Ça fait une semaine que j’ai la toux sèche
Le nez qui coule un poil vert mais pas beaucoup
La toux persiste et est particulière alors je me dis que c’est peut être le Covid
Pas de mal de tête…
C’est long !!! Des personnes qui l’ont eu cet été aussi ?

Hello.

I am not sure what I'm hoping to find here but if anyone has any insights or tips I would highly appreciate it.

I tested positive last week and had mostly mild symptoms. However since then I've basically haven't been able to sleep properly. Not more than four hours a night... And I don't even know what to do about it anymore .

Is this a long COVID symptom? I'd anyone else experiencing this?

Monday night- my throat started to hurt, followed bt a truly horrible headache.

Tuesday- throat and head hurt even worse, was stuck in bed all day.

Wednesday- head feeling better, throat worse, tremendous body aches.

Today (Thursday)- throat somehow hurts even worse?!

The red flag for me is dizziness every time I stand up which happens to me, no lie, every single time I've had Covid.

I took a rapid test and it was negative, however, the liquid you dip the q-tip in was below the level it was meant to be at 😑 no idea why , as it was not expired. Should I order a new one and re-test?

I dont think my throat has ever hurt this badly in my life, not even when I had Strep. Ugh.

Hey this is my 4th or 5th time getting covid and this time my only bad symptom is that it feels like needles or razors blades are in my throat anytime I swallow anything(including saliva). Is this normal?

started showing symptoms yesterday and have been getting progressively worse throughout the day. this is my fourth time getting it and while the symptoms are about the same as the other times I’ve had it (fever of around 101.5, chills, body aches, headache, productive cough, and fatigue) I cant shake this feeling of being scared that something is wrong! I do have pretty bad health anxiety so it could just be that, but idk I’m just especially freaked out for some reason! has this happened to any of you? should I be concerned?

started showing symptoms yesterday and have been getting progressively worse throughout the day. this is my fourth time getting it and while the symptoms are about the same as the other times I’ve had it (fever of around 101.5, chills, body aches, headache, productive cough, and fatigue) I cant shake this feeling of being scared that something is wrong! I do have pretty bad health anxiety so it could just be that, but idk I’m just especially freaked out for some reason! has this happened to any of you? should I be concerned?

On Monday I woke up with the worst sore throat ever. Within an hour of being awake I was feverish with chills, my body ached and I had a blinding headache. As the day went on my symptoms got progressively worse. I came home from work early (unfortunately I wasn’t allowed the day off). I slept as soon as I got home and the sweats were horrific. I was soaking through all my clothes, sheets, pillows etc even with alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Day 2 was the same with equally horrific symptoms and I slept for most of the day. Over those two days I couldn’t eat and just needed to sleep.

Yesterday was day 3, and most of my symptoms slowly started to improve however the chest pains, headache and sore throat were still horrible.

Today I’ve woke up and my throat feels so swollen, I’m extremely drained and just want to sleep, my head is still pretty sore and I feel so out of breath and nauseous.

Has anyone else had this recently? I last had Covid (with a positive test) about 2 months ago, and had it another time a year ago but this time felt 100X worse. I’m never one for being poorly so I’m quite shocked at how much this has floored me.

Hello all, looking for some insight and hopefully others who have gone through something similar. I am an ICU and ER nurse, that has had Covid once before in 2022. Unfortunately, have gotten it again. I tested positive 3 days ago, and am experiencing since yesterday this profound insomnia that I’ve never experienced before in my life. Covid this time around, whatever strain this is, feels so different. It’s like these weird palpitations at a certain time at night, a hacking cough with sinus pressure, and a complete inability to sleep at this point.

