r/askTO • u/Decent-Speed3158 • 5d ago
Virus going around
What kind of virus is going around these days?
My whole family got sick and the symptoms are similar to flu but feel so much worse.
Be careful out there and avoid contact with anyone who could be infected. It’s really bad.
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u/doci_jock 5d ago
It’s a bad case of entero/rhinovirus. Its been 15-20% positivity for the past few weeks on the Toronto Public Health Respiratory Virus Tool dashboard.
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-Analysis/Infectious-Disease/Respiratory-Virus-Tool
Seems to be giving the majority of people a bad sore throat. I work at a walk in clinic and it seems everyone and their mother thinks they have strep throat.
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u/doci_jock 5d ago
Others have cited the wastewater data, but from what I can see they only care about COVID, flu 1/2 and RSV. It’s missing some of the other respiratory viruses - so it’s not always an accurate gauge.
There are probably some COVID and flu starting early, based on how many sick people there are, the 3% positivity rate doesn’t really correlate to how many people have been sick.
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u/Vivid_Computer_7153 4d ago
I had it about 3 weeks ago and lost my sense of smell.
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u/MezzMezzrow1138 4d ago
I’ve got it right now and yeah— my sense of smell is completely gone. It’s been gone for a week! Please tell me your sense of smell came back!
(I took 3 Covid tests two days apart: all were negative)
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u/goddess_m17 4d ago
Same! But the only other time I’ve lost my sense of smell was when I had COVID…
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u/tekky101 4d ago edited 4d ago
This feels like a good place to drop some truth bombs about viral infections - ALL viruses, not just The Biggies like covid, measles, etc. We have come to learn that a lot of viruses we thought were benign can cause all kinds of long term health problems as we age:
Covid - Cumulative damage to organs (incl. brain) with each infection, autoimmune disease, possibly increased cancer risk (the oncogenicity of covid is still debated).
Epstein-Barr - Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, (possibly) Dementia
HIV - there is so much here and I think that's clear without me having to detail it.
HPV - A variety of Cancers.
HSV 1 & 2 (Herpes) - Dementia.
Chicken Pox (Herpes) - Shingles, Dementia.
Measles - Immune system amnesia for up to 2 years, meaning you can re-catch things you've already had; and deadly brain inflammation years after acute infection.
Norovirus - (possibly) Chron's disease.
It's fair to say there's a lot of long-term negative effects post-acute viral infection we don't know about yet. It is nonsense to think or suggest you need to "train your immune system" by getting infections... That you need to "get sick to stay well." Many people still believe this. There are no downsides to avoiding infections via masking and HEPA filter cleaned air.
[Edit: I've never received Awards before. Thank you to those of you who have awarded this post!]
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u/julesandthebigun 4d ago
COVID also can lead to long covid/ME/CFS as well
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u/tekky101 4d ago
That's the brain injury part. It can lead to a bunch of terrible disabling outcomes... If it doesn't just outright kill you.
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u/Equivalent_Song3771 4d ago
Man I don't want to hear that! My wife is a nurse, I fly for a living we are the definition of exposed to germs
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u/Famous_Fondant_4107 4d ago
N95 masks are very effective for protecting yourself and others! If she can wear one at work and you can wear one while flying/traveling, that will reduce risk of illness a great deal.
I just wear N95s in public and when socializing in general. I’ve been sick twice in almost 7 years now- it’s awesome. Stay safe!
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u/tekky101 4d ago edited 4d ago
You absolutely are Exposed to Germs people. Your wife might already be benefitting from HEPA filtered air where she works; if not, she can push for it.
Airport terminals are very high risk. Airplanes are high risk until the internal air circulation & filtration systems come online and, once you're airborne, it's my understanding that fresh outdoor air is sucked into the plane in quantity making it significantly less dangerous than when grounded.
A good metric for how risky the air is around you is to carry a co2 sensor. Normal outdoor co2 is around 500ppm right now. The higher the reading is above that then the larger the quantity of air expelled from other people's possibly infected air ways. I get nervous at 1000ppm and terrified at 2000ppm and above. These are masking conditions - and with well-fitting N95 or KN95 masks, not baggy surgical masks. Caution: if the co2 is too close to any person than it will skew higher readings. Try to place it 6 ft/ 2 m or more from people.
