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.

Hi,

I got sick about a week before lockdown began, was not great for a week or so, but then felt better, only for symptoms to return after 3 weeks, with worse chest pain and a sinus headache. These symptoms ebb and flow, some days are ok, some are not.

I already have a diagnosis of post viral chronic fatigue, have done for over six years, and before this had got my symptoms reasonably well managed, but this is not that. I can tell the difference between the symptoms of this illness and the chronic fatigue which I have learned to live with.

@SimpleKindofLife

I’m so sorry to read about your experience at A&E. That is not an acceptable way to treat anyone. I doubt there is anyone out there who has been ill with these strange and changing symptoms for 6 weeks and not felt anxious. If you feel as though you need to be seen please go back and get checked out. I was really worried about them saying I was anxious and it was all in my head when I went to A&E and I was very lucky to be treated with respect and taken seriously. If someone had spoken to me like that I would have probably cried and left too, so don’t feel bad xxx

@Calyx72, how are you getting on now?

Hiya Lightsabre thanks for asking
Feeling lots better, still tired/low energy but thinking that's probably because I am doing hee haw really.
I am hoping to go back to work (NHS in the community) tomorrow or Friday for a few hours and do a phased return over the next couple of weeks
Hope you're doing better too x

I’ve only just found this thread. I’ve also only just found out that I’ve probably had it starting... 80-90 days ago. I had to look at my work calendar to work this out. I got sick at the time where they only entertained the idea you had it if you’d been to mainland China and I hadn’t.
I had breathlessness and severe fatigue for a month and battled to be taken seriously apart from one nice doctor in A&E who thought I showed all the characteristics of a viral chest infection except for the cough.
I did eventually get the dry cough around week 5/6 and then thought I’d recovered.
Symptoms crept back again over the last week or two and I’ve had a private consultation and he is confident I’ve had covid and that I caught it in Feb (he doesn’t believe the governments position on this) and that relapses like mine are not uncommon (sorry).
Gah 😩

Good to hear you're ready to return to work @Calyx72 - it's nice to hear good news.

I'm feeling stronger in myself but can't seem to shift the tight chest and breathlessness on activity so a long way from returning to work I fear. Still have that searing upper back pain too.

Hi all day 50 (don’t feel like celebrating) since the fever first hit. Just had call from GP after I was referred for a chest X-ray last week due to chest pain continuing after 6 weeks. Apparently I STILL have infection in my left lung. Have had 3 lots of antibiotics already but the last was 3 weeks ago so I’m being given another different one and an inhaler for daily use. They can’t say whether it’s bacterial or from viral pneumonia though and I’m still not eligible for testing. I haven’t posted for a few days as was pootling along hoping it was gradually going as I’m generally up and about and able to do short walks with the kids. At least this explains the up and down breathlessness though (and means it’s not all in my head!). As a fit, healthy and active 42 year old, I did not anticipate this dragging me down for so long, it’s so depressing and I desperately want to be better.

I am hitting the 8 week mark and took another dip yesterday. Temperature back up (as ever by less than 1 degree), but feeling feverish and very cold. Chest pains and tightness more prominent again. Also more noticeable shortness of breath although not worryingly so. It does feel like a never ending cycle at the moment. Hoping my body figures something out soon, either how to fight off the virus for good if it is still lurking or to work out it doesn’t need to keep protesting about a long-gone enemy. I would love to understand why it is taking some of us so long to recover. Out of interest is anyone else getting very sore eyes? It is my latest new symptom.

Glad to hear some people sound like they might be properly on the mend. Best wishes to all those still suffering.

Day 50 here too. Yay!!!! [not]

I'm feeling worse than yesterday. The first few hours of sleep last night were dreadful. I had to change my pjs twice due to sweat. I did get about 5 good hours after the second pj change though. That's not a new (to covid) symptom for me as that's happened to me for over 15 years when I'm sick. I woke up with a return of some chest inflammation and sort of phlegmy/nasaly which is making my breathing feel worse than it is. I've just done some nasal irrigation, so hopefully that will clear up a bit.

