Does anyone else have COVID right now?

My friend has it, is in her 20's, vaxxed, and no underlying health conditions. She said it does not feel mild at all. Her symptoms are an extremely soar throat that she said is the worst part, sinus issues, congested chest, and sever fatigue. She'll be fine, but it's not a case of the sniffles as reported.

R2 was she boosted ?

Preemptive RIP girl. May she RIP.

How old are you OP ?

22 months in, not vaccinated, not boostered and completely fine. Woke up 5 days ago with a sore throat and hacking cough, thought YEEEHAWWWWW, I finally got Covid! But, alas, no such luck. It was a mild cold. Bit of a fever, stuffy, runny nose. Back to feeling completely fine.

30 y.o., not vaxxed or boostered, suspect I've come down with covid finally. Dry cough, muscle aches, headache, nausea.

I wish nothing but terrible things for those people, almost two years into a pandemic, who are still unvaccinated.

I never wish death on anybody. But I’d be mightily ambivalent about your passing.

R5 gets zero points for incorrectly answering OP’s question. One point for remembering to sign his name.

So, fail.

R7 Something to keep in mind next time you monstrously wish terrible things on another human.

Il Divo singer Carlos Marin survived Covid, the first time he contracted it in Dec 2019. Even though he was vaccinated, Marin again contracted Covid two weeks ago, and died from it yesterday, aged 53.

No, but I thought I did at the weekend, but other than an infrequent cough, it's all over now. I did LFTs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and all came back negative, so it was just a cold. I've never been a hypochondriac, but this pandemic has made me far more conscious of even mild-to-moderate illness.

What’s your point, R9? He was a responsible citizen and got vaccinated. I am still quite capable for being sympathetic and sad for those who did the right thing and still died.

[quote]She said it does not feel mild at all.

The messaging has been horrible across the board. When you hear about people whose symptoms have been those of a mild cold and then you see doctors on CNN repeating "most cases are mild" over and over, it isn't a stretch to assume they're talking about the same thing

The problem is, the former are speaking casually and the latter are using "mild" in the clinical sense, as defined by the WHO, NIH, etc.

Mild only becomes moderate when there's dyspnea and/or evidence of lower respiratory involvement with oxygen saturation ≥94% on room air.

That places every nasty flu-like symptom in the "mild" category right alongside barely perceptible things like a scratchy throat or feeling a bit more tired than usual — everything from fatigue that necessitates stopping to rest halfway to the bathroom to racing heart to sweating through the sheets to pounding headaches to hurts-too-much-to-roll-over.

So, be warned: you can have a clinically mild case and still feel like you're dying.

Well worth saying, R12. My cousin's a nurse and said the same thing to me at the beginning. "Mild" can still be pretty nasty.

R11 "Responsible" is highly subjective. And completely besides the point. Your monstrous inhumanity is the point.

I don't have it but I talk to people at my public health job everyday who tested positive. Almost everyone is vaccinated and everyone is symptomatic. They're usually shocked to I feel so sick. Most although not all do not have underlying conditions. Omicron is far more brutal than we're being told.

Don't worry R7. Republicans wish every type of suffering on your type. No worries, there.

OP, my brother had symptoms (mild sore throat for him) last Tuesday, tested positive on Thursday, and already tested negative yesterday (Tuesday). Hang in there, it will pass!

How would you guys say it compares to the flu. My brother had it before there was a vaccine and he told us it was worse than the flu. But his daughter had it too with no other symptom than just the loss of taste.

R18 it seems totally individual to the person. The people in my family who’ve had it only caught it after vaccination, and they compared it to a mild head cold. I have friends who caught it pre and post vaccination who had the full feverish, chills, etc experience.

Vaxed and boostered with Moderna, all three. Hopefully, I’ll be okay. Going to my family today. We’ll see.

How do you think you caught it OP?

I had it this last summer after having been vaccinated. Although I never had any breathing problems or needed to be hospitalized, I wouldn't call my symptoms "mild." For me, it felt like the worst flu I ever had:

- Splitting headache, like my head was in a vice

- Throat so sore, it was difficult to swallow

- Cough and congestion

- 103-degree fever

- Body aches

- Chills

- Diarrhea

- Loss of smell and taste (took months for it to return)

And after the worst symptoms had passed, I had night sweats for a week that were so bad, I would wake up in the morning and could practically wring out my t-shirt. I had to change my sheets every day.

This is NOT something you want to get.

I knew 3 people who died last week. Covid. No vaccinations. Miserable endings. So far everyone I’ve known w breakthrough cases reported mild symptoms. Went to CVS yesterday. It was similar to a blizzard surge for supplies. About 10 people waiting for vaccinations. All home tests and masks kept behind the counter to prevent theft. Chaos. Panic. Exhausted workers.

Thanks for all your responses! I'm in my early 30s, female, healthy/active.

Haven't slept all night, I'm exhausted. My sense of smell feels "off", so I'm guessing anosmia is right around the corner.

I am 99% sure that I contracted COVID at an office Xmas party that was held at a restaurant/bar. We had the entire floor to ourselves and there were only about 10 people there. I went to the event with a co-worker, who also started feeling sick yesterday.

Unfortunately for the company (small retail store), 3 of their 15 employees now have COVID. The shop may have to close for a few days due to being understaffed.

My niece in dc caught if at a restaurant friday night, they didn’t have outdoor seating and she acquiesced. Live and learn. Headache started Sunday, fever and aches Monday and tested positive.

Feels better today but she’s got to stay isolated until Dec 29 per the health department

For everyone here who has a "mild" case -- how are you treating it? Are you taking any over the counter cold or flu meds? Does anything help? There's a scarcity of info about how to treat COVID at home once you have it. I remember early int the pandemic, someone suggesting Mucinex so I stocked up on that.

R26 I took cold medicine to help with the congestion and cough. I tried taking Chloraseptic for my severe sore throat, but it didn't have any effect on it. Other than that, I just drank a ton of water and tried to sleep as much as I could.

R26 my niece is taking tylenol for body aches /fever. A regular otc decongestant is working for her nasal congestion. Lots of water/gatorade. She has no cough and minimal sore throat. Feeling a lot perkier on day 3 of symptoms.

I wouldn't go to any indoor place and take my mask off. You're basically playing Russian roulette, maybe you won't get it but there is slight chance you will. I don't know if there have been studies about whether getting a huge amount of the virus from somebody who's got covid and is close to you and breathes right into your face makes the symptoms worse than if you just get small amounts of the virus because you were wearing a mask around a positive case.

R26, Dear Sylvia - here’s a link with answers about home care. Everyone I know says hydrate, but I suspect they’re just looking for an excuse to drink. Sending good wishes to all who find themselves ill. Stay calm and make good choices.

Hope you feel better soon, OP. My wife's a doctor at a large university system; we expect all the measures from the height of the first surge to be instituted soon, including restrictions on how far medical personnel are allowed to travel from their hospital(s) at any given time.

Her colleagues are fully vaccinated and boosted and the expectation is that many will suffer breakthrough infections in the coming weeks, exacerbating existing staffing shortages. She's currently working remotely and already knows of three exposures she would've had last week if she'd seen those patients in-person.

I'm invited to a holiday party today but am not going. I'm back to using Instacart for groceries. I boosted nearly two weeks ago. Just playing it as safe as possible.

[quote]I wouldn't go to any indoor place and take my mask off

Absofuckinglutely!! Any place indoors - pub transport, buildings, malls, gyms, entertainment venues - I wear a mask pulled up to my eyebrows. I don't bother with a mask outside, unless I'm near germly little kids or groups of adults for an extended period. And I always wash my hands first thing when I arrive home.

I still can’t understand why people at this point are unvaxxed. It’s clear being vaxxed gives you great protection from hospitalization and death. Yet people still play Russian Roulette with their lives. I think they suffer from magical thinking as in this will never happen to me because I’m healthy, etc. I can’t think of any other explanation.

I shopped for groceries at two stores early this morning and still, almost no store employees or customers are wearing masks in my neck of the woods. This, despite my state being devastated by Delta the last month and a half, and omicron likely running rampant. I'm shocked that even more people don't have COVID right now.

Yikes I’m sorry OP. I work in healthcare. I hope you don’t have any comorbidities (diabetes, immune system issues). If you meet our requirements you may qualify for Monoclonal Antibody Treatment. Ask your healthcare provider, as time is of the essence. It’s a miraculous treatment; patients feel better within hours.

Latent death wish, R34.

[quote]It’s clear being vaxxed gives you great protection from hospitalization and death.

The family and friends of the late Carlos Marin would disagree with you.

[quote]Yet people still play Russian Roulette with their lives. I think they suffer from magical thinking as in this will never happen to me

Russian Routlette? You walk out your front door every morning playing the same game, especially if you live in the US.

Magical thinking is believing that a vaccine that the medical community knows with 100% certainty does NOT prevent contraction, spread or death is "great protection".

On the bright side, OP, you'll have super immunity against Covid once you recover. Get well soon.

Super immunity doesn't last long, friend. That's why they have boosters.

Having clear and consistent public health messaging from federal state and local governments would have made a huge difference. Instead our ex president told us to ignore expert advice and treat the pandemic like a culture war being perpetrated by the Democrats, and the entire Republican Party followed suit.

I think in cases like Carlos Marin's, some people just don't get a strong enough reaction to the vaccine and the virus evades it.

Andy Cohen got it for the second time. When I hear stories about people getting it multiple times, I'm floored. Saw an interview with someone who firmly stated that her vaccination status was "personal" but she had gotten it for the THIRD time.

Do you think that may be a problem with testing? I mean...how do you get it three times and NOT work in a lab in China?

[quote]It’s clear being vaxxed gives you great protection from hospitalization and death.

[quote]The family and friends of the late Carlos Marin would disagree with you.

I'm sorry you don't understand the distinction between "great" and "absolute."

Sore throat, nausea, but the tell-tale symptoms were the body aches. I was incapacitated yesterday. I feel 80% better today. Hoping it goes quick.

[quote] I'm sorry you don't understand the distinction between "great" and "absolute."

R43 I'm sorry you don't understand that, given that it's a novel virus, both are magical thinking.

Feel better OP!!

Also cannot believe there are people on here still unvaccinated. FFS.

[quote]Having clear and consistent public health messaging

You mean like Fauci's yes you can, well maybe not, perhaps, could "virus updates" every week? It's a novel virus of which that the medical community remains largely ignorant. Clear/consistent ain't gonna happen for years.

did that Divo singer have medical issues?

wait, so if you get it, you have to isolate for 10 days?

Yes, isolation for 10-14 days

Those of you who have Covid, and those who know someone with it, be careful between Days 5 and 10. Excerpt from a NYT article:

"Marking your calendar at the first sign of illness, and tracking your fever and oxygen levels, are important steps in monitoring a coronavirus infection. Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has been unpredictable in the range of symptoms it can cause. But when it turns serious, it often follows a consistent pattern.

While most patients recover in about a week, a significant minority of patients enter “a very nasty second wave” of illness, said Dr. Ilan Schwartz, assistant professor of infectious disease at the University of Alberta. “After the initial symptoms, things plateau and maybe even improve a little bit, and then there is a secondary worsening.”

While every patient is different, doctors say that days five through 10 of the illness are often the most worrisome time for respiratory complications of Covid-19, particularly for older patients and those with underlying conditions like high blood pressure, obesity or diabetes. Younger patients who develop complications may begin struggling a little later, as late as days 10 to 12. Most people who reach day 14 without any worrying symptoms (other than feeling miserable and fatigued) are likely to be on the road to recovery."

R48 No mention anywhere (yet) of contributing medical issues other than Covid.

This December 17, the program “Corazón, corazón” of the Spanish channel TVE announced that representatives of the group contacted them and announced that the singer is in critical condition and intubated due to Covid-19. [quote]It should be noted that Marín is vaccinated against the virus, but this has not prevented his condition from worsening every day.[/bold]

[quote]I mean...how do you get it three times and NOT work in a lab in China?

I think many people mistakenly believe that being vaccinated = they are 100% protected against contracting COVID, and can ditch masks and other preventative measures, when that's not (and never has been) true.

