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).

@Bornlazy omg Ive just burst into tears that you’d even recall that level of detail as to what ive said etc. Laying here in the dark you’ve made me feel like an actual person again.

So after I updated I googled Guillian Barre syndrome and had my first ever massive genuine panic attack. Convinced im dying DH persuded me to use his BUPA app thing from work tontalk to a GP again as the coronavirus hub person was a nurse practitioner. When I spoke to the GP she was so calming and soothing saying its likely to be fatigue but that GP’s are trained to do a reflex test and that Guillian Barre has a distinct way of the legs rising up. She said “be warned we’re all instructed to telephone triage but they CAN see you and SHOULD see you to check your reflexes.”
Shes emailed by GP go say i need my reflexes testing and that if its worsens i should go to A&E. im genuinely terrified they’ll do a lumber puncture which Im scared of as my spine is already burning and i feel shit already without some headache on top. So my first fear is even battling the GP AGAIN to even get seen. Ive spoken to medical services about 11 times and getting nowhere and im just lying in bed thinking how im gonna end up paralysed. Well no, I keep imagining Im gonna have a stroke whilst left here at home. Anxiety is deffo an issue now too and i dont know what medication to seek to just knock me out a bit for respite.

@TheDrsWife46 I do feel you have been failed a bit by the health service as even if there isn’t much they can do about your physical symptoms I think they could offer you something to take the edge off of your anxiety. The two are so closely intertwined and if you could get a decent sleep you would feel so much better

I think i got triaged away based on breathing and everyone i know in medicine says i should have been in hospital on fluids/blood test etc to at least been under observation. The panic last night put me in a spin. Today i need to focus on a plan.

@TheDrsWife46 everything is worse through the night. I know when I woke up warm and sweating my mind went into overdrive thinking I was relapsing when it was probably the fact I was wrapped up in the duvet and that I’ve got a touch of sunburn from trying too hard to top up my vit D

I hope today is a better day. Hopefully you’ll get something sorted to see your GP as a proper examination would be so beneficial for you.

@TheDoctorsWife46 I had a massive dip day 26 and particularly 28-33. Day 35 now and not perfect but feeling a little brighter. I know exactly what you mean about feeling you are slowly dying. I feel the same. I have had a feeling of needing to wee all the time on and off throughout this. I got antibiotics for urinary infection but haven't had them as it isn't really like that. Hard to explain. I am so frustrated by your lack of medical support, I too have had to rely on my private gp as my doctors refuse to discuss covid with patients and send us to 111, which I have found useless. I am very, very unhappy about how when i have needed medical help the most in my life, it has not been there. Sending you healing love. A gp friend of mine told me that at this stage the virus really will be out our bodies but that she is seeing many of her friends and colleagues take a long time to recover.

@Feelpoorly i came to bed took four kalms, was panicking and then on my phone. Dh was cross saying why am i on my phone instead of sleeping but i cant sleep through the sensations of it. And then fear. My only solace is being able to contact others in it. If i watch youtube videos or twitter feeds of people with im desperate to reach out to them for good news but have to stop myself. Its horrible that all Im hearing from people and dr’s in social media “dont stay away we’re open”

Really?! Because I cant get anywhere close to you lot seeing me other than the offer of an oximeter in a carpark

@TheDrsWife46 I hope you have had some more sleep. I was just looking at GB and it looks like it happens in the first few days after being infected. I don't know if that helps? It would still be a good idea to have reflexes tested but hold on to what the gp said - it's probably post viral.

@TheDrsWife46 that is exactly how I feel! Honestly, you could be me!

Would you try Valium? Or an anti depressant that helps with anxiety? I increased mine really early on as I could tell I wasn't going to cope psychologically otherwise. I have had severe anxiety and it created a whole raft of symptoms that I knew would muddy the water in terms of what is the virus and what isn't. Especially as I have found the symptoms of this virus quite anxiety-like.

@godhelpusall ive had valium for flying before and on day 6 i was begging the gp for some. I didnt take it. But now i think i need some kind of sedative to be able to rest. Im wondering whether a sedative/relaxant might ease the shaking

I feel quite annoyed at the constant reminders that the most common features of COVID are a high temperature and a cough. I have had neither of those things. They really need to be clear on how many ways it can present. It is so disingenuous.

@TheDrsWife46 I would ask for some. Drs are handing it out without any questions at the moment. Even if you tried a v low dose to see if it helps?

@TheWooisStrong i had the one sided pain on Friday and it’s gone off. Day 41 for me
Today.

Woken groggy and tired. I knew I would. Went to bed with chest heaviness again and feeling of a sore throat. I probably did too much yesterday (didn’t do that much but it was more than previous days) so today I will rest more again. Recovery seems incredibly slow and drawn out!! I’m pinning my hopes on being over it by 8 weeks but every set back makes me wonder.

