Anyone with COVID Lately?

[missva]

So I started feeling sick Saturday, but thought it was just a cold. Spiked a fever Monday, so tested and it's COVID. Fever went away Tuesday night and I'm feeling much better, but just tested to see and the line turned immediately. We have plans this weekend (outdoor) but I don't want to risk anyone getting sick. New CDC guidelines say end isolation after 24 hours with no fever and improving symptoms, but the immediately line change means I'm still highly contagious right? Also, this time wasn't as bad as last time, but the congestion is no joke! Anyone else had it recently? - wondering what your experience was like. 

[tennisgal]

not me, but both my kids had it last month. They were both congested and coughing, had fevers and were really tired. Thankfully, they both only felt like junk 2-3 days.

[Poppy]

I thought the guidelines were to end isolation but still continue layered protective measures (avoid close contact, wear a mask, move gatherings outside, etc)?

[waverly]

Nov 7, 2024 9:59:08 GMT -5 Poppy said:

I thought the guidelines were to end isolation but still continue layered protective measures (avoid close contact, wear a mask, move gatherings outside, etc)?

Yes, added precuations for the next 5 days after the fever went away.  

[Poppy]

Yeah here is what the CDC says:


"When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors. This is especially important to protect people with factors that increase their risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses."

www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html


So I would probably go but consider wearing a mask and try to minimize direct close interactions.

[Poppy]

To answer your other question, I had it in August and was pretty congested. Just felt overall crummy and blah. But didn't have the headache or the degree of fatigue I had in the past.

[rachers]

I had it a few weeks ago. No fever but I just felt like I got hit by a bus and a severe cold.

I would isolate as much as you can and if you have to go out, definitely mask and try to stay away from people.

We have a ton of other illnesses going around in my area now so I would feel terrible if I added Covid to anyone.

[sdlaura]

We had it not too long ago. I was shocked by how quickly we tested negative this time around - after only a few days. Versus when we originally had it and it took forever to get a negative test.

We resumed all outdoor activities pretty fast. If you’re not coughing and sneezing al over people, I’d be fine doing outdoor stuff several days after fever went away.

[dexteroni]

We both had it in September, and the yeah congestion was like omg. Our main symptoms after the fever went away were congestion, drainage, coughing from the drainage, and endless sneezing. It was far beyond the worst cold I’ve ever had. We were sneezing for a while even after testing negative, so we actually isolated for a little over two weeks. We did curbside pickups, but we were both sneezing too much to be out in public, even with masks.

If you’re just congested and aren’t coughing or sneezing, I think you’re ok to go out in a mask. Will you be walking around and not near any one person for too long, or will you be seated like at a game? That might also affect my decision if this were me. But if you can, I’d wait until the day of or the day before to decide.

[missva]

Nov 7, 2024 10:44:38 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

We both had it in September, and the yeah congestion was like omg. Our main symptoms after the fever went away were congestion, drainage, coughing from the drainage, and endless sneezing. It was far beyond the worst cold I’ve ever had. We were sneezing for a while even after testing negative, so we actually isolated for a little over two weeks. We did curbside pickups, but we were both sneezing too much to be out in public, even with masks.

If you’re just congested and aren’t coughing or sneezing, I think you’re ok to go out in a mask. Will you be walking around and not near any one person for too long, or will you be seated like at a game? That might also affect my decision if this were me. But if you can, I’d wait until the day of or the day before to decide.

It's an outdoor festival. We have a house in the mountains with several other people, so I'd mask while in the house. Outside it's standing around. We've already bought tickets and paid for the house so kinda sucks.

[Susie]

My dad and husband both tested positive for it in August, and we're guessing I and the kids may have also had it because we had mild symptoms without a positive test.

My dad had GI symptoms, major congestion, sore throat, fever.  He was really sick.

MH had a headache.  That's pretty much it.  He wouldn't have even tested, except that my dad was covid+ and had been staying with us.

I also had shingles at the time, so it's hard to say what was from shingles and what was from covid.  I definitely had the headache.

It seems pretty variable.

[dexteroni]

Nov 7, 2024 10:46:41 GMT -5 missva said:

It's an outdoor festival. We have a house in the mountains with several other people, so I'd mask while in the house. Outside it's standing around. We've already bought tickets and paid for the house so kinda sucks.

I personally wouldn't go stay in a vacation house with other people this soon, even masked. I know you are technically within the guidelines to go and mask, but I wouldn’t. Sharing a space for the duration of an event is one thing, but overnight and sharing bathrooms is another IMO. Is it close enough for you to go to the festival for the day and then go home? If you are going to go, please let everyone who would be staying in the house know in case anyone isn’t comfortable with it.

