How many times have you had covid 19?

[xenon]

The first time I had it, bit of a cough, headache, feeling generally weak and shitty. It was at the hottest part of the year as well. Second time week, headache, actually like face ache sinuses, no real cough though.

 

[Winot]

Just had it for the 4th time (all confirmed by testing). Possible first time March 2020. No lasting effects thankfully.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Sounds like your poll option is the one for never having tested.

It's not the case that you know you have covid and therefore test. You test to find out whether or not you have covid.

Thankfully I've never contracted it. It helps that I'm antisocial and avoid people.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Three times. First time was awful, in bed, couldn't do anything, second time was like a really bad cold, third time my nose ran like a tap but other than that I didn't feel too bad

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I'd forgotten about the dodgy lab and its false negatives. Sorry you were affected.

not really sure i was affected. in accordance with (then) employer's policy i had a few days off waiting for the result, then (from memory) got the negative test on thursday, but told them i wasn't going back on friday to pass whatever it was on and have other people then having to take time off to test

Hope your post-viral shite lessens++

thanks. i've had a minor bug a couple of weeks ago and i'm not great at the moment...

 

[Boudicca]

Never had it, never even suspected I had it. I have done tests but only precautionary ones.

I've taken every vaccine offered and got the first one quite early by volunteering at the vaccination centre.

I don't work in an office or use public transport but I'm not exactly a hermit.

I've only had one cold in the last 5 years. I think I've retained a bit of a social distancing habit - I caught myself stepping back in a supermarket queue the other day.

 

[Red Cat]

I think four times, twice tested positive, first time was the worst. I think I had it 4 weeks ago, I'm still coughing (that kind of deep feeling seems to be covidy and the getting better then worse again) and I'm tired still.

 

[kalidarkone]

Three times. First two felt rough af and fatigued for a few weeks after. Third time- about 6 weeks ago - surprisingly mild. No fatigue.

 

[Sue]

First and only time last September after a work trip to Spain. Felt quite shit -- main thing was a terrible headache that went on for about two weeks -- but would've been worse if I hadn't been vaxxed to the max.

 

[tim]

I've never tested positive, have been jabbed thrice, and don't think I've had it. I had a bad cold about six months ago but not bad enough to stop me from going to work or exuding vast amounts potentially hazardous body fluids.

 

[gentlegreen]

Never to my knowledge.

Covid made my retirement even more certain exactly 4 years ago and the nature of my work meant I had a moderate dose of flu every unvaccinated year....

This year I was vaccinated and had an especially light dose of flu which I have no reason to believe was covid...

Given I've been in contact with my sister's household where they have it all the time I can only suppose that if I was ever properly exposed my immune system was prepared...

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Then vote that you've had two positive tests. Your post covers the 'think I've had it more' bit.

Sorry you've had it at all

The first 2 times laid me out for the best part of 2 weeks. Subsequently times, the symptoms were very similar but not as severe so I’m not sure whether it was Covid or another mutated cold virus.

And I’m not buying tests myself.

 

[Dr. Furface]

Once for sure - I tested positive in autumn 2021. Probably once the next year too, never bothered testing. I've had much worse colds and flu; shook it off in about 5 days both times, which might have been thanks to the vaccines.

 

[scifisam]

It made sense to me.

Still had a good talking to on my return

Good on you for holding your ground.

 

[MickiQ]

I think I've had it twice, the first time I had a positive test and felt quite ill for a few days, the second time I had similar symptoms but nowhere near as bad and didn't take a test.

 

[Griff]

Tested positive in April 2022, back in the days of being tested at my mother's care home. Didn't feel sick at all, but stayed in for the entire week of testing positive.

Not been 'ill' as such since December 2018 when everybody at work was coughing and spluttering like mad for weeks on end.

 

[story]

I’m surprised by how many people tell me they’ve never had it.

I always check, ask in several different ways. Some say “well maybe but I’ve never tested positive” others are adamant they’ve never had it, and a fair few of those have never had the vax either.


I’ve definitely had it three times. Possibly four times.


Christmas 2021 I had Omicron. Fever, aches, fatigue
May 2023 It went immediately into my ears
October 2024 I’m recovering from it right now. Nothing more than a normal cold, but a very strong positive test.


To me, Covid feels different to other URTIs . I can kinda tell if it’s Covid and not another more standard cold.
Anyone else?

 

[Mation]

I’m surprised by how many people tell me they’ve never had it.

