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'

@hopsalong same day as you.

Taking it very easy to hopefully avoid another dip.

But yes it's the how long can this go on for question.

My cramps/shivers have passed. First bit of respite ive had since 9am. So just enjoying a little moment watching TV without feeling ravaged.

@WhyNotMe40 you’ll find lots of info for those at day 20 onwards as they have described feeling better and dropping off again.

@tangledyarn when i had to call 111, I spoke to the call handler, the clinician and then a GP. And although their message was clear, you have to ride it out, just talking to a medical practitioner was massively reassuring. Just to know that doctors are still there waiting in the wings, caring about their patients made me feel far less alone.

I’m really hoping it isn’t something else too. It’s been pretty bad and gone on so long so not having immunity would suck. Plus I’d be in for an even worse time.

I’m watching the tracker app webinar. I think they are doing it weekly.

@Cary2012 that's a positive outcome.

I've mentioned it on here before but we moved our neighbour in to self isolate with us, she has exactly the same virus but a week on from me, I picked it up from her I assume.

She is 87 on Tuesday, very tough but in poor health and on steroids.
So a month after she started with symptoms she is still very tired and naps frequently during the day, sleep pattern still off, appetite only just come back, some headaches, on off backache and pain in ribs/lungs. Occasional bouts of the burning lungs.

But she no longer thinks she might die, is off the morphine patches, just paracetamol and hot water bottles and is eating all her meals.

I can't emphasise enough how vulnerable she is but continuing to improve.

I think this virus must affect the central nervous system a bit - i find myself having involuntary twitches / movement randomly through my body if I’m lying still. Does this make sense? Am I dreaming it?

@stayathomegardener that must be so humbling actually. I know how consuming ive found it to feel so ill, but watching someone so elderly must be heart breaking. Were you close to her before all this anyway, or compelled to have to step in because she has no-one else?

@EMichel102 thats exactly what i cant cope with, the cramping/pulsating/pains and rippling burning feelings across my whole body.

@stayathomegardener very inspirational story and wishing her full recovery soon.

@thedrswife46 it’s frustrating isn’t it when all you want is your body to rest?! Instead it starts twitching or tremoring instead

longshot, thanks so much for typing out all that, it's helpful to see someone else's map and progression. Hope you're fully better soon.

In other news I may have to go and wheeze at my neighbour who is burning wet leaves next door, and sending cliuds of smoke this way, the bastard.

@longshot that timeline is impressive, I can't believe you can recall it so clearly. Mine seems a complete blur but reading yours we match pretty accurately.

Yes definitely just helpful to have reassurance at times. I had to ring 111 about 10 days ago..they wanted to call an ambulance but I refused as really dont want to put any unnecessary pressure on resources unless I'm seriously unwell (work for the nhs so am maybe overall stubborn about this for myself) but spoke to a nurse then who also put me through to a gp and they both said the same thing that its awful and you will feel really dreadful but unless you need oxygen you are right to stay at home. I'm lucky in that I have a oximeter because I have asthma, and whilst my pulse was v v high my oxygen was still in the low 90s. GP said if it dropped into the 80s to call them, but its more normal now although heart rate still higher than usual.

Hi all

I’m back again - day 5; my day by day breakdown to date is on the last thread. Had a really good amount of sleep last night & was feeling ok first thing but chest pains and tightness are back again annoyingly. Also seem to have a new headache at the back of my head, not the front.

Had a video call with the GP this morning who went through pulse and breathing tests and she seemed to think I’m managing ok so far. But I’m very aware of how things change quickly with no warning.

I tend to feel worse at around 4pm each day, so not looking forward to the afternoon.

So glad you are back @tangledyarn and your GP's update sounds reassuringly realistic for us all.

Could you get a fingertip Oximeter to check oxygen saturation during breathlessness? Mine was about £20 on eBay and now I understand it seems very accurate. It records your pulse too and that matches with a pulse app I've downloaded.

