My personal experience with Coronavirus
I want to share my personal experience with Coronavirus to illuminate a couple of facts that might guide you in decisions you make for your well-being and that of others.
I was exposed to and contracted the virus at work. In my office 6 of the 8 people sharing the office have either been confirmed to have/had the virus (3 of us tested positive) or have shown classic symptoms of the virus but did not have the test to confirm it (in one case the test was botched).
My symptoms were a loss of taste, dissimilar to that one experiences when they have a cold. The way I can best describe it is that the sense organs seem dead, as opposed to dampened as with a cold. A recurring fever that would subside at night and into the morning to return in the early afternoon, topping out at 102 f. And a severe loss of energy.
I have been asymptomatic for 13 days now. The last time I tested, 10 days AFTER the symptoms subsided, I STILL tested positive for the virus, and so I continue to be in isolation. I test again on Friday and Saturday, the CDC having determined that to get cleared you must test negative twice in a 24 hour window. My last test showed it was clearing up some, the results being described as a "weak positive." They are hopeful I will be cleared on the next tests.
My hope is that some may find this helpful in discerning when to end their own isolation period. I understand that many do not have access to one test, much less the follow up tests I have been privileged to have had. So maybe my experience can help to guide you.
Take care and stay safe. My heart is with you and your loved ones.
That may be the way it is done in some hospitals, but unfortunately I’ve spent more time than I’d like as a patient and the general practice I’ve seen is using the numbers I give them
Not a judgement against the overweight, but being medically/clinically overweight/obese is a major factor in a number of conditions and diseases that affect your health. While COVID hasn't directly affected my health or that of my family, it's been a reminder that you first line of defense against all kinds of health threats starts with being healthy. I'll be taking that even more seriously than before
While COVID hasn't directly affected my health or that of my family, it's been a reminder that you first line of defense against all kinds of health threats starts with being healthy.
And yet all the gyms are closed...
And yet, for a very good reason
I think there is evidence that keeping up your health has benefits. I also think there are ways to minimize risk by following the guidelines outlined so far without closing off gyms completely. I think it would be more helpful than stocking up on TP. But, I realize I'm the minority and most on this board will accept your opinion as right and mine as wrong without any evidence or any way of knowing how risky their trips to the grocery store or how minimally risky their trips to the gym could be and/or how much being fit could save you if/when you get the virus. But, go ahead and assume you're right.
I wish my gym was open too. As I was in the middle of a big swimming block and have probably lost all of those gains now, but I’m not sure it’s worth the risk to everyone else when I can easily maintain fitness at home. While I think you have a good point it’s not so black and white and I’m not sure it’s fair to compare the gym to the grocery store.
While fitness is certainly a factor is staying healthy I think that ship has sailed: those who were fit when this started will not make much gain in their ability to fight off this virus or will those who weren’t fit suddenly make enough gain to better fight it off.
Persons have to go to the store to get food and they typically do not go more than once per week. It is also a low exertion and normal breathing activity.
The gym is much different. It’s usually a multiple days per week activity (multiplying the risk) with lots of sweating and heavy breathing which puts a lot more droplets into the air.
Further fitness is something which can be accomplished outside of a gym setting.
March 31st, 2020 at 10:39 PM ^
While I think you have a good point it’s not so black and white and I’m not sure it’s fair to compare the gym to the grocery store.
You're right, it's not black and white. It's not as simple as the gym is dangerous and not necessary, but the grocery is less dangerous and necessary. Because how does one calculate how dangerous the grocery store is? Why aren't they drive up pick up and online ordering only? Why aren't there sanitization stuff on every isle? There are all sorts of things we don't know. There are also wide arrays of strategies stores have used. Some take many precautions whereas others don't. Yet, no is there making laws about grocery store procedures or limiting the number of people allowed in. How do we calculate the prevention ability of physical fitness? How do we know that the numbers wouldn't favor working out even with an increased risk is beneficial? We don't know any of that. But, gyms are not allowed to make those choices, yet grocery stores are.
those who were fit when this started will not make much gain in their ability to fight off this virus or will those who weren’t fit suddenly make enough gain to better fight it off.
I highly doubt the risk will be gone completely in a month and you sure as heck can improve your fitness a ton in a month. And, most gyms have already been closed for 2 weeks.
