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My Lungs Part 7

999 replies

Taffyapple8 · 09/04/2020 17:25

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

OP posts:
Rhi11 · 09/04/2020 23:29

Can I just ask how long did your illness go on for..

Lightsabre · 09/04/2020 23:32

@Taffyapple8 I had to stop taking the Gaviscon liquid as I felt a throat constricting sensation. The tablets are fine for me though.

@Rhi11 and @Number12, we've all been where you are. Try not to panic - it's a two step forward, one step back process. In addition to the items posted previously, there is a useful video from Queens Hospital and it is recommended to sleep on your front so the lungs don't have to work so hard.

Hope everyone manages to get some rest tonight...

Lightsabre · 09/04/2020 23:35

@Callimanco, a high pulse rate seems to cause ragged breathing, a jittery feeling, palpitations and pins and needles - higher adrenaline responses maybe?

Callimanco · 09/04/2020 23:35

Rhi - about 10 days until the dizzy spells went completely, cough is still a little irritating when it happens 3 weeks on, but coughs do that. I feel fine in myself though I have only recently stopped getting lots of indigestion.

I was by no means severely unwell, I was lucky. The way I felt I was fine WFH apart from first 48 hours.

Callimanco · 09/04/2020 23:39

@lightsabre
Since I got older, I find if I drink a lot of wine I wake in the night with a pounding heart and a sensation of dreadful anxiety, which research tells me is because metabolising alcohol releases a chemical very similar to adrenaline. I am very sensitive to adrenaline, makes me jittery, I have to have the no adrenaline dental injections, for example. The first night of whatever virus I had felt almost identical to when I drink too much in terms of heart sensations and anxiety response, except I had had no alcohol whatsoever.

Taffyapple8 · 09/04/2020 23:39

The panic I've experienced over the past 12 days has been unbelievable

OP posts:
Lightsabre · 09/04/2020 23:41

@Rhi11, I'm on Day 13 and have barely left bed although I did spend half an hour in the garden today. Weak and breathless still - I'm early 50's and overweight so not expecting to bounce back quickly. My throat is sore but I haven't developed a proper cough yet - desperately trying to stave that off.

How does it affect you knowing what you have is Covid 19?

Rhi11 · 09/04/2020 23:44

A rush to the loo very upset tummy!! Another thing for the list!! My problem I have was yesterday I was getting on with it but now it's come.back I'm positive it's just added to my anxiety. Finding Gavin and Stacey is helping me unwind right now

Lightsabre · 09/04/2020 23:48

Hopefully you'll have a mild dose. Distraction is key for me - no news about CV as I get too scared and watching gentle non demanding tv. Mumsnet Classics board is good too...

Rhi11 · 09/04/2020 23:51

I'm hoping so because IV got asthma. Im otherwise healthy I would say. Just I suffer from anxiety anyway so it's through the roof right now😒. Got a lo so always checking his temp etc.. husband is amazing though just letting me rest all day etc. I'm not looking forward to the next few days where people seem to get worse with there sob

Taffyapple8 · 09/04/2020 23:59

@Rhi11 hopefully it will be a mild dose. This thread has been a lifeline for me in the past week and if you find yourself struggling during the night, there is usually someone around to hand hold with you.
The adrenaline surges mentioned above, I've always suffered with, but definitely more frequently at the moment

OP posts:
Bestbe · 10/04/2020 00:06

The pollen is nuts at the moment so if you usually suffer don’t forget to take something for it. Or check with the pharmacist or GP.
You’re all amazing. No matter how bad it seems supporting each other is really helpful. X

LetsBeSensible · 10/04/2020 00:09

@taffyapple and others who have “adrenaline” attacks/anxiety. I think this is what I have, I always called it “going into shock” as you feel like after you’ve slammed your finger in a door- but out of the blue and for no apparent reason. Often but not always at night when trying to sleep.

I’ve had this for years since getting CFS, have had heart rate monitor checks and all sorts. All fine. Was told it was “anxiety I didn’t know I had” but adrenaline surge makes sense am off to google...

Rhi11 · 10/04/2020 00:14

Thanks everyone it has been great talking about it and sharing stories. Anything to help all us get through it.

JackJackIncredible · 10/04/2020 00:48

For those who are curious about signs of bacterial infections, especially pneumonia, this is what I get:

High temperature of 38 upwards
Coughing up dark green, brown or blood
Oxygen levels below 94% and persistently low - although this isn’t an absolute
Generally weak and unwell

I get pneumonia/bronchitis around 6 times a year so these are my ‘usual’ signs. In my experience, less likely - but not impossible- to be a very nasty infection without a raised temperature.

Take care people x

Taffyapple8 · 10/04/2020 01:17

Bad night again. Every single part of me ached so badly. I'm so worried I've gone back to the start.

OP posts:
Paddlinglikehell · 10/04/2020 01:25

Hi. I haven’t posted for a bit, I was on the first few threads.

Just to say that I’m Day 23 today and it’s the first day I haven’t felt dizzy and my chest has felt clearer. I am still coughing, a little productive in the last couple of days, but not every time I speak. I’m still breathless if I talk and I got cross with Dd who was being a pain, raised my voice and was gasping for a few seconds! That’ll teach me.

For those just starting their journey, you will get through it. My lowest was Day 6/7 when during the night, I was struggling and actually wrote an email to my closest friend, asking her to be guardian for Dd if anything happened to me. DP had it too, but much milder and recovered quicker.