Just like with the flu vaccine, you can be fully vaxxed and *still* catch the COVID virus, especially if you're in group settings where people are unmasked, but being vaccinated helps reduce the chances that you'll end up hospitalized (or, worse, dead).

So, some people get vaccinated and then let their guards down. They go to parties, they meet up with friends, they go to the gym, they go to the movies, etc., where people take their masks off. And, poof!, infected. Or re-infected. Or re-infected again.

I had covid 6 months before the vaccine came out. I was tested and it came back negative but that was when I was still able to drive myself to the testing site. By the time I was really sick I couldn't go anywhere. I tried to get tested for the antibodies to have it on record that I had it but they refused because I had originally tested negative. We have no actual numbers on anything.

Even though people who get COVID still have a hard time being honest about how they managed to become infected, I still wish they would share that information. Why not try to help others avoid a similar fate? It's useful information.

^Yes R53, I had that attitude after getting a booster shot in mid-September, "I'm vaxx'd and now I'm done with all this mask business." I figured if I got it, it would just be a case of the sniffles (one sister and her daughter both had it early, before vaccines, and for both of them it amounted to nothing more than a one-day, mild, sore throat, mysteriously.) But the reports above, about how omicron is like having a bad case of the flu, has got me back to feeling what things were like in late Spring of 2020 - not going into any public places I don't have to be, and I'm going to buy food in the extreme off hours or will order groceries online and pick them up in the parking lot. Xmas is entirely cancelled for me, not having anything to do with it. Having spent a year and 9 months avoiding this illness, I'm not relaxing about it now.

[quote]It should be noted that Marín is vaccinated against the virus, but this has not prevented his condition from worsening every day.

"[His] agent has also told us Carlos was vaccinated against Covid in Mexico,' Spanish news programme Corazon Corazon reported, without saying how long ago Carlos was jabbed, how many shots he was given, or what vaccine he received.

Mexico has given a mixture of vaccines, the majority of which are AstraZeneca/Pfizer though significant numbers of Chinese and Russian shots have also been used."

I am in Toronto, Canada, and I really want to get a booster shot, but the system here is so chaotic I have not even been able to get on a waiting list after three days on the phone. Do any Canucks have suggestions? Shoppers Drug Mart says it is so oversubscribed that it is no longer using its waiting lists.

[quote]Corazon Corazon reported, without saying how long ago Carlos was jabbed, how many shots he was given, or what vaccine he received.

R57 Because they were reporting a death, not looking for mitigating circumstances as to why a vaccinated person who had already survived Covid once died.

I was watching an interview with a doctor who said "If you walk into a bar without being vaccinated, you WILL catch Omicron." Which is scary AF, but if that's the case, you can STILL get it fully vaccinated. I haven't gone out in a year and a half. I'm fully vaxxed and boostered. I'm restless and want to go out before I become the "Who's father is that" guy at the bar. I feel like the world is passing me by here, BUT I don't have the Omicron.

Yay?

I think Fauci is being a little vague - he's saying Omicron is raging and they aren't sure whether it really is that mild for the vaccinated, but in the next breath he's saying that he is having his children come visit him for the holidays (which almost feels like gaslighting). The messaging is all over the place. I'm not really faulting him - this is impossible and unprecedented - but I have no idea what the CDC is really advising for the vaccinated at this point? Test all the time? Don't travel? Decide for yourself whatever the fuck you want to do?

I'm a nervous nelly though, so who knows.

^If the US starts having one million cases of this a day by Friday, the message will become MUCH clearer. Let's just see how it goes...

R61 BUT he also mentions--at least when I saw him--that everyone should be tested if they're getting together for X-mas. I don't even trust those tests outside of a medical facility.

BTW, I read that Majorie Taylor-Greene owns stock in THREE testing companies. Ain't THAT a bitch?

Fauci is explaining that he’s taking calculated risks. He’s not locking down, but he’s not just going about his business either. He’s prioritizing the most important socializing to him (being with his grandkids) and trying to do it in the safest way possible (testing).

Why is nuance so hard for some to understand?

R63 I've seen that but it's not easy to find an at home rapid test - they are sold out everywhere. And he's saying shit like do the test 15 minutes before you go somewhere - as if we have endless tests sitting around in our houses to do that? In a perfect world - sure.

This thread is a troll Roach Motel. Disinformation abounds.

R65 then get a PCR test before the party. it's more accurate.

That Brain may from Queen also went to a party where everyone was tested but he still got it. He is triple vaxxed.

R64: Fauci has to give whatever message he thinks is most appropriate. For me, the notion of spending time with small children in an enclosed house is just about tantamount to going to a Covid ward and inhaling deeply a few times. A sister of mine had 3 small children 20 years ago, and EVERY year I would go to her house for Christmas and, three days later, come down with a bad cold or the flu, year after year after year. Children are cesspools of whatever germs are in the area at the time. Everyone knows this. I'm R56, and the main reason I'm not going to my sister's house for Xmas THIS year is that her daughter now works with small children, so she has CERTAINLY been exposed to Covid in the past few weeks, there's just no way around it. By this point in the holiday season, so many people have already invested in holiday travel in airplanes, the airports are swarming with people, and many, many of these folks are going be sick with omicron within about 3 days. That's the incubation time for this variant. Look at how incredibly rapidly it has saturated Great Britain, in just one week. Wait and see, it's happening now.

R64 Because some people are so exhausted from constant AND inconsistent information that nuance can get lost? I mean...it's JUST a national pandemic. Sorry, people aren't omniscient like you.

[quote]-that everyone should be tested if they're getting together for X-mas

Home tests are approximately 85% accurate. Can't find any reliable percentages on how accurate the PCR test is. Which is why I would never, EVAH go into an enclosed area without wearing a mask.

It's very easy and (I hate this word) privileged for Fauci to say he's fine with having his kids/grandkids fly in from all over the country to visit him when he has access to testing whenever he wants it. For the rest of us making these decisions - it's not that simple and NUANCED. There are huge lines for PCR tests, results are delayed, at home tests are sold out, we have elderly family members, some of us are immunocompromised, etc.

I would rather Fauci appear once every few days and actually say something useful than be on CNN and MSNBC all the time saying nothing.

my friend got a rapid PCR test and got the results in 30min but this was over a week ago...

[quote]I am in Toronto, Canada, and I really want to get a booster shot, but the system here is so chaotic I have not even been able to get on a waiting list after three days on the phone. Do any Canucks have suggestions? Shoppers Drug Mart says it is so oversubscribed that it is no longer using its waiting lists.

So get it done outside of the GTA. Way more conservative tinfoil hat types so there's no issue getting a shot.

Seems home tests might give more false negatives with omicron.

[quote] It's very easy and (I hate this word) privileged for Fauci to say he's fine with having his kids/grandkids fly in from all over the country to visit him when he has access to testing whenever he wants it.

I'm not sure his situation is all that different from everyone elses, actually.

I'm triple vaxxed, have been going to my exercise classes (everyone masked). Should I stop?

R77, it might be a good idea to take a pause for now.

This thread has been helpful because I was going to decline getting a third shot, and I've been doing more socializing over the past few months (bars, restaurants, social gatherings). I just booked an appointment for my booster and will try to be more careful in the coming months.

I have a friend in England who is a cancer survivor. She was actually give a 4th shot!

Also U.K. here - I have a congenital heart defect and I've been told to expect my fourth shot early February (three months after my third). I wonder when this bloody pandemic will end? It seems to be going on and on and on...

R60 Everyone is catching Omicron despite vaccination status. The fact they are pushing it as only unvaxxed are susceptible is disingenuous.

OP, what has your lifestyle been like? Have you worn masks when in close proximity to others? Have you upped your socializing?

None of the vaccines IIRC have claimed to keep you from getting infected. Merely that it should reduce your chances of dying or being hospitalized. Same with our flu shots. Usually just minimizes your flu episode.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

So weird hearing gay men wishing people death for a disease.

AIDS too was preventible, but many still took risks. Such is life.

That Covid is a disease of the unvaxxed is total bullshit. The totally vaxxed can still spread the disease.

The difference is how the vaxxed and unvaxxed generally respond to infection. The group hospitalized and dying tends almost completely to be unvaccinated.

[quote]That Covid is a disease of the unvaxxed is total bullshit. The totally vaxxed can still spread the disease.

The vaxxed clear the infection more quickly so they're not infectious as long. They're also not the ones dying in mass numbers.

Maybe OP has a lousy immune system. You can't discount that aspect.

Men have weaker immune systems on whole.

And they're babies when they get sick.

People who died of covid were going to die prematurely anyway, vaxxed or unvaxxed.

Another anti-vaxxer at R88.

[quote]I am in Toronto, Canada, and I really want to get a booster shot, but the system here is so chaotic I have not even been able to get on a waiting list after three days on the phone. Do any Canucks have suggestions? Shoppers Drug Mart says it is so oversubscribed that it is no longer using its waiting lists.

R58, try the link below. It's for a smaller clinic (Coxwell & Mortimer), but they are doing nothing but vaccinations at present. You'll probably get a "no appointments available message,", but just keep refreshing the main page (where you select your vaccine) over and over again until appointments appear.

They release appointments in small batches, maybe a half-dozen at a time, about every minute until they're gone. It took me about a dozen refreshes before appointments appeared... and they were for two days after the day I was checking (i.e., I was boosted within 48 hours of booking). And they keep adding more appointments. Good luck!

R84 the correct analogy would be if there was an effective vaccine for AIDS in the 80s and 90s and you refused to get it AND went out and had unprotected sex. No one would have been surprised if you got AIDS.

Don't get all high and mighty about gay men and death wishes MARY MARY MARY. The virus has mutated out of control because of the unvaccinated. I have zero sympathy for them.

I had covid earlier this year and passed it on to my partner. We had two very different experiences.

I started with a runny nose, and as someone with allergies I didn't think anything of it. The symptoms pushed by the media were things like bad headache, fever, cough, and loss of smell and taste or asymptomatic. So my runny nose didn't seem like an issue since that's all I had at the time. Nobody wrote about the symptoms of mild covid, which can begin with something as benign as a runny nose.

It wasn't until day 3 when I woke up with no sense of smell or taste that I suspected my runny nose wasn't allergies and by that time it was too late for my partner who I passed covid on to.

For the next two weeks or so, every three days I would cycle through different covid symptoms with none that were too terrible except for the last night. The only constants were the no smell/taste and no fever. On the day the anosmia hit, I also got the chills and extreme tiredness. Three days later the chills went away and was replace by a cough, three days later the tiredness went away and gastro symptoms hit and so on until finally about two weeks later, on a Friday afternoon, I only had really bad sweats and extreme pain in the joints of the lower half of my body. I would have sawed myself in half if I thought it would take the pain away. I took left over pain killers from dental work and fell asleep...I woke up the next morning and everything was gone except for the loss of taste and smell. To this day, both have only partially returned and it's been nearly a year. Also, at times I will get extreme exhaustion out of the blue.

My partner went down the more traditional route with flu-like symptoms on steroids until day 8. On day 8 he took a turn and his symptoms got worse, he also developed a cough, shortness of breath and would faint if tried to stand. The first time he fainted I thought he died. We talked about hospitalization. He really wanted to go to the hospital but his doctor said unless his oxygen drops that it was best to ride it out at home. His fainting was his blood pressure dropping and he was told to stand in stages and control everything else with OTC medication and to take zinc, vitamins C and D. I would lay awake listening to make sure it was still breathing, it was a really scary time for both of us. Then, on a Sunday, he got a bad case of sweats in his sleep and when he woke, he was noticably better. He was back to working from home that Monday.

The doctor also told us it was important to eat and drink fluids.

At the time we both masked up, sanitized hands, and didn't socialize so I'm at a loss as to where I got it. Today we're both vaxxed, boosted and wearing masks cause it's not something we want to go through again...even with mine being mild.

Covid... it's a hell of a ride.

“Hydrate” means water, Gatorade, and tea. Never alcohol

ahahhaaah.... love it!! take the fourth booster and you'll be cured of covid once and for all...

Or "homemade" Gatorade if you're you're too sick and need something now. It's just a 1/4 teaspoon of salt and sugar to 4 cups water.

As anyone with COVID here taken the monoclonal antibody stuff to prevent severe disease?