Persons have to go to the store to get food and they typically do not go more than once per week
That is certainly not the experience in my area. The store is super busy around the clock every day of the week. It's not as though people are only buying what they need. We don't need coffee. We don't need alcohol. Grocery store shoppers do way more than get food necessary for survival.
The gym is much different. It’s usually a multiple days per week activity (multiplying the risk) with lots of sweating and heavy breathing which puts a lot more droplets into the air.
While I understand there is more breathing, I don't believe you can pass the virus from sweat. But, regardless there are precautions you can take. Only allow a limited number of people in at a time or even better by appointment only. Require wiping down equipment before and after each use. Add hand sanitizers around the gym. Post signs having people stay more than 6 feet apart. I think 10 people in a gym would be more sanitary than 100 in the grocery store.
Further fitness is something which can be accomplished outside of a gym setting.
Yes, but it creates a barrier because it makes it harder which means many won't do anything. Sure anyone can go for a jog and do bodyweight exercises like pushups and situps in their living room. But, the weather outside sucks in many areas still so doing cardio outside is not ideal, most people don't have weights, benches, etc. equipment at home for muscle fitness, and most probably don't know how to create bodyweight workouts, assuming they even have the desire. So, it's a big barrier to not have the gym.
without any evidence
Well there is evidence but you're clearly not going to be swayed by it.
or any way of knowing how risky their trips to the grocery store
I think people know the risks of the grocery store. Many are doing online shopping and/or minimizing trips to the store.
or how minimally risky their trips to the gym could be
I mean, there is risk wherever there are people in close proximity. That would include a gym.
and/or how much being fit could save you if/when you get the virus.
It's a little late for most of us. I don't think we're going to lose that five to ten to 150 pounds in time. You will be able to stay fit and healthy at home. I understand that you do not have access to the same equipment and will not be able to lift the same. That sucks and I am sorry.
March 31st, 2020 at 10:52 PM ^
Well there is evidence but you're clearly not going to be swayed by it.
Really, there is evidence the grocery store is less dangerous than the gym? Please present that.
I think people know the risks of the grocery store. Many are doing online shopping and/or minimizing trips to the store.
The grocery stores are busier than they've ever been. Clearly people are buying way more than they need.
I mean, there is risk wherever there are people in close proximity. That would include a gym.
Correct, there would be some risk. But, why can't the gym limit the number of guests at a time to 10? That would be no more risky than 10 neighbors sitting in their garage having a beer. And, that happens every Saturday in my neighborhood.
It's a little late for most of us.
Unless you're an ederly woman, I think you can a lot more than you think in just a month of working out.
I understand that you do not have access to the same equipment and will not be able to lift the same. That sucks and I am sorry.
I appreciate it, but I don't think understand. I don't think a lot of people do. My fiancee does because she lifts every day too. That's why we're engaged because it's hard to find someone that would rather join you at the gym than have kids. I realize my priorities are different than many 40 year olds. But, if you go ask another strength coach, bodybuilder, powerlifter, or person who lifts all the time, they will. The gym has long been the best part of my day. I love my family & my fiancee, but I'd trade time with them for my 2 hours in the gym. My career revolves around exercise. The gym has always grounded me. It is my outlet. Doing bodyweight and band exercises at home won't replace that.
I don’t “get it” in the sense that I am a gym rat but I totally get that there are people who are really into fitness and workout routines.
Literally everybody is making insane sacrifices.
You keep falling back on the argument that my fat ass can join a gym and get in coronavirus surviving shape in a jiffy and as long as I don’t contract it at the gym in the first week I will be good. But I could also diet and exercise at home in complete isolation, including running in mild cold and light rain like marathoners (lucky bastards still can live their passion).
This doesn’t even address the issue of spreading a virus at a gym where all these healthy people then become carriers and can spread it to other vulnerable populations at home/essential work/grocery stores/etc. The whole point of this, literally the whole point, is to make as little human to human contact as possible, including human to surface to human contact (e.g. door knobs).
I agree that grocery stores, all open stores, should be forced to do way more to help with social distancing. No reason to let a crowd in and let them randomly browse.
I don’t “get it” in the sense that I am a gym rat but I totally get that there are people who are really into fitness and workout routines.
