Post viral fatigue/left with “ME-like” symptoms?

[LaneBoy]

I saw some info suggesting that some of those recovering from the virus are left with ME type symptoms - fatigue, muscle pain etc.

Just wondered if anyone here is now in that stage? In as far as we can guess we’ve had the virus without testing of course.

I am fairly sure I have had it in the last week and although the worst actual symptoms have luckily passed, I’m now feeling exactly as I did in 2012 when I first got sick. That had started as a severe chest infection, and when I never fully recovered I was diagnosed as ME (also now have diagnoses of PoTS and fibromyalgia).

I have had flare ups in the intervening years - usually caused by other illnesses, to the extent even having a cold makes me A Bit Nervous. But nothing, at all, like this. This is like coming down with ME from scratch, all over again. The virus I’ve had (whatever it was - obviously I can’t say for sure) was nothing like I’ve had before either.

It is ridiculously early days clearly, so I’m trying not to be too worried obviously - it could just be that (as usual with any bugs I pick up) I’m taking a little bit longer to heal after the main symptoms have gone. Or it may just be that this is still the actual virus?! But it feels different from when I’ve had even other chest infections since the first one in ways that are very hard to describe so I just wondered if anyone here thinks they’ve had it and is now struggling with similar?

I had/have ME, just recovering a bit and restarting social life in late 2019.
Suspect I had the virus recently (or at least a nasty viral lung thing like nothing else I have ever had) but still feeling post-viral several weeks later. i am not worried as I’ve read it can take a while to get over. plus, thanks-to lockdown I can rest properly to recover. I am dosing up on vitamins, probiotics etc and to support my health as much as I can, also meditation.

I was diagnosed with ME after having a really bad virus when I was 17. Not sure if it was actual ME. It took me 6 months to be able to function properly in everyday life. As far as I am aware ME sufferers rarely go 20 years without a flare up. I am now 37 and never experienced it again.

About 6 weeks ago I had a raging headache, cough so bad I kept wetting myself, temperature and then breathlessness. I called 111 who sent me to the hospital they were confident it wasnt corona but another virus that had then given me a chest infection.

I am still exhausted now. Wfh couldnt have come at a better time. I am generally getting more sleep (not today obviously) but I am exhausted by 3pm to the point I feel physically ill.

Not sure how helpful that is to you. But whatever I did have has really taken it out of me. I am not really eating and losing weight (I need to lose some, so not the end of the world). I havent managed to make it out for daily exercise yet, though. Just too tired.

Thank you both! Yes @Mistymonday it’s definitely a better time to be recovering as we can take life slow anyway. I’m frustrated as I actually had plans for enjoying the time together, both with the kids/DH and for my own mental health. Can’t even sit up long enough to draw though. Annoying. Hopefully it won’t last long.

Same with the weight loss @Lockdownshockdown last week (including day 1-5) I lost over 5lb 😳 much needed and certainly speeding up my 1ish per week effort, but the nausea and lack of appetite - and now just the fact it is exhausting to even eat - is really depressing isn’t it.

It’s the lack of trust in my body that is making me saddest I think. Not knowing if I’ll be able to stand up at any given point without shaking (not so far), or if just sitting in the garden for a bit will (as yesterday) be too tiring despite also being helpful with sunshine etc. I guess it’s bringing back memories of the first time which I never really dealt with - when I feel a bit stronger I’ll be having a therapy session via Zoom and I think I’ll focus on this stuff.

Of course this could all be over very soon so I’m trying not to panic too much!

I hope you are both on the mend 💐

I was left with severe vertigo and exhaustion. Am currently on day 16 of symptoms and am much better today. First day I can say that I feel maybe 70% of my usual self. Yesterday was still down 40/50%.

Considering how bad a cold can set you back when you live with a chronic illness like this, it's inevitable that this virus is going to take a while to get over.

I had a fairly mild chest infection in January (not COVID 19) and that was enough that I was back to several sleeps through the day and needing a chair in the bathroom as I couldn't stand up to brush my teeth. It's taken two months to get back towards my normal, with a whole lot more pacing and careful eating and all the rest of it than I've had to do in years. Give yourself some time, I know it's alarming and frustrating but any virus is a lot to get over.

@findingschoolsformyboys
I think I may have had mild symptoms and the last couple of days have had extreme dizziness and tiredness. What other symptoms did you have please and were you diagnosed.

I think I’ve had it my cough and temp have gone but I feel absolutely exhausted and drained.

I'm on day 12 of whatever it was and yesterday I was sitting on my sofa doing work calls and at the end of the day I was shaky and sick exhausted like I'd run a marathon. The day before I walked round the block and all my symptoms came back - sore throat chest pain and chills! When will it end...

