Viral Illness Survey Summary – Chronic Illness Patients with Suspect Illness
Total Responses – 94
Very Severe, Severe, Moderate or Mild Symptoms:
Tiredness, 99%; Generally feeling terrible, 96%; Headache, 91%; Sleepiness, 91%; Weakness, 90%; Feverish feelings, 89%; Muscle aches, 89%; Sore throat, 82%; Runny nose, 81%; Chills, 79%; Shortness of breath, 77%; Lung pressure, 76%; Elevated temperature, 76%; Dry cough, 74%; Pain when moving body parts, 72%; Difficulty breathing, 71%; Loss of appetite, 70%; Lung pain, 68%; Joint pain, 68%; Nausea, 62%; Dehydration, 59%; Sneezing, 56%; Abdominal pain, 53%; Difficulties swallowing, 52%; Bone pain, 51%; Wet cough, 50%; Sore voice, 50%; Diarrhea, 47%; Loss of taste, 39%; Bronchitis, 31%; Loss of smell, 31%; Pneumonia, 20%; Vomiting, 16%; Blue lips or face, 5%
Very Severe, Severe or Moderate Symptoms:
Tiredness, 86%; Generally feeling terrible, 83%; Weakness, 70%; Muscle aches, 68%; Sleepiness, 67%; Headache, 64%; Feverish feelings, 60%; Shortness of breath, 52%; Sore throat, 51%; Chills, 51%; Lung pain, 50%; Dry cough, 50%; Runny nose, 50%; Difficulty breathing, 49%; Elevated temperature, 49%; Lung pressure, 48%; Pain when moving body parts, 47%; Joint pain, 43%; Loss of appetite, 37%; Bone pain, 34%; Dehydration, 31%; Wet cough, 30%; Nausea, 30%; Abdominal pain, 29%; Difficulties swallowing, 28%; Diarrhea, 26%; Sore voice, 23%; Bronchitis, 21%; Sneezing, 19%; Loss of smell, 16%; Pneumonia, 14%; Loss of taste, 13%; Vomiting, 4%; Blue lips or face, 2%
Very Severe or Severe Symptoms:
Tiredness, 51%; Generally feeling terrible, 46%; Sleepiness, 35%; Weakness, 34%; Muscle aches, 31%; Headache, 26%; Feverish feelings, 23%; Difficulty breathing, 20%; Runny nose, 20%; Lung pressure, 19%; Joint pain, 19%; Shortness of breath, 18%; Lung pain, 18%; Chills, 18%; Pain when moving body parts, 17%; Wet cough, 15%; Dehydration, 15%; Bone pain, 15%; Dry cough, 14%; Bronchitis, 14%; Sore throat, 14%; Nausea, 10%; Sore voice, 9%; Elevated temperature, 9%; Pneumonia, 7%; Difficulties swallowing, 7%; Loss of appetite, 7%; Abdominal pain, 7%; Diarrhea, 6%; Loss of taste, 6%; Loss of smell, 5%; Sneezing, 2%; Vomiting, 1%; Blue lips or face, 0%
Very Severe Symptoms:
Tiredness, 20%; Generally feeling terrible, 18%; Weakness, 13%; Wet cough, 12%; Sleepiness, 11%; Muscle aches, 9%; Feverish feelings, 7%; Chills, 7%; Difficulty breathing, 6%; Lung pain, 6%; Bronchitis, 6%; Headache, 6%; Sore throat, 6%; Sore voice, 6%; Joint pain, 6%; Shortness of breath, 5%; Bone pain, 5%; Pain when moving body parts, 5%; Lung pressure, 4%; Dry cough, 4%; Runny nose, 4%; Pneumonia, 3%; Dehydration, 3%; Elevated temperature, 3%; Difficulties swallowing, 2%; Nausea, 2%; Diarrhea, 1%; Loss of smell, 1%; Loss of taste, 1%; Abdominal pain, 1%; Sneezing, 1%; Vomiting, 0%; Loss of appetite, 0%; Blue lips or face, 0%
What symptoms did you experience during the first two days of the suspect illness?
(Most common responses)
Sore throat, fatigue, fever, cough, headache, body aches, shortness of breath, congestion, nausea, runny nose
All in all, how problematic have lung symptoms (related to coughing, breathing or chest pain) been for you during the Suspect Illness?
