[DianeM]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

If any of these instances of sickness were COVID-19. surely a whole lot more people would have been infected around them?
JMO.

Personally I was too sick and too miserable to leave the house. I stayed home for 3 weeks. Gee kinda like now too but not sick. 2020 sure is boring.

[twoplanekid]

Several weeks ago, my son up in Ohio can down with coronavirus like symptoms such as a fever, cough, hard time breathing and a very sore throat. After a week or more of isolation with his family (wife and two sons), he was able to be tested for the virus. The first test results can back inconclusive so after a few days he took another test which came back negative. However, his condition was not improving. Finally, his doctor sent him to an urgent care facility for a chest x-ray. The result was that he found out he has bronchitis which is not great but can now be treated. He is on the mend now with everyone taking a sigh of relief. So, we can get many other illnesses during these times other than the coronavirus.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by DianeM

I have not heard that the antibody test is available yet. Did I miss that news?

I heard there is an antibody test available at this time. In fact, they are testing people for antibodies who have had Covid-19 and using plasma from these people to treat those who are sick with Covid-19.

[NotGolfer]

I have a good friend who lives near Milwaukee in WI...in November she became very sick...it last from just before Thanksgiving til maybe after Christmas. I don't remember exactly but know it went through the holidays. There were family gettogethers that were kept but other plans got cancelled. It is reported that the symptoms were identical to what was reported out the UK this year. The doctor did tests and said "it must be the flu and you have (maybe) bronchitis. Drugs didn't help! Other family members got it too....Was it Covid-19? Quite possibly! I've read other reports of people who had similar symptoms earlier than what's going around after the 1st of the year.

[DianeM]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I heard there is an antibody test available at this time. In fact, they are testing people for antibodies who have had Covid-19 and using plasma from these people to treat those who are sick with Covid-19.

Cool. I didn’t think it was out yet.

[MOMOH]

Whether all these "armchair doctors" think you had it or not, when the test is available, get it. It will answer your questions and you can move on.

[charmed59]

I came down with similar respiratory symptoms on a Yangtze River Cruise last August. I think their are a lot of Coronavirus floating around, but the Covid19 version didn’t show up until November or December in China.

[jimmyfromde]

DrTiche in Ocala has the antibodies

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl08

Did I have Covid-19 in June after being in Europe for 17 days? I think so! Two days before we left London, I started with a very bad sore throat. For the entire 12 hr. flight to San Diego, I was burning up with fever. I NEVER NEVER get a fever when I'm sick. I was in a middle seat, coughing uncontrollably into the armpit of my tall boyfriend. I was freezing cold and shaking like crazy. I felt so sorry for the girl to my left; I kept apologizing but never coughed in her direction. When we got home, I took two Tylenol and went to bed as it was around midnight. The next morning, I woke up and BF took me to Urgent Care. My temp. was 103.4, even with Tylenol. I couldn't breathe. My lungs hurt 10 out of 10 with every breath. I had the worst headache ever. Long story made short, I was out of work for a month, had to be seen by my GP three times, two different changes for antibiotics (xray showed double pneumonia). Needed two kinds of inhalors. I finally got in to see a pulmonologist end of June. She put me on Prednisone 40 mg. X 7 days which really was the game changer. Now I can't say for sure, but I am 100% convinced I had Covid-19. I would love to be tested for antibodies. Does anybody know of any similar stories of people being sick (like this) prior to November, 2019? Please don't beat me up with disclaimers, I just feel so strongly that I had every symptom folks in the hospital are having now.

[Lindsyburnsy]

Novel Covid 19 is a "new" respiratory virus which can manifest itself into a viral pneumonia. Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections. Usually, bacterial pneumonia occurs when someone can't adequately fight off a flu and eventually, the lungs become infected.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl08

