Our author thought she would never get Corona. Now she’s got it all. A field report on the incubation period, symptoms and free testing.
Hamburg – I admit it: I had simply strained my fate too much. No corona infection for two years – and then in the days of Omikron BA.5 in Berlin I first go to a concert, then to a bar, and then to a club. As a science journalist, I really should have known better. After all, I’ve been writing about Corona, incubation period, course, symptoms, boosters every day for two years. My colleagues even jokingly call me Doctor Omicron, so I really should know how contagious Omikron BA.5 is.
All night I yelled at my friends over the thumping beats: “If we don’t get it now…” Four days later I wake up – and I feel ‘like the truck hit me’. My head is hot, something seems to pierce the top of my skull (at least that’s what it feels like), every movement hurts. Even my hair hurts at the root when I touch it. This is different than anything I’ve had before. It has to be: This is Corona.
Omikron BA.5: I had Corona – the course and symptoms were so severe
After two and a half years of the pandemic, I thought I was one of those people who just didn’t get Corona! Blood group 0 maybe, or immune from cold viruses. Bla bla bla. You already know. In addition, mid-30s, sporty, vaccinated three times. It’s okay. But I did the math without the Omikron BA.5.
This highly contagious little bitch.
Although I’m really glad I had three shots including boosters and it wasn’t Delta. It would certainly have been worse for me, with even worse symptoms. As bad as I was with Omikron BA.5, it could have been much worse without a vaccination. That’s why I’m still grateful for my progress. Health is the most important thing in life. Here is my experience report.
Omicron BA5 – day 0 to 1: This is how long the incubation period lasts for the corona subtype
I’m out and about in Berlin on Saturday evening. On Tuesday evening I am really tired and so cold that in June I sleep with a hot water bottle under two blankets. And on Wednesday morning it hit me hard. the Incubation period at Omicron BA.5 So it takes four days for me to break out. This coincides with the official information on the incubation period for Omikron BA.5. In a time spectrum of three to six days, everything is possible with the new corona variant.
Omicron BA.5 – Day 1 to 3: Headache, fever, cough – the symptoms of the corona subtype
As already described: On day one with Omicron BA.5 I wake up with severe symptoms on. I can’t sleep because of the fever, tossing and turning in the sheets until I’m awake. The clinical thermometer says: 38.5 degrees. Only when I keep putting new cooling pads on my face does the fever slowly go down and I feel a little better. Plus ibuprofen for the horribly stabbing headaches (I’ve never had such before) and the body aches, and I can sleep.
In fact, on day one with Corona, I feel really, really miserable. And I’m not a whiner. The cough (painless) is the least of the problems. Worst of all are the fever, the body aches, the headaches, but above all the tiredness. I feel like I’m at the end. In addition, I sometimes feel nauseous and have a rash on my stomach. huh After some research on the Internet, it becomes clear: These are also symptoms of Omikron BA.5. These can be:
- Omikron BA.5: Symptoms of Corona-Variant
- Fever
- Cough
- tiredness or exhaustion
- body aches
- headache
- Sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- nausea
- Rash (usually only in children)
Infection with Omikron BA.5: These drugs helped me against Corona
A phone call with my sister shows: she had exactly the same Symptoms bei Omikron BA.5. Crazy. “You really need Grippostad,” she tells me. She wouldn’t have gotten out of bed without it. So I alternately take ibuprofen and Grippostad for the corona symptoms, cooling pads for the fever, lozenges and tea with honey for the throat. That was it. Because there is still no drug against Corona and Omikron BA.5 to buy in the pharmacy.
Omikron BA.5 – Day 2 to 10: The corona test is positive
Although I feel so bad on Wednesday, the rapid corona test only turned positive on Thursday. Within a second, the red line lights up in field T on the corona self-test. So there they are, the two lines. This is what a positive test looks like. Alright.
In the coming days I will test myself every day, always the same scenario. The test field lights up at me as if it would like to start blinking and shout out loud: ‘Yeah, it’s your own fault, Jennifer! You didn’t want it any other way!’ It wasn’t until day 10 that I got a negative corona test result again for the first time.
Day 10 with Omikron BA.5: I’ve officially survived Corona – and I still can’t get up the stairs
The negative corona test made me totally euphoric after days on the couch and in bed. The last few days have not been great to say the least. From day four with Omikron BA.5, I no longer had a fever (before that it was 38.5 degrees every morning), but I was extremely weak. Apart from social media, watching films and lying in bed, nothing worked.
On top of that, I was in such a bad mood on a few days that one can speak of semi-depression. A survey of the circle of friends shows that many felt the same way. However, there was no sign of loss of appetite. On the second day I even had cravings for a burger and fries. Thanks to the delivery service, it was delivered to the door.
After the corona infection with Omikron BA.5: Don’t overdo it!
So now I can officially step outside. And let a friend who’s birthday pick me up on his motorbike. We cruise through Hamburg in the direction of the Elbe, fresh air blows around my pale, sick nose. Splendid! I’m so high-spirited on the banks of the Elbe that I order an Aperol Spritz. Cheers to the birthday. To freedom. That takes revenge immediately. The next day I’m so exhausted from the aftermath of Corona and the alcohol that I can’t get up the stairs anymore. On Monday I don’t wake up despite the alarm clock ringing and I oversleep from work. I’m totally floored.
New symptoms of the corona variant Omikron BA.5 – data collection from infected people in a smartphone app
Extreme fatigue
exhaustion
night sweats
Intense, vivid dreams
nightmares
Klarträume (Lucid Dreaming)
The online magazine Fitbook recently reported from new symptoms in Omicron BA.5, which occurred in those affected after infection with the corona variant. In addition to the tiredness already mentioned, which was particularly severe as was exhaustion, night sweats in people infected with Covid-19 with a corona variant were also among the new Omicron BA.5 symptoms.
And think of mine Interview with Long Covid expert Jördis Frommhold, who often emphasized: “With Corona, the body goes through a severe viral disease without medication. He has to deal with it himself. You have to take care of your body, even after Corona! Otherwise the risk of Long Covid increases.” I definitely don’t want that. I’ll be quiet for at least two more weeks. I promise myself that. I’m really paying attention this time.
Because a new study shows that you can become infected again with omicron after just 28 days. Many people who have recovered are also infected again with Omikron BA.5 after a short time. One Infection BA.1 and BA.2 does not protect against omicron BA.5.