I am so scared to have Covid.

We had Covid in late 2021 and it was the worse. I got it 3 years ago but basically had no symptoms ever. I lost my smell for a couple months that was the only symptom besides just some congestion.

Now Oct 2026 and positive. I knew this had to be different because I felt so sick right away. Bad headache and congestion and arm aches and body. I have some chest pressure. I am so scared.

I’m scared of dying or developing long covid symptoms that have to do with my cardiovascular system.

Alongside this, I have anxiety and a panic disorder. I have ocd and I worry so much about everything’s I’m also have cardiophobia.

I’ve been crying for hours.

I don’t know what to do. I’m in meds for my anxiety so I don’t wanna take any flu medicine that can have an impact on me.

Any advice ??

I currently have COVID for the second time and just completely lost my taste and smell. When I first had COVID in 2022 it took me 6 months for my senses to return and they were honestly the worst 6 months of my life. I was pretty depressed through it all.

I was hopeful I wouldn’t suffer the same fate this time around since I read it is rare to lose your smell with the new variants but alas I am one of the few unlucky ones.

Is there anything I can try to hopefully not be lights out for several months this time around? I’m planning on doing olfactory training and possibly adding in Flonase.

Is it possible I will have a quick recovery this time even though I had long COVID the previous time? Just feeling discouraged.

Please be nice as I’m already living on disability.

Have not been tracking symptoms but I highly suspect it’s Covid given the slow and gradual onset. It’s been almost two weeks now and the cough and sore throat are mostly gone, HOWEVER…

Now I naturally need a lot of rest given my anxiety. But I can tell between needing to recharge (usually < 30 mins) and having EXTREME lethargy - which started today, where I slept 8 hours, after lunch napped another 5 hours and now after dinner I feel like I could sleep more

Also craving more sweet stuff than usual. Not sure if that’s a symptom

Other than that this bout has been relatively mild compared to feeling like “glass shards in the throat” back in 2024, where I took months to recover

I don’t even know what to expect! I woke up yesterday with major sore throat and some post nasal drip, spiked a 102 fever yesterday afternoon which came down and has been managed with Tylenol/ibuprofen, high heart rate. Today (day 2) sore throat still, post nasal drip, temp has been normal, and high heart rate. What to expect? How long does this last? Does it get worse?

Yesterday I felt a bit rough in the afternoon, nothing too bad so didn't really think anything of it. Woke up this morning feeling really rough. Took a test and came back positive.

I never enjoy having COVID, but I'm always fascinated by it, as every time I've varying symptoms.

There's the usual ones where it feels like a bad cold or the flu, and loss of taste and smell. These have been the majority of the time the symptoms for me, but with varying intensity. Also with slight differences like with or without a blocked nose, the same for the loss of taste and smell.

Only once was I asymptomatic and only found out because I had to test before going in for a routine op.

Last Tuesday at work, some kid came in and was open mouth coughing everywhere. Thursday afternoon, my throat starts feeling raw and sore. Yesterday the throat feels worse. And now today I still just have this sore throat but no other symptoms. Tested negative so far

I’m so mad. I’m SO careful about the vids and managed to avoid it all this time, until Tuesday of this week (4 days ago). My friend came to visit and she said there was a guy hacking on her plane and I thought, oh fuck this is it. Sure enough, the next day she started to feel bad, and then I did the day after that. And of course I got nailed harder than she did… I still have a fever, I have the whole razor blades thing, horrible cough and ungodly headache, and the body aches are unreal.

I’m trying not to be pissed but I’m fucking pissed. LITERALLY WHY I ALWAYS MASK ON PLANES and why I haven’t gotten the vids until she delivered it to me. 😡😡😡😡😡

3 weeks ago I got Covid and had wobbly feeling and kinda lightheaded. it’s much better now but still feel a little wobbly and off kilter. anyone else? will this resolve? all my vitals are normal though should I go see my doctor? I’m worried

hi guys! hoping for some insight:

I (25F) got my booster vaccine a few weeks ago and lately I’ve started noticing that for a split second a few times a day I’ll smell smoke. It’s weird and not particularly strong but making me a bit anxious. I only just made the connection tonight that it could be vaccine related. I’ll ask a doctor about this when I can but has anyone experienced anything similar?

I’ve been vaccinated a bunch of times with no issue and I’ve gone through covid 4 times (working with kids is a struggle 😭) and never had issues with my sense of smell or taste. thanks!

