My lungs....part 4

[Casino218]

Continued support for those who need a few kind words to help them through the dips.

Please do not come here to ask 'but how do you know if you haven't had a test'

@Sambucus 19 days of fever here. Waiting to see what day 20 will bring. Will be sure to post when I finally get 24 hours in a row without running a temp.

I had a temperature that lasted for around 17 days. It was worst at night, and cooler during the day. Now on day 3 of normal temperature. Just got to get rid of the cough, and het some motivation back,in my life. Still feel lethargic.

I just took paracetamol frequently. I know everyone says drink fluids, but I wasn’t thirsty, and almost had to make myself drink. Brought some expensive squash to encourage me to drink more.

Where do you get a private test done? I thought tests were in short supply?

Blue Horizon had been doing them for £150 but their website says they are now giving their swabs to the NHS. They hope to have antibody tests available for sale in the next week or two if they prove reasonably reliable. Presumably they will be quite a bit cheaper two as it's a home test kit rather than one which needs lab analysis.

@Standrewsschool i got it done via qured. Not sure if they are doing it anymore given that tests are in short supply.

Hey everyone

I am still here although desperately trying to read through the thread, it moves so fast!
The past few days I have felt much better although very tired and the diarrhoea started again two days ago. I have had horrendous palpitations too. My appetite is beginning to return.

My poor mum is showing a few signs and I'm terrified of her catching this.

Keep getting well everyone! We can get through this x

@alittleprivacy thanks. Yes once I am on the other side of recovery it will be good to have known what it was.

What day are you on? do you have an oximeter to check your oxygen saturation? i suspect it's your tingly throat causing it?

I’ve had a sore throat when swallowing for 6 days now and fatigue.also pain in left ear when swallowing has developed.Highest temp was 37.3 on Saturday but since then it’s been normal. Cough only occasional. Nothing there that says we should self isolate but my daughter works in a school for medically vulnerable children and I worry I’ve got a mild version and she might be carrying it.

@GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit, @Standrewsschool Thank you both for letting me know. Somehow it helps to know I’m not alone and there is light at the end of the tunnel. My peak temperature seems to happen during the day, I guess that goes along with the natural biorhythms. Have you self isolated throughout the fever? . I’m following the gov. guidance and staying away from the rest of the family until it settles but it feels like I may never leave this bedroom!

@longshot Thanks for your update. I’m a day behind you and it’s been very reassuring to hear your updates.

I am full of snot and sneezing/coughing today, so I now think I’ve picked up another cold rather than a relapse. Not sure where, but then we’ve had post delivered, did an emergency supermarket food run on Monday, had supplies dropped off to us, went for a walk round the park...

Hello everyone, I am so glad I found this thread last night. I am on day 19 and couldn’t find hardly anything in the media about symptoms lasting so long. It’s very reassuring to read this thread in a way although not great that so many of us are so unwell.
I am asthmatic and I’m ashamed to admit an on/off smoker.
My symptoms came on hard and fast with very tight congested chest, fever, body ache and burning and unproductive cough with breathlessness for four or 5 days. Then chest started to loosen, fever subsided on and off. Spoke to GP day 12 as breathlessness only just under control with lots of inhaler use. Prescribed steroids and antibiotics but with the advice to hold off taking the steroids if possible as they can lower your immune response.
Day 13 and the breathlessness improved to a more tolerable level so I didn’t start the meds.
Felt better in general but then declined again and spent 4 days flat out with all the symptoms again but new ones of burning sensations in body and aches in lungs, fever spikes especially at night. I’ve had a complete lack of any energy. I spoke to a GP yesterday again as I was concerned about the length of time I have been unwell for with little improvement and she said this is a familiar pattern. Loss of energy due to not getting quite enough oxygen in. For anyone who uses inhalers she advised not to increase too much with the steroid inhaler but to use the reliever much more, 4 puffs 4 times a day, which is a lot but has helped. Obviously everyone is different but this advice might be useful.
Despite another poor nights sleep and feeling as if I have turned nocturnal I am feeling the best so far this morning, although I haven’t got up yet! So hopefully coming out the other side. Trying to resist the strong urge to clean house and mow lawn as rest seems to be the best treatment.

We self isolated for two weeks as a family but I didn’t cut myself off. Ie, watched tv in the lounge. I think we thought that if I was infectious, I probably would have passed it to them already. Effectively, our house was a self isolation hub, rather than the bedroom. Mind you, for a few days I was quite content to doze and watch tv in bed and ignore the outside world.

Ooh the GP also said that when people get worse ie. get acute respiratory syndrome it happens fast so to not delay seeking medical help if this happens. Sorry that probably is anxiety provoking but this thing is frightening anyway and it’s best to be informed I think. This thread is so helpful, thank you to you all.

Just popping back on as lots of people have mentioned me just to say I am feeling a bit better yes (not recovered). I feel as if I am approx a week of 'normal' now, able to potter and do little jobs and then return to the sofa.

