DU Poll: Have you ever had Covid (that you know of)

[BigmanPigman]

422 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	No, not yet
	222 (53%)
	Yes, once
	159 (38%)
	Yes, more than once
	40 (9%)
	Other
	1 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[struggle4progress]

1. I've stayed up-to-date on vaccines and boosters but tested positive in January

after a fully-vaccinated family member became ill

I never had any symptoms

[RussBLib]

2. It's no shock...

...that Democrats would have significantly higher numbers of "never had it" folks.

https://russblib.blogspot.com/

[sabbat hunter]

3. I never tested positive

Mom tested positive twice, but she is fully vaxxed, boosted, and both cases were mild.

[Freethinker65]

4. I was mildly symptomatic and tested negative. Less than a week later my spouse had same symptoms and tested positive!

Our doctor said I should probably assume I had a false negative result.

[Marcus IM]

5. When I was practicing, I was infected by patients.

Since retired.

[xmas74]

6. Never had it as far as I know

And I worked the floor in a state institution during half of covid and did in person patient consults in a local hospital during the other half.
I'm lucky. I was doing in person screening during covid while receiving chemo. My gyn oncologist understood I needed to work and knew that someone needed to do that job but she wasn't happy it was me.

[mahina]

56. Holy cats. Thank goodness you got through it.

I’m trying to wrap my head around how. That’s grit. 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[xmas74]

63. I'm a Medicaid navigator in a hospital

People desperately need Medicaid and it was worse during the Pandemic. I felt like I was helping out.
When I worked in a state hospital I was a case manager. We didn't have enough staff on the floor so I was pulled out of my office "temporarily". I worked double shifts 6 days a week for 18 months and was still expected to complete my other paperwork on my one day off. I was in direct exposure since they always stuck me on covid halls. I look back now and realize that I probably had cancer the whole time and didn't know it. I just thought the weakness and back pain were from lack of sleep and unassisted lifting since no one was around to help. I thought the bloating was from lots of fast food because I didn't have time to cook and ate in my car while traveling to work.

[mahina]

71. I hope they paid you for doing two jobs

Wishing you complete permanent recovery from all of that, and fir the system that put you theough that to do better. Dang.

[mahina]

73. Wishing you complete permanent recovery from all of that,

and fir the system that put you though that to do better. Dang.

You helped so many people. ♥️

[marble falls]

7. The week before Thanksgiving 2019. I ended up in the hospital the week after, ...

... when I went in, I was the only one in that section of the floor. Eight days later when I left, the ward was full from the front of the South wall to the North wall of the Hospital. Tape and warnings on each door "no entrance without protective suit and mask and goggles. They did not know what I had, only that it was some sort unknown Rhinovirus.

The week before Thanksgiving, if I coughed I'd pass out.

I am vaxxed and boosted and when they come up with the next jab I will be there, sleeve rolled up.

[BigmanPigman]

10. Wow, you were one of the "firsts"

It was so scary!!!!!

[C Moon]

51. Yes, I remember late January watching a video from China about COVID.

We were all standing and watching, stunned. But we didn't really believe it would make it to the U.S.
Come February, I started seeing signs in doctor's offices regarding symptoms.
Then by March, all hell broke lose.

I did a search on newspapers.com (when I had an account), and found a mystery disease that showed up in November 2019 that sounded like COVID. I believe it killed some children at a hospital. I don't recall the state, but I think it was Massachusetts. I don't remember the article word for word, but I have it somewhere.

[Lochloosa]

79. I had it the same week. I was supposed to cook for about 12 people on Thanksgiving.

I started feeling bad about four days before Thanksgiving. Went to bed on the 22nd convinced I had the flu. Fever, shaking like a leaf. Woke up feeling great. It's the weirdest illness I've ever had. I thought it was the flu but just didn't quite feel like it.

I'm convinced it was COVID.

[yellowdogintexas]

8. I have not had so much as sniffles since before Covid

For which I am very grateful.
Mr YD who is far more likely to catch everything has not had it either

Of course, we have had all our vaccines, and we masked up, and we kept close quarters.

