“I felt helpless”

More and more people have recovered from Covid 19 disease. But how does Corona feel? Four t-online.de readers report on their very different experiences with the disease.

As of this week it is clear that over 100,000 Germans from Covid-19 have recovered. Some of them are loyal t-online.de readers and followed our call to report on their illness. Many people have contacted us with emotional stories. The recovered tell what symptoms and fears they had and how they were treated as infected. None of them had a very difficult course. Nevertheless, they felt the disease in very different ways. Here we report on four experiences of our readers:

“If this is how Corona works, then you have to be grateful.” – Leonhard M.

In the second week of March we went with eight people for a winter vacation in Serfaus, Tyrol, Austria: Grandparents, parents, the eight-month-old granddaughter and friends. We were all in an apartment hotel together. On March 14th we had to leave early. Tirol was cleared by tourists that weekend. At this point, we all felt very comfortable.

Only a few days later, the 73-year-old, still fit grandma suddenly began to suffer from nausea and loss of taste and smell. The 75-year-old grandpa developed slight flu-like symptoms, which are characterized by fatigue and minimal Joint pain showed. The younger fellow skiers, all between 38 and 45 years old, had no problems. Our 73-year-old friend had to go to the hospital for a short-term because of a circulatory collapse, his 68-year-old wife had only slight flu symptoms. All people except the eight-month-old grandchild were tested positive.

We all feel fine again. If this is how Corona works, then you have to be grateful. We’ll all do an antibody test. Maybe we can help with severe cases with our antibodies.

“There is no help for those with mild and moderate symptoms.” – Kirsten S.

It all started in late February in Ski vacation in South Tyrol. On the first day with a slight feeling of illness and a slightly elevated temperature. Then there was a sudden complete loss of smell and taste. To date, this is still not 100 percent ok. I also got strong ones a headache. Later on, I suffered from shortness of breath – even without effort. I had no fever or cough.

I asked the doctor twice for a test. This was rejected. The reason: too few symptoms. I felt very helpless and left alone. There was no information on how to deal with the disease and symptoms. The doctors don’t know what to do. The news scares you a lot: you only hear horror messages and distance regulations. There is no help for those with mild and moderate symptoms. Since I have not been feeling well for eight weeks now, I got an appointment with the doctor and was able to convince him to do an antibody test at my own expense.

I have known since yesterday that I had the virus and that I have antibodies. But even now everything was relatively chaotic for the doctor and he himself had to ask the laboratory again. I’m still not feeling well. I wouldn’t call myself cured. I still have big problems with shortness of breath and severe headaches.

“With the garden and sunny weather, everything was tolerable.” – Andreas B.

At the end of March, my wife informed me and our son that Covid-19 had broken out in her rehabilitation facility and that she was showing symptoms. Since she asthma we were very worried. We briefly consulted and agreed to accept the infection and collect it for a quarantine. We saw no risk for the 18-year-old fit son. An acceptable one for me at the age of 57 without any relevant previous workload.

I bought massive supplies for three weeks and briefly got medical advice. We came together in the evening, and my wife was delighted not to have to sit alone in the clinic. We have hardly taken any protective measures in the house to prevent the virus. I just didn’t breath deeply for three days and slept separately to give my immune system time to prepare before too many viruses found their way from the throat to the lungs. In the following two and a half weeks of infection and quarantine, I only looked after the bed for half a day with a temperature and headache of less than 38 degrees. I have normal working days Home office made. My wife had a twenty percent drop in lung air volume and some coughing on the same half day. My son had nothing. That’s it for the three of us. Thanks to the garden and sunny weather, everything was tolerable.

Corona infection survived as an asthma sufferer – Alfred R.

I have been an asthma patient since I was eight months old. That’s over 53 years now. In early March occurred one night chills, Fever, pain and difficulty breathing. The headache and body aches were a little different this time than with a flu-like infection. The pain manifested itself in such a way that it moved up and down in the back.

The next morning I called my family doctor. When I got there I was given a face mask and immediately taken to another room. After the examination, the diagnosis was: bacterial infection. I was on sick leave for two weeks.

At the end of the second week of illness, my son called from work: “I have just transported a patient to the hospital, who tested positive for corona there.” As an asthma patient, I could not stay at home. I packed my things and am moved to my 87 year old father.

My son tested positive for Corona early the following week. Then my daughter and I were also ordered for the test: both positive. After this diagnosis, I was also aware that my symptoms from early March were not a flu-like infection. At that time it was already Corona. I immediately moved back home to avoid endangering my father. To date, he has no symptoms.

The three of us have received formal notification from the police that ordered quarantine. Shortly afterwards my wife was also tested positive. We naturally complied with the quarantine. I was the one with the most severe complaints. For three to four days in pain, I couldn’t really sit, lie, or stand. I had my asthma under control. We are now officially released from quarantine. Today we are all well.

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