I believe that I am several weeks post CV (not tested but someone fairly close to me was positive) and I am still experiencing similar post-viral symptoms. I do have an underlying condition so perhaps not surprising but I just want it to end. I have good days but then if I overdo it, I am back in bed the next day. I would usually go and get myself checked out by the GP if i felt this bad for this long, but its difficult now so figure I just stay home and take it easy and hope I make a full recovery soon.

"Right now they have launched an ambitious study taking blood from Coronavirus patients and then monitoring their progress so they can see, in real time, the transition from Coronavirus to ME/CFS and gather huge amounts of medical data along the way. This could be a turning point to figuring out how ME/CFS gets triggered and how to stop it before it starts."

www.omf.ngo/

forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/spoonseeker-sadly-covid-19-could-just-be-the-start-of-your-problems.80102/

Laneboy I have had it to point of been in ICU on breathing machine and home now two weeks later still feel totally shit and I had confirmed covid positive test told could take 6weeks plus to get bk to anything normal no underlying health issues

I'm two months out and still unwell. Many, many others reporting the same. SARS had a similar effect on some people, apparently.

This is by Paul Garner, Professor at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, still ill after 95 days.

blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/06/23/paul-garner-covid-19-at-14-weeks-phantom-speed-cameras-unknown-limits-and-harsh-penalties/

"“If my husband had said he was still sick with covid-19 after a month, I’d say he was milking it.” Straight talking from a Liverpudlian woman on one of my WhatsApp groups in April when I had been ill for a month; what would she say to me now at 95 days? I am unable to be out of bed for more than three hours at a stretch, my arms and legs are permanently fizzing as if injected with Szechuan peppercorns, I have ringing in the ears, intermittent brain fog, palpitations, and dramatic mood swings. Am I milking it? Is the virus still there? Or do I have CFS/ME? "

Yes, I got it on 10th March. I’m still not right. Severe fatigue, extreme muscle pains especially in my legs, recurrent sore throat, heart issues and more.

GP can’t offer much help except to rest. I’m having to work part time now but it’s utterly wiping me out. So over 3 months for me now.

I was diagnosed with ME after a very bad virus which caused pneumonia in my 20s - that took 6 months to recover from. So I’m hopeful this will also go eventually.

This is to watch. Maybe one outcome of Covid will be decent treatment for ME/CFS.

Or at least decent behaviour towards people with it, even if medical improvements are limited.

I certainly hope so – god knows I wouldn't want any else to go through what I have.

Over 3 months here. Still tired. Chest pain and shortness of breath on exertion.

There's an article on this in the Times today

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/infectious-diseases-expert-warns-of-spike-in-me-cases-307pfbjlg

Yes same here, spoke to the GP who has put it down to stress, but I am now wondering (ill in Feb so it has been months and months) Exhaustion to the point of feeling faint, feeling sick, dizzy and achy. Brain fog and can't get anything done at all.

Sorry to hear lots of others are feeling this way. Now coming up for July and wondering if it will ever go???

From CNN, Dr Anthony Fauci yesterday

"Fauci said the symptoms resemble those seen in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, once known as chronic fatigue syndrome."

forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/fauci-likens-long-haul-covid-19-patients-to-me-cfs-patients.80629/

Most of us here are week 15-16 now.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3950891-COVID-long-termers-14-weeks

I rang the British Lung Foundation back in March as I was so unwell & finding it difficult to breath, the respiritory nurse that I spoke to said, it will be at least 6 months recovery.

I am being seen by a respiritory physio now & SALT, and just waiting to see the CFS specialist.

Thank you for continuing to post on this, Kate. Hope you're keeping as well as can be, by the way.

One notable feature of the current situation is the high number of doctors among those who have had Covid.

I suspect this will contribute to post-Covid syndrome being considered "real" rather than psychosomatic.

Paul Garner, Professor at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine tweets

"some #COVIDー19 long haulers find cfs/ME pacing methods prevent relapse"

twitter.com/PaulGarnerWoof/status/1281410919180926976

www.omf.ngo/2020/05/19/omf-funded-study-covid-19-and-me-cfs/

Financial Times www.ft.com/content/8a8c9630-7cce-417a-8732-f0589009be14

forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/women-who-survived-coronavirus-angry-after-persistent-symptoms-dismissed-as-anxiety-by-doctors-doesnt-this-sound-familiar.80817/

forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-a-possible-long-term-effect-of-covid-19-experts-say-cnn-ryan-prior.80948/

forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/dr-david-tuller-and-now-no-surprise-cbt-for-post-covid-fatigue.80950/