Literally everybody is making insane sacrifices.
I am being forced to sacrifice the thing that brings me the most happiness in my life. I doubt that's true for most.
But I could also diet and exercise at home in complete isolation, including running in mild cold and light rain like marathoners (lucky bastards still can live their passion).
You can, but it's a barrier. And, doing cardio alone won't replace weight training.
This doesn’t even address the issue of spreading a virus at a gym where all these healthy people then become carriers and can spread it to other vulnerable populations at home/essential work/grocery stores/etc. The whole point of this, literally the whole point, is to make as little human to human contact as possible, including human to surface to human contact (e.g. door knobs).
I agree that grocery stores, all open stores, should be forced to do way more to help with social distancing. No reason to let a crowd in and let them randomly browse.
I won't give up on this when I see people out every day in public doing all sorts of unnecessary things and seeing how completely unsanitary the grocery store is. I'd bet the risk/reward is higher at the gym using my recommendations that at your run of the mill grocery store and that pisses me off to no end that I have to sacrifice what's most important to me that could be done in a safer way than that.
you don't need to go to the gym to stay fit.
March 31st, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^
Education is good for you, too, but the schools are closed. Public spaces are vectors for virus transmission, unfortunately.
March 31st, 2020 at 10:54 PM ^
Education is good for you, too, but the schools are closed.
Education cannot prevent getting a virus or impact it's effects in the same way being/getting fit can. I also believe lung conditions are one of the major risk factors so I think it makes sense good cardiovascular endurance would be preventative.
Well that's bad news - see profile pic. But being overweight myself I know there are greater risks for diabetes, heart disease and other maladies - so I doubt it's the weight but the underlying problems.
But, getting into better physical health will help improve all those conditions. This is why we say "exercise is medicine". It cures and/or prevents many major diseases from heart disease to depression.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
Thank you for sharing. It really does help. Knowing that even I I get it it MAY be mild. Please stay well and thank you for protecting the rest of us by doing the right thing
March 31st, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
did anyone die? did anyone get severe lung damage? What meds did you use? Great insight regardless, thank you
March 31st, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
No one has died, though our most vulnerable colleague is in the early stages, the rest have become asymptomatic.
Two developed pneumonia and are doing ok now. One for sure required home respiratory treatments, I am not sure of the other.
I only used acetominophen (sp?).
I just hope this helps.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
Wow, I can't even imagine what you are going through, but thanks for sharing. How long did you lose your sense of taste? That is scary. Glad you are on your way to recovery. Where are you from if you don't mind me asking?
March 31st, 2020 at 12:37 PM ^
The taste went when the fever arose so it didn't get all of my attention. I would guesstimate 5 days or so.
This reminds me that there was also a severe lack of appetite and tolerance for even drinking water.
This has me concerned because my father, who was just in the hospital for the removal of a kidney stone, is experiencing a loss of appetite and say everything tastes like chlorine. He is also feeling weak.
I am going to have my mother regularly take his temperature at this point.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
This is the sickness I had starting New Year’s Eve. Lost taste (very weird), fever, every bone in my body hurt and I had no energy whatsoever. New Year’s Day was on weds and I called into work Thursday and Friday. I am one of those guys who do not miss work!
The following week I went back but I was very lethargic and was starting to worry that this was something serious. By the next week, I slowly started back to the gym and doing normal things. I’m convinced this virus has been with us the entire winter. Also, spoke with an ER doctor who says the same. He says “it’s a bad one this year but nothing we haven’t been through before.”
I wonder...will this be the new norm for March Madness. Because this is very much “madness”
With all due respect, I think you (and the ER doctor) are wrong here. Actually, this is a novel coronavirus -- "novel" means it's brand-new, and means we have NOT been through this before. That's why it's been so dangerous -- no one has developed immunity.
And while you may have had similar symptoms, it's pretty highly unlikely that you had COVID-19 around New Year's, when the earliest cases were developing in Wuhan... unless you travel often to China or have close friends who do. If there had been widespread community transmission in the U.S. that early, we would have seen deaths in January, as we're seeing now.
