I was only thinking recently how well I've been and it's some time since I've been ill. Perhaps I was tempting fate?
Then last week I noticed that I wasn't quite feeling myself. A constant runny nose, sore eyes, my chest was wheezy and then a cough that got worse (especially when lying down). Not to mention a headache, sweating, sore throat and raspy voice and a feeling I was running on empty with no energy at all. Strangely also, I was getting bad dreams, like constantly being chased, loosing my phone or feeling trapped. Some of this seemed kind of familiar from when covid first struck back in 2020.
If your concerned, it's always best to seek out professional medical advice of course, like I did.
I have a low immune system due to other health issues and medications, so I'm even more prone to picking things up. After doing a covid test (first one for ages), it showed up positive. It seems that I have a 'mild' dose of the latest Covid-19 variant which is accounting for around 30% of cases here right now.
The current NHS guildelines to isolate after a positive Covid test are clear, to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you did your test. You should also avoid people who are more likely to get seriously ill from infections/viruses, such as people with weakened immune systems. Don't be tempted to 'battle on' and continue to go to work, think of others and don't spread your germs so putting friends and colleagues at risk.
The symptoms of a cold, flu and covid do overlap, but there are some differences. They also can cause no symptoms or cause mild or severe symptoms. Because the symptoms can overlap, testing can still be done to see if you have COVID-19 or the flu. You also can have both diseases at the same time, like I did. The NHS advises that many symptoms are similar, so it's best to get advice from NHS 111 online or seek out an appointment with a healthcare professional, especially if you're worried or symptoms worsen. The NHS provides advice on managing symptoms at home and knowing when to seek urgent care. This is particularly important for people at higher risk, such as those aged 60 or over, pregnant, or with chronic heath conditions or a weakened immune system.
There's always more advice to be found online at https://www.nhs.uk/
I hope to be back on air soon, a big thanks to Ryan Kennedy who has been covering Vibe 1's mid-morning show while I've been off poorly, if you've been feeling unwell with something similar to me - I hope you are feeling better soon!