I don't know anyone who has, R96, but from what I have read, it will be in high demand and short supply (if effective against Omnibus at all).

OP here again. I work with a lot of kids in their mid-late 20s, and they are going out to bars multiple nights a week with no mask and fake proof-of-vaccination cards. Most of them believe that "the government" is not to be trusted and that the vaccine will make them sick.

Somehow only a few of them have contracted COVID over the past two years, although one of my co-workers (unvaxxed) just caught it for the THIRD TIME.

[quote] For everyone here who has a "mild" case -- how are you treating it?

When I had covid in August, I took Emergen-C and OTC painkillers. I had shortness of breath, diarrhea, and congestion.

Deaths are rising but not that bad...Yet, it looks like this is the winter pandemic spell, and it's just starting. It makes sense it has become more transmissible, I'll be surprised if it is actually worse, but more people will still die regardless.

[quote]I don't know anyone who has, [R96], but from what I have read, it will be in high demand and short supply (if effective against Omnibus at all).

"COVID treatments from Regeneron and Eli Lilly are much less effective against Omicron because the variant's multiple mutations make it harder for the monoclonal antibodies to attack the virus, say drug makers."

My friend just texted me he has covid. His major symptom was a fever of 102 which broke pretty quickly once he took Tylenol. He feels much better today. He is triple vaxxed.

The more people get Omicron, the closer we are to herd immunity.

Someday, r39 will no longer post on DL, being unvaccinated and all, and no one will notice.

Shit, I totally meant r38 at my post at r104.

R103, and herd immunity will last 4-6 months because that’s how long natural immunity to coronaviruses last

No. I'm sick right now but I already tested myself with one of those rapid tests. It was negative. This looks like just a regular cold. It's bad enough though. I have a headache, sore throat, runny nose, low energy etc.

R107 Get a PCR rest. The rapid tests have high rates of false results.

Flew with family to the Midwest for a funeral this weekend. Now we have sore throats, runny nose, fever, headaches. Triple vaxed. I spent hours driving around trying to find at home test kits last night. No luck. Got PCR testing this morning. We’re supposed to fly to Costa Rica on Monday. Somehow I don’t think that’s happening. And our hotel is super swanky but insists on prepayment and doesn’t do refunds. Assholes. Oh well.

R108 I am rarely around anyone. I have few friends and I'm generally kinda anti-social. I'm single and live alone. I've been working from home for a while now. And when I'm outside I always wear a mask. Who would I have gotten it from? It's highly likely this is just a cold. My government said rhe rapid tests are reliable. I trust them.

R110 Well, ya got a cold, didn't ya? Omicron is much more transmissible and more contagious.

I have horrible allergies and chronic sinus issues throughout the year, and although I'm triple vaxxed, I'm always afraid I have COVID. I did a rapid test last night, because I developed a sore throat and runny nose, but the test came up neg.

Just get boosted and wear a mask.

41, m, 1x Pfizer shot, Chicago. Went to the hospital last night cuz of severe vomiting, headaches, chills, fevers. Got tested and sure enough I came out poz for covid. It feels like a prolonged flu but with vomiting and dizziness.

Am just now in what I believe to be the last gasp of having the Omicron (am vaxxed, boostered, had the original COVID way way back in Jan. or Feb. '20, and had the delights of long COVID for months after that). In order of prominence, I experienced: Fatigue, chills, fleeting miscellaneous body pains here and there (the pains were miscellaneous, not the body), very light sleep, slightly sore scratchy throat with voice getting husky, short spells of runny nose, nasal passages wanting to block up, stomach making gurgly sounds and somewhat gassy (but otherwise performing properly), slight fleeting lightheadedness, loss of appetite. Unpleasant as all this sounds, it didn't present much of a challenge to getting through the day . . . the worst was a kind of despair of the "*sigh* how long will I have to be dealing with this?" sort. I'm now at about the 99% back to normal stage. Because the stomach seemed unhappy, I mostly avoided taking painkillers and got by fine; but a blast of Ibuprofen once or twice over the whole course of things quickly got rid of the pain during the dosage period. Ironically, I think I got infected when I went to get my booster.

Feel better, R114.

I live in an apt and I have been listening to some motherfucker coughing non stop for an entire week now.. He could just have a cough but needless to say I have installed a Silkwood Shower in the "vestibule" and I am drinking bleach by the gallon.

probably . Haven't take a test yet . Sore throat and some coughing . Can you have it without a running a fever ?

I spray lysol in the hallway. my neighbor has too many friends over every weekend and deliveries etc...

[quote]Can you have it without a running a fever ?

Yup. Never had a fever. Went through a whole range of other symptoms, but not a fever.

FYI:. FDA just approved Pfizer antiviral. Not sure when it will be available but for all you currently with covid, it may be worth a call to your doctor. You need to take it within the first few days for it to work.

I have it. I think I am on day 3/4. I am vaccinated but not boosted. I was doing okay but feeling a little out of breath today. Its concerning. I was going to do chores but I think I will just take it easy. Will report back.

[quote]a blast of Ibuprofen once or twice over the whole course of things quickly got rid of the pain

Weren't we told no Ibuprofen last year? Not scolding, just asking.

Fauci said the other day that even though the antiviral will be approved soon, it'll be a while before it can be mass produced. I wouldn't expect that to be available to most people until spring, if that early.

R122, since when?

I was told when I got my booster was, whatever makes you feel better.

R122 No, that's not true. I took ibuprofen for my headache when I had COVID.

Yeah, R122 that came from the WHO early last year based on some very flimsy French observations. WHO walked it back last year and saying both ibuprofen or acetaminophen work.

I read that headache, body aches and sore/scratchy throat are the most common symptoms of Omicron. Less common are fevers, cough and shortness of breath.

This is a good article from NBC News:

I was convinced I had covid last week. Sore, scratchy throat came on with congestion and coughing. But a chest cough unlike I'd ever had, and symptoms which would come and go. I did have mild headache, fatigue, even some loss of taste... did the saliva test (first one! yippee), and was negative. A week later I ended up at the doctor because I still felt like crap. They did a nose swab for covid and a test for the FLU. Both were negative.

Doctor concluded I likely have a mild case of walking pneumonia (horrendous cough) and after a few days on meds - I feel so much better. Antibiotics, antibacterial, anti-cough, codeine. I'm relieved I don't have covid (knock on wood) and I am vaccinated. I have a booster appointment next week.

I do know many friends right now who have COVID. For one person it's their second time within a year. He goes out often, and travels frequently/parties. Not much of a surprise there. His current symptoms are cold-like.

Here's another one from the NYT:

[quote] I'm sick right now but I already tested myself with one of those rapid tests. It was negative. This looks like just a regular cold.

A friend's sister was the head of the infectious disease division in a major state and continues in that field. She says - tho not officially - that there is historical data now showing that we have had coronaviruses in circulation for a while now (not starting with Covid-19 obviously) and the data indicates they have essentially evolved into cold viruses.

[quote] history has shown that several coronavirus types have emerged, circulated over many years, and after multiple exposures (usually in childhood) most persons have developed strong immunity- to the point where these coronaviruses are now the most frequent cause of the "common cold". This means the virus can infect your nose and throat and cause annoying symptoms of headache, sore throat, runny nose, etc, but your strong immune system prevents it from replicating and entering your lungs or your body.

So, we should expect more transmissions but less serious symptoms. Though she says certain groups need to remain cautious because they are more susceptible to serious symptoms - elderly (risk increases with age), immunocompromised & other chronic illnesses, and unvaccinated.

Not to say this can't become very serious for some people but maybe this new strain of coronavirus is evolving as viruses normally do - regardless of its origin.

Just saying.

R24, sorry to hear that and hope you feel better soon.

I woke up this morning feeling like I was hit by a mac truck. Fever, achy, chills...general flu-like symptoms. My rapid test was neg. Now I'm concerned that it might be related to a hookup at an adult video store a couple of weeks ago. I was really horny and stupidly allowed myself to bottom raw with a hustler in a booth. Not on PrEP. I had just gotten my booster, and felt like living after being shut in for so long.

Nothing says "living" like getting raw-dogged by a stranger in a porn palace!

R133 False negatives are common with rapid tests, get a PCR.

Encouraging news: Omicron cases have begun to slow in South Africa (down by more than 20 percent in the last week), so they think it may have peaked there now.

I am reading lots of symptoms above that sound like a cold. A cold can become serious if we don't heed it. Like idiots that continue their regular routines when they have colds. Like racing around to shop or work and running.

Just stay alert to your body and slow down.

I haven't heard anything about people getting covid that only got one shot (not the J&J) or didn't get the booster. All they talk about are those that either didn't get vaxed at all or those who were fully vaxed. I'd like to know the statistics on those that only got half vaxed. I wonder this because at the beginning of covid they found a woman who was over 100 and had had the Spanish Flu as a child. When they tested her currently she still had antibodies for the Spanish Flu. All along I have found it hard to believe that those that have had covid didn't get and retain antibodies to covid.

My sibling had two Pfizer shots by May, got Covid in August (just a sore throat, no fever), was planning to get the booster but didn’t get around to it (tsk tsk), and then caught Covid again last week (an even milder sore throat, again no fever).

I know someone else who got the J&J shot in early spring (a lying line-skipper) and then caught Covid in October, pre-booster, and felt very sick.

Then I know a handful of people who caught Covid this week after having both shots and the booster, all of them are asymptomatic or have flu symptoms.

No one I associate with is unvaxxed.

Per @democracynow : U.S. military developed vaccine .. highly effective against COVID, + all its variants. Vaccine, created in 2 yrs/Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.. said to be effective against other SARS-origin viruses.. public announcement w/ more info expected in wks.

Real-world data from U.K. suggests omicron is less likely than delta to send people to the hospital:

The no ibuprofen advice was after getting the vaccine. Ibuprofen might blunt the effectiveness of the vaccine

R140, I’ll believe it when the FDA looks at the studies and makes a decision

I don't know the logistics behind the tests. How's it administered? Piss in something, draw blood, or snot on something? Blood would give you the most accurate diagnosis, right?

I ASSUME that the test looks for certain"markers." But since the symptoms are so similar to the flu or really bad allergies, how likely are you to get an accurate positive diagnosis?

R144 The COVID test is a nasal swab that detects the presence of the spike proteins. It's simple and takes just seconds.

I can't believe we're entering year three of this pandemic and there are still people out there who don't know the very basic things about this virus, like how COVID tests work.

Sweet Jeezus. We'll never get out from under this thing.

My niece who got sick in DC was quite ill Day 3 of being symptomatic, then felt great Day 4/5 but now Day 6 feeling achy, feverish and sick again. No cough, only a little bit of congestion.

R146 I've never had a COVID test because I'm FULLY vaxxed and have worked from home since before the pandemic and haven't put myself into any compromising positions. And wear a mask everywhere I go. I've never had ANY COVID symptoms so I've never taken one.

Not sure how you make the leap from THAT to us never being rid of COVID--other than you being a presumptuous piece of shit that should've been flushed a long time ago.

R148 Have you ever read a newspaper? A magazine? A medical journal? Turned on the TV news?

[quote]I can't believe we're entering year three of this pandemic and there are still people out there who don't know the very basic things about this virus, like how COVID tests work.

Thank you. You pretty much can't escape the images of someone getting a nasal swab shoved up their nose. Did r144 think it was some new Tik Toc challenge?

R144/148 was just asking a question. He’s following all protocols for chrissakes - masking up and doesn’t expose himself - stop hissing at him like a bunch of alley cats in heat!!

R151 If you don't know how a COVID test works by now, then you're not very bright, regardless of your COVID status or the protocols you follow. In fact, if you're smart enough to know COVID safety protocols, there's no reason you shouldn't know how a COVID test works, either.

Quit excusing R144's completely ignorant post.

I don't know how the test works and I am vaxxed and have taken every ridiculous safety measure advised even before the government decided to get in on it.

Does everyone now have these at home? I guess I have really isolated myself.

I’ve been searching for a test for 2 days, I can not find one available. Every drugstore chain makes you put in a ton of personal info - then when you go to schedule, they say “no appointments available”. I have either a cold or Covid and really want to be tested before spending Xmas with family. I will feel incredibly guilty if I blow off the Xmas get together - unless I KNOW I have Covid. This is so maddening. We should have better testing baby now.