Did I have Covid-19 in June after being in Europe for 17 days? I think so! Two days before we left London, I started with a very bad sore throat. For the entire 12 hr. flight to San Diego, I was burning up with fever. I NEVER NEVER get a fever when I'm sick. I was in a middle seat, coughing uncontrollably into the armpit of my tall boyfriend. I was freezing cold and shaking like crazy. I felt so sorry for the girl to my left; I kept apologizing but never coughed in her direction. When we got home, I took two Tylenol and went to bed as it was around midnight. The next morning, I woke up and BF took me to Urgent Care. My temp. was 103.4, even with Tylenol. I couldn't breathe. My lungs hurt 10 out of 10 with every breath. I had the worst headache ever. Long story made short, I was out of work for a month, had to be seen by my GP three times, two different changes for antibiotics (xray showed double pneumonia). Needed two kinds of inhalors. I finally got in to see a pulmonologist end of June. She put me on Prednisone 40 mg. X 7 days which really was the game changer. Now I can't say for sure, but I am 100% convinced I had Covid-19. I would love to be tested for antibodies. Does anybody know of any similar stories of people being sick (like this) prior to November, 2019? Please don't beat me up with disclaimers, I just feel so strongly that I had every symptom folks in the hospital are having now.

I was a college professor in Pennsylvania last year, and my recollection is that throughout the entire year of 2019, a shocking number of students got pneumonia. I’d never experienced so many students out with pneumonia. However, there are many different strains of pneumonia, and they often develop after a severe cold. The fact that your pneumonia responded quickly to Prednisone suggests that it was NOT the Coronavirus, as Prednisone is well-known to make Coronavirus-related pneumonia WORSE.

[jtdraig]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Two posts. And in both you mention getting tested. Why not do it? Why not at least contact someone involved in fighting this thing and tell your story? You may be able to make an important contribution.

Because the tests are not yet available. I had the same thing beginning in late January...all the same symptoms and the cough lasted for about four weeks with three trips to the Doctor. Zpak and prednisone killed it off before it killed me. Sore ribs, etc. I just talked to my Villages Health Doctor and he said that is was possible but when I asked about getting tested for the antibodies he said that the test kits weren't available yet but I am on the list when they do arrive.

[Heyitsrick]

There are - and have been - many coronaviruses.

Here's how WebMd categorizes them:

Human Coronavirus Types

Scientists have divided coronaviruses into four sub-groupings, called alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Seven of these viruses can infect people. The four common ones are:

229E (alpha)
NL63 (alpha)
OC43 (beta)
HKU1 (beta)

The three less-common ones are:

MERS-CoV, a beta virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
SARS-CoV, a beta virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19

[lindaelane]

It sounds like your pneumonia could have been viral. Covid-19 is not the only corona virus. Its not possible you had Covid-19 in May 2019 because the virus first moved to humans in winter 2019. It is not likely, but possible, you had a different corona virus. Pneumonia is either viral or bacterial, or in some cases, first viral progressing to bacterial. You did well with prednisone. You family doctor can prescribe prednisone - I have continued lung infections - but I find I need to ask for it and I add I've done well on it before. Too much prednisone, too often, of course, causes very bad problems, so it is only for when you lungs (or other health conditions) are quite serious. Tests to see if you have had Covid-19 are not available yet for the general public, but will be. If you test positive, however, then you had the asymptomatic version, as it is impossible your May 2019 illness was Covid-19.

[Jerseygirl08]

Originally Posted by John_W

I would say you have pneumonia. I got it in the spring of 2016 and it came and went twice in a two month period. Other than all the things you described, and I had it even worse, when it was over I had my entire life changed. I had to give up softball, my lung capacity had gone down to 59% and I no longer could run. Before that, I played 5 years, 15 seasons and maybe missed 4 games. After the pneumonia, just running out to shortstop to play my position I would get winded, much less playing. I also had to stop taking some classes at MVP because I couldn't catch my breath. I was sent to a pulmonary doctor and I was diagnosed with Emphysema and now I have 3 inhalers I use everyday. Consider yourself lucky you didn't have the lasting effects that I did.

So sorry to hear that JohnW. I also have different lungs now since that event in June. It kicked me in the arse. Our "senior" lungs cannot handle any form of pneumonia. I'm grateful that I survived as I thought I was going to die!!

[Jerseygirl08]

Thanks to all of you who posted in response to my concern. Whatever I picked up in London . . . . . almost did me in. BTW, I use Dr. Jose Diaz in Leesburg. He has been highly regarded in the field of Pulmonology way back as far as I can remember, 2009. He was so thorough and explained things to me in a very caring and concise way. I didn't feel rushed at all. He answered all of my questions. I highly recommend him for anyone who needs a Pulmonologist here in Central Florida.