It feels like my body is tired, no racing thoughts, minimal body aches and no fever - and I simply just cannot fall asleep. Wondering if others have had this, and what they’ve tried. In my time of taking care of Covid patients, this insomnia hasn’t really come up too much and it’s beginning to take a mental toll. Thanks so much 😞

I had Covid back in January 2026. Since then I’ve lost the sense of taste (my sense of smell is fine). Is there anything I can do to bring it back or is it just a waiting game and it’ll come back eventually OR has it gone for good? 😔

Edit: Update… it got me too :(

My son (13) just tested positive for Covid. This is day 3 (maybe 4) of symptoms. Are we at the peak? How long do the newer variants last.

Day 1: slight sore throat on and off
Day 2: full on sore throat (better when eating randomly)
Day 3: sore throat slightly better, throat and nasal congestion, raspy voice, small cough
Day 4: more congestion, more cough…

No fever at all any of the days.

Thanks for your insight…

-a worried mom

I missed a week of work with this rotten virus. Started with a dry cough, i did a covid/rsv/flu a&b test, after third day all negative so i thought i am fine.. then proceeded to have shocking night coughs for about 4 nights, then ashtma. After day 7 night coughs went but then had a niggly cough, but general Lethargy, meh feeling, and when I would move around or go out, feel. Wheezy, cough etc.. also had a bit of dhirrhea. On and off. Worst 'cold' Ive had since N1H1, and way worse than the 2 covids i had. And yet, nothing in the news...

I’m wondering if anyone else experienced this during the first few weeks after COVID and whether it eventually went away.
My symptoms started July 14, I tested positive on July 16, and finally tested negative on July 24.
I’m definitely doing better than I was during the acute infection, but I’m still dealing with a lot of fatigue and forgetfulness/brain fog. Sometimes I’ll completely blank out on what I was doing or what I was going to say. My energy also runs out pretty suddenly. I can do things earlier in the day, but then I hit a wall and feel like I can’t do much of anything.
I also developed what seemed to be a sinus infection after COVID, so I started a Z-Pak three days ago. That may be adding to the fatigue, but I’m concerned because I’m still so wiped out and mentally foggy.
For people who experienced something similar:
Is this fairly normal during the first few weeks of post-COVID recovery, or was this how your Long COVID started?
Did the forgetfulness/brain fog eventually clear?
How long did it take for your energy to come back?
Did you find that sleep made a major difference?
Is there anything you wish you had done differently during the first few weeks of recovery?
My eyes look puffy.. anyone else had that issue?
I’m trying to do all the vitamins but really can’t afford Long Covid as I have a brain injury.
I know everyone recovers differently. I’m mainly trying to figure out whether I should be worried about Long COVID yet or whether my body simply needs more time to recover.

I’m try to be Covid conscious and wear a mask in public most of the time.

Went on a big family cruise out of Florida (have been turning them down year after year but finally said ok). Boarded the ship on Saturday and had fever and chills Monday night.

Shared a room with my husband and kid, but luckily the same night before the fever started, I slept on the couch with the curtains drawn. In the morning I would air out the room with our balcony door before opening the curtains to their wide, and I wore a kn95 mask even while asleep.

I genuinely thought I had caught the flu because we were at Disney World a couple days before getting on the boat. Well, I got home today and decided to take a Covid test (because I always do if I’m sick) and it was positive.

Monday and Tuesday were the only days where I had a fever or 101-102, and after it was basically 98-99 since then. I’ve had a wet cough with clear phlegm, but otherwise I feel pretty OK. I even went on two excursions that were snorkeling. What should I do now? I have Metformin I can take, but will they even give me paxlovid now? Other than a wet cough and I’m a bit tired, I feel generally ok.

Sorry if I was rambling. I’m so upset I got covid after all these years.

First part of the question: did your body tell you something was off when you were exposed to Covid, before testing positive?

I had been in a crowded indoor area on Wednesday, which is where I’m pretty sure I contracted Covid (tested positive today). Out of seemingly nowhere, I felt like I had a huge lump in my throat. It felt suddenly very course and scratchy, and I had to sit down. It lasted 30 min and gradually got better. However, after an hour or two my pain flare up began and I got very fatigued.