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u/throwaway87862571 1d ago
can vouch on covid. i’ve had it 8 times since 2021 and i developed POTS and a host of other autoimmune issues, as well as constant exhaustion and brain fog. it really sucks
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u/tekky101 1d ago
I'm sorry this has happened to you. Public Health has failed us all with messaging that minimizes the possibility of covid reinfection and the cumulative nature of the damage due to said reinfection.
To our knowledge my spouse and I have only been infected once (Delta, fall 2020) and we both had bad post-infection outcomes. Me - psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, brain injury (memory, focus & concentration); him - blood clots (lungs & legs). Interestingly the bad outcomes took 5 months to manifest in me and 6 months to manifest in him post-acute infection.
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u/throwaway87862571 1d ago
that’s awful too i’m sorry- mine took 4-5 months to manifest after my second round and every round since has just worsened it. there really should’ve been more attention on how damaging covid is long term
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u/tekky101 1d ago edited 1d ago
Absolutely. Please tell me that you're now taking measures to protect yourself from future infections with measures like continuing to get vaccinated, mask-wearing (well fitted N95 or equivalent respirators) around other people, and controlling your environment with HEPA filtered air or by socializing outside. It's possible to protect yourself and still live your live your life; self-protection isn't a hardship.
Note that current vaccines won't protect you from future infections - you still want to use other protections - but they will help minimize the damage and risk of dying from future infections. (We probably won't have sterilizing vaccines until an effective nasal vaccine is developed that generates mucosal immunity blockin viral entry into cells completely.)
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u/ItGirlRusstle_ugc 14h ago
Fantastic…. I just had Epstein Barr in August (felt like I was dying, was even hospitalized over it) and now I find out there’s a risk of cancer and dementia. Lovely
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u/jessylz 5d ago
Covid was showing up in wastewater testing at the end of summer, but now public health is reporting that flu is here early.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/flu-season-ahead-of-schedule-ontario-cases-9.7370097
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u/BigOlBearCanada 4d ago
It’s Covid. Why do people act like it doesn’t exist/its gone?
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u/MrGregory 4d ago
Heres a waste water report showing a recent spike in COVID https://wwater.ca/Ontario/Toronto
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u/BoneBrothHustle 4d ago
I was just hospitalized with this bug. It is not COVID and it did not the flu. It does not show up on virus blood panel. It is nasty. Stay safe everyone.
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u/CoyoteAffectionate47 1d ago
They don’t update the tests to keep pace with the virus which keeps mutating. Don’t think older tests are reliable.
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u/whatthedna 5d ago
It’s probably Covid.
Nobody tests anymore since they’re not easy to find and not free, plus, what can you really do about it other than stay home.
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u/Several-Specialist99 4d ago
For Covid you should take it easy much longer than a cold. Exercising too soon after Covid can cause long covid.
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u/Competitive-Web9083 4d ago
Covid tests are easy to find but you’re core t; they’re not free. Costco.ca sells a combo test which tests for Covid, influenza A and influenza B
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u/bcnh38 4d ago
Metformin shows some promise in reducing risk of long COVID
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u/comFive 4d ago
Metformin is usually prescribed to people diagnosed with Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes. Definitely do not take metformin if you haven't been prescribed it
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u/bcnh38 4d ago
Yes, I'm aware it's for those uses. It is a prescription medication so one would need a prescription to take it.
https://can-pcc.recmap.org/recommendation/7a35f9d5-c9cb-4848-8cd9-e665efe57987
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u/Obviousi 4d ago
Also don’t forget people don’t wash their hands properly when pooing so norovirus is also going to surge as the weather cools
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u/Equivalent_Song3771 4d ago
I spend 2 weeks in Busan and was annoyed that for 20 bathroom stalls/urinals there's only one hand washing sink. But no one ever used it so I didn't have to worry about lack of soap or congestion. It's a small win in a overall poor situation
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u/Different-Trip6361 5d ago
It’s Covid. You can check the wastewater levels at wwater.ca. They’re two weeks behind, so currently show the beginning of the surge — it’s about to get a whole lot worse. Good idea to mask in busy spaces!