I found drinking hot drinks, paracetamol religiously when due and at night had Beechams hot blackcrrant/lemon, that helped with the aches. When I was worried about my breathing I put my Calm app on. Dd hasn’t seemed to have got it, I have been scrupulous with hygiene, lucky we can all have a bathroom - or at least loo and shower. Dp went in the spare room and is still there :)

Propping up with cushions at night helped with breathing and I’ve done that breathe hold 5 seconds thing the last few days, I swear that’s made the difference.

I have found I’ve been better, then next day bad again, especially late afternoon. Whilst I didn’t have a cough initially it did get really bad and dramatic. I’ve not had a temp at all, but first 9/10 days was shivery and just fluey. Not been trdtrd but Dr thinks it is - I rang as my blood pressure went sky high and I wanted to check I could up my medication. A close friend a GP miles away, also thinks it is. Guess unless we get the antib. test we won’t know for sure.

I found I had to stop reading these posts as I was getting anxious, but they were helpful and good to see some of the originals starting to recover.

Today was a good day, I never thought I would feel almost normal again!

LakeFlyPie · 10/04/2020 08:46

Hi all, joining the thread no-one wants to join. I'm an NHS worker waiting for test results (probably hear today) but no need as have experienced fevers overnight that I've never known anything like before, very intense. Am sitting in bed (was already confined to bedroom as DP and DS2 in vulnerable group ☹️). Am mostly worried that if DP gets it too who will look after DC (11+9), don't feel like I can lift a finger at the moment- typing this is an effort. Will take some paracetamol and drink water and cross fingers.

Meercatmama · 10/04/2020 08:59

Hi everyone thanks for the support the other day regarding my husband. We had a very quiet day yesterday but he was a lot better He did get up but when tired went straight back to bed He had drank plenty of water and slept a lot. He still had the chest tightening and breathing bit was much calmer. I do think this can cause a extremely low mood and panic as I had that too when on days 6 -12 and intermittently since . He is on day 12 and is now hungry but still anxious Hoping for a better day for all of us today fingers crossed

Porcupineinwaiting · 10/04/2020 09:02

@LakeFlyPie try not to worry about what may happen. Your do may not get it for a few days and, if he does, he may get a very mild case. That's what happened with us - I've been in bed for weeks, dh has a slight cough. And at 11 your dd could at least feed herself toast or cereal if there are times you both need to rest and she's hungry.

Lightsabre · 10/04/2020 09:13

I feel so sorry for single parents who get this - I honestly can't imagine how you would cope looking after children and yourself, particularly if they're under 7.

I didn't have a great sleep last night as ds up very early with a stomach upset. I'm on Day 14. My GP has just rung (surgery is open today and Monday due to the pressure in this part of London). Basically asked me to go up and down the stairs with the oximeter on. Sats were 97% so he said that was fine. 92% and below then ring 111 or an ambulance. I feel a little stronger - I'm not floppy but I'm very achy today, with the usual upper back pain and breathlessness. Going to force down some cereal and a Lemsip.

FrameyMcFrame · 10/04/2020 09:15

Thanks for the thread @Taffyapple8

My DD became ill at York Uni in her student accommodation on 16th March.
She had a very high temp and cough. And extreme fatigue.
She saw her GP at uni ( this was way before lockdown etc) who said she probably didn't have Covid 19 but to isolate anyway.

why on earth he thought it wasn't the virus I don't know, my own GP subsequently confirmed that she had all the right symptoms.

I drove to pick her up and brought her home, it was the end of term and I thought she should come home rather than be ill alone. There were no rules at the time not to travel etc. She coughed all the way home in the car.... but we were reassured that her GP said it wasn't Covid

We heard that day that a boy who lived in the flat upstairs in her uni accommodation had been taken to hospital and then 3 days later tested positive for Covid19.

On the following Wednesday I was at work when I started getting pains in my airway and sweats... and feeling hot. That was the 18th March.
I told my boss that I needed to take myself home.
I then got a dry cough and felt very tired and short of breath over the next week. Even then I assumed it was a cold or something. When the breathing became more of an issue I rang my GP who confirmed by my symptoms that it wasn't just a cold.

The following week my 10 year old DS got a dramatic dry cough and temperature which went away after 3 days.

I'm still feeling a bit ill after 3 weeks, pain and tightness in lungs and the odd temperature spike. And needing to sleep randomly. It's so much worse in the evening too.

I have good and bad days.

Both DD and DS are absolutely fine now.

Thanks to everyone who's posted on all these threads and helped me to feel not mad/ reassured Thanks

Crayfishforyou · 10/04/2020 09:26

Good morning everyone
Day 11ish
My upper respiratory symptoms are still there, my cough which still isn't too bad has gotten deep and painful, feels like bronchitis, my chest is painful and not in a heartburn way.
Temperature still down and normal
I can deep breathe
No dizziness or adrenaline episodes for a couple of days.
I feel as though I have a rotten rotten cold now.

I've ordered a salt pipe and some iodine. I've also started on NAC supplements, its supposedly good for lung recovery.

WanderingLost167 · 10/04/2020 09:31

Day 20 here?

I had felt good, and then yesterday had upset stomach and then after exercise I had a massive temperature all last night, sore head, tight chest and achy. I could cry.

Resisterance · 10/04/2020 09:33

I'm on day 24 and still wiped out. Lungs really hurting and needing to rest a lot. Lungs especially painful on back so mostly lying on front and doing breathing exercises