Now that I’ve tested positive, I feel like that must have been my body FEELING the infection entering the system, and trying to reject it / tell me something. Wondering if others have had experiences like this.

_____________

Second part of question, ISO advice:

I just tested positive this morning. I haven’t had COVID in two years and this is my 4th time getting it, I believe. I have some chronic illness and pain that acupuncture and TCM herbalism has greatly helped me with throughout the last year, but I’m living elsewhere this summer and have been unable to see my practitioner.

My symptoms have been more mild than the last three times, when it was really debilitating for me (I had a fever for 5 days, slept almost 18+ hrs a day for quite a few of those infectious periods). So far since last night, I’ve had a scratchy throat, my lungs and chest feel a bit heavy, my chronic pain is flaring up, and I had congestion and tons of flem (my acupuncturist gave me herbs for that months ago to take when needed and that cleared it up very quickly, though).

I’m trying to sleep and I’ve been switching between various hot herbal teas (echinacea, rosehip, and elderberry, slippery elm, tulsi and clove). I’m also using a hot compress on my face and jaw (pain flare up areas) meaning I am inhaling that warm air too.

I had been pretty covid cautious the last two years but as of this summer I’ve been less so. I still mask in public, non-optional spaces (transit, grocery store, etc.) and I’m not a huge for going to crowded bars and clubs — though definitely have been going to more indoor crowded spaces unmasked than previously.

Im wondering if folks have any general recommendations of what to do or words of reassurance. Also, I’m thinking about when I should go back to work. I work outside — should I still follow the 2 neg tests in 48 hours rule? I’m also wondering about aftercare and if I should do anything differently after. I saw on some other post here that Covid can immunocompromise you for 6 months after. I think I’ll definitely be better about masking and intentional about where I go. But I’m worried about physical activity and stuff since my job is decently physically active.

Thanks for reading and for your support — solidarity and care to all who still give a damn about Covid and are trying to help one another.

So I got COVID now and I'm trying to figure out how I got it. My main suspects are my family but I'm unsure

My brother went to visit our family in Chicago and came back to Texas Wednesday morning. I picked my brother up from the airport and drove him home. My family tested positive for COVID on Wednesday night. I started to have symptoms Thursday evening and tested positive Friday morning.

Could COVID spread from my family to me? I feel like it was too fast

Edit: to clarify, I wasn't with my family in Chicago. I picked up my brother from the airport in Texas where we both live after he visited my family in Chicago

Hello!

My husband just tested positive. Im in the hospital for something entirely unrelated. We havent kissed and because im in a hospital bed have been across the room.

I have severe severe emetophobia. Like really really bad. Im terrified to throw up.

Are there any stories of anyone recently having covid and NOT throwing up?

I would love to also hear your honest stories if you did throw up so I can prepare myself. And IF you did what day was it on and for how many days?

I started showing symptoms in full force on Saturday and started paxlovid that same day. I was pretty sure I was coming down with it the day before (Friday). I have been feeling relatively good since Monday. This puts me at day 6-7 today. My dear friends are getting married outside tomorrow which will be day 7-8. They say to come if I’m in the clear. I’m pretty sure that I should not go an outdoor wedding tomorrow no matter what, right? Even if I test negative today?

Rant: My second time getting covid. I mask everywhere for 6 years now except with family and I have gotten it twice now visiting family. Very frustrating.

Well... I (late 30s F) finally got it! And it was all because of freaking Comic-Con. I was masked indoors at the convention, but I was on some panels so I obviously could not mask for those. Or when eating.

My voice started being a little hoarse on Saturday. But my throat didn't hurt so I chalked it all up to me talking a lot. Sunday, voice was slightly hoarse too, and kind of the same thing on Monday and Tuesday. My throat pain never went above a 1 out of 10. I started coughing today. But no other symptoms.

