First hand account from a pilot who contracted the Coronavirus and is under the age of 50. They have removed his name to protect his identity.
But said it was ok to share his experience:
Today I was diagnosed with having a moderate case of the COVID virus. I am not sharing this for any sympathy or get wells, but to share my firsthand experience of what this is like so that those who keep spreading false information and downplaying the severity of this virus can be better informed.
Due to government protocols that essentially make only the most severe cases allowed to be tested, I was only tested for flu and other infections to rule those out. Moderate cases like mine, or less, are not allowed to be tested and thus do not get added to the numbers of officially diagnosed.
I had to wait most of the day to be given a slot to see a doctor. And only then was I given one because my respiratory distress was progressing. Speaking of symptoms. I am lucky that I have not gotten a bad fever yet, but I have had significant breathing issues. I am not an at risk patient with pre-existing conditions. In fact, I am in good shape (I play full soccer games multiple times a week) and I am not overweight.
Yet, these symptoms even in a moderate case are brutal. I have never felt anything like this in my life. Just walking and talking was leaving me gasping for air. When I would cough I was left so breathless that I even passed out a couple times after gasping for air. It took multiple medicines to only make my breathing feel labored. I have also been told that it will very likely be many months until my lung damage heals.
All of this and there are still not many cases in my area. If the outbreak had gone uncontained like it did in parts of Italy and I would be unable to see a doctor I would hate to imagine what would have happened. During my 2 hours at the ER I heard 2 Code Blue's in the COVID ward.
So for those that keep spreading false information and propaganda just stop. For those bemoaning this as a just a glorified flu just stop. This is not fun for anyone, our industry's economic health cratering is not fun, but you know what is not fun, seeing comments and posts saying that I just have a "bad flu".

 

I will admit that when this all started I was very much in the camp of “it’s just not that scary why all the hype”. I was ignorant of it but after doing some research I learned that for those that get it, it can be very scary and very nasty.

I would argue this person had a bad case of it given they couldn’t even talk or coups without passing out, but still. Of an elderly person gets this it can be life threatening.

stay safe out there.

 

Now consider this in the context of a 1st class medical certificate.

I've been saying all along that either all the government moves are a massive overreaction, or it's much, much worse than we were being led to believe. Unfortunately, increasingly it looks like the latter.

 

The definition they’ve been using for a mild case is if you don’t need a respirator. So his/her case would fall into that category. I’ve had friends in other countries who’ve had “mild” cases. Their descriptions were similar (although they also had high fevers).

 

Thats pretty scary that you can call what this pilot had mild, but I guess if that is what they are going with we will call it mild.

 

Sounds like it will be at least a year before he gets his medical certificate back

 

Where did it say he lost his medical certificate?

 

Hate to say this, but where’s the source on this? Do you know this person directly?

There have been reports and direct live interviews on people with COVID-19 and for the most part it seemed that it in fact was just a rougher type of flu. Not trying to be that guy to counter this info just curious for my own data collection type purposes.

It seems to be really bad in Italy unfortunately.


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I don’t know the pilot, but yes, I do personally know people who’ve had it. Then again, you don’t know me so...

The people I know are straddling 40 and generally healthy. Both said it’s about the worst they’ve ever felt in their lives. They are both also on the back side of it and getting better. Neither ended up in an ICU or on a respirator.

 

^^this.

I know of nobody that has it, and know of nobody that knows somebody that got it. I have heard that 'my baby's daddy's first cousin has a friend that has it' ... Not saying it's not serious, but that is my experience thus far.