My Lungs Part 7

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

@Sweetie60 yes! During my first 111 call I tried to explain that it felt I was sucking in cold air and they said it sounded like the start of the virus (that was day 2 for me, I'm on day 7/8 now). Hope you're ok. X

@Bouledeneige and @Sweetie60, a lot of people are reporting higher pulse rates on activity. Mine goes up to 120 when I walk about! I know exactly what you mean about the menthol chest! Mine has been feeling like that for some time now - like you've sucked an extra strong mint and had a slug of freezing water. I'm Day 24. Do you have a pulse/Sats oximeter? £20 on EBay and resssuring for measuring your oxygen and heart rate levels.

I am also 50's and overweight Boule but think I've been run down for a long time and havnt been taken care of myself hence being hit hard by the virus. From these Lungs threads, the virus seems to build and then worsen and then plateau before people start to feel better. There are dips in between. Don't fight the fatigue or try to do too much - if you rest, your body can channel its reserves into fighting the virus.

I think the higher heart rate can be partially attributed to the fact the virus destroys a lot of red blood cells and our hearts are having to work harder to pump the oxygen around.
I think it takes our bodies a while to make more, even without the virus.

I've had the zingy nose on and off! I do suffer with rhinitis, so I thought it was that.

Can I join? Have had the tight chest/bra pin since Easter weekend, with worsening SOB this weekend then hot sweats and chest pain in the early hours. 111 were fairly dismissive but my GP was great. Was sent to the coronavirus pod where a nurse took my sats and temp. Both fine, but heart rate racing. She also listened to my chest which she said was totally clear - I'm really hoong that's a positive thing!
Home and resting but just exhausted and nauseous, not to mention terrified. So reassuring to have seen posters come through the worst here.

@SheilaTakeABox Great that you have seen a nurse we don't have that here yet and I do think Anxiety has a huge part to play when people get some symptoms with all the negative news and so on.

My anxiety has been absolutely horrendous today. I feel like I'm weighed down with weights I find it so overwhelming. I'm obsessed with my breathing too. Its really hard to do a satisfying breath, so I'm panicking and forcing myself to yawn. Even when yawning, it's not totally satisfying. I haven't died/turned blue/fainted so must be breathing ok, although it's felt awful since waking. X

@MrsPworkingmummy, do you have an oximeter to measure your saturation levels?

The anxiety is almost the worst part. I'm terrified to sleep in case I don't wake up. This is just so shit.

@MrsPworkingmummy - what day are you on? Sorry, I've read the whole thread but have lost track. I agree, an oximeter is really helpful. I'm regularly checking mine and it does help calm me down when they're normal. It's also a useful guage to know when you're not ok, although it appears I live in part of the country where help is forthcoming to a certain extent - I appreciate that's not true for everyone.
As someone said up thread, this illness is hour by hour, I've never known anything like it. Headache starting now... great.

@SheilaTakeABow I'm on day 7/8. Started feeling off and tired last Tuesday, and woke up unwell on Wednesday. I've ordered an oximeter and it should be here by Friday. Its the heaviness my legs, the faint but constant bad chest and the complete lack of energy and appetite. This, combined with sheer terror, is an awful combination. Hope your headache eases. X

@MrsPworkingmummy, think I'm probably about the same, a bit ahead. Same symptoms as you, and neither of the classics of cough or fever.
I've not been in contact with anyone for four weeks, bar passing them at a safe distance on a walk, so god only knows where I've got it from. DH and the kids all seem fine so far, I'm just praying it stays that way.

@SheilaTakeABow have you had support from a GP or 111? I feel like I've been left on my own and would love some reassurance. I've only been on a few walks since lockdown so assuming I've caught it from food deliveries (or from my DH or children who had daily walks until I was told they needed to self isolate for 14 days) . I haven't cried today which is a positive as thought I was dying yesterday I felt so wretched. Today, I'm more aware of my chest and lack of deep breaths and I'm constantly worried I'm going to downward spiral. My anxiety is making an awful situation 10 times worse.

I called 111 over the weekend when I started to feel properly ill, then again at 4 this morning, when a very abrupt doctor told me they weren't testing so there was nothing he could do. Then spoke to my GP this morning who was so kind and understanding.

She referred me to a kind of triage centre we have in our town, where a nurse practitioner took my sats etc and listened to my chest.

She proclaimed everything was normal apart from my racing heart (which she put down to panic). She also listened to my chest and said it was totally clear, which should have been reassuring but hasn't been as much as I would hope, and told me when to take further action.

So it was really helpful to be seen by a real person, although the really paranoid part of me thinks she wouldn't have said if my chest sounded weird as they're trying to keep people out of hospital. I can't believe I've actually written that sentence - time to step away from Twitter!

@SheilaTakeABow it's great that you got to see a person. I'd feel a lot better if I could get my bloods checked or even my basic stats assessed. We sound like we've had very similar symptoms. I first spoke to 111 last Tuesday and he was lovely, saying it sounded like I was in the early stages of infection and told me what to expect etc. I then phoned again yesterday morning and she said I had to rest and only to call back if I were getting blue lips or my symptoms became significantly worse. I thought I was dying yesterday. I just want to get rid of feeling heavy and having no energy. I'm relying on my husband to help me to the toilet, get me drinks and make me food on the rare occasions I've felt like eating. I've told him to check on me through to night to see whether I'm still breathing.

I called 111 today, because my breathing got worse again. And they sent an ambulance. I was mortified. But because they said I was out of breath enough that I could only say a few words at a time, they had to. Bit of an overreaction I feel.

Anyway ambulance came, checked everything- oxygen, blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar. All fine. My oxygen was 94. They said everhtint was within normal range and probably just needed to rest. But they could take be to hospital if I wanted. Unsurprisingly I declined. I apologised a lot, they reassured it was fine and they aren't actually very busy at the moment. Said I should call again if I am worried.

I was exactly worried, when I got wheezy and heavy chest, just thought I should speak to a Dr or someone.

So I feel pretty daft.

I think we're all so skewed with our reactions @BreathlessCommotion, but I wouldn't feel daft at all. I think everyone needs that bit of reassurance, because too many people are in effect being asked to triage themselves. And obviously, the average person isn't really in a position to do that. I've been pleasantly surprised by how I've been treated today, and feel confident that if I took a turn for the worse, I'd be treated promptly, but I'm in a town with one of the lowest number of cases in the country, with a PCC apparently noted for its efficiency. So I'm very lucky.
Still fucking terrified though

Sorry @BreathlessCommotion, I didn't ask - how far along are you?

I'm on day 13. I'm not particularly anxious, just thought I should get it checked out as it keeps getting wheezy and then OK.

I'm in a northern city with around 1000 cases.

Ah, I'm in the North too, but far fewer cases in my town.
I hope you feel less anxious soon MrsP - it's so unkind that it provokes the exact feelings that make any breathlessness worse.

The lack of follow up testing in a lot of areas is awful. Days 1-14 can be alarming but if you have the basic medical equipment then you have a bit of reassurance. If you're breathless, it helps to sleep on your front.

I always sleep on my front anyway. I just really want to get back to running and cycling. Sadly I only lost my appetite for a few days. I've been able to eat way too much the last few days.

Oximeters need to be calibrated before using otherwise they can a few % out.

@MrsPworkingmummy if you get worried again just phone 999. The paramedics today were lovely and told me if it got worse to call 999.

What would blood tests be looking for with COVID-19?

I have chest / lung tightness since yesterday

But all sats / obvs fine....

Heart rate high if im walking around, but settles when i sit down

Hoping this is just anxiety or something