It come in waves. Makes you think you're fine, and then hits you hard and fast.
For the first 80 hours, I was mostly asleep. Sometimes, when I woke up, I'd feel well enough to log in and chat to work colleagues, concentrate and work.
It started with extreme tiredness. Accompanied by body aches - every joint from ankles to shoulders. And a headache from hell - worse than any that I have had before. A fever and shivers. There were a few coughing fits. At times, a painful, dry sandpaper throat.
The weirdest thing about this illness is the rate of deterioration. In the space of an hour, I went from feeling fine, to struggling for air (sorry for the gory details but it was accompanied by stuff exiting both ends simultaneously while I was burning up, just wanted to add it for completeness) and calling an ambulance. It all happened so quickly.
A word of advice - if someone in your family has it, and you have isolated from them, don't blare music or watch a movie with your headphones on!!! Shouting for help is impossible when you don't have enough air to breathe!
I don't need a test to know for sure that I have COVID-19. It's more contagious than flu. My 2 kids, husband, father, sister, and sister-in-law all have symptoms that began in the last 5 days. I was the second, and so far, the worst hit. I've never had a breathing problem before.
Over here, we aren't being tested. The few tests they have are being used in hospitals to work out whether people have recovered, so that a bed can be freed up. The paramedic who saw me said there were 9500 ambulance jobs in London that day. Double their usual. The 'UK number of cases' is severely distorted.
I've shared my story to let people know what it's like. To raise awareness, much needed at a time when little is known about this virus. It's one thing to wash your hands for 20 seconds. But what do you do when you actually get it? How do you know you have it when you can't be tested? How do you all self isolate for 14 days when you can't get enough food from the shops? What happens after you have it? Can I give it to my parents? Can I get it again? I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but the reality is that most of us will probably get it.
May all your loved ones stay safe xxx