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.

Evening, or is it afternoon? Who knows? Time means very little these days.
I received an email from my local private hospital. I’ve been once to see a GP so must be on their mailing list. They’re offering an antibody test for £75 and said it’s 99% accurate. They’re a legit hospital but does it sound too good to be true?

Hello
First of all thank you to everyone for posting their symptoms and I hope you are all feeling a bit better each day.

I was wondering if anyone had the same ride as me? In February my sister returned from holiday with typical cough etc but it was so early we never connected it with Corona. Then I had really weird achy body Inc legs and arms...and a very red face one day! Then a few weeks later I had an upset stomach and now my temp has spiked and my throat glands are very swollen.

If it is all connected then it has lasted over two months!

Does anyone think this could be Corona or do you think it is just various other things and I am joining dots that are not there?

Thanks for reading !

It could be corona @oliphantitus I've had the red hot face thing on and off for weeks, it's only just starting to die down.
I'd speak to your GP though, to get a temp after so long could be a secondary infection.

I've felt a bit rough this afternoon. A bit nauseous and jumpy. I'm also shaky and lightheaded. I can't get a handle on my body temperature today at all. Am I hot? Am I cold? Am I both? Who knows?
Hopefully I'll feel a bit better tomorrow.
I just thought with being so clearly albeit slowly getting better I wouldn't be feeling this dodgy now.

I hope you get some reassuring and thorough results @fedupofbed

@fedupofbed please will you let us know what tests they do privately for you? I think that would be useful to know what to ask for should I decide to go that route! I have already had quite a lot of tests but am still getting the heart area pain and because of the other symptoms (palpitations and racing heart) am not convinced it is just costochondritis.

@fedupofbed please do report back, it would be useful to know. I was given beta blockers for anxiety early on during this whole thing but scared to take them when my heart is acting up in such a weird way...

Thank you crayfish, I agree, it could be tonsillitis or just run down! X

@fedupofbed I’d also be really interested to know what they do and how you get on. Hope the appointment goes well.

@longshot and @mumlurker I've been fitted with an R test monitor which records my heart rate and rhythm over a week. I'm also booked in for another ECG, an echocardiogram, antibody test (£135) and then I'll meet with the consultant.

Previous to this my GP suggested beta blockers but then changed his mind as he couldn't be sure if my current breathlessness is asthma related.

Re the red cheeks thing, I was feeling utterly shit recently and had a phone GP appt that turned into video consult.
GP: ‘oh! Well that’s really good, at least you’ve got some colour in your cheeks, that’s a good sign’.

Me:

@Haenow that interesting! Which hospital is it? £75 also seems quite cheap. I would be tempted but so many people are getting negatives who seem to have all the symptoms etc. I’m scared to do one unless it’s been verified. I’m scared to do one even if it has been despite every covid symptom going having been in this house!

Fishflakes😲 that doesn't fill you with confidence!!!

@fedupofbed Inwould be really interested to hear what your tests show.

This is a bastard virus. Breathing has been so much better the last 3 days, almost normal. And now, tonight, my throat is sore again and my ears hurt and cough, cough, cough. I mean - I prefer it this way, but really? Am I seriously supposed to go round again?

@porcupineinwaiting
It's so cruel. Every time I think I'm getting better I get so happy and hopeful and then I sink again. Armpits have been sore again today, I tried to go for a walk very slowly but my pulse decided to shoot to 140 so I gave up.
I'm on the verge of giving up.
How fucking long??????

I'm on day 63, although I had 12 days of temperature before that, which may or may not have been the same thing, as my DD2 (8) had an upper respiratory infection which I may have caught from her. Either way, it's been horrific. I've been coughing all through this, with thick mucus blocking my airways and led to my DH calling 999 a couple of times. My oxygen levels were low but not low enough to go into hospital.

I've also had recurring nausea, which doctors have treated with antibiotics and anti nausea medication. It stops it for a while but it constantly comes back. As does the temperature and chest pain. I've taken so much paracetamol and prescribed codeine.

I'm honestly almost past caring and am adjusting to this new reality. We can cope because my DH works from home (he has asthma so this is a good thing) and minds our 2 DDs (11 and 8) as best he can. They're struggling with this new reality where they can't see their friends or their Grandmas (80 and 79).

That was therapeutic!! Thank you for this thread!

Day 54 bad day yesterday and not great today

Positive- did some cooking and am on top of housework

The headache is really annoying

There is an article on huff post UK about fatigue after corona, I won’t link but you can find it if you wish. Yet again based on the BMJ Blog by Prof Paul Garner, they’ve emailed him some more questions. Could be triggering if you’re anxious.

