40+

[MilesJuppIsMyBitch]

A thread for people with CV19 symptoms that have lasted for more than a couple of weeks.

First thread here

(Called 40+ to keep a rough tab on when the first symptoms started being reported on MN).

@pinkoneblueone I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I can see how upsetting that was, and I was told the same thing by the paramedic when he came out to me the other week.
Personally I think it’s a clumsy attempt to assure someone they are better at home. I have a medical family who are right in the middle of dealing with covid patients, they have said the same to me- hospital is the last resort. However, that’s not at all helpful to someone who does need to go to hospital, and worse given his other condition wasn’t considered or highlighted.
I know from having CFS what it is like not to be believed, sadly folks this is what it’s like. Other people just “decide” it isn’t true that you are ill, and start saying it’s in your head. That’s right- other people decide in THEIR head, that you are imagining it.

I’m up early on day 32, not sure what happened!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52301633

How long does Corona last on the bbc news website. Not really clear.

That's helpful @LetsBeSensible . Although we are still in the dark about risks of reinfection. It would seem deeply unfair to go through this. As if not get even some immunity!

Morning. Day 28/29. Sore throat back. Found the BBC article depressing.

@Egghead68 yes. I'm still thinking about the experience of being told you need to be put to sleep and saying goodbye. 😢

I wonder if it can sort of flare up again as over the weeks, well months now, mine seemed to come and go. I mean who knows if could have had more symptoms brought home by the children to add to it. The DC also have had mild symptoms since half term too- just as well home from school really and not seeing others.

I had shingles in the past and it came back too although he docs first said it doesn't, that time it flared up on the opposite side of the back to the first time. Said maybe as run down after surgery - could be similar perhaps. Who knows, with such lack of testing and knowledge. which I suppose is not surprising really given that it is so new- the link I found upthread was about chronic fatigue after SARS, rather than COVID, but they thought might be similar.

I'm having good and bad days, guess to hope the better days stay which is all we can do.

The BBC one says up to 8 weeks in milder cases, sounds about right here, yes DH was delirious too along with the temp. Refused for me to call the doctor which was really hard, but when I finally did they called right back (GP)

@godhelpusall I have that feeling a little when I wake, some days more than others. It tends to depend if I have had palpitations during the night I think. I also sometimes have a slight headache and congestion which clears when I get up. Of course this could be hay fever or something.

Day 39 here.

I am mostly ok now. Not back to normal but severe symptoms have all gone now. I’m still getting a little chest ache / tightness if I do things (relieved with rest) and palpitations at night. I’m very tired still but that’s on and off. My back gets sore still, on and off. If I am careful and keep on top of it I can function.

Yesterday I managed to do washing, play with kids, Potter around, make dinner, go for 20 walk. I did have an hour rest in the afternoon but felt ok all day doing this.

I am now in ‘post viral fatigue’ I’m sure. I find speaking on video calls tiring and have stopped group calls with friends as they make me feel ill. I can’t exercise yet but I feel next week I will be able to start some light yoga and walk a little more. I’m returning to work next week, 2hrs a day, no calls.

I am allowing myself as long as it takes to recover. This is not an illness like anything else I’ve had. Ive realised I won’t wake up and ‘feel better’ like I would from a cold or bacterial infection. It’s weeks of rest. At several points during this I genuinely thought I might die when I struggled to breathe and had stabbing pains in my heart area. My body and mind need plenty of time to recover from that as I feel a bit like I’ve been in a car crash or similar! I know that sounds dramatic but those of you on here will empathise.

Someone said ‘I’m not feeling back to normal but I am OK’ and that about sums it up!

@Orangeblossom78 I remember you from the first thread!! My symptoms started 11th March so I guess I’m a couple of weeks behind you.

@TheWooisStrong I hope you don’t feel too bad this morning. The trick is to ‘stop’ as soon as you feel even slightly odd / weird in my opinion. I really want a glass of wine at times but DH tells me it’s bad for my immune system so I haven’t drink for 5 weeks. I had a glass one eve on a zoom night with friends maybe 2 weeks ago and woke up feeling horrendous and went into the third ‘dip’ so I’m not risking it now.

What I have done is eaten plenty of chocolate!

Good luck everyone. I hope today is a better day for all.

Thanks @longshot.i really think that we will all have some ptsd after this- anyone who experiences a near death type (or believes that's the case) will. Important to be aware of the symptoms of ptsd too- I experienced it after a burglary years ago and didn't know what it was. I almost went mad! Definitely worth talking to a therapist if anyone is struggling. I found my ptsd started a month after the burglary, so I didn't connect the dots until years later.

@godhelpusall yes I agree I think I may suffer. I am actually a Coach in real life and am considering side stepping into helping people who go through this myself. It’s made me realise the value of being able to talk to others openly on this thread. It has been a lifeline really.

@Orangeblossom78 I’ve also had shingles once and then it flared up again and dr said ‘it couldn’t be’ but it was! I had the same with cellulitis, had it once severely and then a second time it flared up more mildly when I was run down.

It’s all very odd. I know already this illness will change the way I go about my ‘normal life’. There’s no way I could carry on as I was doing now! Working 4 days, studying for MSC, renovating a house and 2 DCs under 7, exercising all the time. I’ll have to change all of that. I’m taking it day by day for a while. At least while on lockdown there is no real pressure to do anything for me (I know some people are expected at work and my heart goes out to you).

@longshot I am so glad you are better!

@godhelpusall I feel odd waking, I am not sure if it is genuine symptoms because I have been lying down rather than trying to be propped up.

