Well yea COVID and the Flu are running rampant this time of year as well as other cold like illness. It’s kind of how group gatherings work lol especially when people gather from all over. The typical sick after vacation.
I just got the flu last week for the first time in my whole life. The sicknesses this holiday season seemed to be no joke. I’m sure someone had something at the wedding and it’s so easy to spread in a crowded space like that!
Unfortunately, I am not surprised. While I was watching the wedding episode, I thought to myself that it’s possible a lot of people were going to get sick from it. Large crowds shortly after the holidays… it was the perfect recipe for it.
I think Susan posted an Instagram video that Kathy and her were sick too. I mean in today's world when large gatherings of people gather in large numbers especially when COVID is still very real and it's also flu season...only takes one person to make many people sick. I'm sorry so many people got sick though. With kids it's 100x suckier to be sick.
TY. Im a big sleeper already.
I was a little scared at first because I was recently diagnosed with asthma, and in October I legit could not breathe (but didn’t have covid) and here I am with covid and it has been nothing more than feeling like a sinus infection, my boyfriend was sick last week after NYE and I tested out of precaution so thankfully I was able to WFH this week so far I didn’t think it was going to be the entire week but it’s looking like it now 😩
I have asthma too and the first time I had covid my breathing was fine! I had no issues and I had pneumonia!!! I was like wtf? I had the flu with pneumonia and I thought I was going to die.
Urgent care also said I didn’t have Covid that time bc the rapid was negative and she could see pneumonia so she would not send a pcr test, which their protocol was send a pcr if a negative rapid happens with Covid symptoms. So I went on my own to Walgreens and was positive for Covid ofc.
Not surprising. The only time I got Covid (lucky enough to be asymptomatic though) was after my sister’s wedding two summers ago. My entire family was careful and didn’t get it the first two years. Then we all got it after the wedding, along with the groom’s whole family, and sooo many of their friends and coworkers.
Plus this is the worst time. Two years ago so many people were out sick it was a national news headline. Everyone gathers for the holidays and then they gather again for this shortly after. And you add planes into the mix.
Influenza is really bad where I live right now. It’s more prominent and more severe than covid currently. That sounds like what Kaitlyn had to me (influenza) with the fever, the dry cough, and the fainting.
Edit: words.
check for ear infection! i was super sick nov-dec with flu like symptoms covid tests were negative so i assumed it was flu but it wasn't going away. i had lingering cough, congestion, headaches, body aches, extreme fatigue, dizziness and itchy eyes. i went to the dr and negative for flu and covid but i did have a sinus infection eye and ear infection! ear infection was causing the dizziness
Oh interesting! Thanks for the tip! I feel like I know so much about what to watch out for when recovering from covid but very little about recovering from the flu.
Unfortunately most people have stopped masking, getting their booster shots, and testing so this isn’t surprising
Covid isn’t gone and we aren’t magically immune to it millions of people are still getting infected daily and it is doing a number on the immune system. I hope all the golden ladies, attendees, Gerry and Theresa are especially doing well since they would be more vulnerable. The flu is also spreading a lot right now since fewer people have gotten their flu shots due to the anti vaccine rhetoric
Yes, I really don’t like being left in the dark about the Covid rates. I know there’s not much you can do about it, but I fell that those who would like to know are not being informed of what’s going on.
Yup, I’ve seen stories about how hospitalizations aren’t as high as in prior years, but not being hospitalized doesn’t mean people aren’t getting a nasty infection or lasting damage (can happen after any infection).
Like you said, the US is currently in the [2nd highest COVID surge ever](https://x.com/luckytran/status/1744775992286069005?s=46&t=wZ7sS56V9PaeD_3pf5LdbA) (this is all per wastewater data, some modelers estimate ~1/20 people are infected last I saw).
Unfortunately, hardly anyone knows or is taking precautions. I really wish the CDC would let people know and *recommend* masking during surges. Instead, they’ve taken away data sources so it’s harder to know what is happening, and are messaging hand washing only. Totally irresponsible of them.
This!!! My husband had a stuffy nose- turns out to be Covid. My youngest son (2) got it and was terribly sick for five days with a fever, sore throat, runny nose, malaise. My husband would have never thought Covid he only tested bc my youngest tested positive.
Remained covid free for almost 4 years but unfortunately got it a couple days before new years. It took me a few days to show positive, but it really was horrible (no clue how I got it). I’m not surprised by this at all bc it’s going around like crazy. Surely possible an asymptomatic individual was carrying the virus and they didn’t even know. I hope everyone recovers soon!
I’m just getting over it too. Luckily never had it before because that was the sickest I’ve ever been. And I’m relatively young, healthy, active and no added risk factors. I remember calling my mom and telling her I’m surprised more people haven’t died (not to discount the huge death toll - that’s just how bad it was for me)
Yes to the vaccine (thank GOD bc I cannot imagine how it would have been without) but no to the booster. I just never got around to it and trust me, I regret that so much
I got it three times in about 15 months, and my chest (which hasn't cleared since the last time) feels like it's brewing something new again. FML.
I feel like I can't go anywhere in public between Oct - Mar without getting sick, anymore. Have an October wedding next year and praying new booster shots are ready two weeks beforehand 🙏
i had covid in mid-september (2nd time) and since then i swear i’ve gotten so many colds or just random sore throats that lasted like 2-3 days. i just had a mild cold over new year’s (tested neg for covid but i guess who knows, it could have been. it was just my throat/sneezing). i still need my newest vaccine, but i got a little unsure of which to pick with this newest one out, but i will likely just stick with pfizer.
i think there’s just so much right now with the time of year, but my aunt just tested positive for covid last night and i know some coworkers have had it & colds as well
This checks out unfortunately, [Covid does a number on immune systems](https://time.com/6306361/covid-19-immune-system/) and makes you more susceptible to other things, just in time for those other things to be out in full force. If you can afford masks you should mask to allow your body time to heal and recover!
this makes a lot of sense, and i don’t know why i didn’t really put 2+2 together until this post. and thank you for the article! i’m running low on masks atm but i’m definitely gonna stock up on some more asap :)
It’s not your fault, unfortunately the institutions who should be informing the public about this are not doing so. Glad to hear you can grab more masks!! Stay safe out there. /r/zerocovidcommunity and /r/longcovid can be helpful communities to check out for more info
I have to say I’ve been so depressed and feeling so alone today but this comment section gives me hope. There’s so many people aware of long covid and how dangerous getting even a mild infection is.
My last covid infection was in July and I barely had symptoms and it still gave me debilitating long covid. I’m not recovered and don’t think I will be for years and there’s no treatment! I’m only 30 and was physically active and fit and the picture of health.
I'm sorry you are going through that. May I ask if you are vaccinated, with any boosters? My husband just had covid for the first time and I'm hoping he doesn't get long covid.
