My Lungs Part 6

[TheDrsWife46]

New thread here let me see if i can link back and forth...

Hi on day 22 and the cough was back again last night and temperature, My chest felt different Gave in and phoned the doctor he was lovely and listened to my symptoms and has given me antibiotics to knock any secondary bacterial infection on the head Also said to rest and drink lots of water, having taken two of them this morning. he said they were quite strong am starting to feel a little better but very tired. Husband on day 8 he is tired and experiencing the burping again and feeling tired. Funny enough he received his letter telling him to shield for 12 weeks this morning as he takes a drug for arthritis but he has not taken it for over three weeks as when he was in hospital last year they took hi off it for four weeks as it lowered his immune system. He said he would do the same until he is fully fit and bear the pain of the arthritis.

Hello! Been offline for a few days in hospital. Got taken in by ambulance to the Covid unit. On oxygen and quarantined in the unit after 13 exhausting days struggling to breathe alone at home.
Now progressing well - out of the unit, on a respiratory recovery ward. Beyond exhausted after only 2 hours sleep a night for a fortnight.
Getting iv fluids, good food and excellent nursing care. Waiting for my blood results, but chest x ray clear. So relieved to finally be looked after, I actually cried down the phone to the triage doc when he said ambulance was on its way!
Strange to be a patient in my own hospital (I did 36 years as a hospital doc) but it feels so safe. Staff beyond wonderful.

@AnythingPecan they did explain this on the webinar and last weeks. So last week they said that there is significant evidence from those that HAVE tested positive so early testing that was routinely done and those who were hospitalised and got a test, who then became app users.

Their computer models looked at the symptoms that were consistent with people who were positive for Covid and then created a model that shows a weighted example of what symptoms you are likely to present if positive.

Based on the computer giving a likelihood that your reported symptoms grouped matches those of Covid suffers it can calculate the chance that you too as a symptom reporter would test positive of not.

From that they can work out what percentage of active covid symptom reporters are likely to genuinely have Covid and scale it up across the country/region etc. Their website shows you what percentage of people in your region are contributing data and what percentage as likely ti be genuine Covid positive. My area is 3-4%

Hope that helps. But do please log your symptoms on there as their data is sent to the NHS everyday.

@jackjackincredible Yes, that was me for the first 9 days or so - particularly bad in the mornings and by lunchtime, I’d usually feel a little less horrible.

Natural yoghurt, soup and ice lollies were tolerable for me

@Taffyapple8 The crippling sinus headache/pains have just started for me too - I’m day 11. Paracetamol not shifting it. Urgh! I feel your pain (literally)

Day 10 for me, tightness and breathlessness still here. Managing to stand for 10 minutes at a time but still weak. Felt exhausted again at 1pm so have slept. I'm due back at work next week but I definitely won't be able to manage it if I don't drastically improve. Feel very guilty for all the people having to cover my work when they're busy with their own.

I havnt had a temperature since day 1 or any sort of bad cough - stabbing in ears/throat and very dry mouth and bronchial passage instead. I would really love to take the antibody test as I'm terrified that maybe this isn't Covid and I've got it all still to come (front line worker).

Oh @babdoc so sorry to hear that you had to be admitted and that you are receiving such excellent care. 13 days struggling at home is something I think we can all empathise with. Im so glad you’re getting some real care, it must feel very very reassuring. If you were taken to a Covid unit, can I ask if you’re in London? X

@musicposy that sums it up so well, once I feel I'm out of the danger zone my immediate worry is being with left with cfs again.

In some ways that knowledge does mean I will cope with the pacing protocol of recovery well but then I do know how bad things can be too. Double edged sword.

If it helps I was really improving over the last few days hitting this virus with everything I have to an almost insane level but woke up Sunday with new symptoms of no strength in my limbs and so weak, could barely walk upstairs, typical ME.

Interestingly that only lasted about 5 hours and then completely disappeared. I've continued to improve since. As you know that's not a cfs pattern at all.

So my gut says right now that the weakness you are experiencing is part of the illness. not that you couldn't also have post viral fatigue too.

But let's hope not.

@TheDrsWife46 thanks for that. That seems like a very comprehensive way of recording data so that's reassuring.
Will definitely download the app and self report. Thanks again

Babdoc, welcome back and glad to hear you're on the mend. Can I ask what the criteria were for bringing you in please? Was it your Sats levels?

@Babdoc I'm so glad you are getting care and continuing to improve
Hope morale in hospital is not too low.

Oh @babdoc I'm so sorry that has been necessary. I hope you continue to recover really well, and I certainly envy you the care!

My DH is off having his MRI for possible return of brain lesion. I had been fairly confident that his symptom of mild headaches was a viral / post-viral / anxiety / lack of exercise thing, but he got very confused at lunchtime today and it was really scary. Scarier in that he thought he wasn't confused and that me and DS were being confusing. He couldn't let it go and kept trying to explain and getting more and more worked up. It was like dementia. When he had memory symptoms caused by the first lesion in August they gave him steroids and the symptoms went immediately. I'm very much hoping they can do the same thing now but of course I don't know if they will do because of the virus. I really wish they could establish if we've had it. Very anxious now. Waiting for him to get back (a friend drove him) so that we can phone his team to see whether they can at least accelerate the interpreting of the tests.

