The cold incubation period is the time from catching a cold virus to the first symptoms, typically 1 to 3 days, though it can range from 12 hours to a week. (Google AI)
Yesterday, I started to feel like I had a cold coming on: I had a couple of violent sneeze attacks, and felt a bit congested and generally "weird". I dismissed the idea, though - because where (or who) on earth would I have caught it from?? I haven't been anywhere recently, nor had any vistitors. Could it perhaps be an allergic reaction rather than a cold? But since January has been such a chilly month here (temperatures below zero), that didn't make sense either. I know pollen can drift with the winds from further south in Europe even before the season really starts here, but still...
Today, no doubt any more: However I managed to catch it, it is definitely a cold. It's kept me in bed most of the day, half-slumbering to an audio book - and falling properly asleep for a couple of hours in the afternoon. (Just now trying to keep myself sitting upright at the computer for a while, though.)
This is the extent of my off-line human interaction over the past week:
Last Thursday I had groceries delievered. I went down to open the entrance door for the delivery girl (it was a young woman this time), and we rode up in the lift together. I live on the 2nd floor, so that only takes seconds. She then put the bags down in the hall just inside my front door and left. We exchanged one or two sentences, no more. She seemed healthy to me - and it also really seems a bit too long ago to be of relevance.
On Saturday, I spoke to a neighbour in the basement corridor outside the laundry room (looking at the booking board). But we probably stood like two meters apart and only exchanged a few words. (She had booked the slot after me, and I told her that as it seemed like I'd able to start an hour early, she could count on doing the same. We did not meet again.)
I have gone up and down in the lift a few more times during the past week, but then without meeting anyone. I can't think where else I might have come across some lingering virus though! (The laundry room, possibly - but it's rather "airy" down there, and I wear rubber gloves most of the time, and always start by wiping the surfaces...)
I can't actually recall when I last had a winter cold. Having had flu and covid shots every autumn has in later years seemed to protect me fairly well throughout the winters!
No doubt I'll survive this one too - it just still puzzles me when/where/how I picked it up!
However you picked it up, I hope you soon feel better, Monica. Keep warm and drink plenty of liquids. It is a puzzle how these viruses travel sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice. - Had I been out and about shopping etc this past week I wouldn't have given a second thought to where exactly I picked it up. It's only the minimum interaction with other people lately that made me feel I'd be more likely to have picked up a data virus than a "live" one... ;)
DeleteIt sounds as if you have been really careful , but cold and flu viruses are persistent and can strike despite all your hard work
ReplyDeleteI hope you are able to rest and recover swiftly
Siobhan
Thanks Siobhan. I can't say I've been putting "hard work" into avoiding catching a cold - it just took me by surprise as my social life lately has been almost exclusively online!
DeleteHope you soon feel better. I guess the viruses can linger on surfaces - lift buttons etc for a while.
ReplyDeleteJenny, yes, I suppose that may well be it. When going out I usually put on gloves already before going down in the lift this time of year - but not when just going to the basement, or to empty my postbox...
DeleteEven with very limited contact, a cold virus can linger on shared surfaces or in the air of enclosed spaces like lifts and corridors, so a brief, unnoticed exposure days earlier is often all it takes
ReplyDeleteOf course you're right, Ro - one just doesn't think about that when not actually seeing other people about...
DeleteI' m sorry, you must be miserable. A real mystery. It seems like someone has to actually have active cold symptoms before you can catch it.
ReplyDeleteGinny, I guess if one is unlucky all it really takes is someone recently having sneezed or coughed in the elevator - or while walking up/down the stairs for that matter... It's been a long time since I last had a cold, I guess that makes one more susceptible as well!
DeleteMy first guess was the laundry room, where everyone from your building touches the door handle, the washing machines and so on. But then you mentioned your rubber gloves so that was probably not it - unless you happened to touch your face (mouth/nose area or brushing a strand of hair off your eyes) with them.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, I hope you'll get rid of the cold very soon - and at least you're not missing out on much right now, staying home and resting!
Meike, I guess the laundry room is also a possible source. I wear rubber gloves to protect my hands when cleaning and when handling wet laundry - but I can't claim that my cleaning is so maticulous that it includes every door handle, button or switch... Ah well. Whether the laundry room or the lift, it's probably the first time in my life that I've suspected having caught a cold from an empty space!🤔😷
Deletemaybe floating in the air from someone who just left the area, or on a surface you touched. so sorry, hope it is not the flu... and that is doesn't last long
ReplyDeleteSandra, no fever or muscle ache involved, so not flu.
Deleteoh no, maybe it's the change of seasons, I know I've had several sinus infections due to a very windy mild Summer.
ReplyDeleteAmy we're in the firm grip of winter here, have been all January and it seems likely to continue next week as well. Always a lot of viruses around this time of year. Nothing strange about it except that I have hardly been among other people myself!
DeleteRest up and get well soon, I hate that feeling when you know it's coming- that tickle in your throat and weird feeling in your nose.
ReplyDeleteDoing what I can, CK... ;)
DeleteSorry to hear that you are under the weather but hope that you will soon be back to full health. I would imagine you may have stepped into the lift just after someone who had left their cold germs behind - probably sneezing all the way up or down!
ReplyDeleteCarol, I'll never know, and by now I may have spread it on myself the same way (not actually sneezing in the lift - but for all I know just breathing may be enough)
DeleteSorry you caught this cold...from mystery source! A friend's cold ran on a bit long last week and her second doctor visit showed she'd caught RSV. Not a lot of difference in treatment, just the same prescription that helped her with coughing. I do hope you are well again soon.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, whether it's RSV or something else that I caught I don't know. Luckily I did have a variety of non-prescription stuff in stock at home (+ prescribed asthma inhalors).
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