Do I have covid or is it some underlying condition?

@mrbrandon- Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. The symptoms that you are having could be something more than COVID-19. But it's a good place to start. Everyone is different in how they display symptoms so yours would probably be different than mine, happen at a different time and be less, the same, or more severe than mine

If I were you I'd be running to get tested. I'd also advise you to get a CT scan of your lungs. Your symptoms scare me. Have you considered getting tested?

My dad said it's fine because I am a basically asymptomatic, and even if I did go to get tested and came out positive, the treatment they would give me are the same as what I am receiving rn (vitamin C, zinc, calcium). Just not steroids. I believe i should get a CT scan as well. I've always had a abnormally long breath span, so a reduction in breath doesnt mean shortness of breath. But these days, I've been giving myself the non scientific treatment of binural music. Thank you for the quickfeed back though! really appreciate it.

Update: i dont taste blood in my mucus when swallowing anymore

@mrbrandon - Have you quarantined yourself? You listed a bunch of symptoms to me, why are they not concerning?

@mrbrandon, I agree with @merpreb. If you've had a known exposure to someone who is positive for COVID-19, you should isolate for 14 days whether you have symptoms or not. Since you have displayed possible symptoms, you should isolate yourself from other members of your family to prevent spread to them and the people that they may have contact with, like grandparents.
Read more here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

If you have not been isolating since your exposure to COVID, please tell anyone you've been in contact with about their potential exposure so they can isolate.

@mrbrandon- I hope that you will let me know how you are feeling and what steps you are taking to protect others from your potential virus. If you have not isolated yourself from others (quarantined) then you may be exposing them to COVID-19 without realizing it. Here are some basic facts that might interest you about COVID-19 and its testing and why it is important to get tested.

Testing is one of many precautions in the protocol for COVID-19 and staying safe. There are several reasons to get tested for COVID 19. If you are ill if you are worried that you could expose others, if you have been exposed or if you are hospitalized for something else and have to be admitted are all part of keeping yourself and others safe. Everyone should participate because this is a virus that has no bounds, no special interests, not biases. It's like cancer, anyone can get it. And it can be deadly.

A test for COVID-19 is only one step along with quarantining, avoiding crowds, using masks, washing hands, and social distancing that will help keep you safe. Nothing is 100% with this virus. If you have had COVID-19 or get it in the future there is still a chance to get it again.

If you have minor symptoms or no symptoms but have been exposed you can still pass it on to someone else. So if you have symptoms the prudent thing to do is to get tested, stay home and quarantine and tell your doctor and others who you have been around so that they can be warned.

@colleenyoung and @merpreb, Thanks to both of you for the helpful and very informative Covid-19 links you shared.

I was troubled when an elderly neighbor told me she'd called her pcp and after describing a low temp and dry cough was told to remain at home and if these symptoms worsened or new ones were added to skip testing and go a hospital emergency room. What alarmed me was that my neighbor is on oxygen 24/7 and has other chronic health issues. Yet, she wasn't instructed to go be tested. Three days later, her adult daughter who lives with her experienced symptoms and went for testing which showed her to be positive for the virus. Both quarantined and apparently had a milder case but the daughter was ill longer.

With compromised lungs and other chronic health conditions that put my neighbor and me at risk, I would have thought the doc would have advised immediate testing for my neighbor?

Our three hospitals are at capacity for beds and additional staff have come to help. I'm wondering if that might have been the reason my neighbor was advised to just stay home and monitor but still the doc's advice surprised me. Is this happening frequently or perhaps an unusual situation? Are other members hearing of this or experiencing it when calling their docs for advice with possible symptoms?

@fiesty76- I think that you hit the nail on the head. Hospitals are at capacity in my state and there are 2 field hospitals that have been set up. I think that there must be certain guidelines of symptoms that determine whether a doctor recommends hospitalization or not. I think that if your neighbor is on oxygen and her levels stay good and she's stable there probably isn't a reason for her to be hospitalized! Your concern is sweet.

@mrbrandon I agree with all the advice you’ve been given here. I might add, though, have you spoken to your doctor about your concerns? I would suggest that you call him/her. Let me know what you’re told. Will you call?

I appreciate your response and explanation, @merpreb. We also have tents set up at the two largest hospitals and it does make sense that additional protocols for hospitalization admission are having to be implemented. Fortunately, my neighbor's symptoms have not increased which is wonderful news.

Hope all are taking extra precautions during this critical time of the virus spread. With so many Thanksgiving travellers, I fear that numbers will bring more hospitals and staffs to capacity in the coming weeks.

None of my family has developed symptoms after two weeks. I honestly think it was my past condition, triggered and worsened by anxiety. My lung has been clearing up more than before, and I can smell the unmistakable smell of nicotine, which is very weird