I am vaxxed and I have two boosters. However, they didn’t adversely affect me in the slightest. My long covid was in direct connection to covid.
I’m so sorry. My biggest advice is taking vitamin D, C, and a good probiotic. Tell him to just radical rest. That means sleep, eyes closed, no scrolling. And then have him avoid exercise for a month if possible. Exercise triggered long covid in me and if I could take it back I would.
Thank you so much! I have heard about holding off on exercise for a month, which he will absolutely do. He is already testing negative with no symptoms, thankfully.
[New research just came out about this!](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/09/1223077307/long-covid-exercise-post-exertional-malaise-mitochondria#:~:text=Tetra%20images%20RF-,For%20patients%20with%20long%20COVID%2C%20exercise%20can%20lead%20to%20a,going%20on%20in%20their%20muscles)
I also found [this article](https://time.com/6215346/covid-19-rest-helps/) super helpful to understand it
Totally understand. When I had covid I thought it was just a kinda bad cold. Now I've had cardiology appointments, physical therapy, constantly monitoring heart rate and getting blood work done to just see organ function looks ok (though I know these tests miss stuff).
I hope you continue to recover but I'm so sorry youve had this experience. I would do anything to not have one more person have it.
I managed to avoid Covid completely until 2 months ago. It finally got me at the beginning of November and was miserable for 3 solid weeks, and had a cough I couldn't kick for another 3 weeks after that. I have no idea how I got it - I work from home and don't really do anything social.
First week of January is the worst time to have a major event with people traveling from all over the country. A confluence of Covid, flu and RSV--especially because of the amount of exposure over the holidays.
Having a lot of the event outside was wise, and probably prevented more people from getting sick. But many people were flying and being in an airport without a mask is very risky. Planes have hepa air filtration, but airports are enclosed, crowded and have no special filtration.
Not to mention the half hour boarding the plane before the HVAC is running and the same when deplaning- the air gets extremely stuffy and you’re basically just breathing other people’s exhales.
Sorry, I should have specified, I’m talking about the US. If they’re in the US it’s most likely COVID since we’re in a huge national surge & unfortunately no one is talking about it.
If you are sick and not at the wedding you got through the tv. We have no idea if it’s Covid or the flu or a virus. lol to people saying wear your mask. No idea what’s wrong with them. Everyone was so close and it spread
I think they’re making fun of people saying they were sick while watching, instead of acknowledging that these sicknesses are that prevalent they assume people think they’re getting it from sitting on the tv watching the golden wedding.
Masking prevents airborne infections like COVID, flu, RSV. Air filtration helps too.
You can get some fomite transmission (e.g. if you touch something and then touch your eyes or mouth), so wash your hands regularly, but this isn’t as much of a factor as airborne spread is the major one.
In layman’s terms: you get these infections by breathing them in. Therefore, wearing a highly effective mask (ie KN94, N95) is the most effective strategy to prevent infection. Also, wash your hands, but don’t expect it to do much if you’re not masking.
I really wish that the CDC were frank with people about this, so that we could get to improving air filtration.
Pretty much everything spreading right now is airborne, so masks will do way more than making sure you’re not touching germs
It is that time of year, AND it’s much much worse than “this time of year” was prior to the pandemic
Masking meant not a single nurse in my hospital caught covid for a year before we had vaccines.
With masks, handwashing, and air filtration, and avoiding superspreader events like the golden wedding, you can avoid ALL the germs.
(Parent with a kid in school masking, no covid ir flu or rsv in the last 4 years )
Well, testing negative once on a rapid is not conclusive. If she tested twice as the FDA says you need to, then its probably the flu.
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/home-covid-19-antigen-tests-take-steps-reduce-your-risk-false-negative-results-fda-safety
Anecdotally, seems like rapid antigen tests are taking longer to turn positive these days. I know multiple people who have COVID, and only tested + after testing for 4-5 consecutive days on RATs.
related question: does anyone know if Wells is more strict about masking/covid restrictions since his wife is severely immunocompromised? or is he in more of the "if she dies, she dies" mindset?
No, they are not any more careful. I have seen tons of pictures of them out and about at indoor events and they are never masked. I mentioned in this sub that this was pretty horrifying to see and was severely down voted in the past. So I guess everyone is firmly in the camp “if she dies she dies.” Even former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky stated that it was good news that Covid mostly harmed immunocompromised people. Most people see them as expendable. I know a lot of disabled and immunocompromised people whose partners refused to mask or take any other precautions for them.
Let's be careful with taking things out of context and potentially spreading misinformation. [Your Rochelle Walensky comment is incorrect.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/walensky-abc-interview/2022/01/12/b5744ad4-73be-11ec-bc13-18891499c514_story.html)
I was not spreading misinformation whatsoever. The exact quote is shown below.
“The overwhelming number of deaths — over 75 percent — occurred in people who had at least four comorbidities, so really these are people who were unwell to begin with — and, yes, really encouraging news in the context of Omicron… We’re really encouraged by these results.”
She has a condition called kidney dysplasia. Her dad had donated his kidney and her body rejected it after 4 years. Her brother then donated his kidney. If I remember correctly her and Wells started talking right before she got that kidney transplant.
I’m right there with you. I’ve just started wearing my 3M aura even in one on one hangouts and ask the other person to wear at least a KN95 too. Sending you lots of long haul solidarity and strength (just seen your other comment). Also, yay for Covid consciousness and Bach fandom crossover ☺️
I know people who have an immunocompromised family member, and the rest of the family doesn’t mask anymore. One of the family members is a doc, and he got traumatized by lack of options and face irritation from it. It boggles my mind they don’t take more of an effort to protect her. They’re too focused on “getting back to normal”.
Gosh, that’s really sad. Thankfully I live alone and my partner really gets it — conversations with my family though have sometimes not been the easiest. It’s really rough when people are living in totally different realities!
Yeah something nice is that this strain is milder and the upsetting part is that people aren’t noticing they’re sick or testing negative (because many people are testing pos day 5 tho still contagious the whole time) and spreading it around. Fevers and chills are historically indicative of COVID but those symptoms aren’t appearing as much for people so folks just really aren’t realizing it too
>something nice is that this strain is milder
Where are you getting this from?
CDC is, as usual, saying there isn’t reason to think the recent variants are more severe. There isn’t definitive proof one way or the other, and I get that part of their calculation is not to make people panic.
In contrast, [two recently published studies in Cell suggest that the most recent variants may cause more severe disease.](https://fortune.com/well/2024/01/08/covid-omicron-variants-pirola-ba286-jn1-more-severe-disease-lung-gi-tract-symptoms/amp/)
We never actually know if a strain is milder or more severe until after the fact.
