hi all, I found out on Thursday evening that my son and daughter in law have Covid, I had been at their house that day babysitting while my daughter in law worked in her office room, I’d also given my son a five minute lift to work. I had the occasional five minute chat with DIL but not for long. It’s only eight day (to Thursday) that I had my Covid jab and now I’m really panicking.
I know to keep my anxiety levels down but I just can’t I’m imagining all sort of horrible scenarios and being really ill.
I have controlled PAF I take blood pressure tablets, levothyroxine, Bisoprolol , statin, and Apixaban. Does anyone know if the jab has some effect after just a week, has anyone had the Covid antibiotic on similar tablets?
No horror stories please, I can imagine enough myself.
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Sorry for your distress. You mention that you had a CoVid jab 8 days previous. Was that your first ever ? or was it your 2nd, or 3rd or whatever. It might make a difference as to how vulnerable you are.
I had the initial vaccs then nothing for a few years. I had persistent AF controlled by ablation in March and am now in NSR. I recently had Covid virus, last time was March 2023. I was away on holiday in Scotland and thought that I had a cold, mild sore throat, runny nose and a slight cough. Not enough to stop me doing anything, I still went for long walks and climbed mountains. Did a test when we got home as father in law needed a visit as he was poorly. We were both very surprised when we tested positive as neither of us were particularly unwell.
Stop worrying, the vaccine won't stop you getting Covid anyway, it just primes your body to make it easier to fight off (I'm a biologist). If you've had previous vaccines or previous Covid virus then your body is likely to still have some memory of the virus and will be ready to fight it.
So you're as protected as you can be. Just think of it as similar to a cold and get on with enjoying your life. You only get one chance at life so make the most of it! Xx
It’s definitely not “similar to a cold” for lots of people, 14 days and I’m still struggling to get over it along with most of the population where I am ! This new variant is hitting long and hard.
Sorry to hear that you're unwell, I was just relating my experience and trying to reassure the OP who was suffering anxiety. She's already been in contact, nothing she could do and anxiety making everything worse.
We are all anxious about getting it, I was particularly worried as I had sepsis earlier in the year so was at greater risk of getting it again. God knows where I picked covid up as I’m mainly housebound with no visitors, a mystery.
Definitely not “just a cold” in my experience too! I’ve also heard from people saying this year’s variant was much worse than the variant they had first time around. Nobody knows how their body will respond until it happens.
What symptoms did/do you have? I am trying to get over what I think is the Godfather of all colds but haven’t tested myself because the symptoms were not like the Covid list. Now wondering if it’s the new variant. In any case I have tried to keep away from other people because in some ways the cold has been worse (and lasted longer) than Covid.
Well it started very suddenly with aching muscles and feeling really cold, after a couple of days my temp was 39+ and I couldn’t decide if I had a cold, flu or covid. I did test and it was a weak positive, 3 days later strong positive. Generally I felt dreadful with aches, temp, slight cold, sore throat, felt queasy and had diarrhoea for a few days, 14 days on and I’ve still got a stuffy nose, sore throat and very croaky voice.
I think the symptoms list for covid is misleading as it’s effecting people in so many different ways.
Hi there, in the same position. Had a cold from hell, completely blocked sinuses, constant sneezing and felt awful, much worse than when I had covid, negative as I tested. Didn't last long though only 5 days
I had Covid earlier in the year and it wasn't even as bad as having a cold. All more or less over in 5 days. I had two Covid jabs when they first came out, none since. I do take vitamin D3 and also zinc to protect myself from infections.
Hi Bob, the person/people you live with must be so relaxed as you're always so reassuring. 😀 I am using you as a role model for other half. No pressure!@
Let me try and reassure you just a little. Symptoms of covid normally appear within 2-14 days after exposure. If you don't have symptoms by the eighth day, your risk of infection is lower. While vaccines are very good at preventing severe illness and death, they should significantly reduce the severity of symptoms. I can't tell you if you have covid or not but I feel your vac's may mean you won't 'catch it' or they will reduce the the sypmtoms if you do - it's unlikey to kill you. I had it and tested positive on New Years Eve 2023 - bang went a night out with the lads! It didn't effect my Afib at all (that's personally but others say it might).
If you have it just rest up until it passes. I have a feeling you'll be fine. Good luck and update the post to let us know how it goes.
It’s natural to feel anxious, but worrying won’t prevent it from happening or make it go away—if anything, it might add to the stress your body is already dealing with. Some people experience no issues when they get it, while others are more affected. Unfortunately, no one can predict how it might affect you personally. I genuinely hope you don’t catch it, especially because your stress is so evident through your words.
I’m still in the ‘NOVID’ club myself, so I don’t know how it will affect me either. I figure I’ll probably get it eventually, but I’ve realised there’s no point in stressing about something outside of my control.
