Olympic swimmer describes his battle with coronavirus: ‘Worst I’ve ever endured’ [31 yo]

FNC ^ | 3/23/2020 | Tamir Lapin

[Boomer]

An Olympic gold medalist on Sunday said he’d contracted COVID-19 and described the illness as “by far the worst virus I have ever endured.”

Retired South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh, 31, said he has been struggling with the disease for the last 14 days.

“By far the worst virus I have ever endured despite being a healthy individual with strong lungs (no smoking/sport), living a healthy lifestyle and being young (least at risk demographic),” he tweeted.

[Boomer]

So much for this being an old people disease.

[Baldwin77]

If he’s super, super healthy, as he claims, has he ever been really sick before?

Honestly, he’s describing a typical flu. Then he whines that his training isn’t up to par. WTH?

Sorry, this doesn’t smell right.

[Texas Eagle]

Purely subjective. It's the worst flu HE has endured. That only means that the worst flu he had endured before this one was the worst he had ever suffered.

Not saying this one isn't bad. But I'm prepared for all the snarky replies accusing me of saying that.

Who wants to go first?

[mad_as_he$$]

#mewu movement.

[Lazamataz]

This should inform everyone that this virus is Captain Trips.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Maybe the disease reacts negatively to steroids

In fact I read somewhere that it may...

[BusterDog]

“If he’s super, super healthy, as he claims, has he ever been really sick before?”

I’ve got to admit, I didn’t see that rationalization coming. 4 stars for creativity.

[HighSierra5]

He should have smoked cigars and drank beer like I do.

[Londo Molari]

I’m sure this virus is no picnic. Brought to you by the wonderful government of China!

[knarf]

Describing symptoms would have helped my believing this.

In late November, I got a nasty "flu bug" I get almost every year because I never get a shot, but THIS one was really bad.

I awoke with a stiff and sore neck, sore throat, deep congestion and over all general crappy flu symptoms.

The next day I lost my voice completely and between coffee, water, Ramen and sleeping about 14 hrs each day ... I survived the next four or five of them.

The congestion wouldn't let go so in the third or fourth week I called and got Prednizone and after the regimen, the congestion was about 80% cleared up, but not completely ....

Everything but my voice recovered by around mid January or so.

I am STILL hoarse after talking for about five minutes and I'll be SO happy when garden season opens up.

I'm 72, overweight, stage 3/4 emphysema, and a compromised immuno system .... AND NOT SKEERED !

[FlipWilson]

Yeah, Mr. Swimmer, try Lyme’s disease and give me a call.

Also try this searing pain I am in from my back and was supposed to get fixed in the OR today. Then call me.

I am so sick of the sensationalism.

[Old Yeller]

Maybe he is out of shape. /sarc

[DouglasKC]

Purely subjective. It's the worst flu HE has endured. That only means that the worst flu he had endured before this one was the worst he had ever suffered. Not saying this one isn't bad. But I'm prepared for all the snarky replies accusing me of saying that. Who wants to go first?

I'll go first:

It's only happening in China cause they eat bats
It's only affects Asians
It's only happening in Iran so who cares
It's only happening in Italy cause they have a lot of Chinese and kiss each other a lot
It's only affects old people
It's only affects young people who are in poor health
It's only affects young healthy people who have no idea what being really sick is like.

[cuban leaf]

So much for this being an old people disease.

---

Baloney. I’ll call your MSM anecdotal fearmongering and raise you an anecdotal “no big deal”.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3827376/posts

Like the flu, you are going to find people it kills, people that barely survived, and people that were barely scratched by it.

But I’d worry more about the flu if I were under 60. heck, I’m 66 and I figure I’m more likely to get the flu than this. And stats are on my side.

[ought-six]

Oh, man; Lyme Disease can be a nightmare. My SIL had it and it really kicked her butt. Even years later she still has some problems. Lyme Disease is a nasty illness.

[brownsfan]

“I’ve got to admit, I didn’t see that rationalization coming. 4 stars for creativity.”

A legitimate question is rationalization? You favor unquestioning panic?

[cuban leaf]

Actually, I recently read that one reason this affects the elderly so much is that their immune system is so strong that it “overreacts” to the virus. It’s one reason that malaria cure is supposed to help. It reduces the body’s “inflamation” response.

[brownsfan]

“He should have smoked cigars and drank beer like I do.”

A little bourbon is good too!

[Cronos]

It’s just a flu, bro

[lodi90]

So much for this being an old people disease.

---

Not really. Anecdotes are like rear ends. Everybody has one.