@mittens030869
That sounds really awful

Day 52/53. Tired and headachy but let’s see what the day brings. I find I have much better days when I take an extra antihistamine and a couple of paracetamols.

Sorry to everyone who had bad days yesterday.

I know what you mean @Mittens030869 about just having to accept this as the new reality. It feels like there is no point hoping for improvement because our hopes are always dashed .

Oh @Crayfishforyou @Mittens030869 @Porcupineinwaiting so sorry to hear it's still awful. It will get better - just hang in there.
I've just posted an angry post on another thread - so many sneering people trivialising COVID and mocking people for worrying about it. I went in there with a long post about how although it may be low risk to die from it, there are increasing numbers of us who have been ill six weeks and (much) more. Now I'm feeling better I'm so angry!!!

Hi everyone, absolutely no idea if I'm 70 days, 49 days, 7 days or what! All I know for sure is that around last week in Feb I got sick and things went from bad to worse throughout March and I'm finding 'the new normal' quite scary now. In the last week my symptoms have intensified with a vengeance. Over the long weekend I thought I was in hay-fever hell, but by yesterday morning I was so beaten down by the 24/7 sneezing and nose-blowing and aching burny lungs that I realised I was still dealing with the same beast, and those antibiotics from A&E weeks ago didn't catch the bastard. So GP has prescribed me more doxycycline, starting with 3 double doses. Slept for about 5.5 hrs and was up at 6.30, which hasn't happened in ages! Lungs very sore for the first hour but after a 3rd double dose of doxy, 1000mg vit c, some fruit and porridge and a sit in the sunniest room in my flat I'm starting to feel less sore. Planning to attempt vacuuming my living room once my neighbours are up and about, have a short walk at some point this morning (just round the block), and the only other thing I have to do today is prepare and eat my meals. Otherwise I'll take it v easy, rest up and take whatever pain medication I need throughout the day, as well as more vit c and my evening dose of the antibiotic. GP suggested pneumonia again and tests next week if this medicine doesn't work. In the meantime if things worsen I'm to call 111 for A&E. Oh joy

Apologies for rarely posting. Most days it's all I can do to read a couple of pages of the thread. Thinking of all those still posting through their suffering, and so pleased for those of you really getting better. I want to be you! 😄

I’ve reached the day 50 milestone today which is a strange feeling. Have woken up with bad chest pain, back pain, hoarse throat and am completely exhausted again. Think I overdid it a little yesterday after 3 pretty good days but it’s strange as it’s not as if I was really doing that much yesterday. Just moving around the house a bit more, making a few more things in the kitchen and sitting in the car to drop off some things to my DM’s front door. Do anyone else’s chest pains get so much worse when going over bumps when in the car? Ouch. I also find that carrying things that are just a hint too heavy (or wide in size so I have to use certain chest muscles) will cause immediate chest pain and sob. Oh well, just going to keep hoping it’ll get better as I’m definitely better than I was 2 weeks ago. Hope you all had an ok night

Good morning. I have been in and out of the thread. It's day 56 here and I am still dipping in and out of symptoms. I felt a lot better a week ago but now again feeling aches and pains and worse alternating between chills and flushed face. Anyone else still having those symptoms?I had my bloods done over a week ago and everything was normal but I really feel like I want to monitor them weekly to see what is going on with my body!!

My heart rate also rockets on any activity. 100 on walking around and 120 plus on climbing the stairs. Does anyone know why that is? I have privately had a 24 hour ECG tracing and echo and will find out results this week from the consultant. I will report back!

@user34254356 can I ask whether you needed a GP referral to access a private cardiologist or whether you were able to refer yourself directly? I think I need a 24-hour ECG and echocardiogram

@baroqueandblue, sorry to hear you're having a difficult time. At least you have a pro active GP who seems to have a plan.

I too have the burning lung back pain which seems to be getting worse. I have Doxycycline but the GP said to take it only if I have a chest cough etc which I haven't had. I'm ringing the British Lung Foundation today to see if there's any advice they can offer as I am very tight chested/short of breath too. About Day 45 for me.

@user34254356, re; raised heart beat - I'd like to know too as I'm the same as you. In my case I wonder whether the heart is having to work harder to pump the blood around as I'm so tight chested and short of breath. Would be interested to hear your results if you don't mind sharing.

I'm hoping a better day will follow a bad night.
The vivid exciting dreams are back which had me waking up with a racing pounding heart.
I haven't had that for weeks.