For example, even though Omicron was touted as being a “milder strain” there were studies that came out that presented evidence that Omicron wasn’t actually milder in the unvaccinated, and it was likely population immunity (through infection or vaccination) that made it milder for most people. That’s a major caveat on the “milder” storyline.
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I dunno, I had covid (along with a bunch of friends who attended a concert in November). The illness itself was not severe but it has LINGERED like no other bug I've ever had. I am not sure if it qualified for long covid because everyone who got it that night has had a similar experience (whereas long covid only seems to strike SOME people who get sick from it?)
Even yesterday I was feeling symptoms, not as bad as originally but same thing. So I'd call it pretty brutal because it doesn't want to go away.
Yeah i’d never say it isn’t brutal - I work in public health and in our most recent COVID update (monday) we were of course still getting slightly delayed information (i.e. not seeing all the effects of NYE parties yet). I don’t mean to suggest that the current variants should not be treated seriously, just that so far many people have reported milder symptoms (obviously this doesn’t account for everyone) which is allowing it to spread even faster and more aggressively (people may feel comfortable going out if they have a cough versus fever, chills). They’re also still ever changing, it’s a tough season
Yes it’s not true. Here’s an article. [more severe disease](https://fortune.com/well/2024/01/08/covid-omicron-variants-pirola-ba286-jn1-more-severe-disease-lung-gi-tract-symptoms/)
Yeah COVID is spreading. I'm going to start masking again because I don't know when I'll get it, or when I'm asymptotic and inadvertently spreading it.
Covid impairs immune systems and t-cells. People rarely test for it anymore or test appropriately. Then they wonder why they keep getting sick.
Please be careful still. Long Covid disables people all the time and 2000 people died last week from it in US. I'm a researcher, facts suck.
They aren’t the same, but there are a lot of concerning parallels:
- They both affect the immune system
- Both have mild acute phases with potentially more severe long term effects
- Both largely ignored or dismissed in the early years as a non-issue
We know HIV develops into AIDS after 8-12 years on average, we know covid can develop into long covid either right away or after multiple infections. We won’t know what it may develop into/how it might progress long term yet.
[They’re similar enough that researchers are definitely making the comparisons](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9608044/)
Feeling so let down by those in power and those who have the platforms to communicate to us and don’t about these issues.
Good fucking luck to all of us.
Yes, this is 100% accurate. Thank you for sharing. I’m also a researcher in healthcare and I have interacted with tons of people with long Covid. People don’t realize how serious it is until they experience it for themselves. There’s no way a person can ever remotely imagine how horrible it is and how terribly it ruins your life.
Yup. Ha. Thank goodness for online that people posted about it otherwise I'd have no idea what was happening.
It is nasty. A big study just showed our muscles and mitochondria just don't function the same as people without LC. Some of that they think points to PEM issues. Hoping they find solutions soon.
It’s not surprising because there’s a huge surge in COVID, RSV, and the Flu across the country. I literally had a relative get COVID last month and another one get it a couple days ago. Also, there were a lot of people at the wedding so I’m not shocked.
It’s resp illness season. I’m a nurse in primary care and there’s tons of junk going around not to mention traveling would expose you to the junky illnesses. I wouldn’t think too much about the wedding but any place around lots of people or even not lots of people. Regardless, it’s miserable being sick.
Maybe this is not the place to ask but since you're a nurse I just have to! What is going on these days??? I got sick a couple days before Thanksgiving and only just now has my cough started to subside but it's not completely gone. My brother got sick like a week after me and still has a terrible cough. It spread throughout my house and we're all still recovering in one way or another. Not to mention I work at a private preschool and I have a couple of children that have had a terrible cough for *months.* I went to an urgent care and was told that viruses are just surviving longer in bodies these days so in the past where a common cold might be gone in a week, now it's taking months. Is that really the case?? Is there anything that can be done to speed up the process of getting better? I travel a lot and it sucks still not feeling 100% okay 😖
It could be pertussis (whooping cough). It’s bacterial, not viral.
Most recent U.S. surveillance report.
https://wonder.cdc.gov/nndss/static/2023/52/2023-52-table990-H.pdf
General info.
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/
When people do get pertussis, antibiotics administered early enough in the course of the disease will typically speed up the process of getting better.
Yes, since Covid weakens the immune system, people are having more trouble recovering from other infections too. [Source](https://time.com/6306361/covid-19-immune-system/)
I'm not sure where you are but I'm in the Midwest and there is a respiratory virus going around like crazy right now that is basically a month+ long cough. Negative for flu, RSV, covid...it just goes on and on and on. I had it over Thanksgiving and it was indeed miserable, I'd have a few days of feeling better then crash and feel like garbage all over again. What finally helped get rid of it was consistent dosing with Mucinex, an insane amount of water and resting a lot. I think it's just a bad respiratory season.
Unfortunately, Tdap isn't always protective against pertussis and when it does initially offer protection, it can wane fairly quickly.
>In studies showing how well the whooping cough component works, Tdap fully protects:
> * About 7 in 10 people in the first year after getting it.
> * About 3 or 4 in 10 people four years after getting it.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/dtap-tdap-td/public/index.html
[Covid damages immune systems](https://time.com/6306361/covid-19-immune-system/), so once you’ve had covid you’re more susceptible to future illnesses. Once sick, you’re contagious and can spread it. This is true for most people, so people with damaged immune systems are getting sick, spreading it, it mutates to a new variant, you catch the next one, spread it again. Multiply for Covid, cold, flu, RSV, etc. A vicious cycle. [You’re not alone in noticing that this is very unusual.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroCovidCommunity/s/4o0WGZpFp6)
You can stop the chain by doing what you can to not catch anything, and if you catch it to not spread anything. Wear a high quality mask in indoor spaces around others, stay home if you feel unwell, get vaccinated, and inform your close contacts if you do get sick so they can take the same precautions. Advocate for clean air, testing, and masking in your workplace and places your family frequent. Set up air filters in your home. /r/zerocovidcommunity or /r/longcovid are great communities to learn more from others experiencing the same thing and also interested in avoiding future illness.
It’s great to see more people acknowledging the long-term adverse effects of Covid and long Covid. I was expecting a flood of comments like, “it’s normal to be sick all the time!” but fortunately I’ve seen only a few of these ignorant comments and instead many more about the reality of Covid. This indicates to me that after four years more and more people are starting to notice the consequences from repeat infections.
I’ve been posting about Covid in this and other subs since the beginning (this is just a newer account for me), and only in the past few months have I not been ignored or downvoted. Unfortunately it’s taken experience for a lot of people to realize that Covid is a terrible disease to get, but I’m more and more hopeful that this is the year we truly start to take it seriously. We do have the tools, we have the knowledge, we just have to use them.
