A week ago, I reported that I was feeling very fatigued and needed to take the weekend off.
A week on, I feel a bit better and now understand what I had last weekend. The fatigue, it turns out, was caused by Covid. It seems almost certain that I have now had my fourth out of this. I have not had a positive Covid test. This, however, is not unusual. Apparently, 38% of people with the latest variant never get a positive test, so its absence proves nothing.
From my perspective, the particularly worrying aspect of this variant, apart from the fatigue (which, as usual, was not fun), was that it affected some muscle control. Typing became hard for a few days, but more significantly, so did speaking.
If any of you have watched the videos over the last week, you will have noticed that they appear to have taken more effort on my part than usual. That, in particular, is because I was forced to script more because fatigue made it difficult to improvise, as I usually do to a large degree, and simultaneously, simply forming my words proved to be hard on occasion.
This was quite worrying until Jacqueline completed research to find out what the cause might be, and ended up with the latest Covid variant as an explanation for what was happening . Temporary speech impediment is a recognised side effect.
I am pleased that I now appear to be getting better and that this symptom is reducing in its impact. That said, I am still not flowing quite as usual, and as a result, we are, for the first time ever, re-issuing some old videos that were quite successful when first published this weekend. If television channels can do repeats, so can we. I hope to be back in the groove of making videos again next week. I have lots of ideas.
I also hope that the fatigue finally disappears because I would be pleased if it does .
The plans for changes in moderation are not being put on hold, though. Andy Moyle is still trialling the new system, but that is taking time because it is a major rewrite of the one embedded in WordPress.
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Glad you’re feeling better and hope the improvement continues.
Enjoy the weekend.
Craig
This Twitter account follows the long term effects of Covid – in particular this thread about the effect of Covid on epithelial cells.
Another new strain of Covid – and quite worrying that over a third of cases don’t show a positive result on the test. You seem to have had quite a nasty dose, so it’s good to hear you’re feeling much better.
Are you going to be fit enough for your session on Saturday? I booked a ticket and am looking forward to it- but not if it’s going to put any strain on your health.
Take care of yourself. Better yet (if you’re anything like me!) remember to let the people around you take care of you. Easy to say, hard to do – ask me how I know!
We tend to forget about covid now partly because the government does not issue any data. People think it has gone away but it is obviously still circulating. Best wishes on feeling better.
I have had something unpleasant for about 10 days and I had an optician appointment yesterday which i didn’t want to miss as it is part of my cataract treatment. I am certainly better than I was at the start, so I decided to go and use a mask My local pharmacy had none and the pharmacy in the large supermarket which houses my optician had none. They commented that they had not seen any for some time.
I have never had a positive covid test and i am not sure they are obtainable either! Is Covid now just anothe type of infection where symptoms need treating but that’s about it?
Hope you’re fully fit soon.
It seems strange to say this but I am pleased it was Covid (or might have been).
Me too
The other options were worse
Glad you are recovering Richard.
Over the last few years , the disinformation regarding covid ‘being over’ or ‘like a cold’ from UKHSA and top management of NHS , must be a far more egregious malfeasance in public office than Mandelson or Andrew M-W. People have died who didn’t need to.
They have denied vaccines to swathes of the population which would have benefited. They haven’t said clearly that covid is airborne, and have allowed infection to spread in hospitals and schools, when simple clean air measures, and/or masking would have protected people. Florence Nightingale knew this .
There is so much research showing that every reinfection further damages the immune system, and that the virus lingers and can affect many organs of the body, including the brain and cardio vascular system.
I do hope you recover fully.
In that case, Richard, I’m sorry to have bothered you with my request to which you stepped up as always.
Cindy. I went to London last week and thought it might be a good idea to have a fcae mask. I’m pleased to say that my local Boots had plenty, including that medical grade FPF. They also have Covid test kits but you have to pay for them these days.
I have never (as far as I know) had covid – but nearly 3 years ago, when I started to feel very tired (which was unusual for me) someone suggested I take a covid test – I sent off for the test and it was a weekend, so a few days passed and then a negative test. By this time even I was worried and had an emergency appointment with a GP – she did not know what was wrong but called for an ambulance and requested a bed in the regional hospital in Chesterfield – full up with ambulances queueing round the block. As I was not fit to drive I had used a taxi which was waiting – GP instructions were to get to any hospital fast. I had left my 16 week old puppy at home and alone – friends sorted that out somehow (and almost 3 years later she is still there – I visit!). Arrival at hospital, 30 minutes wait for xrays and tests, emergency surgery soon after (caecal volvulus = life threatening) then complications a few days later and more emergency surgery. Covid was around, but not at it’s worst and the NHS (Macclesfield) was wonderful. The trouble with the likes of you and I is that we do not like to give in. I am told I am lucky to be alive and this is down to the surgeons, nursing and other staff at Macclesfield NHS (with a helping hand from Withinshaw) – so – take care of yourself – ignoring signs that you may be unwell is not an option. The lesson I learnt was to take my health more seriously and to ask for medical help sooner. Yes there have been other instances of medical stupidity – I have climbed a mountain and then skied down with a broken arm, and also skied with a broken leg – stupidity? or just wanting to prove that nothing was wrong?! I had a few courses of rehabilition treatment at RAF Headley Court after various injuries, where they advised us to get on with things, but also to listen. Please take care of yourself, your wife and your sons.
I spent this morning birdwatching and sat outside. Avocets, cranes and pintail were my pleasure. Then I slept for 2 hours. Since then I have been reading and listening to Robert Reich. Now it is some slow television and that will do. I am taking care. That’s my plan. You keep going well.
Goodness, some scary symptoms! I’m so glad you’re recovering. I hope your energy does, too, Richard.
Thanks, and me too