Walmart had Binax (Abbot Labs) at home tests available for buying online and shipping when I checked yesterday AM. Try getting up before the sun in the next couple days and checking the website to see if they restock again.

Have you checked with your local Health Dept., R154? Mine lists a bunch of non-drugstore testing locations on their website, some of which don't require an appointment (although not all of them offer rapid tests).

R153 You can get home tests at the drugstore, and the Biden administration will be making them available to order free by mail starting in a couple of weeks.'

It's a simple nasal swab, like a Q-tip you stick up your nose and swirl around.

Christ on a stick. I got the first two vaccinations have to wait until March 2022 for my third. That said I mask up for everything. I call it the new normal. Grocery delivery we all mask up. And I've done the blood test and no COVID antibodies found and that's before the vaccinations.

I'm seeing news that the Omicron variant is pretty much a flu virus now. Don't forget the flu killed a ton of people back in the day. And funny how inflluenza got shortened to flu.

Local health dept lists testing sites - mostly chain drugstores. After filling out a bunch of personal info at each site they say no appts until 12/30. All of the sites that used to be drive up are all requiring appts now. All the take home tests are sold out.

I appreciate it will be better next week - but looks like we are unable to get tested before Xmas. The county seems to be solely relying on private companies to do testing. Failure.

I'm 5 weeks out from my Moderna booster, and I'm contemplating getting another one shortly, to boost antibodies and to compensate for any waning immunity. My PCP said it's not necessary and that the booster should cover me for 6 months to a year. Now I'm seeing reports from Israel and I think Germany that we'll need a 4th shot sooner than later. I don't know what to do. Should I get a 4th shot now or wait until the summer?

I suggest searching your local subreddit for info about available testing. That's how I've found where to test in NY and I found testing sites for my parents down south. If you aren't familiar with reddit - just google "reddit" and whatever city/town you are from. There should be a subreddit (think of it like a group) that you can click on and read the threads in the group. You don't have to be a member to read, only to post.

Very likely that people have posted about where they are finding testing, etc.

Another option would be NextDoor. It really seems that local word of mouth is the most helpful right now when appointments are so hard to come by...

And for other NYers - the Walgreens in Hudson Yards (30th between 10th and 11th) had at home testing kits as of last night. So did Discount Depot on 2nd between 84th/85th as of yesterday afternoon.

Also I saw on Reddit that you can go on labcorp and order an at-home testing kit that you fed ex back into them - it's free with insurance... they ship in 2 days. I got one and ordered my elderly parents one.

R160: Doing it after only 5 weeks seems kind of premature. I think the consensus seems to be that the shots provide protection for at least 3-4 months. And yes, we will ALL be told we need a 4th shot 4-6 months after the last one, it seems inevitable.

R160 If you got your booster 5 weeks ago, you're at peak protection from COVID at this point. You should be good for another 6 months.

I'm a little past the 7-month mark and just got my 3rd vaccine (note: I agree with Governor Jared Polis that the 3rd shot shouldn't be considered a booster...it's the 3rd shot in a 3-shot series).

I had zero reaction to the first shot and flu-like symptkms with the second. I didn't realize the 3rd is a half dose, whereas the first two were full doses. So far, the only thing I notice is soreness at the injection site.

^I had exactly the same reaction from Shot no. 3 as from the first 2: fever for about 12 hours, starting 12 hours after the shot, and then malaise, feeling "off" for 2 more days. And that 3-shot series is going to be a 4-shot series, just wait and see...

R164, I think that’s wrong. Each dose is exactly the same—so each time you’re jabbed, you’re jabbed with the same amount. Can someone else confirm that? I know there’s confusion out there.

only kids are getting half of an adult dose.

R166, I have read in several places that the Moderna booster is only "half" a shot. It's what I got, from a Publix grocery in the South, in mid-September. I did not pay any attention to the dosage size, just rolled up my sleeve... -R165

I started having cold-like symptoms Tuesday morning: chest/throat/nose congestion and a dry cough. I got a negative result on Tuesday with a home kit but took another this morning and it’s positive. I assume it’s omicron. I’ve had three Pfizer shots, two last spring and the third back in late October.

I can still taste and smell and generally feel OK, it’s like a medium cold or a mild flu. Just pulled out of a bunch of holiday plans with family and friends, that was kind of sad, but obviously not a hard decision.

My husband, who had three Moderna shots, is still testing negative at the moment.

R169 If you've been boosted, you should be fine. You may feel lousy for a week, but you won't have to go to the hospital.

FYI - when I got COVID, it took a few days before I lost my sense of taste and smell.

Well “mild” is relative. It means “not dying in the hospital.”

I've heard that, so far at least, not many people who get Omicron are losing their sense of taste and smell. But again, that's so far.

R168, is right. I also got Moderna.

R169, what you wrote is almost exactly what's happening to me. I got an alert on my phone on Monday night that I had a possible exposure, so I did a rapid test here at home and it came up negative. Then, yesterday, I started sneezing and got a little bit of a cough but otherwise feel perfectly fine. I'm going to do another rapid test tomorrow to see what my status is. I'm also fully vaxxed and boosted (Pfizer) and wear masks everywhere I go, so hoping for the best.

The Pixel test is crap.

I developed symptoms around 1 am this morning (extreme sinus congestion, dull headache, chills, light sensitive and eye soreness, someone tight chest, no fever). Tested positive on rapid test and waiting for PCR results. I had mild Covid last February pre vaccine (covid toes), then got doubly vaxxed with Moderna in April when I qualified and could get appointment. Booster two weeks ago. Ati got this mother fucker, probably at holiday party this weekend. Feel worse this time than first infection.

^Good luck. That's exactly why I cancelled all Xmas activities,again.

I will not let this equivalent of the common cold ruin MY holiday gatherings. We played by the rules last year, and that WAS ENOUGH. This year I'm not giving into the mass panic and do what feel right for ME! Jealous, bitches?

We canceled xmas dinner too. Such a bummer but not worth getting my frail parents sick.

We toast to your demise, R178.

R178 Derpity derp derp derp.

R180, I'm more concerned with whose demise he might cause.

R176, feel better cunt!

If you don't make it, leave me all your stuff!

R144, i had two tests. One was saliva - spit into saliva mixed with some kind of chemical and then the results come back in 24/48 hours. Second test I did was a nose swab, results come in faster. Have heard various opinion on which is more "accurate" but both seem to work just fine.

R184 The question of accuracy is really in how the results are analyzed. Rapid test analysis is not as intricate as PCR test analysis.

Not really. The rapid test confirms when symptomatic; the PCR can detect asymptomatic.

I tested positive on Tuesday, and am now quarantining. I'll say one thing for Covid, it's cancelling Christmas activities, and for that I'm grateful.

I was exposed last week at a holiday party. I’ve had both doses of Moderna and a Moderna booster. My rapid test came back negative and I have felt absolutely fine ever since the gathering. I have not been socializing since then.

A group of my friends, however, went out last weekend to parties and bars and several of them have now come down with Covid. All were double-vaxxed and all boosted. A few are in their 20s, most are in their 30s and 40s. All otherwise healthy.

My family has scaled back our Christmas plans.

This thing is a bitch.

Thanks for the positivity, R151, and R184. Happy Holidays!!!

R149, R150, R152 I hope you get every variant of COVID-19 for Christmas.

I just did my second rapid test and got back a positive result this time. I've had mild symptoms (sneezing, sore throat, coughing) since about Wednesday but it's not as bad as it was and I actually feel pretty good right now. Still, I have canceled my Christmas dinner plans with my friend and will stay in for the next 10-14 days as required.

Merry Christmas!

I’m Pfizer vaxxed and boostered, and I commuted by subway to work three days last week. I started feeling achy and tired on Sunday and I woke up with a bad headache on Monday, that became a dull headache the rest of the week. Yesterday morning I was coughing and I now have a sore throat. I’ve been taking ibuprofen.

I’ve also had a flu shot, so it could just be a cold but I’m playing it safe and staying in. I ordered rapid tests online but they aren’t expected to arrive until next week.

[quote] I just did my second rapid test and got back a positive result this time.

We are all going to end up like that 100+ year old who still had Spanish Flu antibodies from 1918/whatever when she died.

I think it is just turning into a cold virus. Not that it can't turn into something worse but still.

People really need to concentrate on keeping their immune systems healthy and strong. Men especially cause women have naturally superior systems.

If we want to BS about "naturally superior systems" we could note that women are more likely than men to experience autoimmune diseases. When that occurs they're often attacked by their own freakishly strong immune systems, necessitating use of immunosuppressants that then make them more vulnerable to infection.

R191 It sounds like covid. I had exactly that but the good news is its 3 days later and I am feeling 90% better. Rest up!

Thank you R194. I’m happy you’re feeling better so quickly, and I hope to be over whatever this is soon.

OP, have you improved any?

If Omicron doesn’t kill and mostly briefly inconveniences, then why the hell are we frantically trying to get the booster and treating this like something apocalyptic? People aren’t dying of this….

HOT TODDY: one lemon, zest lemon put in small pan, add lemon juice , honey, water and shot of good quality whiskey, heat and serve. The lemon has antibacterial and immune enhancing properties.

R197, it may only be mild for those who have been fully vaccinated and boosted. It could be less so for those who are not, though I'm not sure if there is complete data on that as of yet.

R191 here. The on/go test kits I had ordered from Walmart arrived sooner than expected and delivered today.

I took a test and it came back negative. I made some soup to celebrate and to soothe my sore throat.

Amazon has Covid home tests for sale.

The DC jail is in crisis mode. Over 500 inmates in quarantine. Prosecutors. defense attorney and Marshals are increasingly in quarantine. Just as they were starting to reopen courtrooms for some in-person work, it's back to remote hearings etc. Just got following email -

WHEREAS, in the District of Columbia, as of December 22, 2021, the weekly case rate of COVID cases is at 1,191 per 100,000 (up from 102 a month ago); and the daily case rate of COVID cases is at 170 per 100,000 (up from 14 a month ago);

WHEREAS, as of December 19, 2021, the D.C. Department of Corrections had 10 units on quarantine (over 500 residents) as well as additional residents in isolation;

WHEREAS, the Court is aware of many attorneys who are either COVID positive or on quarantine due to COVID exposures;

WHEREAS, the Court is further aware that the U.S. Marshals have many marshals on quarantine due to COVID exposures at the Court;

WHEREAS, the Criminal Division remains committed to protecting the health and safety of defendants, witnesses, victims, counsel, court personnel, jurors and other members of the public;

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the following measures BLAH BLAH BLAH MERRY FUCKING CHRISTMAS

The surprising new Omicron symptom that you might notice at Christmas dinner

If you have friends in Europe, ask them to buy some and send it over. I asked my friend to do that, it only cost 4 bucks a test over there!

If you’ve never had the flu, the ACTUAL flu and not just a heavy cold, you’ll experience the symptoms as relatively mild.

Many people never had the real flu, just a bad bout of the common cold, and they’re not dealing too well with the Omicron symptoms.

Sounds like omiCrON is turning into a big nothing burger.

But people are still dying from it. RIP

R206 Apparently, you're not paying attention. Or watching Fox News.

Woke up with a headache today. Through out the day felt worse and worse. Weird feeling, arms and legs tingling, body aches, scratchy throat, brain fog (please excuse grammar errors here) basically feel like shit. Was supposed to go home to family 5 hour drive tonite. I was double vaccinated and boostered. This may be the omicron I feel weird. I’ve been too relaxed lately. It caught up. I’m 51. Hope I beat it

A mild covid case means it doesn't require medical intervention r1.

Your friend doesn't need to the hospital, so it is mild.

OP here, on day 5 of symptoms. I'm finally feeling a bit better, but muscle aches, cough, and chest pain persists. Also noticing that I am dizzy. Managed to finish 3 Nicole Kidman shows (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, Being the Ricardos).

Just ate three chocolate chip cookies because it's Xmas Eve and I'm sad.

*persist!

R211, awww OP!

I'm glad to hear you're hanging in there!

Drink more liquids. Gatorade, drinks with electrolytes.

Wishing you a speedy and full recovery! Merry Christmas!