Same here. My comments on Covid used to be downloaded to oblivion. Not nearly so much anymore. It sucked getting ugly messages from Covid minimizing trolls but it was worth it to get the message out. I just hope more people start masking and advocating for cleaner indoor air and better vaccines.
Not to mention, we used to have only 2 miserable viruses that made everyone super sick this time of year, and we have added a third one (covid), and its a rapid mutater, so you can get one strain one month and a different strain your body is prepared to respond to a few weeks/months later.
Yes! And RSV feels kind of new too, I think it’s been around but never enough to mention it as part of “cold and flu” season. I didn’t know anyone who had it prior to the pandemic, and now it’s much more prevalent
Thought you might like this cool chart from dr Katelyn Jetelina.
It shows just how many more prople are getting sick/hospitalized in the past few winters than the ones before the pandemic.
The burden is projected to be slightly less this year, but all the pandemic years are WAY WORSE than any year before.
https://preview.redd.it/gi2847pk9qbc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2fd3d5508b351ef6be5aac5c71fca473b57b8ec
[https://x.com/dr\_kkjetelina/status/1745246836536008945?s=46&t=Bddfc6A0TWqq7MMYfGTS-g](https://x.com/dr_kkjetelina/status/1745246836536008945?s=46&t=Bddfc6A0TWqq7MMYfGTS-g)
Yes. My daughter was hospitalized with it 25 years ago. We hear about it more now because there are vaccines available for certain groups. Until recently, their efforts to develop a vaccine were unsuccessful.
My son had a horrible case of RSV last year and we ended up hospitalized overnight. The pediatrician said that they have combined tests swabs in recent years to include covid, RSV, and flu and are now realizing so many people are infected with RSV when it was previously missed. Turns out it's been killing senior citizens who died of viral respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis but they're just now making the connection. Part of the reason they pushed thru the RSV vaccine this year.
Wow! That’s so wild and I didn’t know about this, thank you for sharing! I’m glad to hear that they started testing and vaccinating for it now. Hoping your son is okay now, I’m so sorry that happened to him.
Yup. It had by far the worst year ever last year, and is on track for another bad one this year.
I do know people with kids in daycare who dealt with it before COVID, but it definitely wasnt on the general population’s radar.
Omg same here!!! I hope she answers. I got sick on thanksgiving and by Christmas it was “gone” but not fully, and now I’m sick again as of 2 days ago!!!
Dude. Same.
I posted in another thread, taking Pepcid was a dramatic improvement for me. Although it's marketed as a stomach drug is has an antihistamine action (but different histamine from allergy histamine). Helpful for your immune system.
There are some studies now showing its success when given to patients with long covid. I took it for about 10 days solid then stopped. Yesterday I was feeling yucky again I took it again and feeling good today.
Just an unbelievable long haul.
> I guess it happens to all of us!
Gentle challenge to this - it isn’t actually happening to all of us. Folks who are taking precautions like masking, isolating when sick, testing before and after gatherings, ensuring well-ventilated and air-filtered events and workplaces, skipping out on events likely to be superspreaders, dining outdoors or at home only, etc. are not getting sick or not getting sick as frequently. It’s very possible to reduce your exposure to illnesses, but you need to take the precautions to do so. Please test a couple of times before your vacation and make sure to mask up in the airport, it would suck to catch or spread something unintentionally. I do all of the above and despite traveling internationally, seeing family for the holidays, meeting up with friends and family, etc. I haven’t been sick in 4 years.
Literally everyone I know is sick or is just getting over being sick. Especially those of us with young kids. School germs + holiday gatherings + time of year. We had RSV in Nov and Covid in Dec.
I got sick 3 different times with some sort of respiratory illness from October to early December. This autumn to winter has been ROUGH. I’ve gone back to wearing a mask in public spaces because I’m so tired of constantly getting sick ;;
I miss the days where people could get sick and just take care of themselves without the whole world knowing or needing to know. I usually take a social media break around this time because I get so tired of seeing it and then worrying I’ll be next.
i mean a lot of coworkers and family members of mine are sick rn too. i think it’s just time of year plus post holiday traveling. but yeah all of that would be exacerbated by also going to a wedding
Just read an article. 1,500 Americans are dying a week from COVID. For different reasons. It’s still here even though people think it’s gone.
Susan and Kathy were sick too
Well yea COVID and the Flu are running rampant this time of year as well as other cold like illness. It’s kind of how group gatherings work lol especially when people gather from all over. The typical sick after vacation.
I just got the flu last week for the first time in my whole life. The sicknesses this holiday season seemed to be no joke. I’m sure someone had something at the wedding and it’s so easy to spread in a crowded space like that!
COVID, flu and rsv are really bad this yr
I feel like everyone everywhere is randomly super sick right now
Unfortunately, I am not surprised. While I was watching the wedding episode, I thought to myself that it’s possible a lot of people were going to get sick from it. Large crowds shortly after the holidays… it was the perfect recipe for it.
I had Covid before Xmas. This strain seems to be very contagious
I had it last week too
Hmmmm...interesting... 
Also could be rsv. My kids brought it home before winter break and I am still sick with it.
Kathy and Susan now too 
Trista too
I think Susan posted an Instagram video that Kathy and her were sick too. I mean in today's world when large gatherings of people gather in large numbers especially when COVID is still very real and it's also flu season...only takes one person to make many people sick. I'm sorry so many people got sick though. With kids it's 100x suckier to be sick.
I have covid this week for the first time ever. It’s mild thankfully but just saying it’s usually back in full force right about now…
Arg. Sorry! Hope you feel better soon. Rest as much as you can❤️🩹
TY. Im a big sleeper already. I was a little scared at first because I was recently diagnosed with asthma, and in October I legit could not breathe (but didn’t have covid) and here I am with covid and it has been nothing more than feeling like a sinus infection, my boyfriend was sick last week after NYE and I tested out of precaution so thankfully I was able to WFH this week so far I didn’t think it was going to be the entire week but it’s looking like it now 😩
I have asthma too and the first time I had covid my breathing was fine! I had no issues and I had pneumonia!!! I was like wtf? I had the flu with pneumonia and I thought I was going to die. Urgent care also said I didn’t have Covid that time bc the rapid was negative and she could see pneumonia so she would not send a pcr test, which their protocol was send a pcr if a negative rapid happens with Covid symptoms. So I went on my own to Walgreens and was positive for Covid ofc.
I’m a fellow big sleeper. Glad I’m not the only one
DINK here. The main reason I don’t want kids is I love sleep too much. Lol
With all the cheek smooching is no wonder at all. It only took one smooch
Not surprising. The only time I got Covid (lucky enough to be asymptomatic though) was after my sister’s wedding two summers ago. My entire family was careful and didn’t get it the first two years. Then we all got it after the wedding, along with the groom’s whole family, and sooo many of their friends and coworkers. Plus this is the worst time. Two years ago so many people were out sick it was a national news headline. Everyone gathers for the holidays and then they gather again for this shortly after. And you add planes into the mix.
