Covid Lungs 40 plus plus plus

[SimpleKindofLife]

New thread for those having longer symptoms of Covid.

@pinkoneblueone thanks - I definitely agree it follows patterns, it's like a merry-go-round of symptoms. I've taken an ibuprofen orally today (first one). Hoping it will reduce the inflammation in my chest - my ribs are actually sticking up in a couple of places on one side with it, and reduce the horrible pains that move around. And if my blood pressure medication starts to work, I may start to feel slightly like a human being again.

@fedupofbed I know how you feel about being dubious about it being post-viral. I've been keeping a diary of symptoms and a lot of what I'm having now on day 42 is quite similar to how things were on day 4. The only thing I feel I've recovered from is the loss or smell/taste.

@Moodgie If I remember correctly I am similar time wise to you from first symptom, I had a sore throat 4th March so just over eight weeks? Though other symptoms fever etc took about 10-16 days to materialise- sinuses then fever etc and then shortness of breath a further week.

Anyway, for the past 7 weeks I have had exactly the same tummy as you describe, I wouldn’t say diarrhoea but urgent on waking and then ok for the rest of the day. Two weeks ago today this suddenly developed into nausea, sudden diarrhoea and heartburn/indigestion. I changed my diet to a non inflammatory diet but still my tummy was bad every morning. I usually suffer with IBS especially if I eat products containing gluten but never as bad as this so I completely cut gluten out with small Improvement, then I noticed that after eating dairy it was much worse next morning so I cut that out too. Last week I took Gaviscon after every meal and before bed and the difference these changes made have really made a difference to the morning urgency and to my overall well-being. For the last two days I have woken without the need to rush to the bathroom and my bowels seem much calmer, the indigestion and heartburn have calmed and I no longer need to take Gaviscon and my appetite is back, more importantly I am back on a normal diet and eating the same as the rest of the family. I don’t know if this is due to the changes I made or because the virus is finally moving on but I just wanted to let you know there is some kind of light at the end of the tunnel.

My sore throat has also finally disappeared (I did succumb to a few whisky shots before bed for a couple of nights tho which helped). The only thing that seems to be left now is mucus on throat but this is improving, I think no dairy has helped this too, though I have noticed the sinus under one of my eyes is sore last few days so that may explain the mucus I have had constantly for last eight weeks - hopefully this is now beginning to dry up and clear.

Day 41/42
My GP sent me to A&E where I have been since 2:30pm (accidentally missing my supermarket delivery slot but that’s another problem). My troponin - a marker of cardiac problems - is mildly raised on blood tests and my heart rate is elevated. They are redoing the blood test soon. My (very brief) ECG and lung X-Ray and other blood markers were normal and the doctor said do what gentle exercise you can - gentle exercise is better than no exercise. She implied heavily that my raised heart rate is anxiety but I am not so sure - it’s been high since I got ill.

@changeofnametohidetgeshame Thanks for the update, great to hear about such good progress! Yes, I had a sore throat 5/6 March!
I was going to try Gaviscon but haven’t yet, will give it a go tonight. I haven’t got a problem with eating though, it is just the mornings!
My sore throat seems to be better, no pain when swallowing but it feels like it is kind of scratchy and I feel like it affects the way I breathe and my chest feels heavier - I cannot even describe this. The last two weeks have been just changing with my throat and windpipe and phlegmy feeling, just moving around. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

egghead68

I think they don't know why some of us are still getting the heart things, SOB etc. Mainly because it's a new virus to the world.
When they don't know they put it down to anxiety.
Not very helpful when you are feeling like you do.
I hope everything goes well. I'm thinking of you.

Thank you @rosesofeyam and good wishes to you too.

I suspect I have mild myocarditis as I have most of the symptoms.

Thank you to everyone on here today. You have been my rock as I have had this dip today. It strange I am now sitting up downstairs and despite a few minor temp changes and aching arms I am feeling much better until the paracetamol wear off. Wishing you all a peaceful evening and a good nights sleep.

@Egghead68 thinking about you too. sounds like you've had a rotten afternoon. It's so frustrating. The doctor implied anxiety when I was at A&E earlier in the week.

Is anyone else having big dips in their SATS? Mine's going up and down from 91 to 97 at the moment. It's scaring me as it seems to get lower when I'm lying down/ in a resting state and I don't necessarily notice. I'm worried about what happens in my sleep, and maybe that's why I always feel ill when I wake up.