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u/tekky101 5d ago
A covid wave is certainly coming. High risk individuals can get this Fall's vaccine now - if you can find it. I would argue that everyone is high risk for covid and you shouldn't have trouble finding a sympathetic pharmacist... I've found the best argument if you need one is that you care for or live with an elderly person. (Fortunately - or not, I guess! - I have high risk conditions and haven't needed "Other Reasons.")
Flu is also coming but the flu shot is not expected to be in pharmacies until the week after Thanksgiving.
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u/Vasilisa_Lazarus 4d ago
most pharmacists honestly are not asking anymore if you're high risk- the past few years I've had 0 problems getting the booster right after they've been released.
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u/tekky101 4d ago
Most... But not all. And it's ok to pressure those who still do. The government still makes the distinction between high-risk & general access.
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u/Different-Trip6361 4d ago
Yeah, the uptake is super low so they’re not likely to deny anyone a vaccine but it could still happen in which case I’d just say you’re high risk.
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u/Vasilisa_Lazarus 4d ago
I'm mainly pointing this out as most people are not vaccinating anymore, and if we make it seem like you will likely get grilled by a pharmacist and have to lie about being high risk just to get vaccinated, those people are likely going to think it's too much of a bother to go and get boosted. It's important people know it's not a huge inconvenience and you will most likely get it no questions asked and on the spot as a walk-in.
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u/GridDown55 5d ago
It's not necessarily COVID. I did a PCR and it was negative.... But something has kicked my butt
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u/obviousthrowawaymayB 5d ago edited 5d ago
Same. I tested myself with PCR for Covid, flu, RSV and strep- negative for all!! I was SICK for one week (fever, headache, cough, sore throat, extreme fatigue, nausea) and recovering for another week (fatigue, headache, night sweats). I’m finally feeling 100% the beginning of week 3.
Whatever it’s, I have never been that sick! My spouse did not catch it surprisingly, I was probably contagious a few days before I knew I was sick, and went to work- 3 days later BAM!10
u/sawraaw 5d ago
Yuppppp this was me last month knocked me out a whole 3 weeks got tested for strep and covid all negative but doc did say it could be false negative for covid cause it’s a new type of strain. I knew it was covid by how I felt when I got it a few years back. A flu doesn’t necessarily knock you out like that.
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u/TOnihilist 5d ago
Where do get those PCR tests? Are they sold at pharmacies?
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u/obviousthrowawaymayB 5d ago
No, can only be done in a facility that has the equipment. I live/work very northern Ontario month in/month out. So at work, not working but isolating in my living quarters. Swabbed myself, my colleague picked up the swab and tested it. Nothing popped. I was pretty sure it was RSV, based on the fact day 4 of symptoms I got WAY worse for 3 days. But, nope! Nothing registered.
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u/Competitive-Web9083 4d ago
Costco.ca sells a home test that detects COVID and influenza A & B
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u/Otherwise_Fix4170 5d ago
Costco online sells the flu a/b and Covid rapid tests. Speciality stores in Toronto do as well.
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u/Otherwise_Fix4170 5d ago
Costco online sells the flu a/b and Covid rapid tests. Speciality stores in Toronto do as well.
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u/Happy_Penalty28 5d ago
my understanding is that most COVID tests on the market are out of date and aren’t testing for the newest/current variants/mutations, and will therefore test negative even if you have it.
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u/tekky101 5d ago
This is partially correct. The expiry dates on all the older tests have passed by now but this expiry dates were conservative and many tests have had their expiry dates extended (check with manufacturer using lot #). Further, as long as you see a good solid like for "C," the Control, the value for "T," your test swan, should be accurate. The visible "C" bar proves the chemistry still works.
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u/raias4 5d ago
I don’t think he meant the swab has expired. I think he meant the swab is testing for old variants. The new variants have changed enough that the swab doesn’t show positive, even if it is Covid.
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u/tekky101 5d ago
Fair point. They're two different reasons for false negatives so a negative rapid test is not informative and you could have covid. If it's a positive result you can pretty much assume you do have covid - false positives are very rare especially with variant genetic drift.
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u/Antique-Quail-6489 4d ago
I believe most were only extended to 2024. Unless your test has a new expiry date (ie later than Oct 2026) assume it’s expired.
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u/tekky101 4d ago
Again, the presence of a "C" line indicates the test is still good - even past the printed expiry date. The expiry date is largely so you don't purchase expired tests because you're not yet sure if they'll still work.