I had the new vax a couple of weeks ago, along with a flu shot and aside from a sore arm no side effects.

[EllieBC]

9. Up to date vaccinations and had it twice.

I have 3 school aged kids who have activities and whatnot so I’m not surprised. Once was fall 2021 and then Feb 2023.

Both times were totally different and mostly just annoying symptom wise.

[BigmanPigman]

12. How were they different?

[EllieBC]

13. The first time all I had was

completely loss of taste and smell for about 6 days. Mild cough.

Second time I had a headache and mild fever and mildly stuffy nose. No cough.

I’m assuming it’s because they were likely different variants.

[BigmanPigman]

19. That makes sense

[Igel]

11. Once.

COVID test was quick to say 'yes,' retest confirmed. So I had it once. But just once?

Let's not forget the weekend from COVID hell where my kid away from home had the test kits but I had the fever, diarrhea, muscle aches. Hey, no vomiting. Note ... I did *not* enjoy spending hours with a 104 fever in a tub full of the coldest water Houston had to offer, or sitting on the toilet for hour and hours. And wouldn't you know it ... Felt strange Thursday, sick-ish Friday, and full-on "let me die" by Friday night. Weekend was bad. But Sunday at 7 pm my temp was normal, and district regs said that normal temperature 12 hours before duty time meant 'well.' Duty time started 7:05 am next day. (Oh, just f**k me!)

Or when a student was sick when I tutored him on Tuesday or Wednesday, he was out sick a couple of days later but I felt not great for a few days ... COVID symptoms are variable. But I wasn't tested.

And that summarizes pretty much every time I was sick in middle and high school. The curse doesn't stop at high school graduation, rests for the BA, MA, ABD etc., but comes back when you enter a high school classroom as a teacher. Sick multiple times, starting early but not keeping me home Friday, screwed over on the weekend, but well Sunday night. (The universe hates me.)

I figure I've done COVD round 3. I'm in a school with 160 kids in my classroom each day, but do hall duty with an additional 500 going by 4-5 times a day. And lunch with colleagues, only one of which hasn't been out multiple times each year in the last 3. Argh.

So at least 2. Since 25% of cases are symptomatic, perhaps round 4.

[BigmanPigman]

16. When I taught K-6 I was sick every year

and that was with flu shots. Students/schools are germ factories. I had to leave teaching since it screwed up my health permanently so I am 100% sure that if I were still teaching I'd have Covid within a month. The kids always got better in a few days but I'd be sick (and still teaching/working) for a week.

[AwakeAtLast]

35. I see 400+ a day

Just got over my 2nd bout. It was fine, the sinus infection afterwards was worse!

[Chuuku Davis]

57. 400 a day of covid?

Of what??
Pls explain because I am not understanding.

[druidity33]

81. 400+ kids a day. School teacher? nt.

[Wounded Bear]

14. Nope, but I am retired and a bit of a recluse...

Did a lot of masking early on when I had to go out. Not into crowds at all any more, no bar scene, no movies, no public transport.

Just got the latest booster last week, have had all of them. Get flu shots every year.

Don't mask much any more, but sticking to my avoidance of crowded places to this day and going forward.

[BigmanPigman]

21. You sound a lot like my situation for the last 3+ years

It seems to work for me so I'm sticking with it.

[Deuxcents]

53. Me, too. I've been fortunate

And have all my shots n boosters (4), flu shot and RSV. Like you, I pretty much did not socialize and stayed home with my kitty but I did wear masks when I was out. Got so used to not going out much, I still don’t..I’ve had pneumonia before but years ago and I know I don’t want to ever be so sick again if I can help it.

[BigmanPigman]

59. I had really bad pneumonia

in 2007 and landed in the hospital despite a flu shot. This was after working with a low grade fever for several weeks since they wouldn't hire a substitute. After that they had to hire a sub for 4 weeks as I recovered from losing a ton of blood internally and I needed 3 transfusions within 12 hours. They literally work teachers to the point of making them sick. I do NOT want to experience that again if I can avoid it.