@fedupofbed

How long are your sats staying at one particular point? If they’re flicking a big range that’s normal of pulse oximetry. Take care though. Can’t remember if you’ve been seen by a doctor? sorry can’t remember everything x

@Egghead68

How are you feeling? Are you home now? sorry about the supermarket delivery, typicL!

Thank you! I am back from 5 hours in A&E and they have now stopped saying it is anxiety (I think this is the first thing they always say, particularly if you are female) after a repeat blood test and discussion with the consultant.

The registrar said I have a mild post-Covid heart issue but they could not be more specific as not enough is known about the illness. I asked if it was myocarditis and she didn’t think so as my (very brief) ECG was normal (but I am not so sure as we know it does not always show on brief ECGs if mild). She said to try to bring my heart-rate down by avoiding caffeine etc and, if my symptoms do not settle, to ask my GP for an echo-cardiogram so they can find out what is going on.

P.S. the doctor said that there is no sign of any active infection in my bloods and all my current symptoms are definitely “post-Covid” which I am very pleased about.

@toothfairy73 I’m so pleased your scan was normal.

@Lightsabre I am sorry you did not get any answers at the hospital (I presume this means normal tests though, which is good).

Just a quick update... Realized I'm just over 9 weeks since onset of symptoms, including 3 weeks of being very poorly, 4 days in hospital, 3 weeks recovery & then a set back after cycling. And today I have felt like I've got loads of energy again and I spent all day spring cleaning my kitchen!

I have still got slight pleuritic pain and random heart palpitations but my sats are all fine, I feel well but still need to take it slowly. I suspect the lungs need a lot of rest after this virus in order to properly recover.

So I'm going to carry on pottering round the house and gentle walks round the garden and will leave it another couple of months before I start back to any proper exercise again.

Hang in there folks, it will get better but you must rest and take it easy for a good while! Xx

@Egghead68 pleased they took you seriously in the end. Hopefully things will settle but it's good to know they've offered an echocardiogram.

@JackJackIncredible thank you for replying, and I find it impossible to keep up with everyone's stories. Earlier this week I had a load of tests at hospital. All were clear but no explanation for my symptoms, particularly palpitations and breathlessness both of which seem to come and go. SATS just seem to move steadily up and down, maybe staying on the lowest for a minute or two then gradually rising, staying fine for a while then going down again. They never stay low for more than a few minutes.

Wey hey that's great news @CanIdoItLater . I love a good recovery story!

@CanIdoItLater Thank your posting this. Need it.

@Egghead68

Well I’m glad they’re not going down the anxiety road. I know there are many people suffering with similar symptoms but they don’t yet know what it is and why. I assume more information will come to light in the coming months. Take care and rest up.

Brilliant news @CanIdoItLater!

Thanks@JackJackIncredible and @fedupofbed. I think you are right. It will be much easier for people in future. The doctors are just grappling in the dark a bit with us as we are among the first ones.

Although @Egghead68 there must be quite a lot more information in other places like S Korea and China etc. It makes you wonder how much information is being shared widely. I felt like I knew more than the gp from having it and reading on the internet.

Very true @godhelpusall.

Can costochondritis affect your pulse at all?
I've got chest pain where it's probably all swollen inside which can stab if I do stuff.
My pulse is normal lying down but walking up the stairs and it shoots to 130. It does settle fairly quickly if I lie down.
I'm speaking to my GP on tuesday anyway.
I feel overall a bit stronger today, and would like to walk to the end of my road and back. But I'm a bit scared that my heart will go crazy.

@godhelpusall I'm tempted to send today's Guardian article to my GP. They've been as supportive as possible but I'm still a complete anomaly.

I'm also going to send it to my manager at work. They've been supportive too but I've been signed off since beginning of March which is a bit of a an extra worry in the current climate.

@Crayfishforyou I walked to the end of the road, then made lunch and washed up. My breathing is more off tonight but don’t know if the activity triggered it.

@Crayfishforyou coukd your pulse rate have been doing that before you got ill? Did you use a pulse oximeter regularly before? Just because I think it's normal for pulse to elevate as you describe on walking up the stairs etc. Maybe I'm wrong though. Cam anyone else test it?

My temp has gone up for the first day since day 12. Day 30 now. I don't feel like it's a secondary infection though. What's happening?