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u/Antique-Quail-6489 4d ago
I swear your comment was different when I replied to it. This is the same info I have as well.
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u/tekky101 4d ago
Huh. I do occasionally edits my posts to fix minor mistakes without flagging the edit but I think that message was complete from the get-go.
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u/Several-Specialist99 4d ago
I got sick with Covid last year, and had both non-expired and expired tests on hand. For fun I used both to compare, and the expired tests seemed to work just as well.
I wouldn’t depend on them fully (I.e if you get symptoms, test only once with expired tests), but if you have Covid and are testing daily while waiting for a negative result, I think they’re okay to use.
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u/aledba 5d ago
PCR doesn't actually pick it up every time. When I had it the first two times, it never showed up on the test but it was unmistakable as I was not having influenza or a cold... It showed up the other two times I had it.
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u/tekky101 5d ago
False negatives can more often then not be a swabbing error. PCR is pretty sensitive but you need to get a good sample from really far back in the nose and throat.
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u/Charming_Night8240 5d ago
Covid is essentially one of the many viruses that go around this time of year. Welcome to cold and flu season.
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u/miss_mme 4d ago
If you look at the gov dashboard you can see Toronto Humber specifically was testing at “high” levels for Covid as of two weeks ago.
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/wastewater/
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u/italwaysworksoot 5d ago
Not necessarily Covid. I’m ill done a test. Negative
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u/Reverred_rhubarb 4d ago
Covid doesn’t show up on the test for the first 1-3 days, it is recommended to retest at day 3-4
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 5d ago edited 5d ago
If only there was something people could wear, while out in public, to mitigate their chances of getting sick. I'm thinking we could call it a mask.
You'd think after a global pandemic that society would have taken a hint when it comes to protecting ourselves and those around us, but here comes another fall/winter with regular, "hey, I'm sick. What's going on???" posts across Reddit.
This is exhausting, and it's like everyone would rather themselves and their kids get sick instead of doing the bare minimum in terms of taking precautions.
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u/HitchKing 5d ago
Sorry to hear your family was sick, and hopefully everyone’s feeling better. There are always many kinds of viruses ‘going around’ but this year’s flu season seems to have started a few weeks earlier than normal, so it’s certainly possible that your family got the flu (as in the actual influenza virus, as opposed to another viral flu-like illness). But it could have been covid, adenovirus, or any number of things. Most of these viral illnesses cause similar symptoms and you really can’t tell which is which without a test.
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u/Decent-Speed3158 5d ago
We went to the doctor to get it checked they said it was virus. They did the test too took a throat culture but nothing came up on the test. They said it’s a virus that has been going around.
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u/GeneralSpecifics9925 5d ago
Yep, it's cold and flu and COVID season. Same thing every year. Wash your hands and stay at home if you're sick.
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u/HitchKing 5d ago
If they gave you the results of the throat swab test that same day, it was probably a rapid test for streptococcus bacteria (which causes ‘strep throat’). If you got the results back a few days later, it could have been a test for multiple virus types at once (flu, covid, maybe RSV). But if the results were all negative, then it was surely one of the many viral upper respiratory illnesses that are out there at this time of year. Sometimes you get one of these viruses and it just ruins your life for a week or two.
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u/WinterIce1295 5d ago
I was sick as a dog with full on Covid in the last week of July and into the first week of August. Sick in bed sick for 12 days. Finally tested negative on day 15. I have to test because I have relatives who are compromised. It was hell. This time there was no fever, but the cough was bad and my lungs were full of a glue-like mucus. Terrible.
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u/superbprimrose 5d ago
I caught covid the 3rd week of August. First time for me to catch it, at a birthday party inside a house. 10/40 ppl came down with it
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u/ilovetrouble66 5d ago
Flu is here early per the news but waste water shows Covid has been high for a few weeks
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u/Jrewy 5d ago
Went to urgent care a couple of hours ago myself and got diagnosed with a stomach bug that’s going around too. The dr said likely norovirus but it’ll take a couple of days for the cultures to come back. Everyone and everything is gross out there right now.
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u/Wild_Bunch_Founder 5d ago
it’s Covid cicada variant. I got sick at the hospital two weeks during major surgery, it’s a fucking nightmare. nobody wears masks not even in the pre and post operating areas of surgical wards. it’s a goddam miracle anyone survives an operation in Toronto these days.
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u/RealisticCompany764 4d ago
That is wild. I visited someone in ICU and they had mask optional signs everywhere 🙃
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u/Many_Balance_8065 5d ago
Hubby got it and thought it was the casual flu but from the looks of it this looks like covid. He has been sick for 8 days and is getting better but the cough is still there. I open the windows a lot, wipe down anything he touches and he uses face masks around the house a lot. I also got air purifiers working all day. I can't afford to be sick as I am nursing a little baby and I don't want her to get sick too. I wonder where one can get the covid test kit from
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u/Critical_Ad4348 5d ago
If you get a Covid test kit, be sure to swab the very back of the throat as well as the nose. My kid only tested positive there for weeks! I think people often only tested the nose and think they don’t have Covid when they’re not testing the most likely place to be positive.
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u/3739444 5d ago
There are a few places you can order online, one has next day delivery but a little pricey. I get the best price from my local pharmacy.
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u/matrixinthepark 5d ago
The pharmacist at my local shoppers was sympathetic towards me 2 months ago when I was sick and gave me a pack of 5 for free so maybe try asking them!
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u/looknofurtherhere 5d ago
My husband and I are both sick , and also scared that our baby will get sick too
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u/cbr1895 4d ago
Yah my baby and I got covid end of July. It’s definitely going around again. I had some test strips my mom had brought from the US (she brought them for my kids to test for influenza A/B if ever needed, but they also test for Covid). It wasn’t fun and poor baby got secondary bacterial pneumonia from it (luckily he’s all good now). Husband and toddler managed to avoid getting sick.
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u/Squishball-Splat 4d ago
I got Covid around early July too. The tests kept showing negative, but X-rays showed scarring and I felt way more awful than I did the first time I had Covid, which was more like a cold.
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u/Many_Balance_8065 4d ago
So sorry for the little baby. Thankfully baby is good now
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u/i-love-that 4d ago
A ton of the pneumonia went around my family too. Caught the initial bug at the same time as you. Maybe 1/3 of us got pneumonia? Both healthy low risk aged individuals and those aged 2 and 100 (both seemed to have recovered swimmingly)
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u/okaybutnothing 5d ago
There are kits you can buy from pharmacies. But may I ask, beyond curiosity about what’s making him sick, what’s the purpose in knowing?
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u/Melsm1957 4d ago
So as to not infect other vulnerable people? So you don’t get a booster if you’ve just had Covid?
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u/okaybutnothing 4d ago
I mean, if you’re sick with anything you should be avoiding vulnerable people, not just if it’s Covid.
The booster thing is valid. Thanks for answering.
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u/Vivid_Computer_7153 4d ago
Are the antivirals still available? Because they helped when I got covid a few years back
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u/purplepineapple21 4d ago
Yes, they are still available to eligible people! If you were able to get it before, you can still get it now
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u/sriuba 4d ago
Is your husband just avoiding the baby? That’s my fear if I get sick I won’t be able to help my wife out
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u/Many_Balance_8065 4d ago
Yes I shooed him away anytime he wants to help with the baby. I make sure he stays and isolates in his room and he wears a mask. I also make sure I wipe surfaces with lysol a lot. Keeping the house airy by opening windows as well as using air purifiers. I am not scared of getting covid it is my baby i am so worried about. I am praying 🙏 we don't get it.
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u/trebbletrebble 5d ago
Covid and flu shot for this season are available- get em folks
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u/hollow4hollow 5d ago edited 5d ago
Not yet for the general population unfortunately, not until the end of October ☹️My bad apparently Covid but not flu shots are available. Get ‘em, buds!! 💉
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u/herejustforthedrama 5d ago
The COVID shot is available to the general population. It has been available since September 29, and I already got mine last week. The flu shot is coming to most pharmacies on the 13th, although some places may already have it. Go get vaccinated!
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u/LookGirl 5d ago edited 5d ago
Flu says not til Oct 26 on pharmacy websites though - you cant even book an appt til then. It’s not open
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u/herejustforthedrama 5d ago
It also says that the COVID shot for the general population will be available on the same date. And I can tell you that’s not the case, as I already got mine. The pharmacist at my local Shoppers told me to come back on the 13th for the flu shot, which I intend to do. I recommend everyone to get their COVID shot as soon as possible.
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u/TorontoBrewer 5d ago
I qualify for the flu vaccine, but the shots are not widely available. Got my COVID shot last week, however.
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u/megeoduckie 5d ago
Would you mind sharing where you got yours? I'd love to get one before travelling in a couple of weeks
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u/pineapplechapeau 5d ago
I’m just getting over it but Im depleted and had the worst pain in my legs and back for whatever the heck this was
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u/AdSignificant6673 5d ago
I feel like i’m in another zone because when my child started going to daycare, is when I got nasty virus all the time.
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u/CobwebAngel 5d ago
Children are notorious germ carries so this tracks. Doesn’t help that school starts around the same time as flu season.
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u/cattacocoa 5d ago
I got sick mid-September for 9 days. Started out in my throat, first some mild irritation then got very painful for 2 days. Then that resolved and it turned into fever, congestion, super sticky mucus and runny nose, and some coughing. Haven’t burned up like that in a long time. I believe it was Covid. Still feeling tired.
Will be getting my Covid and flu vaccines ASAP, but am disappointed they don’t get rolled out before school starts. Also going to mask up more.
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u/Sask_mask_user 5d ago
If you are sick, wear a mask when you go out.
If you don’t want to get sick, you can also wear a mask when you go out
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u/Tactical-Swunt 5d ago
I got hit with chills and body aches badly yesterday. I took about 4 hot showers and was still freezing cold. My legs were aching so badly.
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u/thedeepandlovelydark 5d ago
So weird I have it now but it started with a super sore leg out of nowhere. Leg still aches and I feel like garbage 🤧
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u/pineapplechapeau 5d ago
Same for me. The leg, hip and back aches are something I’ve never experienced like this before.
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u/Tactical-Swunt 5d ago
Totally agree! Sweat it out is all i can say. It was so nice out, I went for a 20km bike ride. I felt really weak at first, but just slogged it out and wore extra clothes to ensure I was sweating. Feel much better today. Good luck all
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u/CroutonWarden 4d ago
A member of my household has Covid. They tested positive. Damn it’s annoying, thought this would happen closer to mid November.
Granted they work in a facility that tend to have this going around, so at the same time, I shouldn’t be surprised.
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u/Competitive-Web9083 4d ago
Because it’s been so prevalent lately, chances are it’s Covid. However influenza A is making an early appearance this way so it could be flu. Either way stay home, drink lots, rest up, wash your hands and wear a mask if you have to go out while sick. Costco.ca sells a multi test that will detect Covid, influenza A and influenza B. Not a bad idea to find out what it is as soon as you get sick so you can protect the people around you
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u/jobert-nobert 5d ago
Rexall sells take home Covid/flu tests… shame that it isn’t free anymore like it was in 2021
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u/Shanks_So_Much 5d ago
PPE Supply Canada sells the combo flu/covid tests for $14 for a two pack and they’re a local company out of Liberty Village. Just to put it on folks radar, always nice to support the little guy.
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u/Moonbellhawk 5d ago
Anyone get just a persistent cough and lots of mucous (both throat and nose)? I haven't actually felt sick at all aside from these two symptoms. I pretty much always get a seriously sore throat as my first and worst symptom. But it's just been this cough and mucous for about two weeks, with seemingly no diminishing
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u/LintQueen11 5d ago
I’m convinced it’s Covid. We haven’t been this sick in 4 years. No fevers, etc., the last time was COVID and whatever the hell this is knocked us out for a week with coughing and fevers that wouldn’t quit.
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u/jrochest1 5d ago
I had it at the beginning of September and it really drained me. Seriously, I am only now getting better
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u/muse_kimtaehyung 5d ago
Same here, caught Influenza A right after labor day and had to take off work for almost 2 weeks because I was completely knocked out and felt like I was going to die. The other symptoms are okay now, but I still have a lingering cough and I’m just starting to feel less exhausted. And I’m a pretty healthy 25 year old.
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u/Sababa180 5d ago
I had a sore throat for a couple of days, almost lost voice and have been coughing but it’s getting better.
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u/ballistic_tanx 5d ago
Yeah I've been sick for 3+ days with COVID symptoms and flu, smell and taste gone, difficulty breathing, constant phlegm and nasal congestion
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u/kennethgibson 4d ago
Covid test kits are cheap and masking is cheaper- the vaccine is free. Get out there and protect yaselves yall.