As to my symptoms - today its just a sore throat (day 27?).

@SchrodingersKitty honestly I have been thinking of you and DH a lot, I think your DH’s situation encapsulated for me how the health service (feels like it to me) has disappeared unless your hospitalised for Covid. Truly hoping that your DH is able to access his usual care and investigations and start to pave a way for his recovery. Wishing you both good news from his appointment. Xx

babdoc sorry to hear you’ve been in hospital but great that you’re improving. Keep us updated.

stayathomegardener those are really encouraging words. It’s good to hold on to the hope that in a few short weeks I might be back to normal.

JackJackIncredible although I’ve managed to force tiny portions down the nausea has been something else for the last for weeks, at times not so bad and at times meaning that every mouthful was making me retch. I have nutritional shakes prescribed and they’ve been a godsend so if you can get your hands on anything like that you may find you can drink your calories rather than eating them.

Oh my goodness fingers crossed you get an answer SchrodingersKitty and it doesn’t get put on the back burner. Have been thinking about you and your DH today.

Info on the antibody test from my local private hospital:

GUIDANCE ON DIAGNOSIS OF CORONAVIRUS TESTING KITS

The following information is taken from the Gov.uk website and is aimed to satisfy the number of questions around antibody testing.

Some manufacturers are selling products for the diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in community settings, such as pharmacies.
The current view of Public Health England is that use of these products is not advised.
We can confirm that there are no CE-marked tests for home use, and it is illegal to supply such products.
· -some of these products look for virus while others look for the body’s immune response to the virus. Such tests are very rapid and can work on a range of specimens including serum, plasma or finger-prick whole blood
· -there is little information on the accuracy of the tests, or on how a patient’s antibody response develops or changes during COVID-19 infection. It is not known whether either a positive or negative result is reliable
· -currently there is no published evidence about the suitability of these tests for diagnosing COVID-19 infection in a community setting

This was the advice issued on April 2nd 2020. This situation is forever changing and the MHRA are working to approve tests used in a professional environment. We will update you with information as soon as it becomes available.

Sorry to hear you’ve been so poorly @Babdoc
Take care and wishing you a good ongoing recovery.

Hi all
I am on day 10/11 and last 2 days were great and I thought I was recovering. I even managed to go outside and painted the fence! Today's afternoon the temperature came back with chills and burning chest and I am in bed. Cold feet again, burning chest and back and all this after 2 days with no symptoms.
I am working from home, finding difficult to tell people how I feel, one day I say I am doing well, the next day I feel rotten.
My 6 year old was showing mild symptoms, rosy cheeks moodiness and low grade temperature.
I don't feel breathing difficulties, but I am very concerned about secondary infections that might happen. My GP wasn't helping, she genuinely thought I was suffering from reflux, not COVID. She argued with me saying 37.5 is absolutely normal temperature!

@SchrodingersKitty a gut wrenching update, your stress levels must be through the roof. Thinking of you and all your family.

Hi all
Thanks for having these threads
Really sorry to read about your DHs confusion Schrodingerskitty
I hope the MRI shows a good result and he is ok

I am on day 8 or 10 (depending if 2 days headache before temperature went up counts) I am an NHS worker in Scotland
Didn't meet criteria for staff testing last week but couldn't go back to work today as temp getting higher every day
Reached 38.8C today and paracetamol hasn't brought it down. Usually temp down in morning and rises afternoon but high all
day today
Aches, back and legs (seem to be linked to temp)
No taste or smell since Wednesday or Thursday

I am getting tested tomorrow as boss put another form in and they phoned today. Wonder if still shows positive after 10 or 11 days although symptoms worsening. 111 GP called me back yesterday (phoned as I was told to return to work after 7 days unless not improving and it wasn't improving) he said he believes I have it

Not really too bad, not breathless as just resting in the spare room (live with fiance, no children) my wedding dress arrived today so feel quite tearful - have felt like that for a few days or maybe the whole week actually

I'm frightened that my temp is still rising and scared in case I get breathless and deteriorate. I am getting a lot of reassurance from your posts but lots of you have had it for ages

Sorry for rambling on! Thanks

@Calyx72 sorry about your wedding dress, it must be bitter sweet in the current climate. Days 8-10 seem to be the peak of being able to tolerate it all so hopefully you’re nearing the end.

You’ve said the magic words though...getting tested. The holy grail.

Do you know if you get the antigen/antibody test or the nose/throat swab?

shrodingerkitty you must be so worried. Life is so not fair that you have all this to cope with, and the virus too.

@SchrodingersKitty I’ve been thinking of you too today. I really hope the scan goes ok and your DH is home safely soon.

I wanted to ask if anyone who is further along (24days+) has a really sore back? I have a lot of pain between my shoulder blades and also around my left side ribs and especially the lowest left rib. I am taking paracetamol but it’s not helping. Dr said she thinks it’s probably muscular but it’s so painful!! Anyone else have this?