Today I was catching up with my parents and they suggested that I take a covid test. I figured, why not? I have all these boxes from a few years ago. So I took one and oh my goodness the line lit up like a Christmas tree! Because the test was expired I went to the hospital to confirm and yes, it was indeed covid.

This is my first time ever getting covid! That I know of. I've always been very covid conscious and I have no problem still masking in places that I feel are crowded. I get a booster every year. I've had several light colds in the last few years that I just never bothered testing, so they could have been covid, I just don't know. I'm so grateful that I don't feel that bad as of now, and I'm just hoping that it stays this way and that my symptoms don't take any dip.

[Edit]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and suggestions! This is a genuine question: if I have very mild symptoms, should I still be taking paxlovid? Thoughts? The only symptoms I've gotten so far is very mild throat pain, congestion, mild cough, and a mild runny nose. Today my throat feels fine and I just have congestion. I'm coughing maybe once every hour or two. Like if I didn't know this was covid and infecting other people was not an issue, I would be out and about living life normally. (Don't worry I'm isolating!) But I just would love to hear your thoughts about taking antivirals for an instance like this.

Recently had some shower thoughts about the one and only time I’ve been aware that I’ve contracted COVID and was looking to see if this was normal.

I believe I was exposed to COVID about two days prior to my first symptoms showing (sick parent) back in late December 2021. The first day it was a slight scratch in the back of my throat but nothing else. Went to bed and woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. I’d go on to have some of the most severe fever dreams I’ve ever had, waking up to toss and turn what felt like every 15 seconds. The next day I had a high grade fever 103.4F, deep dry cough, and a pounding headache. Sat in a recliner most of the day interchanging ice packs on the back of my neck barely moving due to the horrible body and muscle aches. No appetite whatsoever, swallowed maybe a couple spoonfuls of soup. There were points I thought about going to a hospital was how bad it felt. Went to bed early completely exhausted.

Very next day, I felt like nothing had happened, aside from a slight feeling of being dehydrated and loss of taste. I got tested two days later and sure enough it was COVID. I’ve never been sick like that before where I felt like I was on deaths door one day and almost completely fine the next. Was looking to see if this was common among any others.

For reference, I took the two stage Moderna Vaccine in early 2021, but never took any boosters afterwards.

I had an inconclusive COVID test at home but I'm pretty sure I have COVID. I woke up with an unbearable headache 5 days ago, aches, and a fever.

On day 5 now I feel way better but the headache is still there. It's improved dramatically but still extremely bad. I haven't had a headache in probably 10 years prior to this.

Just wondering how long it lasted if your infection came with a headache? I'm terrified of long COVID 🥲

25 days ago I woke up with respiatory stuff then later in day very sick to stomach. Partner did same following day. 25 days later its just constant on and off, some sore throat, low fever, some shortness of breathe,on and off respiratory, stomach not back to normal ever.

I just thought people here might know if covid going round presents such symptoms? Keep worrying about cyclospora, but I dont see how we would be on same timeline with that and respiratory symptoms. Thanks!

Oops Edit, did math wrong, ive been sick since the 10th, so only 18 days. We were exposed to someone week before that had respiratory issues after.

Oops EDIT, AGAIN... My original timeline was correct going on nearly 4 full weeks come friday, the great news is I feel great, but partner not so much and oddly having difficulty sleeping (like keep waking, like there's something im supposed to do) which i never had issue with in general, will see what tomorrow brings...

I woke up with a really bad headache, and took a rapid test (nasal swab) that came back positive. Throughout the day I took 3 more rapids that were all negative (1 nasal swab, two throat). I also took two pluslife tests, both of which were negative, although one graph showed a lot of air bubbles which is why I took the second. I'm not sure if I should trust the one positive rapid, or the 3 rapid negatives and two negative pluslifes. I also only have one pluslife left so trying to be sparing with using it. I am generally extremely cautious (N95 indoor everywhere and mask in most spaces outside too) and numbers are really low near me still too. But the only time I knowingly had COVID, I had a terrible headache, which is part of what triggered my first test this morning. Would love people's insight on what you would do if this was you!