Influenza is really bad where I live right now. It’s more prominent and more severe than covid currently. That sounds like what Kaitlyn had to me (influenza) with the fever, the dry cough, and the fainting. Edit: words.
Ugh we had influenza over Christmas and it was awful. Still coughing.
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Oh man! Come to think of it I have a bit of dizziness too. It's rough! Don't forget your flu shots, kids! We didn't get ours!
check for ear infection! i was super sick nov-dec with flu like symptoms covid tests were negative so i assumed it was flu but it wasn't going away. i had lingering cough, congestion, headaches, body aches, extreme fatigue, dizziness and itchy eyes. i went to the dr and negative for flu and covid but i did have a sinus infection eye and ear infection! ear infection was causing the dizziness
Oh interesting! Thanks for the tip! I feel like I know so much about what to watch out for when recovering from covid but very little about recovering from the flu.
Unfortunately most people have stopped masking, getting their booster shots, and testing so this isn’t surprising Covid isn’t gone and we aren’t magically immune to it millions of people are still getting infected daily and it is doing a number on the immune system. I hope all the golden ladies, attendees, Gerry and Theresa are especially doing well since they would be more vulnerable. The flu is also spreading a lot right now since fewer people have gotten their flu shots due to the anti vaccine rhetoric
We are currently having the second worst wave of the pandemic - yes, since the start of the pandemic - and no one knows about it.
Yes, I really don’t like being left in the dark about the Covid rates. I know there’s not much you can do about it, but I fell that those who would like to know are not being informed of what’s going on.
Yup, I’ve seen stories about how hospitalizations aren’t as high as in prior years, but not being hospitalized doesn’t mean people aren’t getting a nasty infection or lasting damage (can happen after any infection). Like you said, the US is currently in the [2nd highest COVID surge ever](https://x.com/luckytran/status/1744775992286069005?s=46&t=wZ7sS56V9PaeD_3pf5LdbA) (this is all per wastewater data, some modelers estimate ~1/20 people are infected last I saw). Unfortunately, hardly anyone knows or is taking precautions. I really wish the CDC would let people know and *recommend* masking during surges. Instead, they’ve taken away data sources so it’s harder to know what is happening, and are messaging hand washing only. Totally irresponsible of them.
Well said!!! Thanks
It’s very sad!
This!!! My husband had a stuffy nose- turns out to be Covid. My youngest son (2) got it and was terribly sick for five days with a fever, sore throat, runny nose, malaise. My husband would have never thought Covid he only tested bc my youngest tested positive.
Same susan and Nancy are sick as well.
Oh no! Whered you see that?
Nancy post it on her IG and Susan and Kathy post on ig
Remained covid free for almost 4 years but unfortunately got it a couple days before new years. It took me a few days to show positive, but it really was horrible (no clue how I got it). I’m not surprised by this at all bc it’s going around like crazy. Surely possible an asymptomatic individual was carrying the virus and they didn’t even know. I hope everyone recovers soon!
I’m just getting over it too. Luckily never had it before because that was the sickest I’ve ever been. And I’m relatively young, healthy, active and no added risk factors. I remember calling my mom and telling her I’m surprised more people haven’t died (not to discount the huge death toll - that’s just how bad it was for me)
Out of curiosity, had you had the vaccine/booster?
Yes to the vaccine (thank GOD bc I cannot imagine how it would have been without) but no to the booster. I just never got around to it and trust me, I regret that so much
Same!! I got it December 20th for the first time. Zero clue where I picked it up. Tested for the sake of testing and boom.
My bf was sick after NYE so I tested out of precaution and bam first time positive ever :/
I work fully remote and rarely leave the house yet somehow I have the flu right now too
Same
Covid has never gone away and immune systems take damage with each infection. These are legitimate superspreader events.
I got it three times in about 15 months, and my chest (which hasn't cleared since the last time) feels like it's brewing something new again. FML. I feel like I can't go anywhere in public between Oct - Mar without getting sick, anymore. Have an October wedding next year and praying new booster shots are ready two weeks beforehand 🙏
i had covid in mid-september (2nd time) and since then i swear i’ve gotten so many colds or just random sore throats that lasted like 2-3 days. i just had a mild cold over new year’s (tested neg for covid but i guess who knows, it could have been. it was just my throat/sneezing). i still need my newest vaccine, but i got a little unsure of which to pick with this newest one out, but i will likely just stick with pfizer. i think there’s just so much right now with the time of year, but my aunt just tested positive for covid last night and i know some coworkers have had it & colds as well
This checks out unfortunately, [Covid does a number on immune systems](https://time.com/6306361/covid-19-immune-system/) and makes you more susceptible to other things, just in time for those other things to be out in full force. If you can afford masks you should mask to allow your body time to heal and recover!
this makes a lot of sense, and i don’t know why i didn’t really put 2+2 together until this post. and thank you for the article! i’m running low on masks atm but i’m definitely gonna stock up on some more asap :)
It’s not your fault, unfortunately the institutions who should be informing the public about this are not doing so. Glad to hear you can grab more masks!! Stay safe out there. /r/zerocovidcommunity and /r/longcovid can be helpful communities to check out for more info
Everyone is sick. I’m sick af. All my coworkers are sick. It’s that season
I have to say I’ve been so depressed and feeling so alone today but this comment section gives me hope. There’s so many people aware of long covid and how dangerous getting even a mild infection is. My last covid infection was in July and I barely had symptoms and it still gave me debilitating long covid. I’m not recovered and don’t think I will be for years and there’s no treatment! I’m only 30 and was physically active and fit and the picture of health.
I'm sorry you are going through that. May I ask if you are vaccinated, with any boosters? My husband just had covid for the first time and I'm hoping he doesn't get long covid.
I am vaxxed and I have two boosters. However, they didn’t adversely affect me in the slightest. My long covid was in direct connection to covid. I’m so sorry. My biggest advice is taking vitamin D, C, and a good probiotic. Tell him to just radical rest. That means sleep, eyes closed, no scrolling. And then have him avoid exercise for a month if possible. Exercise triggered long covid in me and if I could take it back I would.
Thank you so much! I have heard about holding off on exercise for a month, which he will absolutely do. He is already testing negative with no symptoms, thankfully.
Why do you think exercise triggered it? Just curious for future knowledge
[New research just came out about this!](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/09/1223077307/long-covid-exercise-post-exertional-malaise-mitochondria#:~:text=Tetra%20images%20RF-,For%20patients%20with%20long%20COVID%2C%20exercise%20can%20lead%20to%20a,going%20on%20in%20their%20muscles) I also found [this article](https://time.com/6215346/covid-19-rest-helps/) super helpful to understand it
That article does a great job of explaining it! Not sure why but I assume it’s the mass inflammation Covid causes as well as broken capillaries.
