My Lungs Part 6

[TheDrsWife46]

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

No I don't have an oximeter or thermometer here I tried to order on line but they are out of stock or will take too long to get here. I have been giving him paracetamol and checking his temperature and making him drink. Thank you for listening as I am on my own with him and have spent years worrying about him as he was born with a Kidney problem that he was a pioneering baby to survive and was in the Lancet and he has high blood pressure. Normally he is the really upbeat one but he seems so scared and keeps asking me questions that I have no answer for. Thank you all for being so kind

Meercatmama

To check his obs you can:

1: take his pulse. I put two fingers on my wrist tendons until I can feel it. Count the number of beats for 15 seconds with a stopwatch, then multiply by 4. In hospital, I was considered ok if mine was under 100bpm (resting)

1. If you don't have a thermometer, feel his back & chest. It gives you a much better idea of how hot someone is.

1. For a rough oxygenation check, get him to take in a deep breath, then count out loud for as long as he can. Past 20 is a good sign (I think). (Google Roth text to check).

I'm not a HCP - these are things I was taught to do when I had sepsis.

@Spacecadetagain call 111 for advice rightaway

Thank you so much. He just woke up after a brief sleep and actually cried on me. he never cries so that shows how scared he is and he asked me if he was going to die, He is never like this but I know from previous threads people had this panic and feelings However he said the breathlessness had eased a bit and he just had an ache in the middle of his chest and his stomach was gurgling more. He is now going to try and sleep a bit more

@letsbesensible . I’ve just done the Roth’s test and was fine .. I’m not having any breathing difficulties .. just sore again in the bottom of my ribs and back ..

@Meercatmama I would call 111 for advice

@spacecadetagain if you are worried ring 111 but i don't think its unusual to have ups and downs and to still be struggling after 3 weeks unfortunately..it can be a very long rollercoaster illness as I'm learning!

Hi everyone. Late to the thread but I've had such similar symptoms. Just wondering about getting better from this virus.

It's really dragging on for me too. I have days where I think I've got better. Then it seems to come back with shortness of breath and tight chest/exhaustion

My worry is that we don't know what the long term affects of this virus are. Could it be a post viral syndrome starting? Or is the virus still actively making us unwell?

My other question is about drinking alcohol... I haven't drunk for over 2 weeks due to being ill apart from one night where I thought I'd got better and I had two small glasses of wine.

It seemed to make me feel incredibly dehydrated and awful the next day. No matter how much water I drank. So I'm nervous of trying it again.
Anyone else?

@Spacecadetagain I’m about the same point as you I think?? (day 29) I feel very unwell again and am back in bed! I know that’s not good news but wanted to share so you’re not alone. I have done nothing today except shower and rest.

I spoke to my GP again, she’s told me to front load the antibiotics they prescribed so I’ve just taken a 3rd for today (first day). It’s possible these are making me feel worse I guess? I have no idea.

Pains in my back are really bad, upper back, all left side ribs front and back. She also said codeine if paracetamol doesn’t work. As I’m in bed resting again paracetamol is enough. Dr is calling me again tomorrow and if no improvement she said next step would be push for a chest x ray but I can’t see that happening!

I’m so exhausted and generally just feel like I did about 10 days ago again. Hideous bug. I feel I’m starting to get depressed now it’s been so long and it feels like I can’t do anything to help myself!

@Tangledyarn I remember your posts a few days ago saying you felt terrible again etc which has made me wonder if I am In that dip again now. It’s just the pain that is so worrying for me. You literally can not forget about it.

Been there @Meercatmama. As you’ll know the symptoms come in waves so hope he feels better soon. @MilesJuppIsMyBitch ‘s advice on observations is spot on and 111 is there if you’re not sure. My doctors surgery had a gp dedicated to Corona calls and was able to offer a lot of reassurance, might be worth checking if yours has the same?

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch thank you. That was an interesting read. I'm on day 24 so I assume I'm out of the woods there. I just can NOT get control of my low temperature. Really cold this morning and in bed yet again. It's 20 degrees outside and hot in here and I'm
In bed with blankets and a thick fleece jacket, and bloody freezing.

How are you doing yourself? It's really isolating with lung disease as well, isn't it? I have the same.

Hope everyone else gets through the day ok.

Which oximeter has everyone got and how much did you spend on it? Concerned if I get a cheap eBay one it won’t work but equally if I get one from a more reputable medical source is it necessary to spend more like £80? Not sure where to start.

Also considering getting a humidifier/nebuliser but not sure if they are proven to help and can’t find anything online. I don’t have any medication to use in the nebuliser so assuming just water (?) and not sure that would do anything

@FrameyMcFramen I’d probably steer clear in that case. How long since your symptoms started?

@longshot I know the pain is really horrible isn't it and it is worrying feel the same am so fed up of it now, but I think in a way because I've had a lot of ups and downs rather than feeling like I'm getting worse each day that reassures me, although I'd rather just feel better obviously!