[homegirl]

15. Have had worse colds

Vaccinated (2), boosted (2). Flew cross country, stayed five days. Came home and had COVID THE NEXT DAY!

[Johonny]

29. Yeah caught it after booster

Over it in 24 hours.

[unc70]

17. Had once with no symptoms

Only tested because I had been exposed, but no symptoms at that time. While no symptoms then, I have reacted to the vaccines. In several instances, the Covid vaccines have triggered shingles flare ups.

[WarGamer]

18. Twice. Like a moderate cold both times. A day in bed and 2-3 days moving slowly.

[mzmolly]

20. Vaxxed and boosted but got a mild case of Omicron.

eom

[hunter]

22. Yep, and I know exactly where I got it too...

... at a truck stop in California's Central Valley.

I was vaccinated and a bit careless, and was knocked out a few days later for a week by some new vaccine resistant covid version, testing positive.

Gave the virus to my wife, and she was not happy as a front line health care worker, patients dying, who'd managed to escape the first pre-vaccine wave of covid-19 by extreme caution. She'd come home from work, strip down at the front door, and head straight for the shower. Then I'd put her clothes through the disinfect cycle of our washing machine.

[BigmanPigman]

23. I hope you got her flowers for that.

I know I'd make my significant other sleep in the dog house for a while.

[hunter]

42. Oh yeah, I was in the dog house.

All for a 3/4 tank of gasoline, a piss, and some mediocre truck stop food.

[Celerity]

24. My wife and I had one asymptomatic case early on (April 2020) We have been in experimental vax trials

since early 2021, and have had no cases since.

We never masked (almost no one does here in Sweden, I see maybe a couple people a week out of thousands and those are often Asians who masked before Covid) other than several weeks when Omicron first hit.

Barring some crazy variant (or some entirely new disease) we do not plan on masking again, and certainly do not limit our activities.

We will continue with the experimental jab studies as our contribution to 'paying it forward'.

[Greybnk48]

25. Vaxxed and boosted and got Omicron twice several months apart.

First case was moderate and tested positive for 3 weeks, second was mild and only lasted about 5 days. I was also a religious mask wearer and hand washer, and practically never left the house. I truly believe I would have died without the vaccines. 100% They saved my life.

[Pasta 1]

26. Option...

I might have had it. But not sure of it.

[area51]

34. Welcome to DU.

[underpants]

27. July last year. Gout attack at the same time.

Beach vacation. Missed 1/2 of it. Toughed it out to get to the beach. Thanks to my healthcare I filed a prescription sitting on the beach. No shit.

There’s a remarkable lack of pharmacies in the Outer Banks. Local place. They were great.

[CaptainTruth]

28. Yep, twice.

Once before I was eligible for a vaccine, once after I was vaccinated.

[Quixote1818]

30. Last fall I waited 1 week too long to get my booster. The weekend I was going to get my shot I got Covid

Didn't make that mistake this fall.

[KentuckyWoman]

31. I've so much as had a sniffle.

I hate those dadburnned masks. But they work.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

32. Twice confirmed

First time was July 4th weekend 2022. My wife, myself, and a bunch of our friends were in Las Vegas for 4th of July weekend. Was a busy weekend with the holiday, a ufc fight, a wwe pay per view, and a classic car auction all in town that weekend. Mistook it for a hangover. Wasnt until we were flying home a couple days later that one of our friends got a text from his parents that they tested positive over the weekend and he probably had it as well(he was with them all day prior to our flight out). Half of us wound up getting it, the other half didn't. Ironically, the 2 unvaccinated people who were with us did not get it.

2nd time was earlier this year. Very mild symptoms. Only tested because my brother tested positive and I was with him a couple days before that.

[kimbutgar]

33. I had a really bad " flu" in January 2020.

I have never been so sick. Fever, chills and over all body ache. Couldn’t get out of bed and no appetite. After 4 days I started to feel better than my husband got sick with the same symptoms. I think we had the first version of Covid. We never lost my taste or smell. Knock on word we haven’t been sick since then and wore masks and had our shots at the start.