I know it sucks! We had to miss two concerts to which we weren’t able to resell the tickets, and a friends group night out while we had Covid. I definitely sympathize!

[missva]

I've already let them all know and will make a game time decision. Our room is on a different level with our own bathroom, but obviously there would be hanging out in common areas etc.

[spindle92]

I had it 2 weeks ago and mine then turned into pneumonia.

[mrsukyankee]

I was Covid positive for a week and didn't leave my room the entire time. I was congested like crazy, struggled to sleep and had chills/fever for a few days. I felt much better the last 3 days. Luckily, my H and MIL didn't get it.

[penelope]

We had it again in August as well. Stuffy, sore throat and tired for about three days or so. And tired. But nothing like the last time. That was over a week of fever, body aches and chills I never want to have again. And that took weeks to bounce back from. This time I was back to normal a couple of days after symptoms started (energy-wise).

[dancingnancy]

About a month and a half ago and just like the previous 2 times it took me 10+ days to test negative. I have always just gone by whatever the current CDC guidelines are.

[mich1]

We were in this situation this past summer. We had spent over $700 for a B&B to go to DH’s family reunion. The morning we were to leave, DH’s nose was running so he tested, and tested positive. We lost our $$ on the B&B.

Just be aware that Covid tests do NOT determine you are contagious. All the tests do is test for virus, and cannot discern between live and dead virus. After having the disease, you can shed dead virus up to 3 months after having had Covid.

I’d go by the CDC recommendations for days after having tested positive, not a negative covid test.

[InBetweenDays]

Nov 7, 2024 14:06:30 GMT -5 mich1 said:

We were in this situation this past summer. We had spent over $700 for a B&B to go to DH’s family reunion. The morning we were to leave, DH’s nose was running so he tested, and tested positive. We lost our $$ on the B&B.

Just be aware that Covid tests do NOT determine you are contagious. All the tests do is test for virus, and cannot discern between live and dead virus. After having the disease, you can shed dead virus up to 3 months after having had Covid.

I’d go by the CDC recommendations for days after having tested positive, not a negative covid test.

I thought this was true for the PCR test but not the at-home rapid antigen tests. I don't think the antigen tests are sensitive enough to detect dead virus. You're correct that neither test can tell you if you're contagious, but you shouldn't test positive on an antigen test for months after having covid.

[missva]

Nov 7, 2024 14:06:30 GMT -5 mich1 said:

We were in this situation this past summer. We had spent over $700 for a B&B to go to DH’s family reunion. The morning we were to leave, DH’s nose was running so he tested, and tested positive. We lost our $$ on the B&B.

Just be aware that Covid tests do NOT determine you are contagious. All the tests do is test for virus, and cannot discern between live and dead virus. After having the disease, you can shed dead virus up to 3 months after having had Covid.

I’d go by the CDC recommendations for days after having tested positive, not a negative covid test.

I wasn't necessarily looking for a negative test, but was concerned by how quickly and dark it turned. Thanks for this info though. 

[timorousbeastie]

Nov 7, 2024 14:44:12 GMT -5 missva said:

Nov 7, 2024 14:06:30 GMT -5 mich1 said:

We were in this situation this past summer. We had spent over $700 for a B&B to go to DH’s family reunion. The morning we were to leave, DH’s nose was running so he tested, and tested positive. We lost our $$ on the B&B.

Just be aware that Covid tests do NOT determine you are contagious. All the tests do is test for virus, and cannot discern between live and dead virus. After having the disease, you can shed dead virus up to 3 months after having had Covid.

I’d go by the CDC recommendations for days after having tested positive, not a negative covid test.

I wasn't necessarily looking for a negative test, but was concerned by how quickly and dark it turned. Thanks for this info though. 

That information about the test is only for PCR, not the at home tests. PCRs can be positive for quite a while, but a positive at home test means you likely are still contagious.

[mich1]

Nov 7, 2024 16:25:50 GMT -5 timorousbeastie said:

Nov 7, 2024 14:44:12 GMT -5 missva said:

I wasn't necessarily looking for a negative test, but was concerned by how quickly and dark it turned. Thanks for this info though. 

That information about the test is only for PCR, not the at home tests. PCRs can be positive for quite a while, but a positive at home test means you likely are still contagious.

They are true for home tests too.  This is why you are only quarantined only so many days from testing positive.  