7% – Very severe problem
16% – Severe
32% – Moderate
16% – Mild
19% – Very mild
10% – Not a problem
Compared to what things were like when the Suspect Illness was at its worst, how are you doing now?
19% – I feel totally recovered
26% – I feel mostly recovered
10% – I feel somewhat recovered
17% – I feel a little better but not recovered
8% – I don’t feel any better but the situation feels like it is stable
3% – I don’t feel any better and the situation feels like it is getting worse
8% – I feel basically recovered from the acute viral symptoms, but other chronic illness issues are worse than before I got the suspect illness.
7% – Other (All not recovered)
Please describe the chronic illness issues that are worse?
(Asked only of those who said they were basically recovered but chronic issues were not back to baseline)
Fatigue, pain, asthma, depression, cough, abdominal pain, allergies, headaches, arthritis, digestive issues
Were you bedridden for a day or more as a result of the Suspect Illness?
12% – Totally bedridden
20% – Almost totally bedridden
15% – Mostly bedridden
27% – Not really bedridden but slept a great deal
24% – Not bedridden
2% – I already was mostly or fully bedridden before getting the Suspect Illness
To your knowledge, what was the highest body temperature that you experienced during the Suspect Illness?
1% – Higher than 104 F
2% – Between 103 and 104 F
13% – Between 102 and 103 F
12% – Between 101 and 102 F
14% – Between 100 and 101 F
16% – Between 99 and 100 F
19% – Lower than 99 F
23% – Don’t know
A normal body temperature is usually defined as being between 97.7 and 99.5 F. Prior to acquiring the suspect illness, what was your usual body temperature?
56% – Lower than the normal range
32% – Within the normal range
1% – Higher than the normal range
4% – Variable
7% – Don’t know
A relapse is when a person seems to be getting better from an illness but then gets substantially worse again. Which of these statements best describes your relapse experiences with the Suspect Illness?
7% – I have not yet experienced improvements
34% – I have experienced improvements without substantial relapse
31% – I got somewhat better but then had a substantial relapse
14% – I felt like I was basically recovered but then had a substantial relapse
14% – I’m not sure
Have you discussed the Suspect Illness with a physician or other licensed healthcare provider?
38% – Yes, I saw a practitioner
22% – Yes, I discussed with a practitioner via phone or Internet
40% – No
Did you receive a test for the coronavirus COVID-19?
84% – No, I have not received a test
9% – Yes, and the test results were negative
4% – Yes, and I am waiting for the results
1% – ART tested positive
Which of the following explains why you haven’t seen a healthcare practitioner for the Suspect Illness?
67% – Doubt that practitioner would be able to help
49% – Illness has not been severe enough
33% – Avoid healthcare practitioners in general
24% – Concerned about exposure to infections
21% – Concerned about exposure to mold or chemicals
15% – Too much trouble
15% – Don’t have primary care provider nearby
15% – Concerned about infecting others
12% – Don’t have primary care provider at all
12% – Concerned about being quarantined
12% – Concerned about out-of-pocket costs
12% – Feel too sick to make the effort
3% – Unable to arrange transportation to doctor or hospital
What is your gender?
90% – Female
10% – Male
What decade were you born?
2% – 1940’s
23% – 1950’s
25% – 1960’s
31% – 1970’s
13% – 1980’s
5% – 1990’s
1% – 2000’s
During the few months prior to getting the suspect illness, where had you been living or staying?
61% – House
24% – Apartment or condo
7% – Townhouse
6% – Hotels
5% – Vehicle without plumbing
3% – Tent
2% – RV with plumbing
1% – Shed/Garage
1% – Porch/Balcony
In recent years, not counting the Suspect Illness, how often on average have you gotten cold or flus?
13% – Several per year
31% – One or two per year
17% – One every couple of years
8% – One every several years
31% – Rarely or never
1% – Not sure
Compared to colds or flus that you have had in the past, what has the Suspect Illness been like for you?
74% – Different symptoms
62% – Harder to get over
51% – More severe
Had you received a flu shot at any time during the year or so prior to getting the Suspect Illness?
82% – No, I definitely did not receive a flu shot
18% – Yes, I definitely received a flu shot during that time
A normal blood pressure reading is often defined as between 100/60 and 120/80. Keeping that in mind, was your typical blood pressure before acquiring the suspect illness high, normal or low?