[BigmanPigman]

36. I had that too!

They just came out with the test so I got it even though I was not coughing a lot. I had the 2nd highest fever in my life (104.3) and was weak and sore all over. My doctor said, over the phone, that it probably was not Covid and he was right. I was super hot then freezing cold and I think I lost 5 pounds in sweat. I don't know how I caught any germ since I wore my N95 all the time, never let anyone into my apt and rarely went out, washed everything and had a flu shot. Those germs are sneaky.

[multigraincracker]

70. In 2020 I got very sick, sepsis and a year later

very sick again. Unknown virus that time. Last year got covid and that was a piece of cake. Always up on my vaccines.

[WVreaper]

37. Before it was COVID!

First week of March 2020 , my wife and I drove from WV to Colorado to ski. I had what I thought was my typical winter flu before we left on the trip. "By the time we get there, i will be better. " Missed the first day of skiing. In bed. Lost my sense of taste. Skied the next three days. Six weeks later, my toes turned purple. Yep, COVID toe. Asked my doctor, " what the hell does that mean?" " You have already had COVID". As we left Colorado, on the radio was an announcement that anybody that has been in x county needs to quarantine for two weeks. "We have 4 confirmed cases of COVID."

[BigmanPigman]

38. I never heard of Covid-toe

Why would you get it 6 weeks later? Could your doctor explain why?

[OhioChick]

39. More than once n/t

[Danmel]

40. In May of 2022.

I was vaccinated and had an appointment for my booster. In February 2021 my husband and son both had it before any of us were eligible for the vaccine. For whatever reason I didn't catch it then. My husband was sick for more than a month and still has fatigue and brain fog.
When I got it in May 2022, I was pretty miserable. I lost my sense of smell for about a week.

[BigmanPigman]

41. Did your doctor give your husband a reason

for brain fog and fatigue to last 1 1/2 years? Do they even know how to treat it yet?

[Who_Me]

43. Exposed once and..

My wife was exposed at her work, got sick and tested positive.
Next day we both went and got the Monoclonal Antibody treatment.
She got better starting the next day and I did not get sick.

[isitreal]

44. Just last week

Just last week I was not feeling right. Symptoms did not match what I thought they would be. Then I saw a post somewhere by a telemedicine dr that mentioned a new strain of Covid. The symptoms she was hearing matched mine so I self tested and sure enough I finally got Covid. Am back to 100% now. Before this I was thinking about getting the latest booster and if I was ever going to get it.

[BigmanPigman]

50. What are the symptoms of the new strain.

[Skittles]

45. no

I'm a long time monthly platelet donor so my blood is tested frequently. I'd like to add though, that my doc says most people have either had Covid or are simply unaware they've had Covid.

[xmas74]

64. Weve discussed that at work

But my doctor does believe I might be one of the few. When I was working the floor at my state job we were tested weekly and if exposed or working a covid hall it was a daily test. When I started the hospital job and found out about the cancer three weeks later my oncologist allowed me to work with a few conditions. One was to only work when I felt ok. If I didn't feel well I was not to push myself. Two was no in person screenings with covid patients. Three was I had to have a weekly covid test and send her the results. My chemo oncologist was on site at my hospital and he had his nurse practitioner write orders for weekly testing.

So I might have had a mild case before March 2020, been exceptionally lucky or I might have immunity.

[Mz Pip]

46. Mild case

Back in April. Went on a cruise. Got a stuffy nose and a bit of a cough. Lasted a couple of days. Didn’t think much of it but took a test when we got home. No symptoms at that point.

Got the latest vaccine a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully that will protect us over thecwinter.

[jcgoldie]

47. 3 times

june '21
september '21
march '22

The first time just a 2 day low grade flu like symptoms. The 2nd time was pretty nasty 4 day thing. The last was a 24 hour nearly nothing. The thing they always have in common is loss of smell for weeks and strange smells like burning rubber persisting for a couple months off and on.

[IronLionZion]

48. Yep, had it in February

I'm up to date on vaccines so it was a mild case, like a cold. Brain fog was the worst symptom. It only lasted about 3 days.

[LudwigPastorius]

49. I went a long time avoiding it, but...

I got my first case of it about two weeks ago from visiting my mom in a rehab hospital.

