I was struck down with covid in March 2020 and it was strictly in my GI tract. I've never been so ill before and thought I might die. No hospital or doctor would help me because I wasn't coughing. I now have Omicron and for the first week had typical upper respiratory symptoms. Thought it was clearing out but in this second week the GI symptoms are taking over. I agree a that the viral load is higher- i feel like it replicates better in the GI tract - at least in my body. I tested positive at day 10 and still have symptoms at day 15. No appetite, losing weight, and extreme tiredness. Please keep researching this - no one takes me sery with these symptoms even when I test positive.