@longshot interestingly your workload sounds like mine! I was doing far too much - children, work, study (exercise had fallen off a cliff recently!) I do wonder if that had contributed to how hard I've found it to get over tgis

I went to A&E with my symptoms last month and have just received a First Class letter telling me to attend a follow-up A&E appointment in August. Has anyone else had this? I am wondering whether it is a mistake and it is just my regular respiratory clinic appointment.

That sounds like a good idea @Longshot .
@pinkoneblueone thank you for the petition. Could you possibly add chills and shivering? That's been my main symptom and i can't see it there.

@longshot we matched symptom for symptom through this didn't we. I'm day 40 and feel exactly the same. I did some Yoga with my daughter yesterday and it was fab. As you say still the odd pains, more fatigued, I too have had to cancel chats as I just can't even pretend to have bounced back to full health as friends expect. DH is still getting more chest pain so we've just been supporting each other.

Morning.

@godhelpusall yes waking up has been a struggle, and one of the worst parts of my illness. It's a feeling like I'm encased in concrete and I can't move anything, often with a headache. This triggers an anxiety response and I have often had to do deep breathing exercises to try and move and feel 'normal' again. It's hideous and has caused me loads of anxiety about going to sleep as I was so worried about waking up - I know that sounds crazy!

I've found this symptom has often been a barometer for how well I feel that day. It was okay this morning so I'm really hopeful that today will be a good day!

I'm glad that you and @longshot are feeling better.

Day 37/38 here. Suddenly found that chest symptoms are getting worse. My chest feels "wet", the top of my back is really sore and I'm coughing more. I managed to wash up yesterday but it wiped me out. I have an inhaler but I just can't seem to fight this. I think it's bringing out my Fibro symptoms as even my hair hurts on the pillow.

Wishing you all the very best.

@longshot and @Casino218 glad you are both feeling better. I'm day 36 and feeling pretty similar. Managing to do basic tasks around the house (even manged some weeding in the garden yesterday for 30mins) and not needing too much rest in the afternoon.

I look back two weeks ago when I thought i'd have to go to hospital a couple of times and realise how far i've improved, but it was really scary and I found trying to control my anxiety helped with breathing exercises. My throat is still slightly swollen, but it does seem to be getting better, so hoping that i'm also in the post viral recovery stage. Still going to take it easy for the next week.

@fedupofbed I had this feeling last week, but once I got through it I starting feeling better, so hope you do to. @Andromeida59 the coughing up was also a good sign for me and eventually i've found i'm needing my inhalers less and less. Hope this helps and wishing everyone a speedy recovery.

Thank you @Gunner30 and I'm glad you're continuing to improve. I too have a swollen throat now!

I'm sorry that you're having a rough time @Andromeida59 it really is cruel and relentless. I'm taking heart from all the posters on here who say they're improving now.

@longshot I've been cancelled video calls too as they tire me out. My coughing is worse when I'm talking for long periods of time as well. Managed a 20 minute walk yesterday but started to feel the familiar burning in my lungs so didn't try any more than that.

My GERD was very bad yesterday - I was doubled over in pain with it for about 20 minutes and my stomach acid was going into overdrive when I went to bed. My doctor's said to double the amount of esomeprazole I'm taking but I'm worried that that's what's contributing to my very high blood pressure (I've seen a few people noting that) so I haven't yet. Instead I had a can of rice pudding in bed and sat propped up all night. It worked and I slept for 7 hours (which is double what I've been managing this last month), and didn't have oesophagus burning when I got up. I feel that if I could just get a reasonable amount of sleep, I would start to feel stronger. It's weird, the first time I got GERD was after getting swine flu 10 years ago. I've had gastric issues on and off ever since.

I wanted to ask fellow GERD sufferers if there are any foods you recommend or not. Someone mentioned biscuits on this thread earlier I think, and I've been trying those and it helped with the bad pain yesterday. I normally have a bowl of fruit every night around 8-9pm and have stopped doing that as I was concerned about the acid in the fruit making me worse, but I'm wondering if part of the issue is that my eating habits have changed lately and my body is reacting to that

@godhelpusall @Egghead68 I found the BBC article depressing too, especially the bit about how when you cough stuff up, it is dead bits of your lungs. I cough up a bit of white/clear stuff every day so arrrgh.

@fedupofbed Thanks. I found gargling warm salt water a couple of times a day has helped the throat and also drinking lots of tea and other hot drinks. My normal recipe would be would be a hot toddie, but alcohol really doesn't help (learnt that a fews ago :-() Take care

@Gunner30, @longshot and @casino218 - so glad you are all improving. It gives us all hope too.

That sounds horrible @Andromeida59. Maybe your body is trying to clear out dead cells which could be a good sign?

@Casino218 @longshot that’s so good to hear things are still improving, albeit sedately.

4 days behind you guys so got my fingers crossed! Had a day of palpitations yesterday but my main lingering symptoms are shortness of breath and uncomfortable chest/occasional cough. These have actually got a bit worse so have been prescribed 2nd course of antibiotics.

Just wondering how you are measuring timeframe, from very first minor symptoms or first proper Corona symptoms?

@TheWooisStrong how you feeling this morning?!

@Moodgie yeah I feel rough in the mornings, it takes quite a while to actually wake up and always feel a bit angsty about how I’ll feel when I do and what the day will bring,

@WorriesomeDad I'm measuring mine from the dry cough I suddenly started with. It came out of nowhere and was quite distinctive.