First two days sucked mightily, but now I've just got a nagging cough.

[lees1975]

52. I got it in the first round, before the vaccines came out.

I've kept up with vaccinations since then, and haven't had it.

I had a severe case, it put me in the hospital for eight days.

[IbogaProject]

54. At least twice

I surely had it early March 2020, as I live in the first neighborhood in NYC to have it then. I barely got symptoms, but extremely scary as the proper treatment hasn't been found and I had survived being on a ventilator back in 2001 for 17 days. So there was an emotional strain both from knowing how serious that is and how totally scatter small brained TFG was during the crisis. Then I got it again in December 2021 very soon after my late booster December of that year. Thankfully no serious effects. I got the Novavax booster this year and I'm hoping it's effects are longer lasting than the mRNA ones.

[Pachamama]

55. Managed to avoid it for 3 1/2 Years- until this last week

I was vigilant and careful - masked and vaxxed and boosted - took all precautions and managed to be Covid-free for the entire time. Even tested weekly without symptoms and a few times when I thought I might have been exposed would test daily - just to be sure. (Had access to tests from Germany that cost only €1 each).

But this last week I let my guard down - for the first time while traveling on airplane from California to the East Coast, I didn’t mask up. No idea where it happened - in airports? On plane? In the Uber rides? At The Whole Foods in Boston as I went to buy some groceries for myself and my kid I was visiting?

No idea where - but it finally got me. It started with a scratchy throat and dry cough. Then sore and aching muscles and joints - tested each day for 3 days - always negative. Then on Day 4 after feeling like I was hit by a truck and a night of chills and sweats alternating - I tested positive.

And I suddenly went from tasting and smelling to complete loss of both senses.

There it was - it took since it first was announced in January 2020 - finally got me.

I got Paxlovid ASAP - I have now been on it for 48 hours and I kid you not - it works fast. I went from feeling like I could barely move and the worst flu I have ever had to having energy and not coughing and also no muscle or joint pain. It does give a weird metal bitter taste in back of my mouth and throat. Just tested negative for first time in 3 days.

Don’t know how it continues from here but I feel certain that I got it because I stopped masking. And I feel grateful I didn’t get it early on and there is an antiviral like Paxlovid which didn’t exist till later on.

No idea what this current variant is - but I was vaxxed/boosted with Moderna in August - but it wasn’t the most current booster because it wasn’t available. I figured it would be better to get than not because I was headed to Europe. Now I wonder if I had gotten the new one if I would have gotten sick.

I know I’m masking up again at stores and traveling from here forward once I’m done isolating and am well.

Covid is still with us.

[Pachamama]

58. FYI from my Med School Kid Explaining Loss of taste and smell - Hint: It's a good thing

Explained it this way:

It’s your brain bombing the bridge and protecting itself from infection

Your olfactory sense directly synapses to the brain, so if the nerves were to be infected, it means that it could get to your brain easier than through other means

So it’s preventing it from happening- your immune system is working

Also gave me this meta data-

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8302975/

[BigmanPigman]

65. I'm going to nave to bring a copy of this to

my neurologist. I go to him for Botox for migraines and I asked him about this before. He said they do not know the long term effects of Covid (which makes sense) but this info is news to me. Thanks!

[bluesbassman]

60. I believe I got it in January 2020 coming home from Mexico.

A couple days after we got back, my wife and I both got sicker than either of us ever had been before. Went to the doc and was told we had the flu, but of course there were no Covid tests then, hadn’t even heard of it yet, but looking back based on the symptoms we had it highly likely it was Covid.

We survived, and in March like everyone else went into quarantine and made it all the way through without getting Covid again. Got vaxxed and boostered, and then Texas opened right up and a couple months later we both tested positive. The vax worked though because it was no worse than a cold and lasted about 48 hours.

