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Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

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Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#11

Post by coldcode »

tomatotomato37 wrote: post #7
jsjddbbwj wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are there any major differences between this and the annual, regular flu?

It's essentially a somewhat more intense flu with no herd immunity, which means instead of spreading itself nicely throughout the year it comes in at once in a massive exponential spike that blows out the medical system I'm kinda curious though if this quarantining is also gonna significantly help with any other diseases already out in the wild. Would be nice if we ended up also clearing out some of the regular flu s…

Flu season is already at the tail end so it would be hard to tell. Colds and flu spread in similar ways as CV19 so isolation should help that too.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#12

Post by benrrio »

I have had a fever for a week and difficulty breathing. I have asked my doctor about getting tested for Covid19 and they have declined to test me because I don't meet the critical criteria: age > 60, around large groups of people, etc.

I run in circles with someone that returned from Italy and has been confirmed to have Covid19. I'm assuming I have it.

The fever isn't so bad for me but there have been a few times where I thought I would die from not being able to breath. There is only one thing I did that helped with the breathing but it fits in the old wife's tales category so I wont post it here since I don't want to be mocked for it. We used to the same thing 10 years ago to get my Mother-in-law off the ventilator when they told us she would never get off.

Today is day 6 since the fever started and the fever is gone today, still feeling weak.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#13

Post by username90 »

cageface wrote: post #10
okareaman wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, I don't like taking over the counter meds. The main thing is just get rest and try not to aggravate the coughing, which was a somewhat painful. I quit smoking last year, thank goodness. Chicken Noodle soup was really good for my sore throat and trouble swallowing.

From what I've read sore throat is relatively rare as a symptom of covid-19: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-sympto... Notably, the COVID-19 infection rarely seems to cause a runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat (these symptoms have been observed in only about 5% of patients). That doesn't mean you didn't have it, of course, but does suggest it might have just been a cold.

Doesn't dry cough imply sore throat (ie you cough since your throat is sore and irritated)? So people having a cough wont also mention that their throat is sore since it is unnecessary information?

Edit: The way I experience is is that there is a constant tickle in my throat. It sometimes get so strong that I can't hold back a cough but most of the time it just stays a tickle. I call that sore throat, when I got it initially it surprised me and I got a cough attack but after that I've been able to suppress it and not cough for days.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#14

Post by adonese »

benrrio wrote: post #12

I have had a fever for a week and difficulty breathing. I have asked my doctor about getting tested for Covid19 and they have declined to test me because I don't meet the critical criteria: age > 60, around large groups of people, etc. I run in circles with someone that returned from Italy and has been confirmed to have Covid19. I'm assuming I have it. The fever isn't so bad for me but there have been a few times whe…

I'm really grateful you're getting better. I had a very strong flu two years ago, it was the toughest flu (or any diseases) i ever had. I fall apart and lost conscious three times, the cough was very strong that i wouldn't be able to breathe for a few seconds. It was really terrifying experience, and from what i read it is quite simialr to covid-19 symptoms.

For the throat issue, we use hibiscus (hot) with ginger. It really helps a lot to relief the pain and ease your breathing.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#15

Post by cm2012 »

jsjddbbwj wrote: post #5
danek_szy wrote: post #2

Symptoms as described by WHO: - https://i.cbc.ca/1.5496615.1584111464!/fileImage/httpImage/i... - https://sm.mashable.com/mashable_sea/photo/default/coronavir...

Are there any major differences between this and the annual, regular flu?

Death rate is between 5x-25x higher, hospitalization rate even higher than that. Regular flu has a .01 death rate, Covid is at .08 right now in Korea and like 4% in Italy.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#16

Post by danhak »

okareaman wrote: post #3

I'm a retired programmer who does ride sharing in Silicon Valley. I often pick up people at the San Jose airport. Sometimes they are coming in from China or Seattle. I live in a Chinese neighborhood. I gave a woman who couldn't breath a ride to the emergency room. When I got sick in February, I figured it was the flu, but now realize it was probably Covid-19 based on symptoms. I recovered nicely and have been quarant…

Would you mind sharing your age?

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#17

Post by smoyer »

benrrio wrote: post #12

I have had a fever for a week and difficulty breathing. I have asked my doctor about getting tested for Covid19 and they have declined to test me because I don't meet the critical criteria: age > 60, around large groups of people, etc. I run in circles with someone that returned from Italy and has been confirmed to have Covid19. I'm assuming I have it. The fever isn't so bad for me but there have been a few times whe…

Some of the old-wives tales were descriptions of things that worked just like a lot of the herbal medicines. We didn't know why they worked so I agree it's hard to call them science. It's also possible it worked for you due to placebo effects, but you describe having a sample size of two! I hope we don't mock people for stating anecdotal evidence. I have seen mocking for statements that clearly contradict evidence (cough-cough flat-earth cough) or when people clearly have confused anecdotal evidence with fact.

I'm curious now what you meant ... maybe it would work for others and if it falls into the category of "can't hurt", why not share it.

NOTE: the coughing above is not a self-diagnosis on my part.

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#18

Post by rendall »

benrrio wrote: post #12

I have had a fever for a week and difficulty breathing. I have asked my doctor about getting tested for Covid19 and they have declined to test me because I don't meet the critical criteria: age > 60, around large groups of people, etc. I run in circles with someone that returned from Italy and has been confirmed to have Covid19. I'm assuming I have it. The fever isn't so bad for me but there have been a few times whe…

I would appreciate the advice about the old wives tale, even if I don't after all use it. I promise to upvote every supportive comment and downvote every mocking comment!

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#19

Post by throwewey »

benrrio wrote: post #12

I have had a fever for a week and difficulty breathing. I have asked my doctor about getting tested for Covid19 and they have declined to test me because I don't meet the critical criteria: age > 60, around large groups of people, etc. I run in circles with someone that returned from Italy and has been confirmed to have Covid19. I'm assuming I have it. The fever isn't so bad for me but there have been a few times whe…

> We used to the same thing 10 years ago to get my Mother-in-law off the ventilator when they told us she would never get off.

What if this info helps someone in need?

Re: Ask HN: Have you been infected by Covid-19? What is it like?

#20

Post by mantap »

axiomdata316 wrote: post #8
danek_szy wrote: post #2

Symptoms as described by WHO: - https://i.cbc.ca/1.5496615.1584111464!/fileImage/httpImage/i... - https://sm.mashable.com/mashable_sea/photo/default/coronavir...

What's alarming and kind of ironic is that COVID 19 has a lack of symptoms compared to the common flu. Aches and pains sometimes for COVID 19 as opposed to aches and pains common for the common flu. Runny nose sometimes for COVID 19 but runny nose common for the Common Flu. Its almost to say if you feel really bad you probably don't have COVID 19 unless you really start having trouble breathing. It's helps me appreci…

The important thing is that achy muscles don't spread disease (quite the reverse) but coughing does. So people with a recent bad cough should stay at home.
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