I always check, ask in several different ways. Some say “well maybe but I’ve never tested positive” others are adamant they’ve never had it, and a fair few of those have never had the vax either.


I’ve definitely had it three times. Possibly four times.


Christmas 2021 I had Omicron. Fever, aches, fatigue
May 2023 It went immediately into my ears
October 2024 I’m recovering from it right now. Nothing more than a normal cold, but a very strong positive test.


To me, Covid feels different to other URTIs . I can kinda tell if it’s Covid and not another more standard cold.
Anyone else?

I don't think covid is a UTRI, is it? I mean, it can affect the upper respiratory tract, as we saw especially early on, but it may also affect the lower respiratory tract or pretty much any other bit of the body.

So it wouldn't surprise me if it felt different to UTRIs, if a particular bout is in other areas/too.

The first time I think I had it, before testing, the only symptoms were what I thought at the time was infectious conjunctivitis, plus a weird rash on my ankle. Nothing respiratory at all, though several of my colleagues had severe respiratory illness around the same time, and also thought it felt weird.

I haven't felt especially ill the other times, or ever had flu, I don't think, so am not sure how it compares.

Hope you recover from the current poorly very soon x

 

[story]

I don't think covid is a UTRI, is it? I mean, it can affect the upper respiratory tract, as we saw especially early on, but it may also affect the lower respiratory tract or pretty much any other bit of the body.

So it wouldn't surprise me if it felt different to UTRIs, if a particular bout is in other areas/too.

The first time I think I had it, before testing, the only symptoms were what I thought at the time was infectious conjunctivitis, plus a weird rash on my ankle. Nothing respiratory at all, though several of my colleagues had severe respiratory illness around the same time, and also thought it felt weird.

I haven't felt especially ill the other times, or ever had flu, I don't think, so am not sure how it compares.

Hope you recover from the current poorly very soon x

Sorry. You're right. And right to correct me.

I should have been more clear.
COVID tends to manifest mainly in my respiratory tract, so it's possible that I've had a "normal" cold and it was actually COVID, and vice versa.

One of the reasons I knew it was COVID in May '23 was because I never get earache. That was the very first time I've ever had earache (other than flying with a bad cold). It was a new thing so I tested.


I also had itchy eyes that time, so itchy eyes this time made me test.


So yes, there are some differences in clinical manifestation which can alert me to it being COVID.

But further than that, to me it just somehow feels different. I can't really explain it. Like holding hands with someone you don't know.

 

[wtfftw]

I'm not really comfortable with not remembering (like how I've been forgetting lock downs and like, everything feels so long ago) so I've been mulling.

I think I tested positive once. The first time I wasn't allowed a test but as a teacher Chemistry was and he was positive and I was worse so. And then I lost my sense of smell. I've definitely had a positive test time as I remember that. But I'm not sure if that was more than once.

In the past year I've felt like I have covid (other symptoms + nausea) but it's not been a positive result.
And then the old tests dried up so I don't test now.

I'm under the impression I've had covid three times and only one or two positive tests, but don't hold me to that.

 

[Mation]

So yes, there are some differences in clinical manifestation which can alert me to it being COVID.

But further than that, to me it just somehow feels different. I can't really explain it. Like holding hands with someone you don't know.

That's a good description. Makes complete sense.

I'm consciously aware of what it feels like to have a cough or a cold or a headache etc, but I don't necessarily know explicitly what it feels like when my vasculature is under attack in some part of my body that doesn't alert 'me' to it. But of course my body will know at some level that it's shaking hands with a stranger.

Probably also depends on how attuned one is to how we usually feel.

 

[story]

Interoception.

Some have it in spades, while others don't. Or it changes as we age, use our bodies less etc.

Or we don't know what we're hearing, we don't have language for the interoceptive stuff. We pay less attention to it, and it fades. It's well recognised that stuff without language attached can be lost to us. Which is why colonialists took children away and isolated them from their native language and stories.

 

[weltweit]

My BiL lost his sense pf taste and smell, then he tested positive but he didn't have any worse symptoms than the loss of smell and taste so he went about his business wearing a mask.

That was back in July when I had it also, I took to my bed feeling a bit poorly but it wasn't too bad. Spoilt my planned birthday celebrations though which was a shame.

The weekend before coming down with it I had travelled to London on a busy train and then to a busy venue also .. I think that has to be where I picked it up.