[airplaneman]

61. Fully vaccinated and have an interesting story.

My wife was in the hospital this year and the day before she was released tested positive for Covid. I figured I was definitely going to get it and did not even try to avoid it. Kissed my wife good night and slept in the same bed. Never did get it. Her case was mild too.
-Airplane

[BigmanPigman]

67. My mom did something similar

when I was 9 and my cousin had Measles or Chicken Pox. She made my sister and me eat from the same spoon as my cousin. We never got sick, but I did get Chicken Pox when I was 31. The human body is a mystery to me.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

62. I am the last member of my family who has not had COVID

I have had 7 Moderna shots.

[BigmanPigman]

68. I just said, "Wow, seven!"

Then it dawned on me to look at my Covid Vax card and I have had 6 (they wouldn't take me 6 months ago saying I didn't qualify that batch). Is this going to be a yearly vaccine from now on?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

83. I am over 65 and so got a booster back in May

It is likely that COVID will be a yearly booster like the flu

[Elessar Zappa]

66. Yes, in December of '21.

But it wasn’t too bad, I was up to date on all the shots.

[Freddie]

69. Yes July '22 and fully vaccinated

DH brought it home from work. Chills, sore throat, headache for 1 day. Did a televisit and got Paxlovid. Felt better almost immediately, awful taste in mouth was worth it. Getting new vaccine (and flu shot) next week. Would have done it already but DH had knee replacement surgery in late September and doc wanted him to be mostly recovered first.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

72. Not that I know of...

I've never been symptomatic but I suspect I might have had asymptomatic COVID at some point. I've had all of the vax/boosters. At some point, a couple of years ago, there was a change in my sense of smell, (onions and coffee started smelling very strange.) After a while I did some research on that and figured there's a good possibility I did have COVID at some point but never knew it.

[sky_masterson]

74. First time was this last Sept

The symptoms were so different from what I understood Covid was since from when it started that it felt like allergies.
I am immune compromised ,so being boosted 4-5 months earlier helped I'm sure

[Dorian Gray]

75. Everybody in my immediate household

had it once.

My husband and daughter a year and a half ago. Me about 9 months ago. (I never caught it from them and they never caught it from me despite living in the same household.)

[ariadne0614]

76. Twice, in spite of keeping faithfully up to date on all vaxes and boosters.

Both cases were relatively mild.

[Duncanpup]

77. Twice Covid I accidentally hit once

And I’m vaccinated up to date.

[ProfessorGAC]

78. Voted No

I had a nasty cold & the flu during our COVID era, but tested negative for COVID multiple times both illnesses.

[Emile]

80. Nope, we stayed up to date with the vaccinations.

[Iris]

82. 2xs -last 2 Christmases after required participation in commencement

in a coliseum that was packed to the gills.

I won't be there this year. I left that place.

(All vaccines and booster always up to date)

[Raftergirl]

84. As far as I know I have not had it and since March 2020 I have not even had a sniffle.

H had it in Sept 2022 and even though I was exposed to him for three days before he knew he had it, I never tested positive or even felt slightly ill.

He was then relegated to the basement for the next 13 days until he tested negative. His symptoms were mild and he felt fine the second day after testing positive. Was stuffy and had a slight fever which resolved after taking some Tylenol. He let his guard down and didn’t wear a mask when picking up a packet for a half marathon indoors at a sporting goods shop where it was very crowded with people waiting to get their packets.

We are both vaxxed to the max, and wear masks anywhere indoors and don’t eat in restaurants unless we can eat outside. After being stranded in Ft.Lauderdale Airport and then in two other airports and two planes getting home (total of 26 hours) and remaining unscathed, I’m a huge believer is N95 masks keeping on as safe as possible. Barely anyone else was wearing a mask except me.

We also test frequently if we are going to be together with other people and when we see kid and gf we all test before getting together.

[BigmanPigman]

85. My N95 masks are my best friends.

I have been wearing them and even when it got hot outside I still used them. I think between that, getting vaxxed when I am able to get them, not letting anyone in my apt. and avoiding crowds has likely been the main reason I haven't had it so far. Knock wood!

[Crunchy Frog]

86. Had to switch my answer from no to yes.

[BigmanPigman]

87. Uh oh!

That didn't take long.

My friend in PA had a family funeral a week ago and afterwards a lot of them got Covid.