Wiganers share their experiences of coronavirus symptoms

Many people are understandably frightened at the numbers of people hospitalized with coronavirus but as the Government’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Chris Whitty has repeatedly said most victims will only suffer with minor symptoms.
Governments Chief Medical Officer Dr Chris WhittyGovernments Chief Medical Officer Dr Chris Whitty
Governments Chief Medical Officer Dr Chris Whitty

Most who suspect they have Covid-19 will not need hospital treatment and so will not be tested to confirm whether they do indeed have the virus.

To offset some of the fears people have we invited Wiganers who think they have had Covid-19 to share their experience on our Facebook page and dozens of you did.

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It is important to note that very few of the people presenting symptoms will know for certain whether they have the illness due to the lack of testing so please follow the Government’s guidelines and STAY AT HOME AND STAY SAFE

I’ve got it. I would have put money on it that I didn’t, I work at Aintree Hospital and had to get tested so I could return to work sooner than the seven days. I literally just feel run down, little tickle in my throat but no persistent cough. Had a migraine last week and just happened to test my temp while at work, was 38 so was sent home. That’s the only time I’ve spiked a temp. Just feel a little puffed out when I’ve climbed the stairs. But I’m good.

Nicola Waddington

I was ill in February. Spent four days in bed, headaches, sore throat, fatigue, lack of appetite, shivering that was uncontrollable. After three days I developed a cough that lasted two weeks and a burning feeling around my throat. I had never felt so ill and it felt like something I had never had before.

Tina Corday

I think I had it before Christmas, flu symptoms an upper tract infection constant cough no energy. I work at Warrington on a surgical ward, we have had query patients and positive patients before being turned into a palliative covid ward... That’s been over four weeks now and only being able to use the basic surgical masks and gloves, I haven’t had any symptoms even tho I’ve been coughed on, spat at etc you name it. Feel absolutely normal so probably immune to it...

Vickie Harmer

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I was diagnosed by symptoms last week and felt quite ill, on Friday last week I felt different and my chest and back was very painful on breathing, GP acted fast and issued clarithromycin antibiotics for suspected pneumonia, very frightening time for us but feeling so much better now and looking forward to going back to work.

Ann Wright

High temperature first two days aches and pains , terrible headache for four days slept a lot zero energy, not much appetite its been a week now and still not feeling 100 per cent still no energy.

Nita Lee

I took ill pretty quickly with flu like symptoms aching all over straight to the bones. Cough and very tired with high temps and shortness of breathe. Loss of taste and smell. The temps have been on and off for nearly two weeks. I’m just so exhausted and still breathless and shallow breathing. I don’t know what I’ve got but don’t want it again that’s for sure.

Julie Kocot

My doctor said suspected Covid-19 for my symptoms (not tested). But symptoms was as follows... Headache and fuzzy headed that hasn’t shifted all week, Chest aching all front and top half of my body sore, Loss of taste and smell. Really tired with random hot flushes to the point I’d start sweating then I’d go cold again... I was in bed for four days with it. These symptoms were all for a week I’m still fuzzy headed and have a headache and randomly I feel sick after meals but that’s all now.

Stacey Louise Sharples

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Started two weeks ago, with a bit of a scratchy throat, that soon went all on my chest. Was in bed for five days, with a really persistent cough, and also a very tight chest and shortness of breath, which bubbled when I tried to breath in. Even though I’m feeling much better, I still have a cough, lack of energy and a bit of shortness of breath.

Caroline Chadwick

Started with aches and pains on a Wednesday night, woke Thursday with cough that (as a smoker) can only be described as a constant smokers cough (very irritable). Day three I lost all sense of smell and taste, this continued until about day eight when the cough had stopped. I then got severe headaches, at this point I did contact my local GP as three days I had them, doctors prescribed antibiotics stating if it was coronavirus it was secondary infection, i had sinusitis which lead to an ear infection...feeling all well now (three and a half weeks on)

Sorcha Sherman

I was ill back in February. Fever, lack of appetite, persistent cough, chest felt like an elephant was sat on it! Was in bed for a couple of days, breathless doing the smallest amount of exercise for about a week after. I also had extremely runny nose. Could have been a normal cold, but it’s like no cold I’d ever had before, I’ve never felt as bad. Little lad had a high temp a couple of days before me. But then I’ve also had to just self isolate as I got a really, really bad sore throat, turning into a persistent dry cough, sore chest, tiredness, no fever though.

Vikki Smith

I’ve had headache for two weeks nothing be able to get rid of it throat felt like broken glass in it on and off for a few days then on Monday started with persistent cough and tightness in my chest,and felt cold and shivering the tightness went after a day but now getting out of breath doing most things and just feeling no energy, still coughing but not persistent any more still no energy but sleeping very well so could be that.

