Covid Lungs Week 7/Day 49 and onwards

[Dandyish]

Support thread for those who've had Covid symptoms or post-viral fatigue for at least 7 weeks/49 days or longer.

If your symptoms haven't lasted that long, check out the Lung 7 thread (or later).It'll be more helpful as people there will be in a more similar position.

Thanks @stayathomegardener for the CFS chart info and thanks too to @sleepwhenidie for the turmeric info. all useful stuff.

Sleepwhenidie - are you the poster with the poorly DD? How is she? Feeling better I hope....

I feel so much better since joining this thread, psychologically it's given me a huge lift - less alone in dealing with all this. So thank you everyone. 💐

@alittleprivacy ok I needed that today! Thanks!

I agree the CFS chart is helpful (I have cfs) but dont fall too far into the cfs hole, weeks and months of fatigue and recovery after a virus is very common, and does not mean that this will be long lasting or chronic. Trust your body to recover, it might just take much longer than feels comfortable!

Absolutely! @Tangledyarn
Glad to hear you are improving too.

hi all, @Crayfishforyou and @Tangledyarn glad things seem to be getting better and not suffering the same realises.

Day 54, My swollen throat finally seems to be getting better after 5.5 weeks and all the other symptoms also seem to have gone. Managing to do much more and even walked for an hour today and yesterday.

I wanted to share a positive story that with lots of rest, eating healthy and drinking many water or fruit juice really does help. It is important not to overdo it, as I found 2 or 3 times, but eventually you will start to feel better.

There were times when I thought I needed hopistal and seriously though I was badly deteriorating, but I would say I'm no around 90% and I wanted others to keep believing that you can beat this.

I'll keep posting for a while to let you know my progress, as you were all so supportive of me and want to give something back. Enjoy your weekends everyone X

@Gunner30 that's great to hear!

@Gunner30 That's brilliant progress and really helps the rest of us who are still struggling to feel a bit more positive and hopeful!

Thanks @Gunner30 I am 4-5 days behind you and that gives me hope especially as today (day 49/50) has been my best day in ages.

@Gunner30
It's so lovely to hear people getting better.
I swear when I finally kick this thing I will hang around to help folks suffering. It does me so much good to hear of recoveries. Its pretty much the only board I like on the slack group; victories and recoveries.

DH has decided to light the bbq and all the smoke blew in the house. My lungs are now on fire and I'm hiding upstairs.

Thank you for the words of wisdom from @Tangledyarn and @alittleprivacy

@Lightsabre in terms of a respiratory referral. I expect they may be very behind unless going privately and even then, I think respiratory consultants who are mainly NHS will prioritise them.
Good news is your GP should be be running the basic bloods, chest x-ray and possibly a chest CT if needed and they can do spirometry (lung function tests) in GP surgery. GPs can prescribe inhalers; ventolin and steroid. Only complex cases or unclear chronic respiratory cases are usually referred.

@JackJackIncredible Agreed, it's totally understandable to want answers but a referral is unlikely at this stage. Time and rest will be the answer for most people and the GP can do most things that are necessary. I have moderate asthma (on a mart regime, steroid user etc) but have never been referred to a hospital clinic.

norugrats thanks for asking, DD seems a bit better - yesterday and today she was v weepy and feeling bad first thing but has brightened as the day has gone on. This afternoon she has been playing a bit of badminton in the garden and its so great to hear her laughing, seems like a long time since we last heard that! Hopefully it won't prove to be overexertion. I have been throwing floradix, turmeric tabs, probiotics and vitamins C & D at her every day for the last week or two - no idea if it has helped, even if it is having some kind of placebo effect, I'll take it!

To add to what @JackJackIncredible says above, I think it’s highly unlikely referrals to consultants will be made unless ordered by A&E or you have underlying issues.

We discussed chest CTs earlier and PPs said they don’t order these readily. I was struggling to breath and given oxygen for 6 hours in hospital last week and while they did a chest x ray, they didn’t do a CT, even though the machine was right there and empty ( I know as the nurse made a mistake and I was lying in the CT scan before they realised the Dr hadn’t ordered one!)

