40 plus plus

[WorriesomeDad]

Thread for continuing long-term Coronavirus support

Morning all,

Day 42 for me (6 weeks) and I have definitely over throughout the week. Not feeling so tired and now only getting the odd ache and pain around the stomach, but chest pain does seem to have significantly improved (I had stabbing pains that the GP felt were costocondritis from the pneumonia). I've been WFH 4/5 hours all week and managed a few 30 mins walks and a bit of gardening, which is a long way from two week ago.

Throat is still swollen, but not as sore and i'm actually finding that Ibuprofen (couple a day) is helping for this. I wouldn't take it earlier due to Gov advice, but as the GP feels i'm post viral, I thought I would give it a try. Checking in with the GP on Monday, so i'll let you know how that goes, as the sore throat has taken 4 weeks to clear.

Sorry to hear that everyone is still very up and down, but good to hear that some are slightly improving. @WorriesomeDad your progress seems positive and good to hear the @Babdoc is getting better.

In terms of warning signs for overdoing it, I find I get a headache or back/rib pain, so once that starts, I stop and rest up, but at least I am managing some activities.

Sorry for the long post, but overall It is going to take time to get over this, but I hope that a positive story and the above feedback is helpful, as other comments have really helped me.

Key is to rest and not try to do too much, so I wish you all well and hope that everyone has a better day. Take care

Hi all, is a stabbing one-sided back pain when you breathe in normal for any of you...? Just started this morning, day 37ish.

Hi @Moominmamma33, yes I had that around day 30 i think, but mine (and I think others) radiated from the front of the ribs. My GP wasn't sure if it was pleurisy or costocondritis, so worth getting checked by the GP though if it doesn't improve over the weekend. If it helps he couldn't really give me anything for it (i'd already had two courses of antibiotcs for potential secondary pneumonia), so just suggested rest and contact him if I started getting shortness of breath.

@Moodgie, I agree that this sore throat is really annoying (hoping it's my last symptom), but i'll let you know what the GP suggests when I speak to him next week.

Thanks very much for the reassurance @Gunner30. I've had shortness of breath but that's gone away for a few days..this feels it's in a specific area, bra strap height on one side. I have taken an Ibuprofen and hoping for the best. If it's not better tomorrow I'll ring the GP again.

@Moodgie yep sounds very familiar. Cheers @Gunner30, good to hear you are making progress too.

Morning all. Not the best night's sleep and have woken up in my usual 'hit by a truck' state and a tight, sort of scratchy feeling chest. Let's see how the day progresses ...

Thank you to those who posted with positive news. @Gunner30 your post was really helpful. Let us know about the ibuprofen as I'm thinking this may be useful for me too, but still a bit of a nervous about taking it! @WorriesomeDad I did wonder when you didn't post yesterday if it was good news or bad news... and so pleased that it's good news so far! I hope it continues.

@Needsomegoodnews my symptoms seem to change all the time too - seems to move from throat to my chest/breathing to jittery feeling, not being able to sleep, etc. It makes it harder to explain to the doctor as there are so many changes.

@simplekindoflife I think your DH has a point, especially if you'd be straight to A&E in normal circumstances. It's all over the news today that people should continue to use A&E as they normally should. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Let us know what you decide.

Thanks for replying @fedupofbed

So hard to know what to do. Having a bad day today, I'm just exhausted and frustrated and so fed up of being ill. I just want some answers/reassurance. Just cried quietly in the shower as I feel bad for constantly leaning on my DH. And feel so guilty for not doing much with my dc for so long.

Maybe I should hold out till Monday and speak to my GP again. My work does a free econsult, I might try them.

I just want someone to check me over, I'm getting so worried about these chest pains. It's been constant for almost 5 weeks.

Hi all, is a stabbing one-sided back pain when you breathe in normal for any of you...? Just started this morning, day 37ish.

That's what I had when I was diagnosed with pleurisy. It will probably last for about 2 weeks. Normally taking ibuprofen as a course is recommended to speed up recovery. I waited until I'd had the pain for nearly two weeks before trying it.

So last night I started to get a sore throat again. I really hope it's not this coming back as a sore throat was my first symptom of the initial virus and the relapse. It feels more raw/blistery like an allergy than glandular though, so I'm still hoping it's unrelated. My upper back is killing me all the way across. I'm really hoping it's muscular from doing some stretches that used muscles that haven't been used in well over a month. The reason I'm being optimistic despite the throat and back pain is that my breathing feels nearly normal. I can fill my lungs up if I try but I don't feel as compelled to. My regular breaths are somehow more satisfying. Even with the pain, I feel good because that feeling of my breathing not being right is worse than pain.

