40 plus plus

[WorriesomeDad]

Thread for continuing long-term Coronavirus support

@Dorual, my Ferritin was high but when I had the paramedics out they said they hadn't admitted anyone past two weeks of developing symptoms. I think the critical time is about 7-10 days in.

I don't know whether it 'triggers' other illnesses etc. There are quite a few people who have returned to the thread to say they're now well and others for whom it drags on. I presume you've had blood tests - what were your white blood cell counts like?

@Dorual someone I know who works in a hospital treating patients has said they don’t know of anyone who has been admitted past the two week mark other than secondary infections or clotting issues. I wouldn’t worry about it.

@Lightsabre I had a private anaemia blood test. I've bought a repeat one, plus full blood count now. I'll see what the results of that are before deciding whether to call GP.

I'm just worried that if the immune system is struggling fighting off this virus, there's still time for it to overreact into a cytokine storm. It's reassuring to hear the paramedic stories though, thanks.

@Kitcat122

Great to hear you're edging closer and closer to normality.

In regards to chest/heart pains and sensations.The Dr didn't offer much of an explanation or reveal much as to why.

The emphasis seemed to be on reassurance, that all of my results were fine, there were no identifiable complications with my lungs and heart and that the virus can take a good 6 weeks to 'recover' from.

I was advised to take it very, very easy when I do feel better -- especially in relation to exertion and exercise.

After three good days, the cough and chest pain are back again today. How is this possible??? Anxiety is also beginning to rear its ugly head. Difficult to know how much the palpitations and racing heart is being caused by that and how much by the virus. For those dealing with anxiety, can I ask how you're coping?

@Sweetie60

I think anxiety has definitely played a part in my illness- especially the further along I have been ill (36 days ?) The dr prescribed me amitriptyline to help me sleep (I have had the horrible tingling all over my body at night) and it has helped me sleep, but also seems to have levelled out my anxiety levels too. I’ve only been on it for 3 nights, but I feel much more relaxed today. My heart rate however is still racing when I stand up and I still get palpitations. However, both racing heartbeat and palpitations can be post viral symptoms, so fingers crossed more rest will finally sort them and the fatigue, blocked ears, shortness of breath and tingling/ achey limbs out! Xx

@sweetie60

I'm mostly reassurance seeking. Detrimental to anxiety really, but it's helping me in the short-term, and I'll deal with the fallout at a later date.

Reassurance seekinf for me includes:
Posting on here
Ordering private tests
Checking o2 sats and temp
Checking bp

I'm also listening to relaxation hypnosis cd. Avoiding news. Distraction by reading. Breathing exercises. Mindfulness like body scanning and grounding techniques.

@worriesomedad that is interesting and reassuring. But what do you mean on clotting issues ie we are still at risk of developing blood clots post Covid?

Day 44 here and I was wondering if anyone still has stomach issues. I am still having bouts of diarrhoea and the GP keeps fobbing me off. No blood tests offered today and told you just ride it out!

@user34252365 yes day 38 ish I am having bad gastric issues Gerd, burping, weird tummy ache and diarrhoea

Totally appreciate will vary based on lots of factors but interested in pulse measurements for those post 40 days? Mine seems low a lot of the time (hovering 50)

Those who are having private tests - are you doing the rapid antibody tests or are you having proper ELISA antibody tests with samples sent to labs for processing? I’ve just ordered the latter, in the hope that it’s more accurate/sensitive.

@Wingingit15 most of us seem to have high pulse rates than low especially on activity.

I think 60-100 is considered normal so i would definitely consult with your GP on your levels

@dorual is your anaemia test a home based one as you mentioned you have bought a repeat one.

@emoojo that is reassuring that someone else is having gastric issues. I keep replacing symptoms, when there is chest pain then no gastric issues then chest pains go away, the diarrhoea comes back !!

@UncomfortableBadger where have you ordered your test from please?

@user34254356 Gastric issues here. Appeared about two weeks ago I think - in the morning runny tummy and nausea - rest of the day fine. Started with a lower tummy pain yesterday and worse today but it may be ovulation.

Definite gastric issues ongoing here, day 44. Very windy and reflux-y

@Wingingit15
I have.
Not very often but in the first two weeks mine would drop down to 55 and then shoot back up.
It does it a bit now but never drops to under 60, I tend to get up and wiggle about a bit and it goes up. I do get dizzy though.
On the Slack group I'm on a few people said theirs had dropped to 45 on occasion.
I also had what felt like I imagine heart attacks would feel like around the second week.

Finger prick blood tests at home via Medichecks for anaemia/FBC.

My resting pulse drops to 50-52 sometimes, especially late evening. It races to 155 on activity. I think fluctuations can be normal but we are focusing on it more now.

My pulse was racing for first few weeks 70-90 at rest. Then for 4/5 days it’s been in the 50’s and much less affected by activity, even dropping into the 40’s a few times which made me worry a bit. Now back to being fast again. Haven’t had an ECG but doctor listened to my heart yesterday and seemed unconcerned about it all.

Am i the only one whose GP refuses to see them. It seems everyone else's GP has seen them.

Personally i am also scared to step outside the house lest i catch it again.

@moodgie reassuring that some other people (albeit minority) are having these issues. Yes mine is more in the morning too along with abdominal pain. AF has also arrived so I suspect it is causing its own havoc.

@Dorual is it easy to do the finger prick test? I am quite scared about filling up an entire vial from the finger !

My GP isn't seeing anyone either. What protective steps are GPs taking when seeing people?

You’re not the only one. My GP won’t see anyone for anything coronavirus-related.

@user34254356 I'm alternating between gastric issues and chest pain issues too - one seems to replace the other. Have had both since almost the start.

I have started putting Voltarol (ibuprofen gel) on my chest where it hurts as DH noticed last night that a couple of my ribs on one side were sticking out slightly more prominently than the other side, and that's where the pains tended to be most sharply focussed. We'd never noticed it before so I'm surmising it's a recent thing. Within 10 minutes of putting on the gel I wasn't feeling the pain. DH is thinking that my cartilage connecting to the ribs is inflamed and that's kind of pushing the ribs up a bit and causing the pain - which gets made worse with activity. Up until last night I was convinced the chest pains were caused by the heart in some way (as my blood pressure is high). However, I'm wondering if it's some form of costochondritis which would explain why, went I went to A+E after three weeks of chest pain, nothing showed up on blood tests, 2 ECGs or the x-ray. Normally, with this kind of pain I would have been taking ibuprofen in tablet or gel form from the outset. But we've all been told not to do that. However, I'm 39 days in and this pain isn't going away, and it looks as if more recently, doctors are saying ibuprofen is OK. On the Slack group, a few people have been taking it and they've said it's helped with chest pain. Anyway, I'm going to try this gel for a few days.