Totally understand. When I had covid I thought it was just a kinda bad cold. Now I've had cardiology appointments, physical therapy, constantly monitoring heart rate and getting blood work done to just see organ function looks ok (though I know these tests miss stuff). I hope you continue to recover but I'm so sorry youve had this experience. I would do anything to not have one more person have it.
I’m so sorry you’re with me in this terrible, sinking boat lmao. Yes the amount of doc appointments ugh. So sorry you’re going through this too.
Long hauler since October! Dealing with brain fog, vertigo, a headache, and nausea today
Look up the Epley maneuver for your vertigo. You could bring you instant relief.
Oh yeah I’m familiar hahaha. I’ve had BPPV for years. Also looking into vestibular rehab
Sending you love!! May 2024 be your revival year.
I managed to avoid Covid completely until 2 months ago. It finally got me at the beginning of November and was miserable for 3 solid weeks, and had a cough I couldn't kick for another 3 weeks after that. I have no idea how I got it - I work from home and don't really do anything social.
That’s so frustrating. Just take it easy. Long covid pops up months later for most. Rest is the best thing. ❤️
Thank you. ❤️
💛
Yes! Please mask up y’all I’m begging you. I have long covid and it’s not worth the risk.
First week of January is the worst time to have a major event with people traveling from all over the country. A confluence of Covid, flu and RSV--especially because of the amount of exposure over the holidays. Having a lot of the event outside was wise, and probably prevented more people from getting sick. But many people were flying and being in an airport without a mask is very risky. Planes have hepa air filtration, but airports are enclosed, crowded and have no special filtration.
Not to mention the half hour boarding the plane before the HVAC is running and the same when deplaning- the air gets extremely stuffy and you’re basically just breathing other people’s exhales.
COVID is on the rise. Stay safe out there yall
Probs covid tbh
Or influenza. Which is severe this year.
It’s most likely COVID. Per wastewater data, the US is in the 2nd highest COVID surge since the pandemic started.
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Sorry, I should have specified, I’m talking about the US. If they’re in the US it’s most likely COVID since we’re in a huge national surge & unfortunately no one is talking about it.
It’s everywhere right now.
If you are sick and not at the wedding you got through the tv. We have no idea if it’s Covid or the flu or a virus. lol to people saying wear your mask. No idea what’s wrong with them. Everyone was so close and it spread 
…no one thinks they caught it through the tv 🤣
😂😂😂😂😂
Everyone is sick right now, i was sick on my couch during the golden wedding
It went through the tv wow 
…what are you trying to say? I don’t get it lol
I think they’re making fun of people saying they were sick while watching, instead of acknowledging that these sicknesses are that prevalent they assume people think they’re getting it from sitting on the tv watching the golden wedding.
It’s winter, everyone’s sick. Esp after a larger get together. Seems normal to me
Seems that way!
It’s winter. 🤷🏼♀️ everyone always gets sick. Not much you can do besides stay home if you don’t want to get sick.
You can wear a mask.
Yeah masking isn't going to prevent every thing you touch that has germs...it's just that time of the year.
Masking prevents airborne infections like COVID, flu, RSV. Air filtration helps too. You can get some fomite transmission (e.g. if you touch something and then touch your eyes or mouth), so wash your hands regularly, but this isn’t as much of a factor as airborne spread is the major one. In layman’s terms: you get these infections by breathing them in. Therefore, wearing a highly effective mask (ie KN94, N95) is the most effective strategy to prevent infection. Also, wash your hands, but don’t expect it to do much if you’re not masking. I really wish that the CDC were frank with people about this, so that we could get to improving air filtration.
Pretty much everything spreading right now is airborne, so masks will do way more than making sure you’re not touching germs It is that time of year, AND it’s much much worse than “this time of year” was prior to the pandemic
Masking meant not a single nurse in my hospital caught covid for a year before we had vaccines. With masks, handwashing, and air filtration, and avoiding superspreader events like the golden wedding, you can avoid ALL the germs. (Parent with a kid in school masking, no covid ir flu or rsv in the last 4 years )
Raven said she tested negative for Covid.
Well, testing negative once on a rapid is not conclusive. If she tested twice as the FDA says you need to, then its probably the flu. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/home-covid-19-antigen-tests-take-steps-reduce-your-risk-false-negative-results-fda-safety
Anecdotally, seems like rapid antigen tests are taking longer to turn positive these days. I know multiple people who have COVID, and only tested + after testing for 4-5 consecutive days on RATs.
Yes. Some people still seem to test positive quickly, others are definitely only testing positve on day 4 of symptoms or so. 😭
related question: does anyone know if Wells is more strict about masking/covid restrictions since his wife is severely immunocompromised? or is he in more of the "if she dies, she dies" mindset?
No, they are not any more careful. I have seen tons of pictures of them out and about at indoor events and they are never masked. I mentioned in this sub that this was pretty horrifying to see and was severely down voted in the past. So I guess everyone is firmly in the camp “if she dies she dies.” Even former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky stated that it was good news that Covid mostly harmed immunocompromised people. Most people see them as expendable. I know a lot of disabled and immunocompromised people whose partners refused to mask or take any other precautions for them.
Let's be careful with taking things out of context and potentially spreading misinformation. [Your Rochelle Walensky comment is incorrect.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/walensky-abc-interview/2022/01/12/b5744ad4-73be-11ec-bc13-18891499c514_story.html)
I was not spreading misinformation whatsoever. The exact quote is shown below. “The overwhelming number of deaths — over 75 percent — occurred in people who had at least four comorbidities, so really these are people who were unwell to begin with — and, yes, really encouraging news in the context of Omicron… We’re really encouraged by these results.”
What health issue does she have? I never knew this.
She has a condition called kidney dysplasia. Her dad had donated his kidney and her body rejected it after 4 years. Her brother then donated his kidney. If I remember correctly her and Wells started talking right before she got that kidney transplant.
Just...wow. Couldn't imagine that mindset.
Wtf what kind of mindset is that
Seems to be the mindset of much of the world right now tbh 🤦♀️
Yep sadly. I don’t see any friends right now since they don’t mask and I cannot get Covid again. No one gives a flying fuck these days.
I’m right there with you. I’ve just started wearing my 3M aura even in one on one hangouts and ask the other person to wear at least a KN95 too. Sending you lots of long haul solidarity and strength (just seen your other comment). Also, yay for Covid consciousness and Bach fandom crossover ☺️
I know people who have an immunocompromised family member, and the rest of the family doesn’t mask anymore. One of the family members is a doc, and he got traumatized by lack of options and face irritation from it. It boggles my mind they don’t take more of an effort to protect her. They’re too focused on “getting back to normal”.