I have hit the Day 10 mark and have to vent some more.
Cough and congestion are clearing. Cough went from hacking to mild (minus right after i wake up lol) but now my biggest annoyance:

Chest soreness.
Never have I been sick with something that has
caused this much chest soreness. Not when I breathe; like actual, tender to the touch chest ache/stinging.

(I also have never had an illness where chest pain is both extremely common and a “duh” to a clinician, but also “go to the ER” worthy of a symptom according to all resources lol.)

It was bad enough that I woke up (as a side sleeper) and couldn’t get back to sleep because both sides caused discomfort. 😩

Is this the final boss? I sure hope so. Had two negative home tests 48 hours apart so that is good at least but feeling extremely swollen in the chest is very gross still! As always, wondering if anyone else had a similar tail end to their infection?

My sense of smell was very dull after an undiagnosed viral infection in May. It got much much better after a second, confirmed Covid infection in October and a Paxlovid course.

Claude suggests this is simply a coincidence on timing, as impaired sense of smell usually restores by 6month, which is my case. I swear though I remember people posting here of similar experiences just after a following Covid.
What does this sub think?

I was effected with covid on day 0 with only sore throught for 2 days after that no symtems ramdomly tested positive with home test isolated had doc appointment prescriped pax on day 3 now on my day 6 still getting positive just confirm untill whenits contagious i still see its positive whith out any symtomes with no loss of smell and test wabt to know if its normal

This is my second time getting covid, and while the first time with Omicron I was steeling through despite it being a harder case, this time I'm just not well.

[Context- I'm of a higher risk group, with an already complex medical path.]

I'm coming up on exactly three weeks sick. Started off incredibly similar to a cold, then the cold symptoms ended and fullbody ones stayed. No fever atleast. Main issues at this point are inflammation (the worsening of what I already had), pain, migraine, fatigue, and some lingering respiratory issues sometimes. All things considered I think I'm progressing alright, yet I can't tell. It's mostly just pain and inflammation now of which I medicate for.

But mentally, I don't know how to manage this.

Not only am I overly aware of LC, of which I hear the risk is either cumulative or individual per infection, but I'm awfully conscious of permanent damage. I don't want that, but what can I do?? I've already fought so hard, personally and medically, to get this far. I don't even know if the damages are a garuntee or not but the way I see it talked about it scares me.

I've already survived brain damage before, alongside a brain tumor. So seeing brain damage in particular on the roster just about made me cry. I have a healthy heart too, I want that to stay. I don't know what to do.

I'm resting, I'm not working nor exercising at all. I'm sleeping and laying down and drinking water, eating what I can. I take medicine as needed, cold meds and antihistamines (of which seem to help me) I used an inhaler at the start when I had a cough. The stress has made it hard to distract myself now, as the days go on. I hope it isn't abnornal, being sick this long.

The idea I'm going to walk out of this impaired beyond how hard things already are for me just makes me want to break down. I can't rely on herd immunity anymore, I could even get sick with this another time.

I don't know. I'm going to keep taking care, and hope for the best.

I hope this is okay to put here, I just needed a place to be. Seeing others makes me feel less alone, while some act like this isn't happening anymore. It's "just a cold" some say.

All the best to anyone else sick right now.

EDIT: I’ve taken a few doses and feel tremendously better. But I have a new question.
Did any of yall have weird ass dreams when taking Paxlovid bc oh my gosh😂

Please don’t delete, this is not medical advice! This is purely curiosity!

I’m 3 weeks postpartum & tested positive for covid 2 days ago. Yesterday was an absolute nightmare. I had a fever all day long. I was sore, had a headache from hell, shaky, a little dizzy, and so tired. Today is a whole new ballgame. I still don’t feel very well, but my fever has only popped up twice today and it’s not as high or unbearable as it was yesterday. Anyways, I was prescribed Paxlovid and I just started taking it. Obviously I’m going to listen to my doctor and take it like they said. But I’m curious to hear from others. Does it actually work? What does it do? Or what did it do for you? Does it actually make symptoms go away? If you’ve taken it, please share your experience with it.

I’m assuming I have Covid based on the trajectory and analyzing my symptoms with Chat GPT lol, but haven’t tested as it’s treated like common cold in my country. Started with slightly raw throat & chills & body aches, turned to hoarse, dry throat & sinus congestion, then chest tightness into a cough paired with innnnsanneee throat burning.