For context if it takes me another week that will be 4 weeks unwell in total, 2.5 of which I will basically have been in bed.

I am 38, very fit (run / work out a lot), eat well, don't drink much so if this has taken me the best part of a month I can see how lots will take longer. I did smoke a little in my 20s (not heavily) so perhaps that impacts on recovery but other than that nothing that should have slowed my recovery that I can think of. I just think this illness is a bugger and even very healthy people who get it badly / moderately / whatever will take weeks to recover.

Hang in there guys and keep resting all you can.

@woofwoof50 that's helpful, am in a similar situation with asthma and symptoms.. have doubled my symbicort dose (it's a combination steroid and reliever) but I might try reducing it and using ventolin instead more as I'm not overly comfortable with being on the higher dose as I have also had 2 steroid injections for something else and a course of pred in the last couple of months. Good luck xxx

What day are you on? do you have an oximeter to check your oxygen saturation? i suspect it's your tingly throat causing it?

I'm on day 15. I've been looking it up and apparently a tingly/itchy feeling can be paresthesia which occurs when nerve damage is repairing. So it's often something that happens when healing from an illness/injury where nerve damage has occurred. If this is the case, it's positive sign. I just took a deep breath as I typed this and had to stop as my right lung feels like it's being tickled. I nearly started laughing, it tickles so much. I feel quite positive about the tingling now. Or at least I'm telling myself to be positive, it's actually seriously discombobulating!

Just want to ask does anyone have swollen lymph nodes in their neck due to sore throat and has anyone had heartburn too?

@longshot so glad you are feeling a bit better, and a bit more able to get back to normal life. Do be careful not to push yourself though. Today is a better day so far for me, I was really beside myself yesterday with how awful the lapse was so far into it so just hope I can try and get back on track for some recovery.

Feeling much better today - have lost count of days. About day 10 of diarrhoea/sore throat onset. But day 3 of the onset of fever. No fever today but feeling weak and not able to stay up and about.
Gargled last night with really hot water and salt so throat feels better today. Really wanted to burn the fuckers sitting in my throat.

@tangledyarn I am on Symbicort too. I doubled it when I first had breathlessness as this is what I had been told to do in the past when my asthma is troublesome but perhaps increased Ventolin would be better. I have Bricanyl as a reliever and at my worst with this was taking a puff every hour but still breathless. The new regime of four puffs at once seems to work but it makes me very shaky.

Hi everyone, I hope everyone is powering through and getting on as best as you can be at this time. I posted on this previous thread and my anxiety was the worst it's been in years this last week. I just want to say, you will all get through this and get better. I am day 20 from sore throat, headache generally feeling unwell and day 10 from diarrhoea, fatigue, chills, nausea etc. And this is the 4th day I've been out of bed all day, being able to do some basic house work etc and in comparison to thinking I was going to die last week this has been a slow improvement. I still have slight burning in my lungs and pressure on my chest but it's getting better every day. As previous posters have said this is a very slow recovery but you will all get through it. I'm hoping the worst is over, I get the odd bout of nausea but I try some calming techniques because I'm finding it hard to differ from what is me being genuinely ill or anxiety and most of the time the pressure in my chest is panic. Keep resting, push fluids and eat as much as you can handle to keep your energy levels up. Thank you for this thread, I have found deep comfort in this. My son 11 months is now under the weather I'm keeping an eye out, but glad I have recovered to a point I can take care of him. Sending love and I promise you all will be out the other side of this deal soon x

@woofwoof50 Yeah it's the ventolin shakiness I cant cope with at the moment as am already feeling very shaky and have high pulse due to this bloomin bug!

*real

@longshot good luck. I’m so pleased to hear you feel a bit more normal .. here’s hoping you are well on the road to recovery

I’ve woken feeling worse today . Chest pains are not as bad but just feel very groggy and a bit sick . I feel like I could sleep for a year . Temperature currently normal .. Day 19 here I think
I was told too by the paramedics that people who take a turn for the worse tend to do so on days 5-9 . I’m hoping to god I actually do have this virus because if not then I’ve got it coming and whatever this is has been bad enough .
My nine year old dd is now poorly No temp as yet but a cough that’s got worse over the last few days and today she said she fees I’ll . My best friend who I saw before I realised I may have CV started with symptoms a week ago and he’s getting the same chest pain now and flushes of feeling hot. He also said his feet keep feeling hot and he’s getting like electric shock pains in his chest

@alittleprivacy I know we just need to be positive. We are also reading into every tickle and pain. Hopefully yours goes away soon. I am also Day 15. Today my burning eyes are back, slight nausea, fatigue and chest pains.

@CourtneyB123 i have nausea today too and keep wondering if it's my anxiety or true nausea.

I think it's latter because i have been off sweets for a while. Normally i can't say no to desserts.

@Spacecadetagain if you are feeling sleepy then try and sleep. I have heard good sleep will help your body fight against the virus and i have felt that sleeping well the last few days has helped my baby steps.

that is reassuring about data 5-9 as most of us are beyond that.