Don't mean to come at ya, but if you want to talk about "madness," it's extremely irresponsible for anyone to be minimizing the threat right now, when people's lives are at stake, like my parents in their 70s/80s, other friends and loved ones, and myself (immunocompromised). I understand that this is scary, and we all wish the threat was less than it is, but please do more research through reliable news sources and avoid spreading misinformation. Thanks & GO BLUE! :)
There is research out there already indicating EXACTLY that point - that it has been circulating far longer than the timeline of the supposed first cases in China in December. We actually don't know if there were deaths related to this prior to January because... no one was testing for it.
March 31st, 2020 at 10:26 PM ^
You just described exactly what happened to me New Years. We had just returned from a trip to Exuma the week before where we had been around folks from all over the world. When I went to bed New Years night, I couldn’t sleep and had fever and chills that were the closest I’ve ever come to a convulsion. I battled a 104 fever for 4 days and mentally fought off the thought of going to the hospital because I didn’t want to ruin my kid’s holiday break while they were home from college. My wife is a NP and tested me negative for the flu twice. She said something like, “We’ve seen a nasty negative-flu test virus going around a lot this season.” It took me about five days to get back to somewhat normal. I didn’t get out of bed except to use the bathroom or occasionally eat during that time.
By all means I am not certain I had Covid-19. Reading posts like OP’s and hearing interviews with people describing similar symptoms as mine makes me wonder though. I was hesitant to post this, but I have to admit, reading others’ posts like this helps me grasp what’s going on around me. I’m looking forward to the day the antibody test is available to determine whether or not that’s what I had at the beginning of the year.
Stay well everyone.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:37 PM ^
glad you are here to post.
thank you for sharing.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:46 PM ^
Thank God, you're on the mend! I know three people with COVID-19; two are confirmed, one is probable (test results pending). The symptoms are very dependent on a number of factors - my doctor described his symptoms (he's one of the three I mentioned) similarly to yours. Others have described moderate to severe shortness of breath associated with pneumonia.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
Those sound just like the symptoms that I had in late Jan early Feb. Before we knew what this was. I only missed 2 days of work, because who knew right?
I'm convinced that if I had been tested it would have been positive.
If they do come out with a blood test to see if you have the antibodies, I will pay out of pocket to get it, because: a) maybe it can help someone and b) I'm curious.
Same here, and I'm hearing a ton of people saying they had the same thing in January.
It seems plausible that this already went through a ton of people, but we didn't have COVID testing at the time. So, anyone who died would have been attributed to a pre-existing condition (given, 88%+ of the deaths have them).
The counterpoint is that in January we didn’t see the surge in patients (both overall and in ICUs) that we are seeing now. (There is always some increase in the winter due to the flu but not like what’s happening now. This is far beyond normal.)
Fever, dulled senses, loss of appetite/energy ... these symptoms aren’t that unique and can have a lot of potential origins. That’s part of the problem with this virus, it’s not obvious when it strikes.
I think the point is that January is when community spread truly began, and figuring that most cases are mild/asymptomatic, now is just the point where the true number of infected people is in the millions, now that community spread is rampant everywhere.*
*Estimate based on epidemiological reports I've seen. Not to bring panic because a) most cases are mild and b) frankly, we're already there.
Even if most patients are asymptomatic (the data actually suggests it’s about 40%) hospitals still should have being seeing this sooner. The incubation period for the illness is 5-10 days for most people, so the surge of patients should have happened no later than February, if community spread started in January.
This argument would suggest that the first wave of patients somehow doesn’t get seriously ill and it’s only those who get infected a month or so later who get crushed by it. That’s not generally how viruses function.
Good points
In Wisconsin 94% of test results are negative for Covid. They are only testing symptomatic people. The numbers in New York are much different. It is much more likely that you had something else.
Community spreading did start in January and I'm certain that it was spreading more widely than just CA, WA and NY but it's still highly, highly unlikely all of these people that think they had it in January actually had it.
Because if you run the numbers, let's say there was one case in MI in late January. Even with pretty rapid growth, you're only talking about it being in the hundreds after a couple weeks. To be one of a couple hundred with it, is highly unlikeley.
And I believe there are millions that have had it by now but as is the nature of exponential growth, most of them have contracted it within the past month, whereas very few had it in January.