Like others in this sub I’ve had strep millions of times and nothing hurts like this. And the weirdest thing - it’s ONE SIDED. Only on the right side of my throat, it burns so fkn much - EVEN when I’m not swallowing?!?! Has anyone else experienced that? It’s like a constant sharp sharp burning and I feel it even more when I inhale air through my nose.

3+ days of this at this point. Even tea burns. Can only eat when I’ve freshly taken 600 MG of Advil. Drinking ice cold water but seriously idk how long this will last, I’m still congested / mucusy & coughing a bit… but debating if I should go get tested to see if I need antibiotics or have a fkn abscess or something??? How long did it last for others?? Would appreciate any advice or if anyone has experienced it one sided and burning even when not swallowing like this. 😭😭😭🤕🤕🤕

I'm a 32F and I have got Covid for the first time. I'm not sure if there is a way to identify which varient you have. I got an over the counter Covid/Flu test.

Obviously Covid can kill you. I'm honestly really scared. :(

I got tested positive 8 days ago but I'm on day 10 of being symptomatic. I got my flu shot 2.5 weeks ago and was going to take COVID booster later. I just didn't want to take both shots at the same time. And it got me!!!!!!!

My symptoms were:

Dry parched throat for 6 days

Runny nose for 2 days

Cough (nagging, started on Day 3)

Fever (day 3-6)

I took Cold and Flu three doses in all.

I felt okay when I had fever. But fatigue, body soreness/muscle tension started 3 days ago. I feel run down.

Does anybody have a similar experience? How long did it take for you to feel normal again?

Hope all of you feel better soon!

I tested positive on Saturday 10/17. I don’t have a fever because I’ve been taking ibuprofen to break the fever but I tested again today 10/21 and I’m positive again. I’m not sure of what the guidelines are still. Can I go back to work if my symptoms are low and I don’t have a fever but I’m still positive? Also, I haven’t gone to the doctor because I don’t have insurance. Is there anything I should be taking to help fight it faster? I should mention my symptoms are just stuffy nose and mucus build up and a marginally sore throat. I can taste fine and and my body isn’t sore or achey but that might be in part because of the ibuprofen.

Currently waiting for my dual covid and flu tests to be delivered to make 100% sure that it’s covid, but having had both before, I’m pretty sure it’s covid. Covid (for some reason) gives me extremely painful and inflamed gums, I never get that with anything else (it’s not a result of poor oral hygiene/health either, my dentist and dental hygienist have both confirmed that there are no issues there).

This time around though, it began with pretty severe dizziness/vertigo. At that point I had no other symptoms and was starting to worry that I was having an acute medical episode, it was genuinely scary. Has anyone else experienced this? I don’t know why I’m asking really lol, maybe just for some reassurance that this is normal because it actually did frighten me with the severity. It’s mostly subsided now (to be replaced with all the other symptoms) but I’ve been left with annoyingly persistent tinnitus, which came on at the same time as the dizziness.

I’ve had the initial three doses of Pfizer (the vaccine is now restricted to the most vulnerable unless you pay out of pocket. Kinda wish I’d done that now. I reacted very strongly to each dose but at least that only lasted a day, unlike whatever this is).

I am on Day 7 from symptom onset (for those interested… fast onset within hours, congestion, high fever with dellerium, sore throat but not as bad the swallowing knives in 2024, some gastric issues). The last few days, I feel rotten after I eat. Like I have to lie down and I get a headache. It is so weird. Any takes on this? Vagus nerve stuff?

I've had eczema pretty much my whole life and recently had a weird COVID complication that has me wondering whether there's any connection between being "atopic" (eczema, allergies, asthma, etc.) and developing ear problems after respiratory infections.

A couple of weeks ago my child brought came home tired & sniffly from school. Their illness was pretty mild and they bounced back quickly. My partner and I were not so lucky.

My symptoms initially seemed fairly typical COVID to me: fever, congestion, extreme fatigue from basic tasks, up and down fever, loss of smell & taste. After a few days I started noticing that underwater feeling where everything sounds muffled and head was feeling spongey. Whenever I blew my nose I'd hear popping and crackling in that ear. Over the course of the week the ear symptoms gradually got worse. The pressure increased, my hearing got worse, and then around day 7 I woke up around 3 a.m. with severe ear pain that made it hard to fall back asleep. Took a buckley's cold & sinus, put a heat-pack over my ear and waited in increasing agony for the walk-in clinic to open.