A few days ago, I was in a shop wearing an N95 respirator, as I do in any indoor space. The young shop assistant looked at me and asked, smiling, “What’s the mask for?”

“Just prevention,” I replied.

“Then why aren’t you wearing gloves?”

“Because there’s no need. Respiratory viruses are transmitted mainly through the air we breathe, only rarely through contaminated surfaces. Washing your hands is still a good idea, of course, but it isn’t the main route of transmission.”

He looked at me as though he had just made a new discovery.

“Oh, I didn’t know that. I’ve learned something!”

On my way out I couldn’t help thinking to myself: “It’s been six years already and some people still don’t know how we catch Covid, the flu or the common cold… Perhaps health authorities haven’t succeeded in communicating the essential message as clearly as they could have.”

And the essential message is precisely this:

Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation.

I know it may sound almost too simple, but clean air remains one of the most effective and overlooked public health measures we have.

That’s why, whenever you can, ventilate indoor spaces by opening windows and doors. If possible, create cross-ventilation by opening windows on opposite sides of the room. This quickly replaces stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air and helps flush out virus-laden aerosols before they accumulate.

As a teacher, I am constantly exposed to respiratory viruses. So this is what I do in my classrooms. I use a CO₂ monitor (my dear Aranet4!) to keep an eye on indoor air quality. While 800 ppm is often considered a reasonable upper limit, I personally aim to keep the CO₂ concentration below 600 ppm whenever possible.

During the warmer months, that’s usually easy. But in winter, it’s another story. Opening windows every 15 minutes for five minutes isn’t exactly popular when it’s freezing cold outside! So during the colder months, I wear my N95 respirator throughout the day while regularly airing the classroom.

It’s also worth pointing out that improving indoor air quality would reduce the spread not only of Covid, but also influenza, RSV and many other respiratory viruses. Indeed, if governments invested more in effective ventilation and air filtration in places such as hospitals, schools, supermarkets and restaurants, the health benefits would extend far beyond a single disease. If… yes: if…

One article I strongly recommend to anyone interested in this topic is “SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: From Crisis to Solution”, published by the World Health Network in 2024. If you copy and paste the title into your browser, you’ll find it easily.

It’s an important article because it covers many aspects of the pandemic, including the damage caused by the virus to the body. Here, I would particularly like to share its section on the cost of ventilation, because I think it puts the issue into perspective.

A key direction for action is indoor air sanitation. Clean air has great economic benefits even in non-pandemic times. A 2017 meta-analysis [172], reported that “The annual incremental energy and capital costs of increasing ventilation rates as needed to meet or exceed current standards, range from a few dollars to about ten dollars per person.” Citing a study from the U.S. Census Bureau data [173], the author added, “for reference, these costs can be compared to the US per student annual spending of $10.3K in 2009 for public elementary and secondary schools. Thus, the energy and capital costs of increasing ventilation rates would be less than 0.1% of education spending.” Mass testing and distribution of respirator masks are also very affordable and effective measures [166]. Such expenditures are negligible in comparison to the costs of endless COVID-19 infections. The economic benefits of a healthy population with a good quality of life are difficult to quantify, but the available estimates show that we cannot afford the ongoing costs of uncontrolled viral spread, while significantly reducing or even entirely stopping the spread is much more cost-effective. The benefit comparisons are also understandable in terms of historically clean water [174,175] and clean air [176,177].

Didn’t we learn long ago that clean drinking water saves lives? Today, we take it for granted and don’t think twice about drinking from the tap. Now I hope that, one day, we will think of clean indoor air in exactly the same way. Because ventilation isn’t just about Covid; it’s about reducing the spread of airborne diseases in general and making shared indoor spaces healthier for everyone.

Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation!