Timeline -What to Expect, Stages of Virus & Things You May Not Know

Two & a half years of avoiding Covid-19, and NOW I get Omicron! I have had all the shots available to date. I don’t know if it’s because it has been six months since my last shot. Of course, the Omicron COVID-19 variant is highly infectious, and many of us are not as careful as when the pandemic first hit. Being maskless, not being as vigilant with washing hands, touching the face, not social distancing (6 feet). I can tell you from personal experience – OMICRON CAN BE MISERABLE!!

How I think I contracted Omicron

My husband and I went to our favorite pizza place for dinner a few weeks ago. (We don’t go out often, so I can identify when I may have contracted it). Besides the excellent food, we like that this restaurant is spacious, so you don’t have to sit next to people. We are not paranoid about Covid, but we still try to social distance as much as possible. On this particular day, we sat at the expansive bar, and two women were sitting about 5 feet away, and no one else was near us. We ordered our usual pizza and cocktails. The only thing I noticed about the women sitting near us was they were loudly chatting until… the woman closest to me started coughing.

When I became contagious

Four days later, I met my daughter for lunch and didn’t have my usual healthy appetite, which didn’t bother me since I was trying to lose a few pounds. I caught myself more than once zoning out a bit. Which, again, was odd as my daughter and I have engaging conversations.

Driving home I felt a little foggy and found myself exhausted after the short 30-minute drive. By the time I got home I was also feeling like a migraine was coming on. I laid down and slept the rest of the afternoon. which was odd for me, but I didn’t think much about it. The following evening the symptoms hit me hard.

Day 5 symptoms hit

I can’t speak for everyone who has had the latest strain of COVID but when it hit it was like a baseball bat to the body. Fast and all symptoms hit hard and at the same time.

Painful chills
Relentless cough
Shortness of breath
Extreme fatigue
Pounding headache that started up the back of my neck
Muscle and body aches that went on for days
Blunted taste and smell – not gone just blunted
Sore throat
Congestion and runny nose
Nausea which was worse at night
Believe it or not – diarrhea

What is so interesting about Covid is it is a very individual experience. Similar – yes. My husband experienced symptoms 24-hours after me and our daughter four days after she had lunch with me.

However, both my husband and daughter had fevers whereas I did not. My daughter and her boyfriend both were vomiting with their Covid. However, we all were miserable for about 5 days and still felt symptomatic for up to 10 days. We all tested negative 7- 8 days after first positive test.

Five stages of Omicron

Stage One. Is contact with an infected person.

Stage Two. Most people will spend a couple without any signs they are ill – unaware they are in the viruses incubation period.

Stage Three. Is when early symptoms start to pop up, like lower back ache, night sweats and a scratchy throat. Ours started with a headache that starts up the back of the neck.

Stage Four. Is test taking – most likely, you have experienced symptoms above leading to a positive test? If you test negative on lateral flows 24 hours apart on days six and seven, you are probably ok to leave home.

Stage Five. Is isolation if you have tested positive. And this is the time you will feel like crap.

Other things I learned about Covid-19 Variant

You can be Covid positive for up to 90 days.
CDC suggests that you are the most contagious 24 – 48 hours before you have symptoms.
Most people develop symptoms between five to six days after exposure.
Genetics and your immune system can pay a roll in how serious your symptoms are.
You should isolate for 5 days if you have no symptoms and at least 10 days if symptoms are moderate or severe.
There is a possibility of getting Omicron a second time even if you are fully vaccinated.

Summary

There are several things that can increase the likelihood of you contracting the Omicron virus. Obviously, the unvaccinated are more at risk. They are also most likely to be hospitalized. While genetics and immunity follow as a close second.

Travel -Based on its dominance and spread, some experts are now warning that your risk of catching Omicron is higher in an airport than the actual airplane.

Below are things that can also lead to Omicron and how to avoid it.

How to Avoid Omicron

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub.
Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when in public settings or around others.
Maintain at least six feet distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your face.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
Stay home if you feel unwell.
Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people.