My Lungs Part 7

[Taffyapple8]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3872239-My-Lungs-Part-6?pg=1&order=

Hi, sorry to gatecrash- can I ask, anyone had earache as first symptom? Woke up this morning with both ears blocked and sore and sore throat on one side. Don't feel great but hoping it's just a random ear thing....

@IHeartKingThistle lots of people saying they start with sinus issues, blocked ears, sore throat yes.

Hi all - new to this thread having been exposed to covid-19 in the past few days.

I am a nurse and I've been working with a little girl who has tested positive. I was with her on the day she was tested (Monday) so almost certainly exposed. She was having temperatures on Friday whilst I was there too but she had a double lung infection unrelated to Corona and was on antibiotics for that so it is hard to know the cause of the temperatures.

I'm just waiting for symptoms to begin really, I've had a headache all day but I'm working from home and that isn't unusual.

I'm interested to know if anyone else knows exactly when they contracted the virus and when their subsequent symptoms began.

@NickMyLipple can you request a swab based on exposure? We’ve had some nurses on the threads who’ve secured swabs through their trust. If you’ve been exposed you stand a better chance of an accurate swab now than waiting for symptoms because you’ll theoretically be at your most contagious wouldnt you? X

MsLoverLover: I say mild - still feel like I’ve been run over by a train but have still been able to cook at least one meal a day, do a wash etc. Will then generally have to lie down after. There is a big range of cases but the one thing in common is that when you know you’ve got it, you know. I was the same, thought I might have had it before, but day 2 of this, I knew i hadn’t.

The bone crushing exhaustion, dizziness and ill/buzzy feeling were the clear distinguishers.

Same here. It was the feeling of being wiped out for days in bed, with varying degrees of other symptoms, which sort of nailed it for me as the Virus.

I am on Day 16 and almost free from it now.

@TheDrsWife46 although my day job is in the NHS (WFH at the moment) I don't think the agency I work for are securing tests for staff.

Oh. Thats not great, sorry. I thought you’d have access to a test. You’re in that horrible limbo stage then. The only thing I can suggest is you read the previous my lungs threads and there are some great motivational timelines.

If you suspect you may get ill, we all have a decent thermometer and oximeter as this helps you to check that your body is actually working if you start to despair x

Okay I don't know if i am being paranoid or not.

I'm a frontline NHS staff member with way too much exposure for my liking.

Anyway about 4 days ago ( at work) I felt like I had a slight sore throat but put it down to wearing a mask all day.
Following day had a few episodes of coughing but short lived although relentless when it started.
I've had a horrible metallic taste too off and on along with a headache.
No fever.

Today I have had heartburn pretty much all day and tonight I feel slightly breathless ( the more I think about it the worse it gets so maybe anxiety)

My DH told me after brushing my teeth that " I had poorly breath" too.
I'm meant to be at work tomorrow but I'm going to see if I can get tested.

I just don't feel poorly (yet) so dont know if I am being dramatic...

I’m frightened that it might be starting here. Sinus headache, neck pains, blocked ears and ear pain, snotty throat, very sleepy. I’m so scared.

@Carrotcakeforbreakfast it does sound similar to other accounts. I'd self-isolate and get tested tomorrow if you can. Write a short diary/ timeline so you can see progression.

@simonspikyhair I'm not sure. Keep an eye on it. Fingers crossed it's not.
But again, keep a diary so you can reassure yourself after some time has passed. Do you get hayfever?

Hi I have had symptoms for 35 days. Thought it was getting better but I am out of breath if i move at all so on total bed rest in case it helps. The link that was mentioned re 30+ days could someone direct me there please?

Hello new to the thread, am trying to read through thread 4.

I'm pretty 100% certain I've had the virus. The person I suspect passed it to me is in a bad way. I'm asthmatic and have fibromyalgia plus autoimmune thyroid disease and never feel well in the normal sense ever anyway, plus I remember terrible chest infections in the past that left me thinking I was going to die. So I haven't been too anxious up till now.

However it is getting to me now that I am on day 21/22 and still am struggling to breathe and do anything at all. When does it stop? My chest feels inflamed and now my sinuses are killing me too. I can barely think, my head feels so heavy and stuffed with wool.

Every few days I have a 'break' where it feels like my body is finally winning out only to relapse again with a sore throat and worse cough breathlessness.

It's tedious now. I would happily have another illness where I have a linear progression of recovery.

Have called 111 twice for help and answers and (no offence to those working flat out for the country) its been rather poor. One professional told me to use vapor rub and another seemed to dismiss that my breathing issues were related to Covid, despite me being very clear that I know it isn't routine asthma and started to assume it must be anxiety related simply because I (naively) said I'm worried its becoming a chest infection. She jumped on the word worried and dismissed my 30+ years as an asthmatic.

Am starting to feel quite alone on a limb with no decent professional advice and no extra meds. Someone suggested I get a peak flow meter so I called up and got one without any quibbles which was interesting. However no steroids, no Antibiotics.