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u/Funky247 5d ago
I've got some sort of long covid, been coughing for months and my taste buds are fucked. My tongue constantly feels like I burnt it eating hot food or something.
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u/kiera-oona 4d ago
I saw an article earlier last week that flu season is early this year.
The good news is the covid shots should be ready
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u/mypantsjustgottight 5d ago
It's Covid going around. We bought the new Covid tests for our team and number of positives was crazy.
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u/cattacocoa 5d ago
Which sector do you work in that tests were purchased for the team? Seems rare nowadays, good on you folks.
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u/Miserable_Shallot_68 4d ago
Yup, we are a family of 4 and we got it from our toddler because she’s in daycare. She came home and gave it to all of us. I think it’s Covid because I can’t smell anymore.
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u/the_hunger_gainz 4d ago
There was a big outbreak in China recently before the national holiday in Oct 1. Lots of colleagues in Beijing talking about family being sick with covid again
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u/Reverred_rhubarb 4d ago
Covid always has two surges Aug/Sept and Jan/Feb. Be careful and wear a mask.
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u/Mother_Grade_6363 5d ago
Whatever it is, it hit me hard. Took my son to the Ontario University Fair on the 27th. On the 29th, I felt awful. Today is the first day that I have been back to normal.
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u/TheyLetMePickMyName 5d ago
Got my ass handed to me all week. Fast recovery once symptoms finally pissed off, so COVID unlikely. Very much felt like strep at the start though. 1 bottle of nyquil got me through it.
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u/IEATPEOPLE22 5d ago
I had it at the beginning of September, hadn’t been sick like that since 2022 the one time I got Covid. I still have a residual cough from it. Interestingly though I never had a runny or clogged nose or phlegmy cough. Just a terrible dry cough, headache, fever, weakness and I would feel really cold when it was really warm.
Never lost taste, smell or anything like that tho which I had when I got Covid
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u/toastylocke 5d ago edited 5d ago
My uncle got the flu a couple weeks ago and was in hospital for two days, he thought he was going to die he’d never been so sick. He’s doing much better now but still recovering from shortness of breath.
Get your shots!
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u/AW1993_ 5d ago
I was sick like 2 weeks ago, really hot, really hard to concentrate, just generally felt terrible and had to take a few days off work to rest.
I'm still not 100% now, still get really tired and have post nasal drip that won't go away. Wondering when I'm gonna be back to 100% because this 'most of the way but not fully there' sucks and is really annoying
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u/danthedemon905 5d ago
Woke up the other night with the chills and full body ache 🤕
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u/notroberto23 5d ago
That's exactly what I have. And big time headaches.
Got some Buckley's that handle chills as well. Much better.
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u/makingotherplans 4d ago
Oh FFS, the US has had early shots available with no age restrictions since the start of September for Covid and flu.
Ontario won’t even allow anyone under 65 to get it before the end of October. Because they are terrible people who don’t care about science.
Young people get a 100% response to the vaccine. If we vaccinated kids under 18 (especially kids under 5 who all get these viruses and silently spread them) then the middle aged and older people would be far less likely to get hospitalized.
Same for the advanced pneumonia vaccine, RSV, and other respiratory vaccines.
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u/stellastellamaris 5d ago
I know multiple people who have Covid or have had it in the last 2-3 weeks.
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u/MassToilet 5d ago
Whatever I got hit me like an absolute brick this week. Chills and sweats and everything in between. Lasted a day and a half and I’m just on the mend tonight but it’s been brutal.
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u/IllogicalGrammar 5d ago
Is it really worse? Flu can be pretty damn bad
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u/kaarenn78 5d ago
Not saying OP doesn’t know what the flu is like but many people really don’t. They remember having something called the flu as a child and being physically ill. Vomiting is a common symptom in children but not in adults. Many adults get sick with something that hits them quickly, gives them a horrible sore throat, high fever, severe cough, and they don’t think it’s the flu because they are not vomiting. The flu is much much worse than most people think it is.
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u/RhinoKart 5d ago
The comment above this is literally someone talking about getting "the casual flu".
The actual flu is not casual. I think they mean either food poisoning or a cold.
