Lancaster woman with no underlying health conditions says she wouldn't wish coronavirus symptoms on worst enemy

Doctors have said it is "highly likely" Nikki, 53, has Covid-19, but as her temperature is not high enough, and she doesn't have a cough, she will not be tested.

Nikki, who runs an international music management and promotion agency with her husband Martin from their home in Lancaster, said she first started getting symptoms on Monday April 20.

She started feeling nauseous and couldn't concentrate properly, and then she experienced dizziness, a tight chest, breathlessness, palpitations, anxiety and a higher temperature.

She said she hadn't slept for 36 hours and was "frightened of falling asleep".

She initially contacted the NHS 111 number, and then got through to doctors at Lancaster Medical Practice, who sent her to Lancaster University where a Covid-19 unit has been set up.

She said: "Lancaster Medical Practice has been phenomenal.

"They said they wanted to see me because they'd already seen me a week ago, and they turned it around very quickly.

"They measured all my levels, and my oxygen levels were low, my temperature was high but not enough to cause concern.

"They told me it was highly likely I had it, but that they couldn't test me.

"It's interesting how it's evolved, but the government seem to be focusing on temperature and cough and I don't have a cough or a high enough temperature."

The couple said they had taken more than reasonable precautions in terms of social distancing, not touching surfaces, and sanitising shopping, as Martin has asthma.

Prior to going into self isolation, they took it in turns to go to the supermarket, walked the dog together, cycled, and they used the franking mailbox at White Lund for sending out music connected to their work.

Nikki said she has no underlying health problems, although she is partially sighted meaning she has to pick things up in the supermarket to look more closely at details on packages.

She described how her symptoms have come and gone in waves.

She said: "I had my first symptoms on Monday April 20, on Wednesday I felt a bit better, then a bit worse Thursday, then Friday night I felt really rough.

"Then on Sunday morning I didn't feel too bad again.

"It's weird. Today (April 29) is the worst day and it's been more consistent.

"I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy."

Nikki described her symptoms as "vile".

She said: "You've got to wonder how many people are carrying it.

"I can't see how they're going to release the lockdown any time soon.

"No-one has coughed on me, we both work from home, all I know is I don't believe there was anything else I could have done to avoid getting it, so it is obviously highly infectious.

"I really couldn't say how or where I contracted it - I don't touch doors, counters, but I have handled some packages."

Nikki's husband Martin said her sense of smell and taste had diminished, after he tested her taste with tart raspberries and smell with whisky.

He said: "Initially when we went up to Lancaster University, where they have two blue tents, they said they didn't think it was Covid-19.

"Medics come out to the car, check blood and heart rate, and then ask the patient to walk briskly across the car park.

"They did suggest we self isolate for 14 days, and suggested it could be asthma."

The couple separated bedrooms and bathrooms, and began their self isolation.

Nikki said she had been testing her temperature six times a day, and was feeling anxious about her symptoms.

Martin said he had concerns about the way the government is dealing with the pandemic, and said more people should be tested.

He said: "If everyone who was suspected, or wanted to be tested, was tested, then the death rate would be a lot lower percentage wise, and we may have a lot better information on the virus and it’s behaviours.

"By not testing everybody, the death rate percentage compared to those tested is huge - but that, in a way, keeps a degree of fear in people and may help social distancing/ isolation more than if the revealed percentage figure was lower.

"It all depends on your outlook - if you feel strong and selfish and healthy, you may not give care too much, but if you’re vulnerable, you need to take precautions and care, but also, need to be reliant on others around you being careful and considerate too.

"It’s a new disease/virus and the medical profession are still learning about it - and they can only learn about it if they get patients in, and monitor and make notes on their symptoms and conditions and the timescales.

"If everyone is just told to self isolate and stay at home and wait it out, nobody learns anything.

He added: "People don't realise how rife it is.

"Don't flout the rules and advice is what I would say - it's contagious, it's real and it's not nice."