I was flying all over the country the last 3 months of the year out of McNamara. I saw many people wearing masks and came down with what everyone else is saying they had. Fever lasted for days and cough for at least a couple weeks. I can’t remember the last time I had any sickness in my chest. I’ve had the flu once and this was very unlike the flu.
Just like people get very different severities of coronavirus, the same is true with the flu. Just because you had it once before, doesn’t mean your second case will manifest itself in the same way.
Same here, I had extremely strong flu-like symptoms (fever as high as 102.9, worse body aches than ever before, night sweats and diarrhea, semi-dry persistent cough and sneezing) in mid February and went twice to the doc, was tested for influenza A and B, both came up negative. 2nd visit they called it "bronchitis resulting from an unknown upper respiratory infection". The fever started out mild but got worse on the 5th day and didn't go away until after the 8th day; the bronchitis-like symptoms lasted about another 3 weeks. It was only after seeing and reading the last couple weeks of another more unique symptom that I noticed but didn't tell the doctor about because it went away about the 3rd day: complete loss temporarily of taste and smell, that I came to the conclusion I *might* have had the coronavirus back then. I don't remember ever having that symptom before and dismissed it at the time as an "old-age" thing besides it disappearing before going on my first visit to the doc.
I was fever-free for at least 48, maybe as much as 60 hours before returning to work. I'm hoping nobody in turn caught it from me.
So yeah, I'm anxious to take the antibody test too when it becomes more widely offered, for the same reasons you are.
If you met someone from China it's possible you had it, and if you isolated yourself it's possible nobody else got it.
More than likely you had some sort of virus. And anything that messes with your nose will mess with your taste. That's a symptom of COVID-19 but also of other viruses that cause colds or flu-like symptoms.
I didn’t actually meet anyone from China. But there were flights coming from there at McNamara and passengers were wearing masks. I remember being in the sky lounge thinking WTF! Had another free beer and boarded my flight.
Thanks. Congratulations on receiving so many tests. I had the classic symptoms but was refused a test because I was not an essential person. An essential person was somebody who knew they came in direct contact with an infected individual, a healthcare worker, or somebody with underlying conditions that made them prone to getting the disease. they apologized and said unfortunately you do not fit those categories so stay at home. Yet you get three tests? Good for you, bad for me and those around me.
A bit resentful, no?!
Seems logical to me that once you test positive, unless death occurs or obviously continued hospitalization, subsequent tests would be required at certain intervals until isolation is no longer necessary.
Problem is in getting that first test...there are a lot of people who think they may have it, and have been told by medical professionals that they have symptoms that are consistent with it but they can't be tested...so just stay home for 14 days.
But on that magical 15th day these people are out mixing with the general public and its seem that a good number of them may still be able to pass this on...
Almost positive I had it back in January, and just wrote it off as the flu.
My entire body ached, I had a horrible fever, and I could hardly breathe. I remember waking up in the middle of the night feeling helpless because I couldn't breathe, and was afraid I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. It was rough. I got NyQuil for the following nights and slept fine though.
Why are you assuming now that it wasn’t the flu? Even now, when it is widespread many more people are testing negative than positive. For instance, in Wisconsin where they are only testing symptomatic individuals, 94% of tests came back negative.
“Pothof attributed Wisconsin's large number of negative tests — more than 11,500 as of Thursday afternoon — to the fact that COVID-19 can present like many other respiratory illnesses, including influenza, parainfluenza and even seasonal allergies.”
https://www.wpr.org/heres-why-so-many-covid-19-tests-are-coming-back-negative
Because I couldn't breathe. Is that a flu symptom?
That could be pneumonia, which is associated with both the flu and covid-19. A few years back I got a flu/pneumonia double-punch. That was not fun.
It also could be bronchitis.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm
Difficulty breathing is a symptom of the flu for which the CDC recomends seeking medical care.
“Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, can sometimes be harmless as the result of exercise or nasal congestion. In other situations, it may be a sign of a more serious heart or lung disease.“. Since NyQuil seemed to address it, congestion seems a possible cause.
I’m not suggesting that itis more likely that you had the flu to be a dick or to call you a liar. There are multiple pieces of evidence. Even today, unless you are in a hard hit area, it is much more likely that covid-19 symptoms are something else.
Second, if there was community spread in January, we would have seen it in the hospitals much sooner.