Feel better R209 and OP.

Irritated that my cunty republican in laws won't cancel Christmas. I seriously think they want the oldsters to die and get their inheritance

I'm home here in NYC with COVID this week and just found out from my sister that my nephew has it as well. He's currently isolating in his dorm room down in Texas.

This fucking shit is crazy.

Some of y'all just need to pray harder!

R6 here. Does anyone have any tips for how to improve the muscle aches? I've tried ibuprofen but it hasn't made a dent. I feel like utter shite.

Ibuprofen and Tylenol work really well together when you combine r218, it's pretty much the best thing you can do over the counter.

Last Monday my coworker, who was vaccinated but not boostered, came down with what she felt was a cold. She didn't show up Tuesday and Wednesday, she left a message on my answering machine, (yes, I'm old, so what) that she'd tested positive.

Felt okay most of Thursday, then had chills and runny nose in the evening, woke up Friday with a sore throat, felt exhausted, went to Kaiser, was given test, jammed swab up nose while sitting in car, still haven't gotten the results yet, but I'm pretty sure it is COVID.

Not being a FOX-addled idiot, I'm vaxxed and boostered so it just feels like a rather mild cold. I was banned from the family dinner last night, but a great niece dropped a plate of Christmas dinner at my doorstep, and I really wasn't in the mood to deal with 15 people, including three babies anyway.

[quote] I would rather Fauci appear once every few days and actually say something useful than be on CNN and MSNBC all the time saying nothing.

Politicians and bureaucrats are addicted to the cameras.

R221, no denying that’s annoying for the regular viewer. In TV programming we rationalize that appearances be repeated or duplicated for those tuning in for the first time - especially during emergencies.

[Quote] I would rather Fauci appear once every few days and actually say something useful than be on CNN and MSNBC all the time saying nothing.

He rarely says anything definitive or dramatic, which is why I am completely baffled by the hatred from the right

I think the right really started to hate him when Trump began distancing himself from him and started disparaging him. They took a cue from their "leader" and began acting likewise. The right labels him a "waffler" and thus cannot be trusted. That is such a bogus label; he is giving direction on an ever-evolving virus based on the data he has at that moment.

Logic and the right don’t actually go together.

They hate Fauci because their cult leader told them too

OP, what type of test did you take to get the confirmation that you've got Covid? Did they tell you which variant you've got?

I was talking to my sister last night and telling her that, so far at least, my symptoms have been fairly mild since I got the positive result from my at-home test on Friday. She asked if that result could've been a false positive and that perhaps this is just a common cold and not COVID. I told her yes, that's possible, but from everything I've been reading, false positives on home tests are rare (as opposed to false negatives) and if you get a positive result, you likely do in fact have COVID. Still, my doctor wants me to get a PCR test just to be sure, so I will try to go out sometime this week and get one.

R226, I'm not OP but I just read an article the other day stating that, even if you test positive on a PCR lab test, they do not tell you which variant you are infected with, just that you are positive, which I found interesting. So either way, it appears we're left to guess what we have.

Given how mild my symptoms are (at least thus far), I will assume mine is omicron.

Pretty sure I got Omni from a co-worker last week. I'm vaxxed and my symptoms were very mild for about 3 days and now I'm fine. Omni is running rampant where I live and due to that and people getting tested for holiday travel there isn't anywhere to get tested and no home testing kits available until after the new year. Most of my family is out of town so I wouldn't have seen them anyway but I feel bad I won't see my mother. At least I have more antibodies now.

R220, I'd call that a won. Merry Christmas!

This doctor explains the O effect. He discusses S. Africa and UK stats but also what the O seems to be doing to people. Most of the good info is at the beginning.

Actually I'd call that a WIN. ^^^ Promise I'm not trying to change the English language. LOL!

All this hype over a stupid cold is ridiculous. I had my 2 shots, did my part, will not get the booster, and the masks are in the trash can. I shopped in the market this morning maskless. Got dirty looks, but I couldn't care less. I'm off to the gym shortly, where I will work out, also maskless. Chest and tri day. I'm back to living life and refuse to cower in fear over what is the equivalent of the common cold.

R232 Derpity derp derp derp!

You should at least get the booster r232. I was originally going to wait but with omnicron spreading there is no reason not to get it.

R234, you do realize r232 is either an imbecile or a troll, right? I mean, the comment re Covid being the equivalent of the common cold…. That’s enough to qualify him for Imbecile of the Year.

[Quote] All this hype over a stupid cold is ridiculous.

Depends on which strain you get. You can’t choose

I’ve been boostered for seven weeks and the past few days I’ve been feeling chest flutters and a light headed sensation along with a somewhat subdued version of the vibrating, tremor sensation in my entire body which I experienced in my initial infection in April 2020. My cardiologist (whose husband is a virologist) told me that’s my immune system rallying to fight the infection and it’s a good thing I’m not 25 anymore because that’ precise sensation is what landed numerous young men in the hospital and killed them. The immune system in overdrive is a bitch.

[quote]This doctor explains the O effect.

He’s a nurse with a PhD.

R239, so? Is his data inaccurate?

R170, I'm not R169 but am having similar symptoms and I noticed that you said you lost your taste and smell days within being positive; did you ever get this back?

Where did I mention data? I haven’t watched the video. How do you make the leap from my pointing out that someone is a nurse to a statement on the accuracy of the data being presented?

What I have a problem with is an ER nurse with a PhD in education representing himself as a doctor while discussing medical issues, when he should be using PhD after his name. That’s how it’s done; that’s how it’s always been done.

I had it one year ago now.

I was feeling shitty. It dawned on me I might have Covid. I'll never forget, I went into the bathroom and took my body wash and sniffed it. Nothing. No sense of smell. Zero. I got tested and sure enough.

I believe the way I got it was I was doing deliveries for UberEats on Christmas. I went into Canter's deli to pick up an order. They were very backed up, so there were several other drivers waiting. We were all masked, but it was too many people pack into too small a space. Pretty sure that's where I picked it up.

I feel very lucky that my case wasn't so bad. One of my nostrils was like a faucet. So much junk coming out. And I was tired and run down. Thank God it never seemed to impact my lungs at all.

My sense of smell returned, but it's still messed up.

There is now evidence that people who have had Omicron only have 19% protection against re-infection from Omicron afterwards. So, all those people fantasising that Omicron will be a "natural vaccine" that washes through the population and protects everyone from all future variants have got to face reality: Omicron is not the end of the COVID-19 emergency but the start of a new dangerous phase.

The jury is also still very much out about the severity of Omicron. Listen to COVID-19 expert, Dr. Daniel Griffin, on the This Week In Virology podcast as he explains some of the latest findings about Omicron (spoiler: it's not milder). This whole episode is really worth a listen (as is TWiV in general: they re experts in the field who examine all the latest research).

Another update on stats.

R232 = another sock puppet account from the anti vax idiot from Croatia.

His weird syntax is giving him away every single time, haha.

[quote] Where did I mention data? I haven’t watched the video. How do you make the leap from my pointing out that someone is a nurse to a statement on the accuracy of the data being presented?

Don't be intellectually dishonest. You posted that to undermine the stats in the video. Watch the video then criticize.

Those guys at This Week in Virology are part of the propaganda against the leak hypothesis. They spent over a year ridiculing any suggestion it came from a lab and demonizing anyone who wanted the hypothesis looked into. That Vince Racaniello can't be trusted.

In any event. Dr. Griffin IIRC agrees that those who are vaccinated will do well with Omicron. It is the unvaccinated that are at risk - a big reason being that the treatments for Covid (monoclonal antibodies) are becoming unavailable and they are scrambling to catch up - how the hell did we allow that to happen?

[quote]Don't be intellectually dishonest. You posted that to undermine the stats in the video. Watch the video then criticize.

I'm not being intellectually dishonest. As I said, I haven't watched the video. How or why would I try to undermine or criticize something with which I have no familiarity? If you think I'm a COVID-denier, I assure you I am not. I'm a nephrologist who has treated AKI in vented COVID patients for almost two years now. The post at R12 is mine. I don't take this lightly.

If you can't see the problem with a nurse using the honorific "Dr." when it's standard to use "PhD," that's fine.

[Quote] They spent over a year ridiculing any suggestion it came from a lab and demonizing anyone who wanted the hypothesis looked into. That Vince Racaniello can't be trusted.

If there were any real evidence that it came from a lab, everyone would know it. There isn’t

I agree that the virologists on TWiV have been very sceptical about the Wuhan lab leak hypothesis, R247 (but a lot of people are) however it's a bit ridiculous to suggest that [italic]"Vince Racaniello can't be trusted"[/italic].

It's up to all of us to weigh up competing opinions about whether or not the lab leak scenario is the likely explanation (personally, I think it is) but when it comes to information about the pandemic (how the virus itself works, vaccines and other treatments etc.) you can really trust the experts on TWiV to go through the latest research with an expert eye. They cut through the bullshit.

I started listening to them in February last year, just as this whole nightmare began and they've kept me informed and calm.

R262 is correct. That guy doesn't even have a "real" science PhD. So it is pretty misleading r240.

R226 I got a PCR test. Not sure which strain. My symptoms are much more intense than my friends' symptoms. Lots of people I know report nothing more than a runny nose.

Meanwhile, it's Day 7 and I still have a horrible cough and chest congestion. Sigh.

I've just watched another Nicole Kidman vehicle, The Undoing. My question is this: what does Nicole Kidman's REAL hair look like? Will we ever know?

Hope everyone is recovering quickly!

PCR tests don't detect variants. And only a percentage of positive PCR samples are sent for genetic sequencing; they aren't checking every positive test for variant.

^^Let me clarify: in real-world application, and with the huge number of tests being run, PCR testing (as you get it at any test site) is limited to positive/negative and then on to the next sample. S-gene target failure is apparent, but the actual sequencing results are what get recorded.

R252 I hope you feel better soon. To see Nicole Kidman’s original hair watch Dead Calm or Flirting (with a young Thandie Newton).

It's hard to believe Nicole's hair used to be so bouncy and full of life.

[quote]Listen to COVID-19 expert, Dr. Daniel Griffin, on the This Week In Virology podcast as he explains some of the latest findings about Omicron (spoiler: it's not milder).

The recent study out of Japan says it is, they found it is 3-5 times more transmissible, but less pathogenic, largely because it doesn't have the same kind of cleaved spike, making it less likely to adhere to cells.

A lot of people I know have it right now. I’m vaccinated and had the booster in October, but don’t feel well. I couldn’t find any tests to tell if my cold symptoms are anything to worry about. I have some muscle aches, fatigue and a runny nose. I can smell and taste and don’t have a headache, so probably just a cold. I called the doctor since I had been exposed and they said if you’ve been fully vaccinated and don’t have symptoms, they don’t test you.

R258 No, if you were exposed, it's probably COVID. Symptoms of Omicron in the vaccinated resemble "just a cold," until in some people they start to get bad. You just said that you DO have symptoms, so you need to get a test. Find a drugstore that can perform a PCR test on you.

Eh, Just isolate yourself if you are feeling sick. There is not really a necessity to getting a covid test, especially given how much trouble it has been right now.

r256- There's a correlation between how curly a caucasian actresses' (and some actors) hair is and her success- the more successful, the straighter it becomes. Nicole, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Keri Russell, Blake Lively, Sarah Jessica Parker, Debra Messing. Actors: Justin Timberlake, Tom Hiddleston.

R261 has a point! Notice how Barbra Streisand's career was at its worst when she got a perm?

As long as you don't die, you're fine. Quit belly aching. People get sick from time to time. Bunch of hot house flowers. If you want to feel bad, feel bad for the millions who have died around the world.

Actually, R225, it's that Fauci has become political icon, but you're part of his cult, so worship on!

COVID information peppered with hairstyle critiques. Only on Datalounge.

How can you take your eyes off Kidman’s butchered face??

Funny how the assholes largely responsible for the waning effectiveness of getting vaccinated, are now claiming the vaccines don't work (while, fortunately, most of the people dying are unvaccinated). You can't make this shit up!

[Quote] These fucking vaccines are complete fucking bullshit.