I have ordered this

Finger Pulse Oximeter Digital Blood Oxygen and Pulse Sensor Meter with - SPO2 - for Adults, Children, for Sports Use - TempIR for Reliability and Excellent Customer Care https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S48SFD9/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_bJDJEb06FJAFF

I have had a previous one, very popular on amazon, and it was unreliable, so we'll see with this one.

Thank you so much I have called 111 and they are ending someone out to check on him from the paramedics So now just waiting for them to arrive but realise that it could be some time . He is sleeping fitfully and said he felt a tiny bit better. 111 said better to check him because of his underlining health problems. Thank so much for being there for me It helps to be able to off load to others and makes me feel more in control of the situation.

@Meercatmama thinking of you both. Hoping he is okay but please dont panic if they admit him, @babdoc had great stories of her care in the Covid ward. Xxxx

@Meercatmama I’m really glad they are sending someone out to you.

Yes, TheDrsWife46, please can I reassure anyone who needs admitted to a covid ward, that judging by my local one here in Scotland the care is exemplary. Far from feeling frightened, I felt hugely relieved to be in a place of safety with calm professionals who knew what they were doing, and the kit for any eventuality. I was very impressed with the infection control procedures - everyone, including the cleaners and porters were following protocol, and were obviously well drilled. The place was spotless, each patient was in an isolation cubicle with en suite facilities, and nothing left the cubicle unbagged.
The locals had donated toiletries for patients - I arrived by ambulance with just a phone and door key, and was given a complete bag of shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrush, even deodorant. The food was excellent. All monitoring results were called out the door and charted by another nurse outside, so not even the case notes or ward charts were exposed to infection. My hospital had stripped and converted ten whole wards to use for covid, and still have good capacity.

Trust me, if you are ill enough to need them, you will feel nothing but relief and gratitude to be admitted there. Courage, folks. We’ll get through it. God bless.

Just because I know everyone loves it when we get to talk to a GP mine called me back to help me manage DD1’s cough. Honestly this thread has been my saviour because i was able to tell him her sats, temp, breathing rate, peak flow and what ventolin inhaler she had had. He said even if he had sent someone to see her it would have been to ask for all that. So i felt much more empowered. He asked me to start her allergy meds/nasal steroids to just help her along a bit.

For me he said that the tingling/pins and needles in my neck and legs, and bouts if diarrhoea he would expect as part of a post viral recovery. And said “you need to think of this as a longgg recovery of about 4-6 weeks we’re being advised. Like a bad flu or glandular fever, something that will take its time to feel right on top again”

I said whats the 7 day advise for then and he said thats more about being contagious rather than factoring in an actual significant recovery.

Ironically this is my best day yet. After a bad night, me and the dawg have lay in the shade on the lawn with a pillow and blanket and i feel my best yet. 🤞🏻

@Spacecadetagain try not to worry. I'm day 23 (at least?) and still have the rib and back pain but I'm not feeling anxious about it. I had a virus/cold before day 1 but only started counting from the day the pain hit. And boy did it hit. But I can sense subtle improvement some days and less so other days, but am managing it with very careful movements and positioning when necessary, and some very gentle stretching on a futon mattress on the floor. Just lying on my back and slowly pulling my knees up to my chest (when it doesn't hurt too much) and also stretching my arms above my head as best I can (still while lying down). And variations of those stretches, eg. one knee at a time, one arm at a time, twisting slightly from one side to another very gradually. Over time the muscles are loosening and I think it's helping the inflammation, but the pain often feels bone deep so it's slow progress. Some days I'm getting lots of little yawns that send my right ribs (at the back) into spasm Yesterday my spine was so sore, but I haven't taken painkillers for 2 days and am doing my best to sit with the pain and discomfort and not allowing anxiety to get a foothold. It's just a long recovery, not a bad omen in itself. I hope you feel a bit of reassurance from this post. Distraction and rest and pain management and whatever you can eat and drink. It all makes a difference over time

That's really good to know TheDrsWife thanks for that. It's good to hear a medical professional discussing the recovery period.
I'm day 16 now and (touch wood) feeling a lot better.
My main symptoms now, except the crushing weakness and lethargy is acid reflux. I find if I take gaviscon constantly that I don't get the breathlessness or the chest pain.

@Spacecadetagain just keep imagining the day you'll wake up with no horrid back or rib pain from this. It'll come. I think because of the odd social situation it's easy to forget we'll have a 'normal' to go back to, but we will. Take heart ♥

Those that are worried about going down hill around 29 it happened to me I am on day 30 and I am still feeling it. I found steaming with a towel over my head and olbas oil helped ease some of my chest discomfort as did gavisgon. If you are on antibiotics please wait to have it either two hours hector after your antibiotics. I am on doxycycline and I have had loose bowels too. It has eased as long as I have kept my self busy in the day I also have asthma so have taken my inhalers for light relief. I do one spray of my inhaler to ten puffs of the air in my spacer it helps keep me calm I do this twice with my salbutamol. I hope this helps.