My Lungs Part 6

[TheDrsWife46]

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

@Taffyapple8 way way way earlier in the threads I said that for me, I treated it like labour. I dont know if you have DC but when i was getting hot/prickly/shakes/cramps in my legs etc I spiralled out of control because it overwhelmed my body. My only way through it was to lie face down on the sofa with my head at the open window end, and I rocked my legs or hips rhythmically. I also tried a hot water bottle clutched to my body. The heat acted a bit like a tens where the hot sensation detracted from the shakes in my body. And if i focused on rocking my hips or swaying my knees etc than i was focused on my own controlled movements rather than the prickling body. Try to remember you dont have to lie there in the dark focusing on it and trying to sleep through it. So what you can to get through this phase. I didnt sleep at all until i managed about 2 hours with tablets on about day 9. I was hysterical and delirious really. I took kalms and it might have been psychosomatic but to me its like im saying “you’ve managed all day you can pass out now” they havent worked brilliantly and ive taken a half dose in case dd1 needs me. But it helps me mentally to know that I have a way of trying to pass out.

@longshot @thewoo I'm day 26. Your symptoms ring true with me, too. I said to my DH that I feel like there's elastic bands around my shoulder blades, my upper back is still sore and my chest/bread bone feels bruised (eg if I cross my arms and lean on something). My chest feels tight and I feel like my lungs might pop if I breathe too deeply. Evenings are worst as I feel anxious and pay too much attention to my chest/breathing. I still feel fragile though I'm up and about more and I defo need to sit/lie down on occasion. Had a migraine the other night and pains in joints and panicked it was starting again. Still only able to catch passing wafts of smells. Stuff something under my nose and I can't smell a thing. It's an awful, awful virus.

Just realised, said finished week 4. Meant to say ‘almost’ finished week 4. Have had a few days of feeling normal-ish though, apart from a (new) dry throat, which in normal circumstances, I wouldn’t even think anything of.

@stayathomegardener thankyou for that recovery information on Boris. I love that you scout out the good news snippets and motivating factors/videos so we dont have to wade through bad news. X

@ChippedPotatoesLloyd - so were you poorly days 1-20, then ‘well’ from 20-30, and then poorly again? Did you think you had recovered during the middle period?

I'm not feeling breathless thankfully, but I'm not coping with the sensations that come with the fever peaks. I'm scared. Really scared. It's my DSs birthday in just over a week and I'm terrified as to where I'll be with this illness in that space of time. I'm not getting much support either. My partner thinks it's in my head and gives me no sympathy and snaps at me instead. I juts can't cope with these awful cycles. I tend to feel quite well in the morning and by late afternoon I feel horrendous. I can't really call 111 as embarrassingly, I've already spoken to them 3 times since this began last week.

Aargh! Just had a "how do you know you've got it, there are lots of other viruses out there" conversation with my dsis. So someone please tell me, what are these other viruses that knock you on your arse with such a strange set of symptoms for 3 weeks and counting? Why have I never encountred one before in 48 years?

@kevinthecarrot - same question to you as I’ve just posed Chippedpotato.

Now worried in case the symptoms will return. Just arranged to go back to work next week (nhs admin)

@Porcupineinwaiting - I agree. Barely have had 2-3 days of sick 8n the last couple of years, and now been off work for nearly a month.

Taffyapple8, are you managing to breathe okay?

Crosspost.

So for a fever, I got my only fever in the course of two weeks on about day 8 or 9. My reasoning is that it was my body ramping up its defences and fighting the bastard off.

www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/fever-in-adults

You could try a bath (not hot, and not cold - I have heard some people recommend a room temp bath).

No, I'm not breathless. Having sharp little pains in the muscles of my chest but it seems external. X

I've been getting fever spikes since last Monday (day 1). I don't know why I'm still getting them 10 days later?