The home tests do not tell whether or not you are shedding live virus and are contagious.  Tests that determine that you are still shedding live virus only exist (AFAIK) in a lab setting.  It’s a tedious test, not possible to translate into a home setting 

[mich1]

Nov 7, 2024 14:34:55 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Nov 7, 2024 14:06:30 GMT -5 mich1 said:

We were in this situation this past summer. We had spent over $700 for a B&B to go to DH’s family reunion. The morning we were to leave, DH’s nose was running so he tested, and tested positive. We lost our $$ on the B&B.

Just be aware that Covid tests do NOT determine you are contagious. All the tests do is test for virus, and cannot discern between live and dead virus. After having the disease, you can shed dead virus up to 3 months after having had Covid.

I’d go by the CDC recommendations for days after having tested positive, not a negative covid test.

I thought this was true for the PCR test but not the at-home rapid antigen tests. I don't think the antigen tests are sensitive enough to detect dead virus. You're correct that neither test can tell you if you're contagious, but you shouldn't test positive on an antigen test for months after having covid.

From the FDA website on covid home tests…

What At-home COVID-19 Antigen Tests Do Not Tell You

If you have an infection immediately after you are exposed to COVID-19 because it may take 2 to 5 days, and sometimes longer, for the virus to be detected by a COVID-19 antigen test. How long it takes before a test can detect the virus may vary between different COVID-19 variants and different tests.
How contagious you are or if you can spread the virus to someone else. There are no tests that can tell you that. You could pass COVID-19 to others even before you get a positive result on a test.
If you have another type of respiratory illness, such as flu or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), unless it is a test specifically authorized for detection of these viruses.

[InBetweenDays]

Nov 7, 2024 17:05:19 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Nov 7, 2024 14:34:55 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

I thought this was true for the PCR test but not the at-home rapid antigen tests. I don't think the antigen tests are sensitive enough to detect dead virus. You're correct that neither test can tell you if you're contagious, but you shouldn't test positive on an antigen test for months after having covid.

From the FDA website on covid home tests…

What At-home COVID-19 Antigen Tests Do Not Tell You

If you have an infection immediately after you are exposed to COVID-19 because it may take 2 to 5 days, and sometimes longer, for the virus to be detected by a COVID-19 antigen test. How long it takes before a test can detect the virus may vary between different COVID-19 variants and different tests.
How contagious you are or if you can spread the virus to someone else. There are no tests that can tell you that. You could pass COVID-19 to others even before you get a positive result on a test.
If you have another type of respiratory illness, such as flu or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), unless it is a test specifically authorized for detection of these viruses.

Right, as I said I agree that neither test can tell you if you're contagious. But the antigen test isn't sensitive enough to pick up dead virus, so you shouldn't test positive for months on an at home antigen test. On a PCR test sure, but but not an antigen test.

[wanderingback]

Nov 7, 2024 17:05:19 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Nov 7, 2024 14:34:55 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

I thought this was true for the PCR test but not the at-home rapid antigen tests. I don't think the antigen tests are sensitive enough to detect dead virus. You're correct that neither test can tell you if you're contagious, but you shouldn't test positive on an antigen test for months after having covid.

From the FDA website on covid home tests…

What At-home COVID-19 Antigen Tests Do Not Tell You

If you have an infection immediately after you are exposed to COVID-19 because it may take 2 to 5 days, and sometimes longer, for the virus to be detected by a COVID-19 antigen test. How long it takes before a test can detect the virus may vary between different COVID-19 variants and different tests.
How contagious you are or if you can spread the virus to someone else. There are no tests that can tell you that. You could pass COVID-19 to others even before you get a positive result on a test.
If you have another type of respiratory illness, such as flu or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), unless it is a test specifically authorized for detection of these viruses.

I think people were correcting the part where you mentioned that antigen tests will detect "dead virus." Antigens are proteins and in general, antigen tests are picking up "active virus."

[missva]

FWIW - We decided to stay home this weekend. It's progressed to a cough and the line turned immediately pink again this morning so just didn't want to risk it. Also not sure I could have hung for 3 full days.

[bbdoll]

I had it over Labor Day. It took me out for two weeks. The cough was so bad that my lung partially collapsed. I'm still getting coughing spells now and then. I never ran a fever though. I was achy and had chills, but no actual fever.

[dexteroni]

Nov 8, 2024 14:36:54 GMT -5 missva said:

FWIW - We decided to stay home this weekend. It's progressed to a cough and the line turned immediately pink again this morning so just didn't want to risk it. Also not sure I could have hung for 3 full days.

I’m sorry! My BFF had it last month and hers went this route too, cold and then cough. She’s better now and I hope you feel better soon too.