First of all, feel better soon. I'm sure this is not a pleasant experience at all.
I was wondering if you could explain the entire experience so far? Like the symptoms experienced, the order in which they came, how long they have lasted, and how intense they have been? I haven't seen too many firsthand accounts and I am curious of what we should expect if we get the disease.
If you don't want to answer this, don't worry about it, I understand.
UGH. I'm really sorry you're going through this and hope you're back to 100% quickly.
![Folded hands :pray: 🙏](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/7.0/png/unicode/64/1f64f.png)
Early symptoms, the order they came, etc. would be nice to know.
Do you mind telling us what state you are in, and how you were able to get tested 10 days ago?
ie Allowed a test because you knew you had been around someone who was also diagnosed.
Thank you!
Just gonna make one text that answers all questions:
It started as a mild throat annoyance. Just thought I caught a cold while hiking the week prior.
---- I was actually on a trip with my gf from 22/02 to 01/03 in Paris (including Disney, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, all the touristy stuff). We then went to Mont Saint Michel (which I've recommended to you guys before!) and to Etretat, where the hiking happened and it was extremely cold and windy. She is fine, and 1500 miles away, and somehow didn't get the virus. I might have caught it back here in Belgium. Had to be between the 1st and 6th of March then, but am not sure how and when. ----
Then it was a little more painful but I didn't think anything of it. I coughed a bit but not much at all. I bought a thermometer and started monitoring my temperature as I knew it was the most common symptom. Nothing abnormal so I figured it was whatever. When it went downwards in my respiratory system, I started to worry. I didn't go to my doctor (due to the contagious nature of the thing), I called her and asked my closed ones to bring me some stuff I typically use to treat respiratory problems.
Just because I was super careful and knowing that my touristy trip put me at risk, after practicing social distancing since my return on the 1st; I put myself in self-quarantine as of 6th of March, and worked from home since then. Before that, I stocked up on all the regular stuff I need. Now my friends go groceries shopping for me and drop me stuff in front of the house.
I'm at home (I live alone); I feel very tired and weak but am not in need of respiratory assistance (yet), so no need to crowd the hospitals. Due to my medical history, I own a nebulizer aerosol, I tried some products that my doctor ordered for me, but they don't really make me feel better. I now have a mild fever, which is not very annoying. Also diarrhea since recently... The most annoying symptom, by far, is the burning lungs. Breathing hurts (most of the time, sometimes I feel ok) and makes it very exhausting so I'm very tired. If I talk for too long, I also get out of breath. If I move too fast, I get out of breath.
I drink tea and breathe the vapors of eucalyptus leaves in boiling water, it eases my respiration and makes the pain stop for a while.
I couldn't get a regular test at the time, as there are not enough kits anymore, but I got examined by a virologist specialized in all these SARS things and he confirmed I had it.
The burning lungs and everything that comes with it is generally a dead giveaway anyway.