So highly unlikely GPS will be able to order CT scans.

I don’t think they’d order much that they can’t do in the surgery unless symptoms had been going on for over 3 months. I think there’s a lot of riding it out to be done. But obviously if you’re very breathless or in a lot of pain then going to A&E is the best option.

Please ignore if you’ve all bored with comparing symptoms already but is anyone still getting wet eyes or dried tears around their eyes when they wake? My eyes are running a bit now actually.
Also breast pain, dull aching for days in run up to a period (in a new very short cycle, or just at random it seems) but also the odd stabby pains in the breast.
The tinnitus is a bit better today and my thoughts seem a bit clearer at last. The headache and pointless mild nausea (haven’t vomited once with this) is still coming and going.

A couple of days ago I probably wouldn’t have had the energy to write this so I feel happy about that. Saying that I am lying down and haven’t gone anywhere other than gently around the house today!

@Fishflakes I'm "better" and still have sticky eyes. It's the only thing left but enough to make me question whether it's gone!! Bloody thing .

@Dandyish

I think that’s partly because CT scans are only needed for more serious pneumonias including covid pneumonia. Also the issue of decontamination between each patient and the radiation risk.
I read some studies that showed many people even with covid pneumonia that required hospital treatment, the follow up CT scans showed improvement. I suspect it’s not likely there is lung damage in non critical/severe pneumonia patients. Unfortunately, being on a ventilator can lead to lungs damage as can ARDS. It’s not something I would be concerned about particularly at this early stage.

Yes @JackJackIncredible I wasn’t saying I needed a CT scan. I’m day 51, week 7.5, so not very early.

@Gunner30 Great news!

I was feeling really tired this morning and spent the day reading outside. Went to make dinner and felt my chest really tight and was getting breathless. Anyone else has times like this?

Hello just checking in here.week 8 or 6 depending on how I count things. Negative test a week ago, awaiting anti body test results still. Bloods ok, chest XR said covid possible and hospital thought historic covid likely. Was told not to take ibuprofen, chest still very up and down and can basically do nothing other than look after my tinies so not leaving house suits fine !
Does anyone else worry maybe they’ve got it all wrong and there’s something else wrong with them?!

@Moodgie Yup still very breathless if I do anything or eat!
@wingingit15 yeah I do worry about that especially as I was 'vulnerable' before and my asthma is really bad currently, I think its pretty unlikely to have be anything else, but I missed (even as an nhs worker) testing by a few weeks, so its difficult not feeling certain.

Haven't posted in a while as couldn't get into account. Anyways, day 54/58 and after a number of good days, I have went backwards. Burning, chest pain, tremors and heart pain on exertion is back. I have avoided being seen by anyone medical, but think I will have to ask now. I had shortness of breath for a number of months before this hit so worried about the heart issue.

Hi @Wingingit15 sounds like you've had some really thorough testing.

Did they advise you not to take Ibuprofen because of the original NHS advice / scare from a few weeks ago about possibly making it worse?

Good luck with the antibody results.

@mumto3little glad your ears have healed ok, god this virus throws everything at us!

@Norugratsatall Yes lots of pressure, feeling blocked and very dizzy. How are yours doing? I've never had it before. How long does it normally take to go.GP says could be weeks!

Great to read some peoples good news of feeling better. My issue is mainly the ears at the moment, i feel that if they clear up then i might be on the mend too. Although i have THE FEAR at all times that it might come back. I'm also extremely anxious and tearful, much more than normal. Someone at my work has died from Covid (a guy in his 50s, BAME, previous health conditions). I didnt really know him but its made me very sad.

@Dandyish

Oh I know you weren’t :) I was explaining as other people might not be aware and hopefully to help them feel a bit more reassured.

@MillStone yes they said it’s best to avoid. I had been using voltarol on chest and alternating ibuprofen with paracetamol (within voltarol allowance) as had gone down the myocarditis route re the other thread. I was told to stick to paracetamol when minor pain, codeine for not x