How to aid recovery…

[Em308]

I’ve been very unwell (probably covid) for just over 2 weeks and I’m still feeling absolutely awful but slightly improved. Housework has stalled, ready meals instead of proper cooking, Christmas preparations way behind schedule. After only 10 minutes of dusting (not even cleaning!) today my heart rates through the roof, I’m breathless and feeling faint, my legs are like jelly. I’ve had to give up and resume my now familiar position on the sofa. I’m shocked by how exhausted and ill I still feel. I’m looking for suggestions on how to aid my recovery gently and safely. I was already overweight and unfit. I have vitamins and a walking pad - any other suggestions? Am I expecting too much too soon? Other people seem to recover from illnesses promptly, I seem to get ill for longer and recover very slowly and I’m fed up of it.

First things first it may be worth getting checked out by the GP and organising to get some blood tests once you're better. I felt like absolute rubbish a few years ago and turns out I was deficient in some vitamins. A daily multivitamin with iron if you're not already taking one isn't going to hurt.

Then I'd just take things really slowly. Trying to do a bit like you have done is good but if your body is telling you to rest then do that.

When I'm feeling crap I focus on very basic but nutritious meals so that I'm giving my body what it needs to fight off the illness. If I'm shockingly ill I tend to live off lucozade and ready salted crisps but at your stage, once I'm recovering.....healthy eating. Things like porridge with fruit and nuts, chicken casserole with barley and some pre chopped bags of vegetables made in the slow cooker so there's no effort. Toast with avocado and seeds. Greek yoghurt with granola and berries etc.

Then sleep and rest.

I second taking vitamins and iron. I read somewhere that COVID depletes your iron stores. I take feroglobin liquid.

if the dust is bothering you but you can’t clean, i’d just get an air purifier running in the background. it traps the dust so your lungs get a break and you don’t have to lift a finger. i used a HEPA one from when i was floored with the flu, it let me rest without feeling guilty about the housework