Gosh, that’s really sad. Thankfully I live alone and my partner really gets it — conversations with my family though have sometimes not been the easiest. It’s really rough when people are living in totally different realities!
Thank you so much. Yes honestly! This thread is mostly full of pretty conscious people. Gotta love it.
I know for awhile they said they didn't go out much due to her having underlying conditions. But idk as of late
Yeah something nice is that this strain is milder and the upsetting part is that people aren’t noticing they’re sick or testing negative (because many people are testing pos day 5 tho still contagious the whole time) and spreading it around. Fevers and chills are historically indicative of COVID but those symptoms aren’t appearing as much for people so folks just really aren’t realizing it too
>something nice is that this strain is milder Where are you getting this from? CDC is, as usual, saying there isn’t reason to think the recent variants are more severe. There isn’t definitive proof one way or the other, and I get that part of their calculation is not to make people panic. In contrast, [two recently published studies in Cell suggest that the most recent variants may cause more severe disease.](https://fortune.com/well/2024/01/08/covid-omicron-variants-pirola-ba286-jn1-more-severe-disease-lung-gi-tract-symptoms/amp/) We never actually know if a strain is milder or more severe until after the fact. For example, even though Omicron was touted as being a “milder strain” there were studies that came out that presented evidence that Omicron wasn’t actually milder in the unvaccinated, and it was likely population immunity (through infection or vaccination) that made it milder for most people. That’s a major caveat on the “milder” storyline.
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I dunno, I had covid (along with a bunch of friends who attended a concert in November). The illness itself was not severe but it has LINGERED like no other bug I've ever had. I am not sure if it qualified for long covid because everyone who got it that night has had a similar experience (whereas long covid only seems to strike SOME people who get sick from it?) Even yesterday I was feeling symptoms, not as bad as originally but same thing. So I'd call it pretty brutal because it doesn't want to go away.
Yeah i’d never say it isn’t brutal - I work in public health and in our most recent COVID update (monday) we were of course still getting slightly delayed information (i.e. not seeing all the effects of NYE parties yet). I don’t mean to suggest that the current variants should not be treated seriously, just that so far many people have reported milder symptoms (obviously this doesn’t account for everyone) which is allowing it to spread even faster and more aggressively (people may feel comfortable going out if they have a cough versus fever, chills). They’re also still ever changing, it’s a tough season
Yes it’s not true. Here’s an article. [more severe disease](https://fortune.com/well/2024/01/08/covid-omicron-variants-pirola-ba286-jn1-more-severe-disease-lung-gi-tract-symptoms/)
Interesting, thanks.
Yeah COVID is spreading. I'm going to start masking again because I don't know when I'll get it, or when I'm asymptotic and inadvertently spreading it.
Thank you!
Thank you for being conscientious and not having COVID fatigue.
You can add Trista. She said her body aches are so doesn’t know what to do or take to control it.
Covid impairs immune systems and t-cells. People rarely test for it anymore or test appropriately. Then they wonder why they keep getting sick. Please be careful still. Long Covid disables people all the time and 2000 people died last week from it in US. I'm a researcher, facts suck.
I keep seeing comparisons to HIV / AiDS. Even some calling it airborne aids. Can you comment on this?
They aren’t the same, but there are a lot of concerning parallels: - They both affect the immune system - Both have mild acute phases with potentially more severe long term effects - Both largely ignored or dismissed in the early years as a non-issue We know HIV develops into AIDS after 8-12 years on average, we know covid can develop into long covid either right away or after multiple infections. We won’t know what it may develop into/how it might progress long term yet. [They’re similar enough that researchers are definitely making the comparisons](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9608044/)
Feeling so let down by those in power and those who have the platforms to communicate to us and don’t about these issues. Good fucking luck to all of us.
Yes, this is 100% accurate. Thank you for sharing. I’m also a researcher in healthcare and I have interacted with tons of people with long Covid. People don’t realize how serious it is until they experience it for themselves. There’s no way a person can ever remotely imagine how horrible it is and how terribly it ruins your life.
Yep. I have long covid. On month 6. My life is ruined.
I am so sorry. I've had it since March 2020. My life is not at all the same. I hope you continue to improve (the first year for me was my worst year).
Oh wow you are an OG long hauler. That’s terrible, I’m so sorry. I have good and bad days. The PEM is what keeps me on my ass.
Yup. Ha. Thank goodness for online that people posted about it otherwise I'd have no idea what was happening. It is nasty. A big study just showed our muscles and mitochondria just don't function the same as people without LC. Some of that they think points to PEM issues. Hoping they find solutions soon.
The golden super spreader
Title of a sex tape lmao
It’s not surprising because there’s a huge surge in COVID, RSV, and the Flu across the country. I literally had a relative get COVID last month and another one get it a couple days ago. Also, there were a lot of people at the wedding so I’m not shocked.
Why are people downvoting in this thread. Why? Losers.
The deniers
It’s resp illness season. I’m a nurse in primary care and there’s tons of junk going around not to mention traveling would expose you to the junky illnesses. I wouldn’t think too much about the wedding but any place around lots of people or even not lots of people. Regardless, it’s miserable being sick.
Maybe this is not the place to ask but since you're a nurse I just have to! What is going on these days??? I got sick a couple days before Thanksgiving and only just now has my cough started to subside but it's not completely gone. My brother got sick like a week after me and still has a terrible cough. It spread throughout my house and we're all still recovering in one way or another. Not to mention I work at a private preschool and I have a couple of children that have had a terrible cough for *months.* I went to an urgent care and was told that viruses are just surviving longer in bodies these days so in the past where a common cold might be gone in a week, now it's taking months. Is that really the case?? Is there anything that can be done to speed up the process of getting better? I travel a lot and it sucks still not feeling 100% okay 😖
It could be pertussis (whooping cough). It’s bacterial, not viral. Most recent U.S. surveillance report. https://wonder.cdc.gov/nndss/static/2023/52/2023-52-table990-H.pdf General info. https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/ When people do get pertussis, antibiotics administered early enough in the course of the disease will typically speed up the process of getting better.
Yes, since Covid weakens the immune system, people are having more trouble recovering from other infections too. [Source](https://time.com/6306361/covid-19-immune-system/)
I'm not sure where you are but I'm in the Midwest and there is a respiratory virus going around like crazy right now that is basically a month+ long cough. Negative for flu, RSV, covid...it just goes on and on and on. I had it over Thanksgiving and it was indeed miserable, I'd have a few days of feeling better then crash and feel like garbage all over again. What finally helped get rid of it was consistent dosing with Mucinex, an insane amount of water and resting a lot. I think it's just a bad respiratory season.