I just want to know if this is what I have to expect from here on and whether I will get my lung function back. I just want to be mentally prepared. The lack of normal medical care in terms of information is getting to me.

@Carrotcakeforbreakfast thats what so shit about this illness is that you start so mild you feel like an absolute drama queen to start worrying when you feel a bit off. We all had those jokes when it was in China, your colleague coughs and we were all “ohh coronavirus! Ha ha” so when it really happens no-one wants to the THAT person to go off with a sniffle citing “coronavirus”! Its magnified ten times over if your a front line worker with the huge camaraderie you must be experiencing as well as pressure. But its that serious, you being self conscious over looking dramatic can do more harm. Sorry my lovely but I think you need to be self isolating and asking your trust for a test.

@serenityisqueen your looking for the thread thats now called 40+ i’ll try to link it.

@ CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate.
Im about day 24/25 now do around the same as you, there really is no let up for me either and aive found the lack of medical support really upsetting and if your awake and have the time, looking over the previous lungs threads will show you our timelines and the ebb and flow of this. It is exhausting that it doesnt seem to stop and unless you require oxygen theres no real help. Other areas have Covid hubs to get checked over. Many of us have found we have had more help from our own GP surgery on telephone appoinments than calling 111 who are assessing your immediate need. When phoning the GP ive had more success in telling the triaging person that at 20+ days I know that im not needing 111 i need to takk to dr about managing my post viral recovery. They’ve been quite open to talking me through stuff but I cant get any sort of a checkup yet.

@CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate
Tagging you didnt work so tried again

@serenityisqueen www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3880698-40?msgid=95693071#95693071

@NickMyLipple my symptoms started 14 days after my daughters. I thought I was in the clear! Actually I had weird symptoms about 11-12 days on from her first symptom but didn’t click what it was.

Those who are just getting symptoms and are worried, remember there is a big range of symptoms and lengths of illness. On forums you will always meet lots of extremes but it won’t be the same for everyone. My mum is 3 weeks in, 65 and a t1 diabetic. She never had chest symptoms but is still getting fevers and exhaustion but much improved. I’m 38 no underlying health conditions or asthma. I had no real cough after the first couple of days and am definitely on the mend 9 days on. My partners two employees both got it about 12 days ago. One is back at work, one will be on Monday. Brother and sis in law got it. 3 weeks on both much better. Bro still got cough. So yeah, just to say that you won’t definitely have it for 30 days or more in a severe way. Oh and a family of 4 who all it it and were over it in 2 weeks as well.

obviously no one been tested but I go by the ‘if you’ve got it, you know’ adage!

Morning all
Day 22(ish?) today and woke up in the early hours with night sweats (although temperature fairly normal). Hadn’t had any since the first week of symptoms so getting properly fed up & naffed off. Oh and the leg cramps returned last night too, but saw them off with painkillers.

This virus can do one

Hi,

I've been dipping in and out reading bits of the threads but not actually posted. I had the awful breathing and feeling like I constantly needed a deep breath, and it finally went about 5 days ago. However it came back yesterday afternoon. Has this happened to anyone else? I feel quite worried and gutted it's back I thought I was finally better!

@teanbiscuit Yup, me too - it seems to be the pattern. I went 4 or 5 days without the lung discomfort then it came back yesterday (I’m day 22). It’s definitely a non-linear recovery progression.

@TheDrsWife46 thank you for your reply and the link. Hearing your experience is very reassurring. Was beginning to think I'm unusual it dragging out so long. I'll maybe try the GP today then and put it the way you suggested!

Just want some advice from someone with knowledge and a bit of supervision as you've said.

I have emailed my local testing centre. Just waiting to hear back.
The irritating cough literally only lasted a day and it was the kind of cough you get if you suck a drink back by mistake. In fact for me that is exactly how it felt.

The headache only lasted a day too on and off but the breathing is weird.
I'm not short of breath by any stretch as I can still hold a conversation etc. I just feel like I can only half fill my lungs when I breathe in. I keep trying to yawn to get a full breath.
The heartburn as gone today.

My mouth feels off and I still have a slightly funny taste. My tongue almost feels like when you have burnt your tongue. A bit numb/tingly. But more towards the back
Still no fever.

@CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate, sympathy here - I'm on Day 21 and feel the same although my GP has prescribed antibiotics which I'm reluctant to take as I do feel stronger than I was but just can't seem to make that leap into the next stage of being able to walk about freely for more than five minutes without the dizziness/tightness and breathlessness. When are we going to be able to be examined? I'm heading into my fourth week off work now...

Day 17 here and cough has returned this am. Feel like lung lining is inflamed and that I need to cough something up, but nothing comes, just dryness. What will help relieve this please? I feel on the edge of panicking because it feels a bit "drowny" without wanting to sound dramatic. My breathing is fine though, no temp, and o2 levels good.

I'm having hot drinks to no effect, and had a steamy shower already too.

@TheDrsWife46 thanks so much for the link.