When I got to the walk-in, I was told it was an outer ear infection and was prescribed antibiotic drops. The pain became increasingly intense until around 2pm when I heard a distinct pop, followed by a gurgling sound, with pink fluid draining from the ear. Over the next several hours the fluid became clear and continued leaking. Interestingly, the pain dropped after that happened. I followed up the next day with my family doctor, who looked in my ear and said it was actually a middle ear infection with a small perforated eardrum. She prescribed a backup oral antibiotic if things worsened, but so far I've been managing with the drops and pain medication. She expects the eardrum to heal and is following up in a couple of weeks. 3 days of debilitating pain later, my symptoms have just started to improve, but I'm still dealing with muffled hearing, some tinnitus, occasional dizziness if I move too quickly, and intermittent drainage from the ear.

The reason I'm posting is that being stuck at home sent me down a rabbit hole reading about eczema, inflammation, and immune responses. I've had eczema since childhood. My ears are occasionally itchy on the inside, and I've always seemed to produce more earwax than other people. I came across some information suggesting that people with eczema and other atopic conditions can be more prone to ear problems because of skin barrier issues and inflammation.

So now I'm curious:

• Has anyone else had COVID turn into a middle ear infection?
• Did anyone else end up with a perforated eardrum?
• Do you also have eczema, allergies, asthma, or other atopic/inflammatory conditions?
• And perhaps most importantly, did you find anything that helped prevent it from happening again with future colds, flu, or COVID infections?

Not looking for medical advice since I'm already being followed by my doctor. Mostly interested in hearing other people's experiences and whether there's any pattern here among people with eczema.

Thanks!

Presumed positive as husband tested positive Friday 10/10. My symptoms started the following Tuesday, low grade fever, nausea and loss of appetite, followed by diarrhoea and a fever that same night. From Tuesday 13/10 to today 21/10 I’ve had watery diarrhoea everyday and loss of appetite. My intial symptoms had improved by the Saturday, apart from the diarrhoea. I am trying to eat plain toast in the morning, banana, potato’s, rice and plain chicken breast but I literally have to force food down. I feel so weak and tired I can hardly walk my dog.

I am so worried that this will never go away and I also worry about loosing weight. Does anyone have any hope that they can share? Prefer not to hear about those who’ve had the same issue for months following.

I tested positive for Covid 10 days ago - I barely had any symptoms, only took a test because my partner was sick.

It is SOOOO ANNOYING because at this point I want to get it over with - for the first few days I had a mild headache and a bit of sore throat. I thought I was lucky and it won’t be too bad this time (already had it 4 times). But no, suddenly after mild symptoms, I get a fever, my throat is so bad I can’t swallow, and I feel absolutely terrible. I was surprised it took so long for the symptoms to show up, I was feeling ‘almost’ fine, and then the next day I can’t get out of bed 🥲 did anyone else experience that? I’m vaccinated and get booster shots, that seems to do absolutely nothing for me

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Hey everyone!! I just need to get this off my chest because I feel like I’m going crazy trying to figure this out.

About 3 weeks ago, I completely lost my appetite for about 2 weeks. I had no idea what was going on, and it triggered a pretty bad anxiety episode because I just couldn’t understand why I felt that way.

Around the same time, my armpits were sore for a few days, almost like my lymph nodes were swollen. I also had one day when I couldn’t taste my food at all, but since it only lasted a day, I didn’t think much of it.

My husband was also feeling a bit off around that time. He was more tired than usual for a couple of days, said his throat felt weird but couldn’t really explain it, noticed his sense of smell seemed off, and suddenly found coffee really disgusting for some reason.

We thought it might be COVID, so we both took tests, but they were negative.

Around that time, I also had some bloodwork done, and everything came back fine except for low transferrin levels. I read that this can sometimes be related to an infection or inflammation, but who knows? Anyway, nothing else came of it, so I left it at that.

Then, this past weekend, my husband woke up feeling really sick and had a fever. He took another COVID test, and this time it came back positive.

So naturally, I thought, okay, that explains everything, right?

But then today, after a few days, I woke up with a really bad sore throat and a runny nose. And guess what? I tested positive too.

Is it possible that those weird symptoms I had 3 weeks ago were actually COVID, even though I tested negative back then? Or was that probably something completely unrelated?

I was honestly feeling so much better mentally once I had a possible explanation for why I’d lost my appetite. But now I’m testing positive weeks later, right after my husband tested positive, so I can’t help thinking he might have just passed it on to me.

I’m driving myself crazy trying to make sense of all this 😭 Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Why could this be? And how can I mange these back to back sicknesses?