@Taffyapple8 dont think about next week. When I was at your stage people were at day 14-16 ish and were improving and I couldnt see that far ahead because I was gripped in the “i cant tolerate this im clearly dying” phase. Try to just stay in the moment. Get through each hour. I watched short videos, walked the garden, facetimed other nocturnal people, came on here, and each hour passed. At one stage i facetimed a friend at night and she said “its midnight, its thursday you got to the next day” do whatever you can to get to midnight. And you will be one step closer to well. Xxx

@Standrewsschool. Yes felt fully recovered days 25 to 35ish. Back to normal exercise etc. Then recurrence of symptoms.

@TheDrsWife46 you've just described exactly how I'm feeling. I am completely gripped and I really can't envisage getting better. I know this feeling will pass, but equally, I know it'll return tomorrow. And then there is the fear of waking up feeling even worse tomorrow. I leave the TV on all night just for company at the moment. This really is hell on earth.

@Standrewsschool sorry posted too soon. But really think I then rushed back into life at 100% and shouldn't have don't necessarily expect this to be the norm.

@ChippedPotatoesLloyd - aargh, I’m about day 24 now and enjoying feeling better, and enjoying getting back to semi-normal life again. Actually planned to go back to work next week!

I guess I’ll have to go with the flow, and try not to do too much too soon. Hope you feel better soon.

@Taffyapple8 if it happens tomorrow you have fhe same strategy. If the tv helps great. But just try to focus on, I may feel like this again tomorrow and so im going to try

• walking
• hot water bottle
• bath

Etc etc what works for you. And slowly slowly you’re going to push yourself towards a day where you will think “oh im okay! I feel okay”

I watched this video alongside everyone elses stories on this thread that if I can get to day 12 I’m bound to feel better. Im not well, and everyone on here who is at day 20 etc are not well. But we’re not in that 6-10 day grip that you’re in. Where you’re at its relentless. Once you get passed 12 days ish you will get moments of wellness that carry you through a bit more easily. Xx

If you werent breathing I’d be saying call for help. But this is how i was, i did get shortness of breath but it was the consuming prickling I couldnt manage. Xx

I really dont think I can cope with another evening of this, just keep feeling so faint like I'm going to pass out and be sick with really bad burning and chest pain and just feel like I have every ounce of life sucked out of me, cant move at all. It just feels totally ridiculous and unmanageable over 5 weeks to still be feeling like this.

I have found these threads comforting to know I'm not alone. And also scary as we all seem to have experienced a feeling of improving and then being knocked back down. I'm day 26. For the past couple of days, I keep being told I look better. Even the veg delivery guy said I looked well compared to 1.5 weeks ago when he met me (for the first time) through the window and my elderly neighbour walked past today and told me he was genuinely worried about me as I looked so unwell. He couldn't really describe how. DH and my DC can't really articulate what I looked like (I looked the same to me) but clearly it was taking its toll on me.

My chest is still tight and my lungs feel like they might pop. My shoulder blades feel like they have elastic bands between them. I had a migraine the other night and my face was burning up, and I had random joint pains again. I'm so paranoid it's coming back. I've had a week of amoxicilin and medic at surgery said the cough/tightness/popping I'm still experiencing is to be expected. I hate this anxiety and over-awareness of every sensation in my body.

@Tangledyarn Forgive me for not searching back through the thread to find the answer, but when was the last time you actually had someone check you out, listened to your chest etc? Because if it was more than a week ago I think you should ask to be seen again. You sound absolutely wretched and I dont blame you!

@Tangledyarn, commiserations - it must be so miserable for you. All I can suggest is badgering your GP for blood tests (apologies if you've said you've had them). They must still be doing those or maybe a private hospital if you can afford it?

@Taffyapple8 we are here for you. I used to read mumsnet classics threads when I was in pain, quite a good distraction
@Tangledyarn you’re riding the wave again. Just rest until it passes

I wish there was more reporting on the news about how long it lasts. They’re too busy showing the poor families who lost someone, or the guy who made a complete recovery.

Also @Tangledyarn, are you eating ok?