aware of the current situation but dont lie awake worrying about it. I have better things to do while I am still around.

 

[mrodoc]

I have one friend who had it - he lives in a city and caught it early in the pandemic. He is suffering badly from post viral syndrome. I think long Covid is probably a misnomer as this has all the characteristics of the post viral fatigue syndrome I occasionally encountered in general practice. I suspect the Corona virus for whatever reason is more effective at triggering a long term adverse reaction to the infection. One of my colleagues has had  post viral fatigue for some years and had to give up working full time. She is hoping a bit more research will now go into investigating the pathology of the illness.  We are going to have to live with this virus for the foreseeable future as we have with the common cold, influenza and a number of other viral illnesses we don't have vaccines for. Many of these minor illnesses e.g. hand foot and mouth disease can be quite unpleasant and in rare cases have significant complications. Vaccination is something I would always recommend. Our bodies have to fend off viruses all the time - vaccines help to boost our reaction to specific known diseases.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

In February 2020 I was ill for a few days. Bad cough , no appetite and unable to do much. I had been to an 80th birthday party for a relative who had just returned from Spain. A few of us had the same thing. Whether it was C. 19 I dont know but I have had nothing like it before.
Trouble is many have now got a form of " Stockholm Syndrome " ( I call them " Dodgers " ) as the governments propaganda worked far better than they ever imagined. I ultimately complained to the BBC for saying that 1000,s had now died FROM Covid when in reality Covid might well have been secondary on the D.C. and possibly caught in hospital. The complaint was acknowledged in a cursory way but the comment was changed to WITH.

 

[sinker]

?..life is a sort of game of chance with various doors and windows continuously opening and closing....

?.or indeed falling out....

Good points made though. Attitude and resilience will get you through anything if you can be flexible and adaptable.
Off topic and something that people will no doubt argue about but I grew up in the 70s and 80s in a military environment, inside the wire, and without being bullied, dogged or shouted at, I developed a natural resilience and adaptability which has stood me in good stead ever since. I'm not bulletproof or covidproof by any means but I think I can make reasonable judgements and adjustments to cope with any situation without losing my marbles or going off the rails.

 

[Speleofish]

In reply to MRODoc, I think 'long covid' encompasses several conditions. I agree some cases fit into the category of post-viral fatigue. Another group are more typical of post-ICU syndromes, an imperfectly defined group of overlapping conditions, some of which probably result from multi-organ failure, some consequent on prolonged sedation, some due to prolonged immobility etc.

A third cohort is probably the direct result of covid and its complications on the heart, lungs (prolonged inflammation and possible scarring), brain and clotting systems (including pulmonary emboli [blood clots in the lung] of which we saw a large number both during the acute infection and occurring some months later. There's a large amount of interesting research being published on this, so I suspect things will become clearer over the next year or two.

 

[Paul Marvin]

Both my wife and myself had it back in Nov 2020, there was a tsunami of it in our area in Nov and I don't know anybody that didn't have it !.

We always thought with the nature of Sues, work that it was not if but when we contracted COVID , she shook it off pretty well but I was ill for about three weeks , liking it to proper flu on steroids even now 10 months on I still havent got my zest back and my GP although he is trying his best is still scratching his head and has conducted more tests than you can throw a stick at . I have prescribed myself a week away every 4/5 weeks to get some caving, mine exploration and diving done  . I also had a bad reaction to the AZ vaccine so much so I finished up having full body MRI scans and it has left me with a funny sort of Tinnitus , similar to a cricket insect sound in my right ear. The Drs said that I must have the Pfizer as my second dose as they " deemed the AZ unsuitable for a second dose " . The Pfizer vaccine I was ok with .

As for family my wife lost 6 members of her family last year including her mum and dad  all down to COVID, some grace for her was knowing that we didn't pass it on to them. My dad had it and although he is very very poorly and permanently in a hospital bed somehow managed to survive it god only knows how  :-\ if you understand his 02 sats were only 68 on full 15 liters of oxygen, they did use an experimental drug on him that for the life of me I cant remember the name of it . I think looking at peoples replies one of the biggest issues is mental health that is plaguing people ???