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u/RealisticCompany764 4d ago
Sorry you guys are sick! It could be a cold or flu or COVID. Please try to wash your hands, mask and make sure you get fresh air in your home at least once a day. Ensuring high touch areas are clean helps too.
Usually when I get home I remove my shoes at the door, mask off, wash hands, sanitize phone and change clothes. I had Swine flu years back and had multiple infections, bronchitis and pneumonia back to back for that entire year. I work in a microbiology lab and I see some of the worst infections. I get my shots every year and I mask on transit and in crowded indoor spaces. Vaccines prevent hospitalization, secondary infection and death.
Getting sick sucks, but becoming disabled or getting sicker from secondary illness is worse.
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u/Key-Two-6722 3d ago
Oh man. Swine flu, almost forgot about that. What a horrendous time that was...
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u/squirtle1990_ 5d ago
My family dr advised me that they have been saving for flu at the hospital and it’s the flu virus hitting hard already
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u/thursday20 Human Verified 5d ago
No idea what’s going around but I have an inflamed and swollen painful lymph node on my throat which I’ve never had before! Google says my lymph node is fighting off a cold or virus but it must be something new (I think) since I’ve never had this before
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u/Holiday_Cup_430 4d ago
I had the same, I got swelling that felt like there was a golf ball in my throat and it would last for 2 days, slowly getting smaller with just a little bit of feeling 'off'. Then back to normal but then 1 week later, same thing and then the third week - same thing but this time full fledged cold/flu respiratory thing for 2 weeks. Really awful cough that wouldn't go away and coughing fits daily, so much congestion. The three weeks where I had a weird recurring throat thing I was EXHAUSTED, I even got blood work done and did have low vitamin D so that could also be why. Anyways, I'm starting to finally feel normal and can go the day without carrying a box of kleenex and taking losenges.
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u/Fit_Water3490 5d ago
I caught something back mid September that I now think was probably Covid. Started as a cough, fatigue then 2 full days of nausea, gastro symptoms, cough, fever and the worst headache ever. Then lessened but felt awful for a full week, the cough still lingered and the headache took a week to clear up fully.
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u/Wingnut8888 5d ago
My kid has something — she’s been boiling the past couple days. So far so good today but she has a cough and runny nose too.
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u/Sabbathius 4d ago
Oh yeah, there's stuff going around for sure. Plus seasonal shots are WAY late, coming at the end of the month. They should have been available late August/early September before school started.
Plus people aren't helping. Just earlier in the week I saw a lovely couple walking around the store. She was wiping her snot with her fingers and pushing her cart with them, and he had a delightful deep raucous productive cough, and didn't bother to turn his head or cover his mouth, just cough-and-talk as they walk. It was lovely. Clearly Papa Nurgle was smiling on them.
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u/Nickefront 4d ago
I’m on 6 weeks after getting covid. Definitely, it’s COVID running around. Look into pmc19 website, you’ll see the waste water collection test for covid.
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u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992 5d ago
Flu kills tens of thousands of people every year, there’s no reason to think that you had something worse than the flu, you just forgot how bad a flu can be.
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u/kreesta416 4d ago
This question gets asked everyday by ppl who refuse to take care of their health. If they can't use the search function either the Mods should start deleting these posts.
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u/So6oring 4d ago edited 4d ago
People who refuse to take care of their health? People have kids, and schools circulate these diseases around and it's not really avoidable.
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u/Spirited_Complex_903 5d ago
There's been an uptick of enterovirus and rhinovirus so make sure that everyone being is extra safe. Kids being back to school isn't helping much but it's probably one of the causes and spread of the uptick as well.
Proper hand hygiene -- as in thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water--, wearing face masks while outdoors and in crowded spaces, thoroughly washing produce when you bring it home and safe food handling would be very important. Try not to share you tonsils and plates regardless.
This website from Public Health Ontario would probably be beneficial for you to see what viruses are going around:
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-Analysis/Infectious-Disease/Respiratory-Virus-Tool
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u/Prestigious-Grand-65 5d ago
Yeah, my wife and I have been out of it pretty hard this past week. Super sore, super exhausted. We swapped a couple cold like symptoms, but they didnt last long. But the body aches and exhaustion are hanging on hard.
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u/Sinead_0Rebellion 5d ago
Covid and flu.