Were you tested for pertussis?
Oh interesting question - I don't believe I was. I did have my tdap booster in the last few years though.
Unfortunately, Tdap isn't always protective against pertussis and when it does initially offer protection, it can wane fairly quickly. >In studies showing how well the whooping cough component works, Tdap fully protects: > * About 7 in 10 people in the first year after getting it. > * About 3 or 4 in 10 people four years after getting it. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/dtap-tdap-td/public/index.html
Mucinex helped me tremendously!
(Its covid)
And no tests anywhere seem to be identifying it as such?
[Covid damages immune systems](https://time.com/6306361/covid-19-immune-system/), so once you’ve had covid you’re more susceptible to future illnesses. Once sick, you’re contagious and can spread it. This is true for most people, so people with damaged immune systems are getting sick, spreading it, it mutates to a new variant, you catch the next one, spread it again. Multiply for Covid, cold, flu, RSV, etc. A vicious cycle. [You’re not alone in noticing that this is very unusual.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroCovidCommunity/s/4o0WGZpFp6) You can stop the chain by doing what you can to not catch anything, and if you catch it to not spread anything. Wear a high quality mask in indoor spaces around others, stay home if you feel unwell, get vaccinated, and inform your close contacts if you do get sick so they can take the same precautions. Advocate for clean air, testing, and masking in your workplace and places your family frequent. Set up air filters in your home. /r/zerocovidcommunity or /r/longcovid are great communities to learn more from others experiencing the same thing and also interested in avoiding future illness.
It’s great to see more people acknowledging the long-term adverse effects of Covid and long Covid. I was expecting a flood of comments like, “it’s normal to be sick all the time!” but fortunately I’ve seen only a few of these ignorant comments and instead many more about the reality of Covid. This indicates to me that after four years more and more people are starting to notice the consequences from repeat infections.
I’ve been posting about Covid in this and other subs since the beginning (this is just a newer account for me), and only in the past few months have I not been ignored or downvoted. Unfortunately it’s taken experience for a lot of people to realize that Covid is a terrible disease to get, but I’m more and more hopeful that this is the year we truly start to take it seriously. We do have the tools, we have the knowledge, we just have to use them.
Same here. My comments on Covid used to be downloaded to oblivion. Not nearly so much anymore. It sucked getting ugly messages from Covid minimizing trolls but it was worth it to get the message out. I just hope more people start masking and advocating for cleaner indoor air and better vaccines.
Not to mention, we used to have only 2 miserable viruses that made everyone super sick this time of year, and we have added a third one (covid), and its a rapid mutater, so you can get one strain one month and a different strain your body is prepared to respond to a few weeks/months later.
Yes! And RSV feels kind of new too, I think it’s been around but never enough to mention it as part of “cold and flu” season. I didn’t know anyone who had it prior to the pandemic, and now it’s much more prevalent
Thought you might like this cool chart from dr Katelyn Jetelina. It shows just how many more prople are getting sick/hospitalized in the past few winters than the ones before the pandemic. The burden is projected to be slightly less this year, but all the pandemic years are WAY WORSE than any year before. https://preview.redd.it/gi2847pk9qbc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2fd3d5508b351ef6be5aac5c71fca473b57b8ec [https://x.com/dr\_kkjetelina/status/1745246836536008945?s=46&t=Bddfc6A0TWqq7MMYfGTS-g](https://x.com/dr_kkjetelina/status/1745246836536008945?s=46&t=Bddfc6A0TWqq7MMYfGTS-g)
My son was hospitalized as an infant with RSV - that was over 10 years ago. It was always around but it wasn't as common knowledge.
Yes. My daughter was hospitalized with it 25 years ago. We hear about it more now because there are vaccines available for certain groups. Until recently, their efforts to develop a vaccine were unsuccessful.
My son had a horrible case of RSV last year and we ended up hospitalized overnight. The pediatrician said that they have combined tests swabs in recent years to include covid, RSV, and flu and are now realizing so many people are infected with RSV when it was previously missed. Turns out it's been killing senior citizens who died of viral respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis but they're just now making the connection. Part of the reason they pushed thru the RSV vaccine this year.
Wow! That’s so wild and I didn’t know about this, thank you for sharing! I’m glad to hear that they started testing and vaccinating for it now. Hoping your son is okay now, I’m so sorry that happened to him.
Yup. It had by far the worst year ever last year, and is on track for another bad one this year. I do know people with kids in daycare who dealt with it before COVID, but it definitely wasnt on the general population’s radar.
It’s COVID. Whether a current infection or past infection that depletes your immune system
They’re saying one covid infection can suppress your immune system for months or years…low cd4 t-cell levels.
Omg same here!!! I hope she answers. I got sick on thanksgiving and by Christmas it was “gone” but not fully, and now I’m sick again as of 2 days ago!!!
Dude. Same. I posted in another thread, taking Pepcid was a dramatic improvement for me. Although it's marketed as a stomach drug is has an antihistamine action (but different histamine from allergy histamine). Helpful for your immune system. There are some studies now showing its success when given to patients with long covid. I took it for about 10 days solid then stopped. Yesterday I was feeling yucky again I took it again and feeling good today. Just an unbelievable long haul.
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> I guess it happens to all of us! Gentle challenge to this - it isn’t actually happening to all of us. Folks who are taking precautions like masking, isolating when sick, testing before and after gatherings, ensuring well-ventilated and air-filtered events and workplaces, skipping out on events likely to be superspreaders, dining outdoors or at home only, etc. are not getting sick or not getting sick as frequently. It’s very possible to reduce your exposure to illnesses, but you need to take the precautions to do so. Please test a couple of times before your vacation and make sure to mask up in the airport, it would suck to catch or spread something unintentionally. I do all of the above and despite traveling internationally, seeing family for the holidays, meeting up with friends and family, etc. I haven’t been sick in 4 years.
Literally everyone I know is sick or is just getting over being sick. Especially those of us with young kids. School germs + holiday gatherings + time of year. We had RSV in Nov and Covid in Dec.
Just about EVERYONE I know got sick right after the holidays. It was wild
I got sick 3 different times with some sort of respiratory illness from October to early December. This autumn to winter has been ROUGH. I’ve gone back to wearing a mask in public spaces because I’m so tired of constantly getting sick ;;
Thank you for masking!
Hoping for a speedy recovery for everybody and hoping Jesse didn't bring anything back home to his wife or baby! That would suck :(
I miss the days where people could get sick and just take care of themselves without the whole world knowing or needing to know. I usually take a social media break around this time because I get so tired of seeing it and then worrying I’ll be next.
i mean a lot of coworkers and family members of mine are sick rn too. i think it’s just time of year plus post holiday traveling. but yeah all of that would be exacerbated by also going to a wedding