30+

[stayathomegardener]

@Babdoc @baroqueandblue @Casino218 @ChippedPotatoesLloyd @DandyPeguin @EMichel102 @JackJackIncredible @KatySun @kevintheorangecarrot @littleblackdress04 @Littleninja1*@longshot @Lovelesslily* @ofwarren @onlinelinda @Porcupineinwaiting @SchrodingersKitty @ScrimpshawTheSecond @Spacecadetagain @Tangledyarn @TheDrsWife46 @TheDrsWife46 @TheWooisStrong

Welcome to a group none of us want to be in.

Apologies to anyone missing or added that didn't want to be.

Please do add more, don't feel pre day 30 is a barrier.

@Needsomegoodnews I think a course of antibiotics was responsible for bringing my temp down from 37.8-37.9 to normal last week.

I had doxycycline for two weeks and it’s definantly made a difference. I think it was more for my horrible cough (secondary infection?) then anything else. I finished them on Friday, and so far, the cough hasn’t returned. I still have a slight cough at times, ie, on exertion or sometimes something I eat can set it off, but overall it’s a lot better.

I have had trouble with breathing I am day 34/37 and I have put it down to allergies asthma and hay fever. Have spoke to Gp who said as my peak flow was as good as it is it sound like it is my asthma. I am not so sure after seeing your post if you are experiencing similar.

I am on the same antibiotics and sadly started coughing again yesterday. Mine may be asthma related however

@Casino218 that's awful. How are you supposed to get ABs for dh? No wonder it's all so anxiety inducing.

Good morning, I've found this the other day and have found it really helpful, so wanted to post my story in case anyone finds it useful. I'm now on day 31 and starting to feel better every day.

I am a 40 year old male and have mild asthma and have a flu jab every year. Also had a bad appendectomy last June, which my body is still recovering from, as i'm still getting pains from the operation site.

My symptoms started on 15/16 March:
Day 1-5 - Really fatigued, shortness of breath, but no coughing or fever , so used inhalers to regulate. Luckily is didn't deteriorate to not being able to breath at all.
Day 6-9 - Started feeling better, but overdid it and then got chest pains and pain under my rib cage on both sides. Seemed to be attacking lymphatic system (no breathing issues)
Day 10-14 - Felt terrible again and still really fatigued (sleeping 16-18 hours a day). Pains moved to stomach and my operation site and had bad constipation and burning when I did go. GP advised it was a probably a viral infection and rest, but prescribed movicol, which helped to ease the stomach pains/constipation.
Day 16-18 - Started to feel better for two days. (again probably did to much walking).
Day 19-23 - Felt terrible and fatigued again. Severe pains under ribs returned, along with back/side pains. Also developed a bad sore throat with infection at back of the mouth.
Day -23 Spoke to another GP, who felt that it is Covid and that I'd had pneumonia and a kidney infection, so prescribed Co-Amoxicillin (7 day course) to help with these.
Day 23-27: Still very fatigued sleeping around 14 hours a day and lots of aches and pains. Stomach pains improved and sore throat pain stopped, but it is still very inflamed. Some diarrhoea (still burning sensation), and chest palpitations and pains, but again felt like it was attacking lymphatic system, not the lungs or heart. Cough started on day 23 for me, but not persistent, just coughing up clear phlegm.
Day 27-28: Starting feel better, still sleeping three hours a day. Aches and pains reduced, but throat still swollen and breathing wasn't great (used inhalers to regulate).
Day 29-30: Less fatigued only needing a rest (hour nap) in the afternoon, but only doing some tasks i.e cooking and walking around garden. Throat still inflamed, but seems like it is improving. Breathing is still up and down, but inhalers help and now just back to using my preventer.
Day 31: Antibiotics finished yesterday. Feeling much better, aches and pains have virtually gone and only having mild diarrhoea, but the burning sensation seems to have gone. Cough also seems to be better, so just need to take it easy and not overdo it!!!

This obviously affects everyone very differently and I feel very lucky that it hasn't got any worse. Rest seems to be the key and not overdoing it when you feel better. Symptoms do seem to deteriorate as the day progresses. Make sure you drink lots of water, eat healthily and avoid alcohol and coffee:-(, as they seemed to make it much worse and probably caused my two relapses. Paracetamol helped with the pain, but over the last week i've tried to cut this back, as things got better.

Thanks to all for sharing, as I was getting really anxious and worrying that it was just me, so the forum has helped to put my mind at ease. There were two points when I thought that I needed to go to hospital around day 14 and 22, but managed to calm myself down with breathing exercises and taking the GP really helped. Whilst he admits they don't really know how it affects the body, he has been really reassuring and even rang my back last Thursday to see how I was doing. Unfortunately I can't get tested for Covid, but he is adamant that I've had it and I just need time to let the body fully fight it off.