Sure, jan

I just self tested positive after a negative test yesterday. Got it on a plane flying From Florida back to Europe. Can still taste, no fever, a little cough, headache and congestion. Hope it stays at this minor level. Triple Moderna-ed (thanks, Dolly!)

R270 Were people around you on the plane and in the airport masked?

Too much taking masks off for hours to “eat and drink” and too many chin diapers. I had a FFP2 on most of the flight but I did eat (I didn’t on the way over) and I regret this. Don’t take it off for anything.

I’m quarantining this week because I stupidly agreed to socialize on Christmas Day. Everyone had a negative home test that day but an asymptomatic friend tested positive at work this morning. Unless he caught it Sunday (unlikely), I’ve been exposed. I have a test scheduled for Thursday.

I posted above, I'm finally feeling better. But this cough doesn't want to let go (I was covid negative, had mild pneumonia). Getting booster tomorrow morning.

How is everyone doing? Is everyone who got infected feeling better? My symptoms have mostly resolved except for the cough.

Mine lasted about a week. I still don’t know for sure as I could not find a test anywhere. But it seems to match the symptoms for Omicron exactly. Frustrating as I would have liked to have know definitively - but know it wouldn’t even show up on tests.

R276 can you get a PCR test?

I’ve abandoned attempts to get any test - as I’ve had it before, the presence of antibodies won’t tell me anything either. Since it’s been 10+ days, PCR may not even detect.

OP- It's just evidence that those Vaccines don't protect one from ANY Covid variant.

R279 They prevent you from dying. Kinda important.

R279 = DL idiot of the day

You know, r279, the idiocy of anti vaxxers like you never ceases to astonish me. Luckily, you’re your own worst enemy, not the vaccine.

are these women anti-vaxxeers? are they liars? what's your take, people responding to r279?

Both, or either r283. Add delusional in there.

[quote] OP- It's just evidence that those Vaccines don't protect one from ANY Covid variant.

Hmmm...I could listen to the experts, or R279. Which should I choose...

R270/R272 here. It's not fun but at least it's in my head and not my lungs. Still have taste and smell. I go up and down throughout day and night. Miraculously, my partner multiple-tested negative and is bunking at his studio.

I had my booster 3 December. I shudder to think what this is like unvaxxed. I'll take a week of feeling shit at home over a ventilator and death.

[quote]I was really horny and stupidly allowed myself to bottom raw with a hustler in a booth. Not on PrEP.

In what scenario would this ever be considered acceptable?

The ordinary flu sounds worse than Omicron. Got it.

I posted earlier. I thought I had it but my tests came back negative. Yippee! Had to wait until in line at the crack of dawn for several hours to get tested.

did you guys read about the study that the covid virus can live in your organs for months? and fuck up your brain and heart!

can I have all your stuff?

I made the mistake of inviting my friend over for Christmas. His wife left him. He was living with his brother but he moved to Alabama or Arkansas- What a step down from Connecticut. He arrived on Saturday around 1:45pm - he stayed overnight - NOT my idea. By Sunday afternoon he was COUGHING and SNEEZING on me. He first claimed it was an allergy to the dust from pulling up the carpets in his house, then he claimed it was the cat in my house ( my brother's cat I'm taking care of while he's away). He said he was very allergic to cats. He's VERY negative. I warned him before he came over to not talk about anything negative. He wanted to stay over until Monday. I said no, it's too much stimulation- he talks incessantly. He stayed until 6pm which was too late for me to take a nap. I was so tired. I ate all of that heavy food and slept poorly the night before. Best of all- He called me Monday night to tell me that he went to a doctor and was tested for Covid and the test came back positive. I started to feel sick Monday night. I guess it's possible to get sick two days after being infected by someone. I have a BAD cold which I can assume is the Covid virus. He's SO LAME to do this to me.

[quote] I guess it's possible to get sick two days after being infected by someone.

It is. Easily. Incubation period is much shorter with the new variants (Delta and Omicron) than with the primordial virus and the first variants.

R291 The Omicron variant is more contagious than the common cold and has a shorter incubation period, so it's highly possible - and probable - that you've got COVID. Get tested.

My sibling visited my parents for Christmas and I administered an at home test for them. It came back negative. They coughed for 5 days while at my parent's house and I was the only one wearing a mask. They left my parents yesterday (after not leaving the house for 5 days) and tested positive for Covid in the emergency room.

The at-home tests aren't reliable with Omicron.

I'm glad I wore a mask, although I have to wait for tomorrow to get my test at a doctor.

R294 Rapid tests have very high rates of inaccuracy, regardless of COVID variant.

Generally, if you test positive on a rapid test, you can be assured you have Covid. Sometimes there are false negatives, so you should always follow up with a PCR test if you have symptoms, but are negative on a rapid test.

How are you today, OP?

I have mild symptoms of a sore throat, cough, headache and feeling a little achy that started a few days ago but no temperature. I'm having trouble finding an appointment to get tested. The over the counter covid tests are sold out and my town was supposed to get a batch to give to residents but they never arrived.

R298- Buy it on Amazon.

Binax is supposedly the best, we buy them from Sam's Club whenever they're available (which isn't often).

[quote]Buy it on Amazon.

He'll have recovered by the time it's delivered from Amazon. The On/Go test is in stock but delivery is "January 7-14." The iHealth test can be delivered January 15 and Binax is "currently unavailable."

Yup, r301. We have about 4 in the house (two tests in each box). But they only last for about three months, so there's that to consider as well. Best to go to the nearest urgent care available and do a pcr test. They are more reliable, even though you have to wait.

The state test give aways are a half baked plan at best right now. Having the hyper contagious variants circulating, why the hell can't they be set up for drive through? They seem like recipes for disaster.

I'm in a small area in CT, and today 41 people as of 3 (sister works in respiratory) this afternoon were admitted. 5 were breakthrough the rest had lapsed vaccinated status or weren't vaccinated.

She was emphatic I mix, so when I boosted with Moderna it bit my ass, but the first and third doses are half, the second dose was the only shot with 'double' the amount. I don't know how people handled two Moderna shots.

But, across the board from her, the people coming in either are vaccinated but haven't boosted, or they stuck with Pfizer after initially getting Pfizer. The same for Moderna vaccinations, there are more people who've stayed with Moderna than mixed with the booster. Also a large percentage of unvaccinated are flooding in. It's unfortunate especially bc the new safe way to run their vents poses more risk to the heal care providers vs the original or traditional use bc of the problems they drove.

This is supposed to be a 'highly vaccinated ' area but the zealots and free the children from the mask nuts are going to kill our healthcare system soon. Delta is also still dominant...

The Moderna primary series is 0.5 mL, as is the third dose for those who are immunocompromised or are solid-organ recipients. Only the Moderna booster is half dose of 0.25 mL.

Hi R303, I'm just south of Hartford. My symptoms are still mild but temperature has gone up since this morning. I was able to book a covid test for next Friday at Walgreens but as R301 suggested I may have recovered by then (hopefully). My biggest concern is I have doctor appointments due to Sciatica (EMG test) which has taken several weeks to setup. A positive covid test will set me back until February.

~R298

On Day 9 of sore throat, fatigue and on/off fever. Double-dosed with AZ, no booster. Last night I woke up throughly soaked with sweat. Thought I was better but no, the sore throat has returned.

Testing? Haha. In Australia and the line-ups are hours long and no testing strips available anywhere. I hope to feel better in the next few days because I don’t have anyone here to help me (I am the helper).

Could count on one hand the number of places I’ve been in the last 3 weeks-hospital outpatient, grocery store? A few hours before I started to feel ill I met a friend in a restaurant and we took our masks off. Could I feel it that quickly? My friend is ok so far.

R305 Hopefully you'll be well, and able to get your tests run without having to wait months, (and if you are so inclined, there's a product: called an Alpha-Stim, you should talk to your Dr about (given it uses electricity to treat 70% of the nervous systems issues your Dr should be aware of this non drug treatment; btw, nothing like a TENS unit).

A friend of mine was taken into surgery early last week because of the hold being placed back on elective procedures (over something that seems more emergent than 'elective' as it was the 5th surgery, so if anything happens they're back to using catheters) for the next few months.

Right now I'm getting terrible pains/irritations on my skin. I have Covid. Could these be Covid related or is it a terrible allergy to my brothers cat I've been taking care of for ten days?

R308 skin irritation could be COVID-related, the virus causes a ton of random symptoms.

I went back to work yesterday. I still have a really bad cough. I asked my doctor for a chest x-ray because I was concerned about bronchitis, but luckily everything looks okay. I want this shit to be over! Ugh.

Shout out to everyone who is stuck quarantining! You'll get through this.

Hang in there DLers!

Wishing you all a speedy and full recovery!

R310 thinks that her "be positive" New Year's resolution is going to make it to noon today.

[quote]Last night I woke up throughly soaked with sweat.

Apparently, night sweats is a distinguishing feature of Omicron. It's what loss of smell/taste was to earlier variants.

Night sweats? Welcome to the world of menopause. And day sweats.

I was exposed on Christmas, got tested Wednesday and still waiting for results while quarantining. I have had a headache since Monday and woke up this morning with the bridge of my nose so swollen my glasses don’t fit and hurt. I think it’s more likely a sinus infection rather than COVID. If I do have COVID I will probably be recovered before I get the test results back. But still staying in until I get results.

My PCR test just came back negative but I got the test on wednesday sitting in a car with someone who turned out positive (no symptoms). So I'll test again tomorrow, no symptoms so far but everyone I've known in the past week who's gotten has either had very mild symptoms or none

So this needs to be verified but a nurse friend told me that this variant does not stay in your body long, so people who were sick but vaxxed and boosted might get negative tests because their body is already shedded the virus. Two friends felt sick (vaxxed and boosted) but couldn’t get pcr tests until a few days later. They definitely were exposed to someone with Covid, but their tests were on days when both had already started feeling better and they were negative.

R312 When I had the Delta variant over the summer, as my other symptoms waned (fever, cough, sore throat, etc.), I experienced severe night sweats for several days.

The good news is that it probably means you're shedding the virus successfully.

We're having another round of Covid where I work. It's not a huge company, but we have multiple people out sick, one hospitalized.

R309 Why the hell did you go back to work when you were still symptomatic?

Jesus, do people not understand how contagious viruses work?

R316 I wouldn’t be surprised if that turned out true.

Two weeks ago I came down with a scratchy throat, clogged up sinuses, a mild headache.. I tested on the 5th day, and it turned out negative. I figured it was just the common cold.

But your post makes me wonder if there was more to it..

Dutchie/r320, we were lucky enough to have lots of at-home tests. The pattern for our family seemed to be that even with symptoms, the tests came back negative for a few days. Then BOOM, on the second or third day of feeling bad, the test would be positive. If you didn’t have access to daily at-home tests, you might get one negative and think it was something else.

[quote] I feel like utter shite.

You deserve it for spelling “shit” that way.

As we have found that in years past coronaviruses have been causing the "common cold," this is what the Omicron variant (and maybe other variants) looks to be doing.

There seems to be a wildly larger congregation of the virus that stays in the bronchial area (and NOT moving into the lungs) which makes it more transmissible to others but less serious for the host body aka YOU.

I have it from a very reliable source that Tom Hiddleston 100% tested pos for covid, but has not been isolating like a good boy. Even cancelled work due to covid, but hasn't stopped him "popping out" for wine!

I have a cold, which is either:

My annual summer cold,

A reaction to getting the Pfizer booster on Wednesday;

Or

Omicron.

I take it you live in the Southern Hemisphere, R325?

Just found out the sister of an acquaintance died of Covid. She was not old, nor did she have co-morbidities. Surprise, surprise, she was unvaxxed.

Okay, I'm a bit frustrated. I just did an at-home test and the card has two columns, C and T. A line under just C means you're negative and a line under both C and T means you're positive. It just gave me a very bold line under C and an extremely, EXTREMELY faint line under T -- so faint you have to strain to see it. Now I realize even a faint line is good enough for positive (they say that on the instructions) but this line is so faint that I can't help but feel like this is really a negative result. Still, I'm going to honor it and stay in even though I really, really wanted to go out tomorrow. (Today is day 10 for me and my symptoms resolved days ago.)

I have another test and will try again on Monday (you have to wait at least 24 hours between tests).