@godhelpusall I agree - I never had a fever and only a very mild cough. Was inky because husband had a bad cough in realised all my other symptoms (burning chest and difficulty breathing) were covid. I could accept this at the beginning when they had less knowledge but fact that e.g. 111 website and criteria has not changed is now a disgrace. It is inaccurate and misleading. And very unhelpful for those suffering.

Good morning lovely people,

I just wanted to say that I'm so, so sorry I haven't participated on this thread as much as I should've done. The Mumsnet app has been playing up for quite a while (which I've posted about on site stuff to MNHQ), and my mental health has been massively impacting me for the past week.

Physically I still haven't been 100%. I was quite breathless for 2 days, not as bad as I was before but I still found it hard to catch my breath at times. I got my oximeter which says oxygen sats 99% and BPM 50-60 so I believe that's all normal. I am quite obsessed with the oximeter now especially when I'm feeling breathless.

My throat is still sore. Yesterday it eased off but last night it came back again. I had to go and get some food (I wear a mask and eye shields) and also sanitise my hands. My anxiety levels was through the roof! I literally went in and straight out. Took about 5-10 mins. I don't stand around taking my time because I just want to GTFO of there!

Another thing is I'm so, so sorry that there are still people on here suffering from dreadful symptoms from what is suspected to be covid 19. The gov needs to get their arses in gear and start testing everyone. We are all living in limbo not knowing what it is, what to do and when are we going to recover. I haven't been back to my normal self since 18th March when my extremely sore throat and breathless feeling started. My health is up/down after that.

Again just wanted to say thank you all so, so much for keeping me sane and not feel so alone throughout this horrible time. During lockdown, we all need the support now more than ever xx

@longshot Its really hard to get the balance right isn't it, you want to keep moving forward but everytime you do your body puts the brakes on!
I really want to be moving around a bit more, my legs and back feel really heavy and itchy on the inside, probably from lying so much, might try some stretches to see if that helps, feel like i could do with a massage but obviously that's not on the cards anytime soon!

feelpoorly I'm sorry you are getting it as well. Awful feeling.

Awake a lot during the night as my left side hurts and I just couldn't get comfy.
My eyeballs/sockets hurt again today, like when I first had symptoms.
When will this end.
Thinking of everyone on this thread.

@TheDrsWife46 I really feel for you. I hope you managed to get a bit of sleep.

I’m now on day 30/31. I didn’t sleep well last night and my legs ache from my 2 minutes (!) gentle cycling yesterday but otherwise I feel OK apart from a cough and blocked nose. It won’t last but I’m enjoying it for now.

@kevintheorangecarrot god im so sorry the app stopped you from getting on here for support. My mental health is rock bottom now. I feel like ive been left to just wither away.

If one more person tells me that the hospitals are empty and ready for me....i’ll
Complain to nhs england actually. I dont even want a bloody hospital bed, or a ventilator...I suspect I need fluids, a blood test as im all out of whack and a bloody check up. A chair would do.

@kevintheorangecarrot i feel like your on similar day to me and @Egghead68 im day 29 now.

A gp friend of mine told me that at this stage the virus really will be out our bodies

I wonder how she can be so sure though. Plenty of viruses stay in our body long term. Even yesterday (29/30) I had a sore throat - can this really be post-viral?

Yes and there's plenty of examples of people still testing positive weeks and weeks after initial symptoms

@Egghead68 I wonder this too. I saw a really good virologist report back back back in about thread 3, and this woman said how its impossible for viruses and viral shed in coronaviruses to remain viable in the body for longer than 9 days im sure she said. But then all these people still testing positive. I assume that it detects viral dna rather than active virus but i feel like its in me. For good.

@TheDrsWife46 I’m thinking what’s the worst that can happen if you just show up at A&E? They will either send you away OR they will check you over. I might be tempted to try in your shoes.

(N.B. I would NEVER normally advocate use of A&E in a non-acute situation but in your case I can’t see that there are other options).

Do you have some relaxation videos you can play when the anxiety gets bad? I think ones where you visualise walking on a beach etc would be more helpful than ones where you focus on breathing or bodily sensations.

thedrswife
My GP also said I should of gone to hospital. I was more scared of picking something up if I went in as I have severe asthma.
So I have battled on at home.
I have now come off my three weeks of steriods and antibiotics and although not symptom free by any means I am coping better than a week ago.
I am just taking one day at a time and when I start worrying about symptoms I distract myself with mumsnet/netflix/disney+.
I'm also using the spoon theory, and taking things slowly.
(So bloody slowly it's doing my head in)