I agree with Ennasti that it’s better not to let your anxiety get the better of you. You’ve taken steps to protect yourself as best you can. The vaccines, as we all know, prevents severe disease and keeps us out of hospital. Your immune has had some time to build up a response to the vaccine, plus if you’ve had previous vaccines and/or infection your immune system isn’t naive to Covid. We’ve come along way since the first wave. Unless you start showing symptoms you can’t tell if you’ve been infected. If you do, and if you test positive, please let your son and daughter in law know so they can make sure you have enough to eat or drink, bring you some groceries and make sure you have everything you need. I’m sure they’ll make sure you’re OK. If you do feel particularly unwell, please ring 111 especially if your AF flares up. Covid or not you’re still entitled to medical care. On the other hand, you may not become unwell at all. Please don’t make yourself unwell with anxiety.
Yes, you will have partial protection from the jab at day eight. That, combined with your previous injections should give you plenty of protection.
Have you had Covid yet? If so, that's even more protection. If not, you're probably one of the lucky ones who doesn't get it or is a symptomatic.
Should you develop symptoms, Paxlovid is the drug of choice at least in the United States. Just make sure you contact your doctor or pharmacist, because you may have to stop or modify some of the drugs you're taking, or in some cases not take Paxlovid at all. It should be started within five days of your first symptoms.
Thank you all for your kind comments, I have taken them onboard and hopefully found a calmer mindset. I wish I could follow my own advice I always say to my family, worrying won’t change anything 😊 I think it’s all compounded by the fact that it’s my brothers funeral next Friday 250 miles away. It’s been an upsetting time, and I’m all stitched up from a minor op a week ago, so definitely not the best of weeks.
Hopefully I can report back in two weeks time and say all was well.
It’s a stressful time for you so understandable so take everything one step/day at a time and remember to BREATHE - DEEPLY - BREATHE OUT SLOWLY - Repeat.
You've had a hard time , so sorry.Try and remain calm if you've had all of your vaccines and not spent that much time in close contact with your family you are less likely to catch it even if you are a vulnerable person.
But to help to reduce your anxiety , which could affect your good efforts at controlling your aFib go to the pharmacy on Monday and explain the situation and ask for a COVID test kit. Getting the negative result will help you relax.
Then just stay away from the family until a week after they are negative , you could ask them to test to check this because of your vulnerable status.
In the future it's worth checking if the family have any cold or flu like symptoms before you go through with a planned visit. As flu or this season's cold can be as bad as COVID for people with cardiac conditions it's worth taking the precautions.
Last year my daughter and son in law came to visit us. My husband showed my son in law how to do some plumbing and they were both lying on the bathroom floor close together. We all travelled in the same car for a day out and, obviously, ate together etc. They tested positive the day they got home and we never did test positive.
wouldn't worry even if you get it doesn't mean you will be ill worked as a carer assistant when it started so had to have the jabs but week before I was meant to have a jab I tested positive had to isolate for ten days wasn't the slightest bit ill I have permanant AF and have no intention of having anymore covid jabs in fact I blame the jabs for causing my AF
I take those tablets, I've had covid 3 times now, it's not as bad as flu but leaves you very tired for a few weeks . You probably come into contact loads of times without realising.
You will have developed extra antibodies by now. Also, as you have had covid before you will still have plenty of the important type of antibody that prevents the severe form of covid. There is also varying evidence that the latest Omicron type strain is less potent than earlier strains.
If you do catch it, and given our own very similar past experience, I strongly suspect you won't, you'll likely have a similar experience to what you had before.
The tablets you asked about were anti-virals and in our area unless you are deemed at very high risk and have received a letter from NHS saying so you will not be prescribed them. I know as I caught COVID 4 times, last time about 12 months ago - GP was unable to prescribe antivirals saying only available if you are ill enough to be hospitalised or extremely vulnerable because of immune deficiency, which i am, in which case I was given a direct line to assess my suitability and need. I chose NOT to take the anti-virals for various reasons, I recovered with rest and hydration at home within 5 days, no severe symptoms nothing bad happened!
I live in South Africa where the government has virtually forgotten about Covid - all the places that were giving the vaccine in the early days have closed, even then the uptake was poor. No statistics are ever published now. I don't know of anyone who are aware of having the virus recently, although people who have complained of various types of 'unwellness' may easily have had the virus but it just was not identified. I have had the first 2 Pfizer and a booster lastly in 2021 - won't be having anymore because they don't seem to be available !
Don’t you have any test kits? I didn’t feel any different when our daughter, who we’d seen the previous day, told us she had tested positive - so we tested and I apparently had it and tested positive for 14 days! I felt no different. I had received all the jabs when offered. To quote from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, “Don’t panic!”
Hi, the jab as no effect regardless, I’ve never had any form of Jab and I’ve never had Covid, everyone I know who’s had Covid have had the Jab and had it really bad, I asked my electrophysiologist back in 2021 what his thoughts was about the Jab a he replied I cannot directly give you a answer but what I can tell you is I haven’t had the Jab and I certainly won’t be having it, there’s a reason why over 60% of N H S staff wouldn’t have it , please go do some research it’s been officially linked to blood clots and myocarditis.
