Hello to everyone here. I’m new to this thread but have found reading past posts really helpful and, like others here, wanted to share some positive news. Sorry it’s a long post but I didn’t want to dripfeed.
I’m now 7 weeks in from first episodes of breathlessness (9 weeks since first cold-type symptoms). I was taken to hospital by ambulance in week 3 due to chest pain (suspected pericarditis, later discounted) following an episode of breathing difficulties. When the ambulance arrived, I had been doubled over on the bed struggling for breath after the breathlessness had steadily worsened during the afternoon. I was isolated in a room at the hospital but not tested for Covid-19 as was not admitted and did not require treatment. X-ray, blood markers, blood oxygen levels and ECG were all normal. Low white blood cell count was the only thing flagged but that had been picked up well before this illness.
The following day I experienced strong heart palpitations and what felt like a burning sensation in my heart muscle, which subsided when I forced myself to calm down. After that, I felt there was some inflammation in/around my heart, but it subsided over the course of a week. My GP has since said other patients with suspected Covid-19 have reported the same symptom and that it is not a heart attack and that unless the patient has existing heart disease then it should not cause permanent damage (how can they be so sure, when so little is known about the effects on this disease?)
My recurring symptoms since then have been episodes of breathlessness, burning lungs (only in week 4), lung pain, transient feeling of tiny pieces of glass in my lungs following inflammation, boob pain, lymph node (I think!) armpit pain, upset tummy, insomnia and a ‘cold acid’/menthol type feeling in my chest and throat. My experiences with this illness echo those of many here.
However, I’m now (tentatively) happy to report that the acid sensation in my throat and chest subsided yesterday (day 53 since first onset of breathlessness). The symptoms I have now are a feeling of residual soreness and inflammation in my chest, and stiffness in the back of my lungs, plus the odd random pain in my lungs. Think I may get a heart rate monitor as sense my heart rate speeds up a bit on doing normal things, but have read information about POTS and am hoping this is just a temporary post-viral thing.
I am resting as much as I can (bar nappy changes, minimal carrying of DD downstairs and sitting playing with DD). I overdid things earlier in the week - a bit of laundry, washing up and pottering around the house - and had mild breathlessness followed by lung pain and insomnia afterwards, so scaled back my activities again. I’m now scared to tests my limits again.
Fortunately both my just-turned 7 month old DD and my DH have not been unwell but I have had serious worries about what would happen to my EBF DD if I was hospitalised with this illness. Recovering from Covid-19 whilst EBF and DD waking every 1, 2 or 3 hours at times has sometimes felt like the fight of my life. Fortunately DD’s nighttime sleep has just started to settle down into mainly 3-4 stretches again.
I saw GP in weeks 3 and 6 since onset of breathlessness (weeks 5 and 7 since onset of cold symptoms). They are fairly sure I have had Covid-19. Listened to chest both times - all sounded normal. Blood oxygen levels were normal both times. Heart rate was a bit raised the second time, but GP said this could be because of being sleep deprived and running on adrenaline. Hmmm. GP said they would be unlikely to refer me for another X-ray at this time. Second GP suggested I might be suffering from anxiety and referred to ongoing pain in my lungs as a ‘twinge’.
DH and I have been able to access an antigen swab test this week. Negative for both.
I am just-turned 37 years old, very slim, previously fit and healthy, no pre-existing medical conditions. Had been EBF without multivitamin for myself (only drops for baby) though as suspected Pregnacare was exacerbating reflux issues in DD a few months back (she’s fine now). Also chronically sleep-deprived, so that probably hasn’t helped.
What’s helped (possibly!) - Resuming taking Pregnacare 3 weeks ago, soluble Vitamin C since 3 weeks ago.