Can a bad cold virus leave you breathless and feeling awful for weeks?

[Wearygirl]

Im on week 3 of a cold from hell. Ive not felt this ill for years. Was laid up in bed for 5 days and now on week 3 and still feel horrendous. Oveewhelming fatigue, breathless walking and even talking. Awful headache and now really low mood and teary.
Doctor said my chest is clear and blood testd were normal. Its just a bad cold apparently?
Im freaking out a bit because i cant believe a cold can leave me feeling this bad for so long.

Covid test was negative.

Anyone any experience of this?

I did have a virus like this earlier in the year. I was convinced it was Covid as I felt so bad but test said negative. It did take a few weeks to get back to normal so I wouldn’t worry too much.

Sounds like when I had pneumonia. I would go back to the drs and get a second opinion.

Hope you start feeling better soon though.

I'm mid way through week two of 'just a cold' which left me as weak as a kitten and with a head still full of snot. There seems to be a vicious bug doing the rounds at the moment and I've been told not to expect to feel better for another couple of weeks.

Just a cold, not Covid, so I can't even ring in sick to work (not after a fortnight) but it's making me feel wretched even now.

Could be a respiratory virus or bacterial or pneumonia. I had COVID first time ever in September last year, getting better,then about a month later started getting breathless. Was of course asked "how breathless?", well,one day I took 2 pillow cases off the bed,was wheezing and gasping, laid on the sofa the rest of the day. Sats and spirometry readings were perfectly normal. I occasionally get breathless now, walked upstairs in a shop the other day,was sweating,light headed and gasping for breath. Had cardiac enzymes and echo done to see if Covid has done any damage, not had the next appointment yet. I was yomping up the Downs before COVID

Yeah, things always go to my chest and linger, very annoying had 2 lots of antibiotics and steroids this year.

You should always get breathlessness checked out. I agree it could be pneumonia.

I would say it’s more than a cold. It’s either gone to your chest or it’s flu or a different virus. There are lots of respiratory viruses that are not the common cold.

A cold wouldn’t normally have you in bed for 5 days. The last time I was in bed for that long (even with Covid) was with the flu.

I don’t think I was in bed with Covid.

Thanks everyone. I had my chest checked and was clear last week and some of my bloods have come back 'normal' (taken last week).
I feel horrific tho.

The poor nhs means i cant even get hold of my doctor and cant face 10hrs in a&e to be told its a cold.

I found my people! Going through the same now, I'm finding this constant fatigue and heavy chest so, so annoying.

I caught a horrendous cold at the end of Jan and am only just feeling ok now. Had three weeks off work (one was annual leave).

There's been a few threads recently by people who've had similar. Various theories about it being a strain of Covid that doesn't show up on tests, or about weakened immune systems after covid. Who knows?

Either way hope you feel better soon

We have it here also. We went through all the possible viruses and still go from the beginning of the new year. I was in bed for 4 days also, my daughter has been off for a whole week and now again

Seems life got much tougher in winter viruses since covid. Their social distancing was not the best decision

JN. 1. is the new variant. Looking on worldometer Russia is suffering badly. Not surprised with their lower temperature if breathing is harder.

I've had this too; the exact same symptoms, 3 weeks as well it's been going on. Finally phoned the Dr this morning, they saw me at 11am today and checked me and said it was a very bad chest infection.

I'm now on strong antibiotics for next 7 days (3 per day). Don't hold back anymore like I stupidly did (thinking it was an awful cold) and get an appointment and get antibiotics. Or at least to get the Dr to check you over.

Sending hugs x

Ah sorry just saw your update and you had been checked out. Hope you recover soon and maybe see if you do still need antibiotics anyway? X

Covid tests aren't as accurate against the newer variants, so I wouldn't rule it out. And it really is the likeliest cause of your symptoms (what they're like, how long they're lasting, always going around).

In which case, the best thing you can do is rest, rest and rest some more, and cross your fingers and hope it's not long covid - though of course that can develop after the acute infection (so again you'd test negative)

Covid of course is known to dysregulate the immune system for a lengthy period after the acute infection (and can occur even after asymptomatic infections) and that of course means you come down with every damned thing that bit more easily, with the disease being that bit more severe and lasting that bit longer (and they wonder why school absence rates are higher and work place participation lower)

Same here, I'm 3 weeks in now. Week 1 felt like flu, was mostly in bed with aches, no appetite, headache, nausea, exhaustion.

Then the cough and laryngitis started... have been coughing for 2 weeks solid and feel like I'm about to drop from lack of sleep. Feel wiped out, have done no work for 3 weeks (I'm self employed) and needing to take a nap everyday.

I had covid in December so wondering if this has messed up my immune system.

When you say you're chest was checked, how do you mean? Was it x rayed? Or just listened to?

Sounds like Covid. DH and I have just been ill. Same symptoms. He tested negative and I tested positive. Neither of us are getting over it about 10 days later.

@Wearygirl : to answer your question: yes. I am in the North-East. I went to the Dr twice. On both occasions I was told my chest was clear, that it was a virus...

I can't remember when it started, but know that it wiped out Feb for me. Returned to weekly exercise class in March; haven't managed the full hour yet, but feeling more optimistic about tomorrow. I think you just have to treat yourself gently and rest if you need to, but I hope you start to feel better soon.

I have ‘the virus’ now. I am breathless, coughing (and it’s a brutal cough) up yellow crusty mucus, sinuses are torment, head aches, body aches, very fatigued and just overall feeling shite. Only positive is that I don’t have an appetite and I’ve been meaning to start a diet.

I will say though, that, even though this is the WORST I’ve felt with a cold in a very long time, I do remember having an equally bad one back in December 2018, so before we even knew what Covid was. I don’t believe it’s a strain of undetectable Covid and I don’t believe Covid weakened my immune system…I think it’s just a nasty cold doing the rounds. Had one before, no doubt will get one again in the future.

A bunch of my colleagues have gone down with something similar over the last month or so. Lots of covid testing and all negative. A few have been prescribed antibiotics and some have needed two courses to clear it.

3 full weeks since it started for me and I've finally been prescribed antibiotics for a chest infection today. So relieved to finally get some meds that might help!

I am on week 9, tested negative for covid. I do feel better than I did, but every time I have thought I am getting better, a new wave develops. Cough has really developed into a deep and phlegmy thing which doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I am sure this is the worst my health has ever been, despite previous covid infections and lifelong but well-managed asthma. Oh, and the cough is like a full body one that makes me wee myself! And my phlegm is also unusually salty/ 'flavoursome'. I keep wondering why there is nothing in the news about this, as it seems to have affected a lot of people.