Those affected by Covid-19 share their insights
Gastric symptoms were an early sign.
PR consultant Isla Haslam (29) says:
WHEN I developed mild stomach cramps a few days after a family get-together six weeks ago, I thought it might be just the effects of some beans I’d eaten in a vegan meal.
Because I had never heard gastric trouble mentioned as a symptom of Covid-19, I didn’t self-isolate – in fact, I went to the theatre. But the next day I became severely unwell with a sore throat and overwhelming fatigue and realised I had the virus.
A few days later my mum tested positive for it when she was hospitalised – but she had different symptoms, mainly a cough and shortness of breath – I now know they vary between sufferers.
I was also under the impression that as I was young all I’d have was cold-like symptoms – it was definitely a lot nastier than that. I had to stay in bed for a good week or so.
Runny eyes were a sign of infection.
Journalist Lucy Elkins (50), a mother-of-one, says:
A BIT of conjunctivitis: that’s what I thought when I woke up to find my right eye was bloodshot and weeping. So I went to work as normal and popped out at lunchtime to get some eye drops.
Yet within two days I had a headache and cramping stomach pains, swiftly followed by a fever and a sensation that something was irritating my lungs – it felt almost as if I’d inhaled dust.
At first I just thought, "How could this happen to me?" I’m fit, I eat my veg and I cycle to work most days – a 12-mile round journey. But as my temperature rose and my chest felt increasingly tight, it became clear I had the symptoms of Covid-19.
Googling all I could about the virus, I discovered that red eyes are often an early sign of it. I feel guilty that I may have unwittingly infected others. Had I known this was a sign, I’d have self-isolated straight away. So if you do develop red eyes – well, it might just be conjunctivitis. But in the current climate it pays to be careful.
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