1% – Very high
11% – High
57% – Normal
17% – Low
1% – Very low
13% – Don’t know
Prior to acquiring the Suspect Illness, were you taking medication to raise or lower your blood pressure?
81% – No, not taking medication
17% – Yes, taking medication to lower
1% – Taking medication to raise
1% – Don’t know
Which of the following health conditions have you had at any point in your life?
78% – Toxic Mold Illness or CIRS
56% – Gluten or food sensitivities
44% – ME or ME/CFS
39% – Autoimmune
36% – MCS
34% – Chronic/Post Lyme
34% – MCAS
31% – Fibromyalgia
30% – IBS
22% – ADD/ADHD
20% – Asthma
18% – POTS
10% – Psychiatric
10% – IBD
3% – ASD
4% – Diabetes
3% – Lung disease
13% – None of the above
Please list any other illness conditions you have experienced.
(Most common responses)
Cancer
Thyroid issues
Adrenal insufficiency
Immune problems
Allergy
Arthritis
Insomnia
Endometriosis
Anxiety
Anemia
Bronchitis
Which of these psychiatric conditions have you experienced?
(Percentages are of all survey respondents)
8% – Major depressive disorder
8% – Anxiety disorder
4% – PTSD
2% – Obsessive-compulsive disorder
1% – Bipolar disorder
Now, please think back to any neurological problems you may have experienced during your life. These may have included memory problems, other kinds of cognitive impairments, psychiatric issues, seizures, convulsions, paralysis or any other kind of neurological problem. At their worst, how severe were these neurological problems?
17% – Very severe
30% – Moderately severe
26% – Moderate
11% – Mild
13% – I have not experienced those kinds of symptoms
3% – I’m not sure
Please think back to the six months when you were most sick with any kind of chronic illness issues. How much of a problem were the following symptoms for you at that time?
(% stating that the problems were at least moderate)
81% – Unrefreshing sleep
81% – Cognitive issues (difficulties thinking or remembering)
77% – Sensitivities to mold, chemicals, EMF’s or foods
75% – Feeling worse after activity or exercise
70% – Muscle or joint pain
55% – Difficulties with sitting or standing (due to POTS, OI or low blood pressure)
51% – Headaches
Please think back to the time in your life when you were most affected by any kind of neurological or other chronic illness issues. During that time, how much activity did your health regularly allow?
23% – Basically or fully bedridden
49% – Housebound or bedridden
63% – Could be active less than 20 hours per week.
85% – Could be active less than 40 hours per week
Please think back to the six months just prior to getting the Suspect Illness. During that time, how much activity did your health regularly allow?
0% – Basically or fully bedridden
7% – Housebound or bedridden
26% – Could be active less than 20 hours per week
53% – Could be active less than 40 hours per week
Have you made any effort to avoid environmental mold toxins?
66% – Made a big effort
20% – Made some effort
10% – Have not pursued that
5% – Not sure
Please think back to how you were feeling during the several months before getting sick with the Suspect Illness. All in all, had your health improved since you started avoiding mold?
(Asked of those who said they had made an effort to avoid mold.)
43% – It had improved a great deal
31% – It had improved somewhat
11% – It had stayed about the same
1% – It had gotten worse
8% – Not sure
6% – I was not able to be avoiding mold then
How good are you at immediately sensing or guessing whether you are currently being exposed to environmental mold toxins that will turn out to be a problem for you?
(Asked of those who said they had made an effort to avoid mold.)
30% – Extremely good
28% – Very good
25% – Fairly good
10% – Not that great
6% – I’m not able to do that at all
1% – Not sure
During the Suspect Illness, how clear have you been of mold toxins that typically have a negative effect on you?
(Asked of those who said they had made an effort to avoid mold.)
30% – Very clear
37% – Mostly clear
11% – Somewhat clear
8% – Not very clear
9% – Not clear at all
7% – Not sure
Are there any other household members to discuss?
60% – Yes
Of individuals with other household members discussed, this was the breakdown in terms of whether they had been sick with a recent acute viral-type illness with lung symptoms.
2% – Yes, with a very severe illness
30% – Yes, with a moderately severe illness
21% – Yes, with a moderate illness
15% – Yes, with a mild illness
11% – No, there was an illness but without lung issues.
15% – No, there was no illness.
6% – I’m not sure