How Do I know If I have Covid or RSV?

Three different viruses are sending children and adults to hospital emergency rooms across the United States this winter. Not only is the coronavirus making a comeback because of new immune-evasive variants, but influenza and the respiratory syncytial virus are also spreading earlier than usual and at record rates.
#covid19 #doctor #healthy

[rachelm]

Had RSV. Mild allergy feeling at first. ..then a nasty sore throat. Then a fever. And of course congestion from hell. I tested negative for Rona 3x spaced apart on different days. It wasn't the flu either. Towards day 8 I ended up with a double eye infection and my teeth hurt from the sinus clog. All I can say was RSV was a mucus festival and I had a front row seat it felt like I was drowning in mucus and I was underwater in an ocean of snot which took three weeks to go away.

[uncle-nice]

The pandemic affected so many lives and economies. My cousin's business had to shut down due to lockdowns and restrictions.

[awesomefighter]

I had a runny nose, shortness of breath, chest and back pain, my throat was hoarse, and I was coughing up a storm with bad headaches after the fact. I don't know what I got, but I am barely recovering at day three; all that's left is my cough and sore throat.

[donnamyer]

I am a 70 year old woman. I have RSV right now. It started off the dry painful throat. It quickly progressed to a severe cough with dark green mucus. I also lost my voice.

[LDiamondz]

I've had RSV for about 11 days now. My husband got it about 2 weeks before Christmas. I also have asthma and am wearing a back brace due to fx spine. Started with itchy, sneezey nose, but dry. Progressed to lots of heavy wet mucous in sinuses, which turned brownish color. Doc said sinus infection, gave antibiotics. Also got a headache, muscle pain, weakness, mild confusion, etc.. Within 3 days, my lungs were a mess. Constant wet, heavy, brownish mucous, lung pain, chest pain, mild fever 1 day. Back to doc's. Said now it's bronchitis due to RSV. My oxygen levels are now going down to 88. Also my heart rate and blood pressure are going too high, two low, and normal. This is the most terrible feeling. Coughing and blowing my nose with an endless supply of mucous! Constant coughing, waking me up nearly every hour, IF I can sleep at all. I'm on 2 antibiotics for the lungs, 2 inhalers, breathing treatments, prednisone, cough medicine, and this thing shows no sign of getting ANY better. They tested me for covid and it was negative. With activity, my oxygen level tanks, and BP rises, HR rises. Out of breath. Funny, but one day my temperature was low! This thing caused severe lung pain, front and back. If my oxygen dips by 1 more, I'm heading to the ER. My husband STILL has it. He's somewhat better, he can sleep with no cough, go out, breath better, but that's it. He still can't do much. I hated wearing a mask during covid. But, that's the only thing different we did the two years neither of got sick, besides washing hands, disinfecting, etc. When I am well, and start going out again, I am masking up every single time. You can get this RSV many times in a season, and I'm too sick and scared to go through this again. Thank you, Doctor for this information.

[qtzt]

I pray that..may God protect us from any kind of dangerous diseases. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[braydensnonsence]

When I first woke up with Covid, I just felt tired and very exhausted

[markray]

I contracted Covid in Jan 2020. Since then I have suffered from auto-immune disorders. Several ER visits and a hospital stay later, I am being treated with anti-inflammatories.

[alejandrarivera]

Hmm I thought I got the flu but with your description of the symptoms I probably had RSV, it took me a while to get better and actually I felt worse than when I got Covid ! Covid for me was like a bad cold but RSV was worse than a bad flu 😢

[clairegordon]

I had rsv worse then Covid lasted a month

[AuntieAlexandra]

I’m on my 4th week of RSV. Can’t sleep because I keep waking up choking in oceans of mucus. I don’t understand how the human body can produce this much mucus. My lungs, my throat, my sinuses, even my eyes have had some discharge. I’m utterly miserable.

[XHARDER]

I love how you muffled the audio at the end, made it sound like she had a very loud next door neighbor lmao

[lilred]

I'm in the midst of a RSV infection. Started 2 wks ago with hoarse voice and then the WORST sore throat I've had since childhood before I had my tonsillectomy. It was truly horrible. My throat actually bled. Then unbelievable amounts of mucus. I had pneumonia 2x last year after covid so I'm hoping that doesn't occur again. My mucus is finally a light yellow instead of the bright green it was. Mucus has also been tinged with blood. I'm still rather congested but feel like I'm on the mend. Thanks Dr. for all you do to educate us. Take care!

[oceanplaysoffical]

This is my first time having Covid and it’s 2023 like what I thought it was gone like-
But I have verrry sore throat, cough, headache, runny nose

[barbaraduval]

Chills, fever for 4 days body ache, sore throat, chronic cough not rolling out phlem, wasn't covid still had major post nasil drip. Into week 3 what the heck. Still coughing 😫 inhalers seem like they are not working. Rachel, I also felt confusion, and ear 👂 popping. Tested neg pcr and flu. Did you have RSV?

[bw]

That RSV thing lasts a very long time. Like a month and a half. The adults and children I know that have dealt with this usually come down with what I would call pink eye as well after developing RSV.

[briankepner]

Thank you for your reliable posts that got us through the pandemic.

[pkstiever]

I had Covid Omicron BA.5 and I was sick with lots of different strange symptoms like a painful sore throat and odd muscle aches, which led to a horrifying several weeks of extreme panic, uncontrollable shivering, food tasted bad, rapid weight loss, insomnia and pounding heart, depression, and a feeling of disorientation like I was not myself at all. I followed a strict regimen to bring myself back to normal by continuing exercise, light therapy, plant based diet, supplements shown to help, and meditations like yoga nidras. I slowly found myself again, and I can tell you it was far worse than any flu (and I have had terrible flu once), and it was 2 months of pure hell.

[janinealvia]

When I had covid in Jan. '22, there really were no hard symptoms except for the RCPTR test saying I was positive for covid. The thing I hated most during the one week "I had covid" was being in my room "marooned" by myself! 😥

[tbublavy]

I'm a parent of a 4 year year old. My son had RSV a week ago. I'm a 28yo male and was diagnosed with RSV today.