Sorry this is so long, but I hope it helps others in a similar position. Hope everyone starts to improve soon and take care.

Yes what exactly is my GP doing? Clinics are cancelled, they are not taking calls re Covid even if you are 35 days like my DH. Yet they are supposedly open!

@Casino218 The whole response is a mess with the suggestion to let 111 handle covid. GPs should be at the forefront of handling mild to moderate covid in the community and they should have the PPE to assess those with more concerning symptoms for possible hospital admission.

My GP has a long answer phone message (which they need to remove) saying they won't help anyone with covid symptoms. However if you wait and speak to the receptionist they will in fact book a phone appointment where the GP will listen and prescribe.

@Casino218 just tell them your sure it can't be covid because he has been ill for too long and you need a phone appointment to assess his symptoms. Hopefully the actual GP will be more helpful that whoever is blocking you at the moment.

@GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit the receptionist had an answer for that too. She said' oh well there are reports of the virus coming back' What an absolute load of tosh! Peoples lives are being managed by some dipsy GP receptionist that doesn't have a clue what she's talking about.

Hey @Moodgie, day 32. Yep still getting breathlessness exactly the same as you describe.

I finished a course of amoxicillin a few days ago prescribed in case of secondary infection but they didn’t seem to make any discernible difference.

Good to hear you’re feeling bit better @onlinelinda. Hoping everyone has a good day.

@Gunner30 that's an interesting account. Especially as your symptoms ha e bern quite different. One thing I would wonder about it the coffee-I drink coffee and I don't think it has made much difference, although I've also had water.

@Grapefruitsarenottheonlyfruit same at my GP. I wonder if we have the same GP!!

@WorriesomeDad I had doxycycline which I finished about 8-9 days ago and that didn’t make any difference either.

@GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit my GP is like this too, i just explained to the receptionist i dont need help with Covid, i need help with the post viral recovery and they got me an appointment. Im appalled that GP’s are allowed to just refuse to even consult with patients.

@WorriesomeDad I had clarithromycin and amoxicillin, I’m not convinced it was needed though as my husband had the same bronchitis symptoms, didn’t get antibiotics, and has recovered just as well.

A month on from first illness we are both back to normal bar a very very slight cough, not at all bothersome. I even did a speed walk to the supermarket first thing, and walked home with two heavy bags of shopping, and still have energy now.
Resting and healthy food and lots of water is key. You’ll get there!

@Gunner30 thanks for sharing. What does lymphatic system symptoms feel like? I have had quite similar to you - not breathless but pains in chest back and sides

@TheWooisStrong great news. I think I'm so worried about a relapse that I almost can't accept that I feel ok. I go for a walk and worry I'm overdoing it and I'll relapse. Hateful bloody thing.

@Casino218 that’s terrible - why is there no consistency across GP surgeries? I live in a Home Counties region quite badly hit by the virus and despite the fact it must be manic my health centre has been brilliant at providing GP callbacks. I agree with @GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit that perhaps try putting a different slant on the symptoms, signs of chest infection etc.

Sounds like antibiotics have worked for some and given the return of stabby chest pains with my temp it’s worth a try. Fingers crossed. Fully relate to those who earlier mentioned The Fear though - any slight improvement is tainted with it regardless!
Onwards and Upwards..

Has anyone here tried to get an antibody test? I know they aren't necessarily to be trusted as they haven't been approved.

@godhelpusall there was a poster who did try the antibody test and it was positive for her

Does anyone else feel stigmatised by this?

@godhelpusall I think it feels weird sometimes when everyone else around you seems well, but it seems likely that most people will get it Sorry if I have misunderstood your post.

@onlinelinda - The symptoms are different, but felt like i'd been hit by a train and hopefully this will helps to add to the overall picture of how diverse this virus is. I think the coffee was more that I had kidney infection symptoms and they don't suggest diuretics with these. However, it has helped my sleeping too, so maybe worth a try for anyone who is struggling.

@ godhelpusal - The pains around the lymphatic system are around my chest and side. They are generally either a stabbing or dull ache and usually I find small lump at the same point, which the GP thinks will be the lymph nodes. The come on for around 5-10mins and then dissipate and move to somewhere else. The pain is very sporadic, unpredictable and not all the time. My main concern was when it happened around my heart, I was panicking it was a heart attack, but with deep breathing it went after 10 minutes. Hope this helps ;-)

I'll keep posting over the next few days to update, but take care all.

I'm not sure about the antibiotics either. I've been told to stop taking the one and I think it is a coincidence that I feel better with the other , as the improvement was too quick (12 hours). I'be been considering stopping the second one.