@simplekindoflife I have different chest pains that move around and a high heart rate even when in bed, and tests haven't shown anything up. Sometimes it feels almost like a cold/freshmint sensation. Sometimes they're stabby, sometimes burning, most of the time it's just an ache, like I have inflammation. Have never had anything like this before. At the moment certain foods seem to be causing it, as does exertion. Anxiety about all this is also raising my heart rate, although I don't think that can account for all of it. I'm supposed to be having more tests next week. If you do go to A+E today, let us know how you get on. It's small consolation but you're not the only one experiencing this (I'm on day 36).

@alittleprivacy Thanks so much for replying and for the very helpful advice. Dr Google had suggested pleurisy too. I am sorry you're in pain today, too. I completely know what you mean to preferring pain to breathlessness!

@alittleprivacy With you on the sore throat. Anyone else started with it and then got it back this late in?

@simplekindoflife maybe see how the morning progresses? We shouldn't feel bad about accessing medical help for symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, pins and needles, palpitations, etc.

@Linus1972 what foods seem to set you off?

Thanks for the heads up @Moodgie, by the time i'd logged on at 9am all the slots , except for Scotland had gone. I'm going to a private clinic today to have an antibody test.

@alittleprivacy your situation sounds similar to me. The throat feels raw, blistered and swollen, but not too much discomfort most the time. It's useful to know that you and @Moodgie seem to have similar issues. What day are you now? I'm also trying hayfever tablets, as that has kicked off this week, so we'll see if that helps along with the ibuprofen. I think my wife is thinking it would be easier to open up our own pharmacy :-)

@Moodgie my symptoms started with shortness of breath, which then went on to become viral pneumonia, then kidney infection with stomach pains and then back to stabbing chest and back pain. The sore throat started two weeks after the initial symptoms.

@Moominmamma33 glad that helps and hope it begins to improve.

@WorriesomeDad and @fedupofbed, hope you start to feel better soon. I will keep you posted on the ibuprofen, as my GP thought it should be ok at this stage. That said, I wiling to try anything at the moment. Have a good day all.

@Lightsabre Where do they do the antibody tests?
I have managed to order the home kit (not the antibody one) - meant to arrive with 48 hours, then collected by a courier the next day and then results by text within 2-3 days.

So glad to hear you're 80%+ better @WorriesomeDad and others. It really helps to hear the positive stories although you sound a lot fitter than me.

I'm heading into my 5th week from today - still breathless, a bit shaky and weak with upper back lung pain. High heart rate but other vitals normal (sats and BP). I see some of you have started ibuprofen which I'm going to talk to my GP about on Monday. I find the Gaviscon helps too.

@fedupofbed what foods seem to set you off?

I've had GERD since the start of this, and anything fatty (chips) or too hot (temperature-wise) tends to give me a burning sensation in my gullet.

Yesterday I had some brie for lunch - was a bit unsure about whether or not to have unpasteurised cheese but thought I'd risk it. Within a couple of hours I was burping (with the taste of cheese - urrgh) and getting chest pains at the bottom of my rib cage. It died down, then came back worse in the evening after another meal. At one point I had about 8 stabbing pains on my left side of my chest within the space of 3 minutes, after which it eased off. That area of my chest feels sore today. So I won't be doing that again.

@Moodgie, well done! Is it a finger prick test? I'd be interested to hear your result if you wouldn't mind sharing.

I'm going to a clinic in central London - dh driving. Apparently it's a test used across Europe but not yet licensed here. The GP I spoke to had taken it and she works in the nhs and privately. I'll get more details and post later. If it says I have developed antibodies then I'm still going to be cautious until the nhs antibody test is issued. To be honest, it's more the reassurance of an actual face to face examination with a GP and bloods that will offer me more reassurance. I'm worried about a dvt too as I seem to be so breathless still and have been lying/sitting around a lot as I can't do anything else. My sister said I should wear compression stockings so I'll talk to the GP about that too.

@Lightsabre It’s a swab test. Of course I will share.

Day 38
Getting fed up with the left side pain and internal shaky feeling.

Backache still there if I try and breathe deeply.
On the brighter side, my breathing feels easier. Not so much SOB.
Hoping I'm turning a corner and getting a little better. Finger,toes crossed.

@Rosesofeyam Fingers, toes and everything crossed! Sending hugs to everyone. I am so fed up with this.

@Linus1972 thank you. I'm sorry to hear you're going through this but it's so reassuring to hear that I'm not alone with these symptoms. And it's 'normal'...

Good luck @Moodgie and @Lightsabre let's us know how you get on.

I've just sent an online consult form to my GP. Have decided to not go to A&E today but I'm always worse in the evening so I'm hoping I don't regret it later.

Is anyone getting the pins and needles sensations in their arms too?

Morning/afternoon. Glad to hear that some people are making progress. Sorry to all those having bad days.

Day 35/36ish. Was a bit breathless last night until I took my inhalers. Generally fine today apart from some hay fever type symptoms. Have cycled 10 minutes and walked 5,000 steps.

moodgie Thank you & good luck with the testing.

simplekindoflife I've been having the same, but put it down to OA in my neck.