22-year-old coronavirus patient on how her symptoms changed over 12 days
It's been drummed into us by the government and the NHS that the primary symptoms of coronavirus include a dry, persistent cough and a fever. But as more and more cases of the highly contagious disease emerge around the world, and medical experts begin to learn more about it, other symptoms are cropping up as likely indicators of a COVID-19 infection.
One such symptom is vomiting, which the World Health Organisation has listed as one of the more "rare" symptoms a patient with a mild case of coronavirus might experience. And that's exactly what happened to 22-year-old Twitter user Amy Shircel, who took to the social media site to share the way her symptoms changed over the course of her illness.
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US-based Amy posted an initial tweet explaining that she had tested positive for COVID-19, and warning that it was a far from pleasant experience. "Take it from me," she wrote. "You do NOT want to catch this. Hopefully hearing about my experience will help the rest of you to stay home."
In the first couple of days, Amy describes coronavirus feeling "manageable" as she displayed all the typical signs of the disease - a fever, a cough, chills, a headache, you know the drill. But on day three, the vomiting began.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/lzsOoNfQop
— Amy (@AmyShircel) October 24, 2019
"I couldn’t keep anything down," wrote Amy, explaining how her constant cycle of sickness meant she was unable to sleep or eat, making her body even weaker.
On day four, along with a positive test result came the shortness of breath you've heard described as another key coronavirus symptom. "It feels like your lungs are shallow and you can’t take a proper breath," recalled Amy.
Over the next few days, Amy just got worse and worse, and was eventually taken into hospital where she was rehydrated and given anti-nausea medication. The young woman was sent home, but arrived back at hospital on day seven as she "violently shivered in bed all day".
After four more days, Amy was deemed well enough to go home and, on the twelfth day of illness, she posted a Twitter thread to remind people coronavirus is no joke. "You aren’t invincible just because you’re in your 20s. Take it from me, and quarantine like your life depends on it," she wrote, poignantly.
I’m 22 and I tested positive for COVID-19. Take it from me - you do NOT want to catch this
Hopefully hearing about my experience will help the rest of you to stay home (for real)— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
The first couple of days of symptoms were manageable. I had a fever, a mild cough, chills, headache, runny nose. Since I had been to Europe, they allowed me to get tested my second day of symptoms.
— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
By the third day, I couldn’t keep anything down. I was vomiting constantly. I couldn’t sleep, I obviously couldn’t eat. At this point, I still didn’t have my test results back.
— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
4th day: test back positive. I developed shortness of breath. It’s scary, it feels like your lungs are shallow and you can’t take a proper breath. I was weak, had a 102 degree fever and rising.
— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
5th day. Things got worse and worse. I had never been this ill in my entire life. I was genuinely afraid I would die, because that is what it felt like.
— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
By the 6th day of symptoms, I was so weak I couldn’t even walk. I crawled to the bathroom to vomit. I became so dehydrated I called 911, and they took me in an ambulance to the emergency room. I stayed there for a day where they rehydrated me and got me some anti nausea meds.
— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
7th-11th day of symptoms: ER again. I had never been that weak or fatigued by fever in my life. I either violently shivered in bed all day, or would wake up in a literal puddle of my own sweat. I couldn’t eat for 9 days. I was completely miserable.
— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
Right now I am on my 12th day of symptoms, and I have my appetite back, but the end is nowhere in sight. I still have all the major symptoms.
— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
A coronavirus diagnosis is dehumanizing and lonely, and I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. You aren’t invincible just because you’re in your 20s. Take it from me, and quarantine like your life depends on it (it might) 🤒
— Amy (@AmyShircel) March 28, 2020
Some people might dismiss it as "just a virus", but it's a life-threatening one (particularly for those who are more vulnerable) and it could affect even the young and healthy in ways you might not have thought. So stay in, and save lives.
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