I spoke to many at a prominent hospital around the time the NHS were being coerced into taking it and most were not taking it with one nurse saying that she had the flu vaccine for the first time ever just so she wouldn’t be called an anti-vaxxer.
try not to worry. I’ve had covid twice snd my husband didn’t even get it and we were together all the time snd same bedroom etc. You might not get it either snd if you did everyone is different snd probably not too bad.
Worry will bring your afib on more than anything else.
Hoping to reassure you as I didn’t have any jabs (personal choice with doctor-led advice). I remember my whole family on both sides being very ill the Christmas before Covid appeared but my household were fine. Christmas 2021, I was quite unwell for the first time in about 15 years - nothing out of the ordinary and I’d certainly felt worse in the past but I’m guessing it was Covid because I lost my taste. My husband panicked and called 111 who told me call an ambulance. I called the arrhythmia nurses who laughed, told me to cancel the ambulance and to rest and drink lots of fluids. Took their advice and still not had so much as a sniffle in 3 years. I’m very sociable, I’m not housebound and after having a cardiac arrest, I know more than ever that life is for living.
I honestly despair how the treatment of Covid has brought such anxiety to people (even myself for a brief moment). I always say that the advice from Chris Whitty was given in the very beginning “Most people will catch it and be fine and even the old and vulnerable will recover”.
For me personally, I just don’t like the virus-feeling of being ill so I try to avoid people who are quite sick bc I don’t have time to ill but I don’t run from it either.
Drink lots of fluids, eat some fruit and wrap up and sit outside with your face in the sun. Maybe not today as I don’t know what it’s like where you are but it’s wet and miserable here today 🥹
At the end of the day, as Doris so eloquently chirped, "Que Sera, Sera".I had Covid for the first time in May following a hospital visit for a cardioversion, and the GP dismissed the idea of anti virals (if that's what you meant by "antibiotics" as they are for bacterial infections not viral) so body had to fight on its own.
There's probably enough to be anxious about in daily life that you are able to do something about.
This you have no control over so no point in getting stressed by it, or you could end up making your AF worse.
Per GoodRX: "After you get a vaccine, it can take a couple of weeks to build immunity against the virus if you've never had a COVID infection or vaccination before. If you've already had COVID infection or a previous vaccine, you could reach immunity sooner — often within 10 days — after getting an updated vaccine."
Since you've had the vaccines previously, you can probably relax as your immunity is already being built up by this one and might be enough to counteract any exposure you just received. But I can understand your anxiety - I got mine last Monday and feel a little twinge of anxiety over possible exposure until enough time has passed for it to "take".
It really helped me to be proactive during those early days. Taking extra doses of vit D, C, having a store of cold remedies on hand in case I needed them. A friend of mine takes quercetin and zinc every time he feels "off" and even when a flu or variant is going around work, he's fine. Having a plan offers great peace of mind. It's important for us with heart issues.
I did not have one COVID jab and hugged my grandchildren who had COVID, without getting infected. After a dinner party I did get COVID, but apart from a fever for 4 days it did not bother me much. I had a few AF episodes during those 4 days but not more bothersome than the ones I normally get every month or so. So do not worry, COVID is like the flu nowadays. And you’re probably not even infected. Relax!
I am sorry you are so distressed. I'm "one of those" who have never and will NEVER take any so called vaccines for basically in my optinion due to research and observation, what is a type of flu blown out of proportion. Now if we wer taliking EBOLA or something that actually kills many many who become infected, then maybe.
I have had zero vaccines since 1980 and somehow am magically alive. Did I get Covid? Sure did and it was a misearable flu experience, but my system and herbs/vitamins enabled me to combat it in several days. Now I have natural immunity which SHOULD allow my body to cope OK with similar afflictions.
While I can understand and sympathize with your angst about getting sick and potentially being very ill or dying, there's an old expression that to me serves, " Think bad things and bad things happen," Well I believe and know from personal experience that the reverse is true. "Think good things and good things happen."
I've a friend I grew up with and he worried about virtually everything and guess what? It happened to him. I on the other hand never worried about what he worried about (includes non-medical stuff) and it didn't happen to me. Some will say it's circumstances, but I don't believe it.
People think I'm crazy to ride a motorcycle, but I use affirmations and I've never had an issue with over 93,000 miles under my belt.
I say to myself anytime I drive ANY vehicle " Deflector Shields on, Cloaking Device engaged (Star Trek tech!), Long and Short range Sensors active, Animal Warnings active and finally I also send out solarjdp is coming waves.
I call it my Kung Fu theory of motorcycling. I developed it after watching the old David Carradine Kung Fu show where a flashback shows the "grasshopper" asking his mentor is he not afraid that highwaymen will appear on his path and "rob him of his gold." He was stuffing a money belt with gold coins. He replied "No grasshopper, I will not be on the path at the same time as the Highwaymen." I took this to mean his inner eye (which we all have) would prevent him from harm. You just have to belive in it and tune into it.
Think... How many times have you KNOWN or FELT someone was going to cut in front of your car or feel like someone is watching you? Our inner eye detected it and if you are listening gives you information that aids you.
Good luck and don't stress out too much.
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