Frustrating r328 but it’s positive. Stay hone again tomorrow.

I'm 64 overweight Type 2 Diabetic. I have had both Moderna vaccines in March and the booster shot in October. I wear a mask whatever store I go into. I hope I don't get it.

[R238] why are you still testing if you’ve already quarantined 10 days? No one suggests you retest.

Sorry I meant [328]

R331, you're right, I did not need to test myself again. I think I confused myself when I heard this doctor say on TV the other day that ideally people should test negative before leaving quarantine but he was talking about the new 5-day rule, not after 10 days. I swear I've been absorbing so much COVID information over these last two weeks that it's all just a jumble to me now.

A friend's neighbor died this week, 17 months after getting covid. She was a 54-year-old doctor who was never able to work again after she got it. She'd been transported to the hospital by ambulance at least 10 times post-covid because her oxygen dropped dangerously low. Her daughter (who doesn't live with her) found her dead in her bed. She was a stick-thin marathon runner before all this. I assume they'll do an autopsy to determine an official cause of death.

Yes, Pfizered too. All three shots.

Sore throat, congestion, and overall run-down feeling. No fever or loss of taste or smell.

Man, the concoction is working like a charm, is it not? And yet those stupid wokes, libturds and demonrats insist on wanting to mandate it for everyone and everything

Christ, you are still trying to troll against the vaccines r336? Give it up.

Look at who is getting admitted to the hospitals and dying, this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated.

Blocked

Fuck off and die, Crnkovich cunt @ R336.

R337 data and statistics mean nothing to these dopes. But their Facebook friend said vaccines don’t work!

Yes, R326.

a friend has it now. He thinks it's omicron, he has asthma, around 47 years old. He has terrible headaches, fatigue, congestion in his sinuses, body aches and soar throat that throbs. He's had the 3 shots. one tooth hurt like hell and his foot and thumb, his eyes hurt and feel scratchy. low back pain.

I just posted this in another thread, so forgive the copy and paste post. I truly want to have your thoughts on this because I think us Aussies are kept in the dark with a lot of the health data on Covid.

Aussie here who is double vaxxed and had my booster - I suspect I had/have Omicron in the past few weeks. I have an underlying health issue for which I am on immunosuppressants to help keep it under control. Went to hospital two days before Christmas as the paramedics thought I was having heart problems. Overnight stay with all testing done but my heart was fine. My symptoms kept evolving into something new everyday - fatigue, dizziness, chest pains, headaches, brain fog, aches and pains - but then I developed problems with my breathing, and along with it, an irritating tickle in my throat that made me want to dry cough constantly. I never had a fever, sore throat or night sweats.

I went back to emergency a couple of days after Christmas, and other than my blood work showing more than twice the high normal range of inflammation, on paper at least, I’m healthy. Chest X-ray was clear and my lungs sounded clear. The doctor wrote it off as a “flare” and allergies, and has given me Prednisone to take until I can get in touch with my rheumatologist.

At no point, was I ever tested or suspected to have Covid but my symptoms seem to marry up with Omicron. I did a little investigating, and it seems high dosages of steroids can help the immune compromised, and I have to say, within two hours of the first dose, I felt so much better. I know this sounds very Mary-ish but before the Prednisone, I could feel my body winding down. What do you all think?

I’m aussie too R343 and sick for 14 days with sore throat, fatigue, feeling rundown and just very unwell. Can’t find a home test, and the testing stations shut down early and backed up. I phoned the covid hotline and they wouldn’t help me without a positive test. I feel as if my back is up against the wall and we have been abandoned. Put a call into my GP but can’t even get a telehealth for 2 days. Close to breaking down. Oh and we were made to get the AZ vaccine which apparently is not so good with Omicron.

3 of my friends (all vaccinated, not boosted to my knowledge) have COVID. Symptoms resemble a cold, so far. Tired, headache, congestion. Scratchy throat, mild body aches. For two of them, it's their second time getting Covid! One goes out frequently to bars, the other just lives 'normally'. Knock on wood, I haven't gotten it yet - was just recently tested twice.

My city just implemented mask mandates again, as of yesterday.

Me? Not yet. I know several vaccinated people (some boosted, some not) who’ve had it. I will continue to stay in as much as possible.

Everyone who’s had it that I know who was boosted had it light. But two people I know who weren’t boosted were fairly sick. But they recovered.

my friend still has it, one day he would be feeling good but the next day he'll feel like utter crap. it's up and down.

My mentality is, if I get it, I get it. I can no longer isolate myself from other people or hide in my house. I'm sick of cowering in fear. I'm sure this is some sort of Republican talking point, but there is also an element of hyperneurosis about this, especially with the milder omicron, that is not psychologically healthy. I'm vaxxed and boosted, and I wear a mask, but I've started going back to the gym and occasionally eating in restaurants. Life cannot be put on hold forever, especially with no end in sight.

I opted not to travel out of state and have Christmas with my family this year, mainly because they're MAGAts and unvaccinated.

As of yesterday, all 5 family members who celebrated together now have COVID.

Tots and pears!

R349, it depends on circumstances. If you take precautions and are vaxxed and boosted, I see no issue. However, I have an elderly parent living with me, so I have to be very careful. But it seems omicron, while definitely more contagious (so many people I know are sick and/or positive right now), is not as lethal/dangerous when you’re fully vaxxed and boosted.

R351 absolutely. I am visiting elderly parents now and we barely do anything.

I am a Major Accounts Manager where I work and I get to speak with a lot of folks. Of my sampling- The majority of people (that I talk to) contracting Covid are in their mid to late 20's . A 25 year old from southern CA I spoke with today has had Covid 3 times. He currently has Omnicron. He is double vaccined and boostered- He said J&J so that's Johnson and Johnson? Literally 10 minutes after him, a client (don't know his age but he has to be in his late 40's at the youngest) from Alabama (and yes he is fully vaccinated and boosted) has it for the 2nd time now. I have only known one person (who works for my company) and is the NICEST guy- from the Fresno area- he and his wife were unvaccinated and both got it. Both in their late 20's..

And also- The unvaccinated above had all the hardcore stuff- loss of taste, loss of smell--

R349, I've been back at the gym for awhile. It's a major part of my life and wellbeing, and I live in a winter climate. The great thing is that the gym is no longer crowded, and even better if you can go in the middle of the day. I go to restaurants and occasional bar (depending on what it is), and shop, socialize with caution. I live alone, if I didn't do these things I would lose my mind. I have my booster shot.

Hope you all got your pneumonia vaccines. They seem to help somewhat.

...or you could just have one of the [italic]actual[/italic] COVID-19 vaccines instead. They have a much better efficacy (over 90% effective).

I think leftists are the scum of the Earth: you guys are so moronic you don't even deserve to breathe

They promised you 1 shot would make you immune, then it was 2 shots, now you take all 3 (which soon will not even be enough) and STILL catch it and STILL spread it, having symptoms who are worse than those of many people with 0 shots like myself (having caught nothing at all in 2 years). When will you FINALLY wake up, you AIDS-ridden fag? After which shot? The 10th one? And rest assured you will still be considered unvaxxed until you take all of them, which is why they call it "pandemic of the unvaginated". Seriously, y'all need to go die in a grease fire, you retards

[quote]with 0 shots like myself

You in danger, gurl.

[quote] When will you FINALLY wake up, you AIDS-ridden fag?

And that's unacceptable.

My grandma, who is in her late eighties, was diagnosed with COVID a few days ago following an outbreak in her nursing home. She is fully vaccinated and boosted and so far her symptoms seem mild. But that was also the case with an elderly relative of ours who died of COVID pre-vaccine, so we'll see what happens.

I know an 80-year-old woman who recently finished chemo and with other health issues who was diagnosed a few weeks ago. She is fully vaxxed/boosted, and the extent of her symptoms were a sore throat and minor cough that cleared up in a few days.

Please FF R359, among other stuff, for this:

[quote] When will you FINALLY wake up, you AIDS-ridden fag?

I hope this anti vaxxer asswipe will get banned soon.

I got it and haven't taken my N95 mask off around a single person in 2 months. No idea how I got it. When outside, I would take my mask off after I passed someone on the sidewalk, I got take out, but always washed my hands and mask after I got home and touched bags. I took my mask off at work in my office, but everyone wore a mask and stood 10 feet away.

On top of all that how many shots have you had r365?

Will you continue with all those precautions when you recover?

J&J in April and Moderna booster late October. Yes, I don't want to walk around and seem like a maskless asshole. I've had a cough that comes and goes, sneezing, and occasional headache that lasts a few minutes.

No lie, I had my 2nd vax in late June and I am due for my booster.

I really have to go and will get my booster some time in early Feb.

I wear my mask everywhere.

[quote]I wear my mask everywhere.

I'm so glad I'm not in America for all this.

R369- I mean in public spaces.

I actually visited friends for Christmas for the day (and I was due for the booster) and I did not wear a mask. I was a little nervous because there were a lot of college aged kids. (I am 43) They were all boosted too.

I’m asymptomatic and on day 10. So I’m free to go now

So it's been 3 weeks since tested positive. It's has been a struggle tbh. I went out for like a walk 3 days ago and the next slept all day. I am a type 1 diabetic so have issues. But it's been harder than I expected

I'm encountering more and more people in my circle that have gotten it, it's pretty scary. But I work in film/tv/commericals, so it's very common for positives every day, including principal talent.

I'm thinking of throwing a covid party. Me and some a my friends just wanna get it and get it over with all ready so we can move on with are lives. Almost 2 years and counting. Enough is enough already with no end in sight. Me and my friends are fully-vaxxed and boostered, and we are in good health otherwise, so we know are cases will be mild. Supposably the pills to treat it are our next week so on the off chance we get a bad case we'll just pop a few pills and presto chango it's history.

R374, "mild" can be miserable. And you and your friends might spread to someone who isn't as healthy. You can go on with your life -- just take some precautions.

R372 I am a type 1 too and I am super worried that is how it is for all of us. Our immune systems don't work well and I have read covid causes high blood sugar for non-diabetics and is one of the big contributing factors to deaths early in the pandemic- so for us- ugh. I hope it gets better soon. We heal slower too so hopefully your full recovery is right around the corner.

Type 1 here as well--I got hit full on with COVID in early 2020. Frequent monitoring, lots of water and herb tea and bed rest and very little to eat got me through but just barely. There were a few days when it took real effort to breathe.

My husband just got over it. We are older but he cycles at least 60 miles a week & takes no medication. I have several high risk issues. We are both vaxed and boosted.

He got really sick. Sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and the runs. His lowest oxygen level was 92. It just knocked him down. At the time he was sick, I had asthma and bronchitis. I tested 3 times and no COVID. I’m finally feeling better. I’m on my 2nd round of antibiotics and I took prednisone to assist with my breathing.

It really scared me. Omicron is supposed to be mild? I guess it is in the sense that he wasn’t hospitalized in the ICU and didn’t require a ventilator.

R374, the word is “our,” not “are.”

r374 Wasn't there an article somewhere about how the pills would be allocated to people of color first??

that was in someplace in Texas (oddly) r380

I don't think it was every where.

r381 I think it was for NY state

So I wanted to update. I am the type 1 diabetic who had it for 3 weeks. I started to feel better a few days ago. Almost back to normal. The best thing I did and was able to do was rest for 7 days after the first negative test. That really helped me I think going forward. After testing negative I advise of you are older and have underlying health conditions or even just able to do to rest a further week at least. I still have a cough but feel able to manage.

Glad to hear you're improving, R383. My grandmother seems to be out of the woods. She has a lingering cough the nursing home says is mild. Her unusual fatigue and lack of appetite only lasted about four days.

Glad you’re feeling better R383 and glad your grandma is okay R384

True confession.

We are blue, liberal, Trump-hating, big-city-living Democrats.

Before the vaccine was available, we *had* to interact with a very close family member (cannot give longer explanation) who was stuck in the airport of a red state because of the weather.

He must have picked it up then, stuck for hours at close quarters with hillbillies who didn't wear masks. He came to our liberal blue city and gave it to us.

Otherwise we would never have caught it. Thankfully, we got a very mild case. Just fatigue and loss of smell for a week.

Vaxxed and boosted and flu-shotted now, of course, and no one has caught it again.