Well day 21 and my temperature is bloody up now 37.3. Borrowed my mates pulse oximeter and says 97% so that's ok. Pulse ok 64. I feel foggy headed like my nose and brain are stuffed with cotton wool. Slight ear ache too.

Getting sick of this now.

@stayathomegardener I wrote it at the start of thread 2 I think and have updated on my phone each day just in case a friend ever asks (!!) and then thought I may as well post on here...there’s no way I could remember it either, all a blur.

I’ve just had an afternoon nap. Didn’t feel the need especially but glad I did.

I feel pretty ok but have under shoulder blade pain and chest pain (left side, ribs near the middle) which doesn’t go with paracetamol and is annoying, can’t help wondering if need antibiotics for something but I probably don’t!! Just want it gone.

@Casino218 are you wearing lots of clothes / in bed? I found my temp was up a bit every time I cosied in bed (with my clothes on!) so have learnt to not do that now. Could it be that? I am sure you know this as an ex nurse!!

I've got my pulse oximeter today.
Lying down I've got 100% oxygen saturation and heart rate is 83 but if I talk the heart rate goes up to 110. The oxygen stays above 98.
Is that normal?

ofwarren 110 is a highish heart rate, but your heart often goes faster when you are ill anyway. The oxygen thing is really good. Our Oximeter is giving me readings of oxygen 97 and heart rate 90. I’m not worried about that yet.

@ofwarren Yeah sounds pretty normal for this bug! Mine is v similar now. Your oxygen is good but when you talk your heart is just compensating. Really doesnt feel nice though. Try and rest and relax as much as poss. I've limited phone calls and am just texting instead mostly xx

@Casino218 I am feeling very low and dispirited. I have had this for 18 days now and I have not had a day when my temperature hasn't been above 37.5 at some point. Starting to worry it will never go away.

I’ve got DM messaging me saying I should get anti biotics but tbh it doesn’t feel like a chest infection .. just awful pain ! I’m reluctant to get them too as Im on blood thinners do lots of meds interact with them plus anti biotics can lower your immunity so I only want to take them if completely required.. is anyone finding the chest pain seems to keep moving around ?

@TheDrsWife46 we are very close, we've farmed next door to each other for 20 years.

She survives with no indoor plumbing beyond a cold tap in the scullery and no heating or cooking facilities apart from her coal Rayburn.

I go every night and fill up the coal/empty commode and she has three care visits during the day. We sometimes drink Whiskey
Ironically I couldn't risk going in any longer with random carers visiting as my DD is high risk and I have asthma plus she wouldn't survive I don't think if I abandoned her.

So here she is in the old laundry of our now abandoned holiday let, with a sink, plumbed loo and underfloor heating. First time she has left the only home she's ever known and is coping admirably.

DD's boyfriend is isolating in the rooms above her and at one point the bath started leaking through her ceiling. It is truly chaos.

Cross post @tangledyarn

This thread is fast!

Casino it's so dispiriting isn't it.

I just wanted to say I think you're all bloody amazing and to keep on supporting each other and pushing through. I admit I was initially reading this thread out of curiosity and to see what I could expect symptom wise and now I'm just cheering you all on. I was ill in late February with awful headaches, really sore throat/ears and then laryngitis and a bit of a mucky cough. Ended up with a shingles pain flare up which is still lingering, so whatever it was gave my immune system a battering. I've no idea if I had corona - I'm in Scotland so it might have been a bit early for it to have spread - but I was bloody miserable for three weeks. Reading how resilient you all are, and looking after yourselves with such awful & scary symptoms, is very inspiring. So I salute you all!

I'm currently wondering how the hell Prince Charles is tikkety-boo after a week 🤔 Do the wealthy & privileged have access to the 'mild' version??

@longshot no temp was that and I was downstairs in a tee shirt but it's easy to overheat. Especially as my DH always insists on heating up full. Dread to think what bills are going to be.

@Grapefruits I had grand ideas I was suddenly going to shake this off on day 18

@stayathomegardener bless you looking after your neighbour. We have got a street what's app group and we are taking it in turns to monitor the elderly / vulnerable neighbours.