Linda Ann Campbell

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I started with a chest infection which quickly got worse, I was having hot and cold sweats, lost my taste altogether. Phoned doctors and he said I had mild symptoms of the virus. Gave me antibiotics and told me to self isolate. It took me 3 weeks to start feeling normal again and if I only had it mild I feel for the people who have the full blown symptoms.

Caz Jonty Kenyon

About four weeks ago, I came down with a fever, a migraine behind my eyes, I felt weak and was on my couch for a week. My chest felt like I had a baby rhinoceros jumping up and down on it constantly and cough that was so bad it nearly made me throw up... I didn’t think that cough would ever go away until last week when I woke up one morning and it was just gone.

Carrie Rayner

I think I’ve had it which started four weeks ago, a week after returning from Alicante. I started with a headache behind my eyes which wouldn’t shift with paracetomol and also aches and shivers in my back. I then had a scratchy throat and a feeling of my windpipe being squeezed. The worst was the lethargy though, I just wanted to sleep and everything was an effort. It has taken about three weeks to clear. My brother, his partner, her sister, brother and mother had similar symptoms. Since then her mum (age 84) was admitted to hospital as she wouldn’t eat and drink and was becoming delirious. She was tested positive for Covid 19. (She is now much better) We didn’t have a fever or a persistent cough.

Melanie Bennett

I started with a sore throat, then really tender skin if I touched it, chesty wheezy and hot one day, then really cold after that. Very lethargic, and sleepy, sore eyes and would be very shaky when standing for too long. No taste or smell for five days. My partner the same. This is week three of self isolating and slowly starting to get better. Different symptoms every day, but the one that was consistent was the loss of taste and smell and the lethargy.

Collette Rimmér

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My doctor and a paramedic said I had Covid-19. Really ill with it, temperature, feeling sick all the time actually being sick even though i had nothing to eat for three weeks, not drinking much, very weak, back aching, lost my sense of smell and couldn’t taste anything at all, shaking headaches, no energy at all. It’s going into my fifth week now, getting about a bit more now, still got a dry cough, but not as bad as I was. Wouldn’t wish this on anybody.

Renee Heslin

I believe I had it in February after coming back from New York. Started with a sore throat two days after I arrived home, then woke up with a raging temperature, cough and breathlessness. Could not get out of bed for two days, not felt like that since I had the flu as a child. Was left feeling weak and with a cough for at least a week.

Zoe Stephens

I think I may have had it two weeks ago, started with a very sore throat, this was the only thing for a few days then got headaches, tiredness, bit of a sore chest spent one day in bed as I couldn’t turn my head or move without pain, and was exhausted. Today is day 14 and I’ve only got a sore throat now. My eight-year-old had it two days before I started, she recovered quicker but had a lapse a week in.

Emma Murdy

Myself and my wife had it three weeks ago. She was quite poorly and it was touch and go whether to take her in hospital but luckily she rallied after two weeks We still have no taste or smell.

Julie Lanaghan

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Started with aching legs and banging headache and burning throat, really tired, was like that about 2 days, then I started with a cough, dry tickly cough that turned into a chesty cough. Felt dizzy, no energy at all, bit like a zombie. Felt bit better after about a week (no need for eight paracetamols a day after about six days) but still don’t feel 100 per cent, still got a cough, burny throat and feel tired.

Gemma Strickland

We’re isolating now. My son works part-time in a supermarket and started to feel unwell Saturday. He has a persistent headache, not shifting with paracetamol, he had a temperature, but that seems to have settled today. He aches all over particular his lower back and he reports to feel sore to touch. He is also fatigued and sleeping lots. This afternoon he’s lost his sense of taste and smell. But although this sounds horrendous, he said it’s nothing more than a cold & under normal circumstances he would of carried on working and with his normal routine.

Rachel Cheetham

Three weeks ago I came down with flu like symptoms. Awful headache, shortness of breath, tight chest, dry cough and sore throat. I was in bed for days and felt exhausted all the time. I was short of breath after climbing the stairs. My daughter had a temp and a mild cough a couple of days before.

Becky Harrison

I think I had it week commencing March 16, along with my husband and daughter. I had started with a headache the previous week, Monday morning started with a continuous cough (coughing approx 20-40 time an hour). Then by Wednesday started with a temp which lasted 24 hours, felt lethargic no energy (but not like flu which I’ve had once). Calves started to feel a bit sore and my skin felt sore to touch,slept so much. By Wednesday the following week I started with a wheeze and catching my breath every now and then. Took till Friday the next week for me to feel as though I was getting better.

Lisa Bridge

l Remember Do not leave home if you or someone you live with has either:

l A high temperature;

l A new, continuous cough.

l Check the NHS website if you have symptoms and if they worsen call 111