My 75-year-old aunt who recently recovered from cancer and completed chemo back in December contracted omicron a few weeks back. She had nothing more than a minor sore throat, luckily. She only got tested because her daughter, who lives with her and who also was basically asymptomatic, turned up positive when she had to test for work. My aunt is double vaxxed and boosted. Her daughter is double vaxxed but NOT boosted. Despite what some people say, the vaccines really do work. They may not necessarily stave off infection, but they do a great job at preventing symptomatic or serious illness and death.

If you live in the States, you can get Covid home tests for free!

I caught it in early March 2020 - it was rough. Then loss of taste and smell tipped me off followed by fever, fatigue, pain, heart palpitations, brain fog and breathing irregularities. It was terrifying and took weeks for me to get over it with some of what they now call long COVID.

Been so careful since. Masked always double vaxxed and boosted, practically a shut-in. Tested positive three days ago. Am so angry and also fearful. Nasal congestion, dry cough, terrible fatigue but no sleep, fever and brain fog. Am in day 4 and hoping I get through it.

Glad you are all here.

I have finally achieved my troika: two jabs and a booster. Interesting side effects from the booster are my gums are sensitive and my L knee cap is menacing me. If I'm sittting I have to slowly extend my L leg to make sure the cap moves. It doesn't sometimes and I have to slowly do it again. It's weird. Oh, that and some weird dreams the morning I got it.

My upstairs neighbor that I mentioned about 3 weeks ago is still coughsneezing. I've kept my windows closed for fear of the airborne qualities of this variant. Can it still be viable to infect after such a long time?

My friend started showing symptoms Monday, which freaked me out because she was above and beyond the most isolated person I knew in quarantine. (leaving the house once a month, deliveries of everything, etc.)

Stuffy and slightly fatigued, but no other symptoms and still testing negative. Looks like she somehow caught a plain old head cold.

Some of you queens must have the worst luck and/or immune systems. I'm double vaxxed and boosted since mid-November. I barely wear a face diaper anymore unless the store requires it. I eat in restaurants, have started back at the gym, etc., and haven't caught COVID. I need to get tested once a week for my job, and so far nothing. Unless you are severely immuno-compromised from chemo, etc., throw away the face diapers, go outside, and live your lives.

R393 I swear, the MAGA cult assholes copy and paste this paragraph and post it wherever they can. Do you know how many times I've seen this stupid post on Twitter and Facebook?

Revise your content, idiot.

r394, I am not a MAGA troll. I'm a dem. We've stopped living our lives long enough. This thing is never going away, and we learn to need to live with it.

R398 They also say they're not MAGA cultists when you call them MAGA cultists.

Such a tired playbook.

Off you fuck r393

R397 Then they tell you to fuck off after you've called them on their bullshit.

I had R393 blocked before it was cool.

r393, you live your life your way, never mind us.

[R391] take every precaution. Assume nothing. Good luck. Do you know if your nabe is vaccinated? Does it sound like they're covering their mouth? That's kind of a hard one, to knock on their door and say, "Hello, you vile motherfucker. During a non-pandemic your endless coughing and sneezing would just annoy me. However, presently, it does more than annoy me. It makes me think you should have been exposed on a hillside at birth. Have you been vaccinated? If not, do you have a next of kin I can notify after the fatal accident you're about to have?"

Pardon the drama, I'm just all out of fucks to give about imbeciles. My patience has been worn to the brake pads treating them with the respect they don't deserve. If you do knock on their door, make sure they're not armed, m'kay?

R400 Actually, no. It's MAGA fucks like R393 who are putting others at risk and prolonging this pandemic. So no, it's not appropriate to say "live your life."

Live your life responsibly, you miserable, selfish fuck, R393.

Not gonna respond to or link to the obvious MAGA asshole upthread, except to say that no one who is double vaxxed and boosted refers to masks as a "face diaper".

R403 Exactly.

To be fair, in the case of R393 a "face diaper" seems appropriate for the shit coming out of his mouth.

Oh the irony of homosexuals telling me how selfish I'm being. Your selfish egocentric sexual compulsion triggered and fed, and continues to feed, the AIDS plague.

R406 Take it to Gettr, MAGA frau, right after you go to WalMart and harass employees for requiring masks in the store.

r401, I have no idea- he's a new roommate to the existing neighbor, who doesn't wear a mask. He certainly doesn't sound like he's covering his mouth when he coughsneezes. At least it's only a few times a day, as opposed to the non-stop that he was doing 3 weeks ago (I had posted that he was full on for 3 days, then radio silence for a day- I presumed he went to the hospital), then back to his old hacking ways.

About three to four weeks ago I had a terrible sinus headache and pressure, post-nasal drip and a cough. I tested negative (I am double vaxxed and boosted). I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and prescribed a 5 day steroid pack, antibiotics, cough pearls, Flonase and Zyrtec. After five days I was not better. It took almost six days to shake this thing. During this time I had two negative rapid PCR tests. However, I still wonder if I had COVID because, despite all the meds, I could not shake it. I was out from work for two days it was so bad. Is it possible I had COVID but it just didn't register on the PCR test?

Umm, no, R409. Sometimes, a cold is just a cold.

Sigmund F.

Thanks Dr. Freud. I was asking because I read online that some people dx'd with a sinus infection and negative PCR test may have had Omicron and the test didn't pick it up because viral load was low. But maybe you're right and a sinus infection is just a sinus infection.

Not everything is omicron. Sometimes HIV seroconversion flu is just HIV seroconversion flu, whores!

R412 I see the MAGA frau is still here trying to get attention.

MAGA chick and proud of it!! Breaking out the popcorn for when Roe v. Wade is finely overturned.

I tested positive a week ago Friday - absolutely no symptoms and only got tested because my partner got a sinus infection and he went to get tested just to be sure.

He's been sick for over a week. I had some fatigue one day - but that could have been anything.

Luckily I've been wearing masks at work and no co-workers got it from me. But very weird to have something that could potentially kill someone. I'm double vaxxed and boostered.

I suspect a lot more people have had Omicron than we thought. But I really hate how everyone is downplaying this variant. A co-worker's cousin died of it last week and one of my best friends (double vaxxed and boostered) just spent 3 days in the hospital.

It's not something to be so dismissive about. Everyone needs to be responsible.

Donated blood last week. Then went to the website and signed in and set up an account as it was my first time in years.

Surprised to find out I already had it. The test showed I was vaccinated, then another showed I had it already. Never knew I did. Had what was like a mild cold over the holidays.

[post redacted because independent.co.uk thinks that links to their ridiculous rag are a bad thing. Somebody might want to tell them how the internet works. Or not. We don't really care. They do suck though. Our advice is that you should not click on the link and whatever you do, don't read their truly terrible articles.]

My friend is like everyone has it. It's nothing to worry about now. Made me mad. I feel it should still be something to watch out for.

From R417:

[quote] A state trooper who left his job over a vaccine mandate, telling Washington state governor Jay Inslee to "kiss my ass", has died of Covid. Robert LeMay, 51, was fired in October over his refusal to get the jab and filmed a video of himself hitting out at Mr Inslee.

🤷‍♂️

It's over. We're in the endemic phase. Keep the ivermectin handy. Come out of your basements. Burn the masks. Live your lives.

My God r386. Just... my God. You callous prick.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason with this.. An unvaccinated co-workers wife and her grandmother (93 and unvaccinated) both tested positive a few days before Christmas. On Monday, a fully recovered grandma attended her granddaughter’s funeral

Was the granddaughter a fattie?

I waited to receive a booster vaccine that matched my first two doses (1st April, 2nd October, 3rd “booster” January). I thought my early symptoms (joint stiffness, headache) were merely my body adjusting to the third dose of the vaccine (a research trial for a vaccine made from the spike proteins of covid, not an mRNA form). I was diagnosed with Covid Omicron at 3 AM last Tuesday and have since been isolated with pretty horrible symptoms that now include a secondary infection and tonsillitis, extremely painful. In spite of anti-nausea meds, I have intermittent bouts of violent nausea. It’s tough to describe that experience, but I have basically vomited dark green material from a painful upper respiratory infection, and that vomit over my infected tonsils is excruciating. The lowest point involves dry heaving bile solids, but I cannot keep anything down including fluids. I’m dehydrated, and it is very painful to speak or swallow.

Only this late evening, day 5, has the infection slowed (clearer secretions), and the nausea abated. I have struggled to stay hydrated and, at times, the forceful vomiting felt like food poisoning. I am awake because when I drift off to sleep, I get an explosive cough and still more material is produced, but less of it.

I did everything my doctors advised, and have stayed masked throughout because I lead an organization and have a public profile. It is plausible that I picked up the Omicron from a parking attendant and valet moving my vehicle and staying warm in the vehicle during this unusual cold snap in our region.

Hopefully I’m near the close of the worse symptoms (nausea, extreme sore throat). My breathing is actually clear, and that has kept me out of the hospital, as all sources indicate about the vaccine. “Mild” symptoms, to me after this week of hell, mean “no hospitalization “, but this experience overall has been traumatic. 17lbs lost, hours on hours of violent nausea, loss of taste and smell, and the worst sore throat (like mononucleosis, strep).

I am wrung out. A really rough slog. Hopefully I am near the last of this. It’s been a hearty dose of mortality.

[quote]I have basically vomited dark green material from a painful upper respiratory infection,

What a marvelous day for an exorcism.

(but seriously hope you are better soon.)

R421

Nice try, but fuck off. There's nothing in my post that gives offense. You got the wrong number (as usual).

R424 Thanks for sharing. Feel better soon. How awful.

a cousin got covid from her kid. The kid got it from school. She has issues with her immune system and got all her shots. She has terrible headaches and tiredness.

R415 here - tested positive for COVD 3 weeks ago and was fine. Until 4 days ago - been sick ever since but finally feeling a bit better today. Not sure if it's COVID or just a cold - hard to tell because symptoms of Omicron are the same.

I'm still not sure what to make of this. They say that people can decline in the 3rd or 4th week - which is when I actually got any symptoms, so maybe it was a long period for me?

It's not anything to fuck around with or take lightly.

You can have mild symptoms and then feel tired for a month afterwards. So yes, it is not anything to fuck around with.

R429 I saw a special on German tv news today. They have identified that certain people who do not get very sick at all, nevertheless develop antibodies that gradually over weeks restrict the blood cells' ability to change shape and circulate well. This can lead to long covid or late-manifesting covid. The good news is they (Planck Institute) have a miracle concoction that returns this capacity to cells and patients rapidly recover. Including taste and smell.

It was a report on Deutsche Welle the German news station. And the Planck Institute discovered this through microscopy not chemistry, especially. They just starting observing microscopy what was happening in the veins and arteries of people declining over time, but not critically ill. Its the antibodies doing damage to blood circulation everywhere. Not the corona virus.

The drug is called BC007. Here is a link to one of the researchers.

Anyway, I think its clear that certain people who weren't that sick still can have this form of long term decline from this immune system going out of whack. But looks like there will be fixes coming soon.

Since August to now this report I saw today - they have tried the drug on many patients and it often works but not always works.

R431 - late manifesting COVID - well that would describe me. It was literally 3 weeks after contact and 2 weeks after the positive test when I had symptoms. Omicron variant usually shows within 48-72 hours, as it did from the person I caught it from and my partner. I have to assume I had Omicron variant.

I'm much better now - after 4 days - but don't know what to make of this. I thought I was skating through and was one of those with no symptoms ever. But nope.

Just hope this doesn't mean a long term COVID in various ways. Don't want to think about that. Again- I'm fine, but now a bit worried.

well I assume long covid is not the norm. And if you feel better you probably are.

how you are ok r435

you sound like a good person

R435, what were your symptoms?

How can you tell if it's COVID of HIV seroconversion flu?

R438 - severe headaches, sinus congestion, fever, bodyaches, chills. Like a flu. I was back at work exactly 3 days before I got sick - so it's possibly that I caught a flu virus at work, but I work masks religiously, so I don't think it was the flu.

And yes, I had my flu shot last year.

Hope you are feeling better now, R440.

R441 - R440 here. I felt better and now I feel sick and run down again. Seriously. It's only been 6 days since I became sick - but didn't expect to swing back again.