LONG POST ALERT
COVID-19
I feel i should share my journey for info as a t2 diabetic who came through this. This seems the most appropriate thread.
I've just had it confirmed I have had (most probably) CV19.
Here is my social media post (just easier, hope this is ok):
I've just splashed out £69 for a home test for CV19. Its an antibody test which basically confirms whether you have had it in the PAST
I bought mine online. From Medichecks. Approved by Public Health England, PHE and the FDA. They send you a kit which includes a lancet (easy to get blood with one of these but better to run your fingers under warm water first) and a small test tube, plus clear instructions and a reply envelope. I posted it back Tuesday, got confirmation email of receipt yesterday and results today.
I HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.
I am sharing my journey for info. Many, like me, were extremely poorly towards the end of last year and early 2020. This might help others.
Here goes:
23rd November 2019
Eric (hubby) fell ill, fever, chills, cough, headache, aching muscles but NO RUNNY NOSE. Eric wasn't well for almost a week. But didn't need to seek medical assistance. Dosed up at home.
27th November
Phil my son fell ill with severe headache, aching body, felt so bad he was in bed for 2 days as he couldn't lift his head off the pillow. NO RUNNY NOSE
27th November
I fell ill. Never felt as bad in all my life. You know you're poorly when you get messages of concern from your son (never really seen me poorly).
Symptoms
Fever
Persistent cough (my post on fb actually say 'a cough that would kill a horse'
Wheezy as! (Post says 'like I smoke 100 a day)
Headache (which I never get)
Nausea
Lack of appetite (lost 5lbs)
NO RUNNY NOSE
1st DECEMBER
I seemed to start to feel a little better when I was hit by a 2nd wave on 1st Dec. I was due to go to my friend's special birthday but could not get warm and stayed lying on the floor in front of the gas fire feeling gutted. STILL COUGHING
3rd DECEMBER
Started to feel a little better. We had tickets for Les Mis at the Cinema (live streaming) and I almost gave them away because I was coughing so much and didn't want it to effect others enjoyment. But i went and actually posted:
'Thought it wouldnt be fair on people who paid a lot of money. They didnt pay that to hear me coughing. But no, I wasnt on my own, there was a whole choir of us coughing in perfect harmony'
8th DECEMBER
Due to see Retake That (tribute act to take that) . Eric had booked us in at Bella Italia for pre dinner in the hope i would eat something. NOTHING (waitress kindly boxed it up for me to take home for Phil who was by then fully recovered). Just wanted to go home. Feeling so poorly.
My post
'Home, settee, cough cough cough.
Rang Dr at 8am. Got cancellation apptment at 10! New dr. I was his 1st pt. Straight from hospital.
Never one to miss an opportunity I took him in an armful of info, inspirational stories, etc etc etc. Dr Unwin NICE ENDORSED guidelines. His Twitter link. Confirmed 73rd patient in remission saved £57k etc etc. New Dr so had 30 mins to do my thing in between his checks! Anyway I have a bacterial chest infection and am on antibiotics. Wheezy as. Got to go back if no improvement. I just want my appetite back. Funny nauseous feeling at the mo. So many dropping like flies in this area. 15 of Ammas (daughter) pupils off with norovirus!'
The antibiotics didn't work for my 'chest infection' and I almost went back. But it was improving.
I was still coughing up to late March. I would like an xray as I suspect some sort of scarring.
This virus knocked the wind out of my sails. I have an ongoing complaint case with Diabetes.org.uk as they give shocking advice out to diabetics and it needs to stop. I didn't have the energy to pursue this (not like me) and as such placed it on the back burner. That said it has become very apparent that COVID-19 targets metabolic syndrome, i.e. diabetes, obesity, blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and the health Secretary Matt Hancock is in talks with a group of top cardiologists including esteemed Dr Aseem Malhotra, who advocate low carb for improving metabolic health, so with any luck the official guidelines will be changing to something that actually benefits health, and not just for diabetics. That eatwell plate needs smashing up!
HOW DO I FEEL
I feel relieved to have had my suspicions confirmed. Hopefully won't be needing a ventilator any time soon! I won't feel as threatened with people breathing down my neck in the supermarket either! That said I know that this isn't a guaranteed that I won't get it again.
I also feel that me losing 4 stone (no longer overweight) and being well in control of my blood sugars (my blood sugar levels are lower than my non diabetic husbands) and my BP and cholestrol being optimal now may just have saved my life. So i also feel very lucky!
Hubby may just have benefited by losing almost 2 stone too!
Added some pics if anyone is interested in low carb way of eating.
Diabetes.co.uk is an excellent site with wonderfully helpful forum members
Diet doctor is amazing
https://phcuk.org/sugar/
For info
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/french-army-returned-wuhan-military-21988912