 

[Speleofish]

I agree mental health problems are probably the most prevalent condition affecting the population as a whole, whether as a direct result of the infection; the frustrations, anxiety and boredom associated with lockdown; or the stress and distress caused by looking after patients with it. Although people in general have followed government guidance much more closely than was expected at the start of the pandemic, I've noticed a weary fatalism growing among many of my neighbours, which is leading to many of them behaving much less cautiously than before - a viewpoint I can understand.

 

[Laurie]

My wife and I were early sufferers, March last year, sadly my wife of 40 years did not survive.
I still suffer with Long Covid.

 

[Goydenman]

My wife and I were early sufferers, March last year, sadly my wife of 40 years did not survive.
I still suffer with Long Covid.

so sad to hear my thoughts are with you and I hope you recover fully. A friend of a friend is at last seeing good recovery from long covid

 

[2xw]

I've had it, my sister and her partner had it, a fair few of my relatives have had it, both my housemates have had it, and lots of my students have had it also

 

[Paul Marvin]

My wife and I were early sufferers, March last year, sadly my wife of 40 years did not survive.
I still suffer with Long Covid.

My deepest condolences buddy 

 

[Paul Marvin]

I've had it, my sister and her partner had it, a fair few of my relatives have had it, both my housemates have had it, and lots of my students have had it also

Mmmm almost the same area as me was it the Nov tsunami that passed through ?

 

[BradW]

I had a few close shaves. Early on, discovering I had been around others who ended up positive, but so far I have stayed clear. As a result I have stayed strictly away from all cavers social events (and non caving ones too) where anyone other than people I trust are present - this is frustrating but it's my choice. Who knows when we can all get back to those great caving weekends with packed huts and the like. If that's the only downside for me then I am fortunate, as at least I have avoided the bug so far.

 

[paulf]

Both myself & my wife got it over Xmas 2020, She suffered worse than me (stuck in bed very flue like, bad cough) I feel lucky it hit me like a bad cold (cough not as bad as my wife's)

Neither of my 2 children who live with us - Daughter aged 24 & Son 21 got it.

Only long Covid symptom I seem to have is - (Numb, tingly / warm Thigh) Yep I only  found this out after watching a program on Long Covid symptoms !

I would say Brain Fuzz (because I now really struggle to remember people's names) but this could be just normal for me.

As a builder I have met several clients whose family members have died from it.

I also know of 2 friends who have lost a parent, even they were relatively fit & active (70)

My Friends Pregnant Niece (31) got Married about 6 weeks ago (Everyone caught it, bar the Grandma who was double jabbed) Niece had to have a C section as her breathing was bad, thankfully all are fine now.

 

 

[RobinGriffiths]

It is a bit worrying as we seem to be hell bent on getting people to catch it whilst we are dosed up a la vaccine. 1 in 45 people in Scotland last week. This pathogen hasen't even seen it's second anniversary. God knows what long term prognosis is.

 

[NewStuff]

I'm the only person in my work, aside from visitors, that actually wears a mask. Many anti-vaxxers and conspiraloons. Yes, I'm interviewing elsewhere.

This winter is going to be messy. People seem to think because they don't like it/ignore it/the government gives up, that it's actually gone away.

 

[Tripod]

It is a bit worrying as we seem to be hell bent on getting people to catch it whilst we are dosed up a la vaccine. 1 in 45 people in Scotland last week. This pathogen hasen't even seen it's second anniversary. God knows what long term prognosis is.

1200 scientists wrote to the Lancet stating that the government (re. "Freedom Day") had a "murderous" policy of "herd immunity through mass infection". The people of this country are still being encouraged to believe that vaccination protects from infection and prevents transmission which it does not to the extent they believe. The vaccines reduce the severity of symptoms in infected people but not for all. As for "double jabbed" and "fully vaccinated" and the consequence of people ceasing to wear masks or take other precautions this only adds to the current levels of misunderstanding and overall chaos.

 

[Paul Marvin]

I'm the only person in my work, aside from visitors, that actually wears a mask. Many anti-vaxxers and conspiraloons. Yes, I'm interviewing elsewhere.

This winter is going to be messy. People seem to think because they don't like it/ignore it/the government gives up, that it's actually gone away.

Too True !