Ambulance just left and they think I have it

[MayDayHelp]

Woke up with a cough this morning and my chest was really tight, and felt like someone was sitting on it. Been the same all day, coughing every 10 mins or so and feeling quite out of breath.

I called 111 tonight after doing the online thing which told me to call an ambulance. That seemed a bit overkill as I’m really not that bad, up and about and doing what I normally do, just a bit coughy and out of breath. They insisted they should send an ambulance.

Lovely ambulance man came and was here about an hour doing obs. My temperature is slightly up and my blood pressure was very high. He heard me cough a few times and said in his opinion it sounds like I have it, he’s seen enough cases to know what it looks/sounds like.

So I guess that’s as close to a diagnosis as I’ll get 🤷‍♀️. Unless I take a drastic turn for the worse. Feeling strangely calm about it all. Although he said I need to self isolate for 14 days which is going to be difficult on my own with 2 kids.

Hope everyone is OK.

The WHO currently advise that (unless you have an underlying condition that means you cannot take NSAIDs) the available evidence does not show taking ibuprofen to be unsafe if you have COVID-19.

For once the NHS are taking a more cautious approach than the WHO, yes. Even while admitting there’s no clear evidence for their decision. NICE are busily looking all the research they can to try to see if they can determine how safe it REALLY is.

There’s an excellent article by Professor Parastou Donyai (Director of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Reading) that sets everything out really clearly.

Obviously people may decide they don’t want to take any kind of possible risk, but think providing the latest & most accurate information available is important.

Get well soon everyone!

@Freshstart40 check your tonsils for white spots if you think you may have tonsillitis / strep throat - a friend just had similar to what you describe, checked tonsils and sent a pic to doc who prescribed antibiotics over the phone. She’s fine now.

I have similar symptoms and have been told by work ( nhs Specialist nurse rang me back) I only have to self isolate for 7 days op only less I still have symptoms by day 8.

Hope you feel better OP.

DP and I have both woken with (so far mild) symptoms and wondering what to do about DD 2.5. She has to stay here with us yes?

Take ibruprofen according to directions. It's fine. There is no evidence ibruprofen is unsafe to take to deal with covid symptoms.

There IS a lot of fully fake news about this, very fictionalised accounts from (for example) "John Greenwood, consultant in London hospital" etc. WTAF is wrong with some people, who have time to make such untrue stuff up ?

www.factcheck.org/2020/03/no-evidence-to-back-covid-19-ibuprofen-concerns/
www.sciencealert.com/who-recommends-to-avoid-taking-ibuprofen-for-covid-19-symptoms

BBC collected some versions of the fiction...

Somebody sat and wrote this stuff up and made the effort to promote it widely in online networks. Seriously took their time to just make shit up. I will never understand.

Freshstart40-I had those exact same symptoms a week into my holiday mid feb this year. Flew from Gatwick and it was very crowded, as you’d expect. Long haul flight, fully booked. I never really linked the cystitis to the other symptoms I had but it’s odd you have the same.

@Mohster - I can't see how the hot bath would work, it would need to be so hot to increase cellular temperature to an extent to kill off the virus that you'd burn yourself and at the same time your body would be desperately trying to reduce it's temperature.
Where did you read that?

There also is no evidence that ibuprofen causes complications, there have been some anecdotal reports, but they haven't been replicated in any of the studies carried out.

I hope you feel better soon OP.

It’s the multiple exclamation marks that are the first clue to this sort of nonsense. What I haven’t yet worked out is a polite way of saying to my usually sensible friends that post it on social media, that they’re peddling dangerous nonsense and that no, I won’t pass it on. Oh yes, that’s the second clue, when it’s a chain letter.

Wish you better OP. Sorry for taking your thread off topic.

OP that is a worry for you. Can you check in with someone each day. We are phoning our sons each day as they are on their own. Can the fifteen year old phone if you need more help ?

I hope you improve soon as does the other poster.

Oh you poor thing I really hope you get well soon. I really feel for you with 2 children. Praying that someone helps you in some way. Are you ok for food and other things ? Do you know how you got it ? This is scary times. Wishing you well.

NHS advice is to take paracetamol.

Can I take ibuprofen if I have coronavirus?

There is currently no strong evidence that ibuprofen can make coronavirus (COVID-19) worse.

But until we have more information, take paracetamol to treat the symptoms of coronavirus, unless your doctor has told you paracetamol is not suitable for you.

If you are already taking ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) on the advice of a doctor, do not stop taking it without checking first.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

OP I think your children need to self-isolate for 14 days whilst you are 7 days as your own household’s ‘patient zero’..... however obviously as a single parent that effectively makes you do 14 days as well.

Hope you get well soon. I’ve been through it too, it wasn’t fun but it wasn’t forever.

Hope you get through it OP. And quickly!

Hope you get better soon OP. Can your children look after you for a bit? Making meals and suchlike.

Wishing you a quick recovery. X

Self isolate for 7 not 14 days

Hope you get better soon. Have you got any family friends that can pick up shopping for you. There was a Covid 19 Mutual Aid Uk group you could have a look to see if there is a group in the uk - I’m assuming you are in the uk.
Wishing you well.

The French Health Minister advised not to take drugs like Ibuprofen until more is known on their potential effect on Covid symptoms.

I wouldn’t call him an Internet falsehood peddler.

Known about

You would normally only self isolate for 7 days, but people who live with you are 14 days.

As you are a single parent, you’ll all be self isolating for 14 days. Hope you are ok

www.facebook.com/groups/363622387310300/permalink/1165486397123891/

I've had the chest tightness and breathlessness too OP. I found several things really helped (a couple of nights ago I felt a bit like I was drowning, so v scary!). One was the breathing exercise I've posted above from a respiratory health doctor. The second was propping myself up in bed with several pillows. And using Olbas oil if you have some, on a tissue and in a diffuser at night. Also not sleeping on my back.

Meanwhile get as much rest as you can. Don't feel guilty about letting the children help as much as they can.

I hope you get a mild form of it. As a single mum, with no family around I have been wondering what would happen if I fell ill first. It has had me cook batching just in case. If you are feeling strong enough to do that, try to batch cook just in case you feel worse in a few days. It will give you some reassurance. Best of luck

Just a couple of things that may help with your symptoms. Firstly deep breathing exercises - take a deep breath, hold for the count of ten and release. Do that six time’s then cough then repeat the same cycle but on lying on your front slightly propped up by a pillow. It’s designed to oxygenate your lungs as much as possible.

Steam inhalation might also help your symptoms and feel soothing. Again try to do a cough intermittently.

Also be careful to keep hydrated, not just water, you need salts and sugars too. Bananas are excellent for hydrating minerals and a teaspoon of marmite made into a hot drink is good.

Hope you’re on your way to recovery soon

When you say you did the online thing. What is it you do? Is it the nhs website?