I've just done some of the lung exercises I did toward the end of my initial illness and the nurse in the videos put in words some of what's going on with my breathing. Even when the inflammation goes down my diaphragm and upper back muscles are tense and prevent me from breathing properly when I otherwise could. When I have chest and lung inflammation, by necessity I breathe wrong in order to take air in. So even once the inflammation eases, the muscles used in healthy breathing are just all wrong and I need to relearn healthy breathing all over. The tension in my upper back is absolutely unreal and it's making breathing hurt. It's not necessarily my lungs anymore.

The tricky part is getting the balance between exercising enough to ease out my muscles and bring back some cardiovascular health without retriggering the inflammation. I ended up crazy lightheaded doing the lung exercises but my SATS stayed at 99/100. I've had short rest and lots of water. So I'm going to chance a short walk with focussed breathing. I felt massively better after doing that yesterday. But we all know that the good feeling after some exercise can be a complete mirage with this fucking disease, so I truly don't know if I'm going to help myself or tip myself back into fully fledged relapse!!!!

Day 48 here but think I'll join because I suspect I'll still be needing the thread by tomorrow!

I must have the most chilled out drs in the world, reading back a lot of people have had various tests, I'm in week 9 and I've still had nothing despite having quite bad asthma. I'm not sure whether its worth asking for a chest xray? Am assuming that it wouldn't necessarily make any difference to treatment now as have already had a course of antibiotics and am now on steroids.

@Booboostwo Hi similar here. On day 50ish. My symptoms are hourly on and off. I had better morning today but developed breathlessness, headaches, dizziness and back pain just before noon and resting in bed now. I am so fed up.

@SimpleKindofLife
That is appalling.
The first time I went to A&E I was written off like that. The second time, yesterday, my GP sent me. I was shaking I was so scared of being treated like that again, but they couldn't have been nicer.

I'm feeling a bit rougher than yesterday. Underarms are burning again, so my immune system is still doing something.
And the slight, unnerving buzzing tinnitus thing is here.
I'm nowhere near as dizzy and light headed as I was though and I've got through all of dd's schoolwork with her.
I think going up and down 40 steps yesterday at the hospital may have been to much for me.
Heartburn has ramped up several notches today, as has the cough.
But last night I ate dinner AND pudding. I was so full, but I didn't feel sick! That's a first.

Hi all, sending best wishes to all those who are still having a tough time.

I'm not great today either. My period started (early), was painful and disrupted my sleep, and it's all had a knock on effect. My mood's all over the place again too.

@alittleprivacy I'm very interested about what you said about not breathing properly. It really struck a chord with me and I'm convinced that's what's happening to me. Could you share a link to the videos you've been watching which explains it all?

@Thinkle sorry you've been suffering for so long. I'm getting on for day 68 I think now. I lose count. How are you at the moment? Hope your relapse is a mild one. Did the consultant have any advice, other than to rest?

@SimpleKindofLife I was appalled by your story, I'm so sorry you had such a terrible time. Hopefully it was just a one off, and you should definitely go back if you feel you need to.

This is just so bizarre.

Two years ago I was operated on for Cauda Equina a rare but dangerous complication of a slipped disc that causes neuro problems. For two years I’ve been recovering really well. Right before I started with COVID symptoms I had 3-4 days when I thought my back problems had regressed. A lot of neurological problems and pain that I hadn’t had in 18 months. I wonder if that was part of the virus as well?

Hi all, checking in on the new post. As I expected I've hit rock bottom again after a really good week. I must have overdone it. in tears this afternoon, I'm so fed up of the fatigue, breathlessness and tight chest. My husband tried reassuring me it will get better, but there's just no certainty that I will and that's what gets me. I can't run around in the garden with my kids and maybe I'll never be able to do that again 😞 sorry I can't be more positive. Day 52 maybe? Sorry haven't energy to read all the new posts but just to say @SimpleKindofLife I'm so sorry they treated you like that, that's unacceptable. Maybe go back again if you can face it.

@fedupofbed

These are the videos. The exercises, really do seem to help a lot and when she's describing what's going on, it makes so much sense to me. However bear in mind, we do have a crappy sneaky illness, so while the lingering breathing difficulty is at least in part due to "bad habits" there is a risk of relapse so even as your breathing improves take it easy!

www.youtube.com/user/lungexercise/videos

@alittleprivacy @fedupofbed I suspect my tight chest and sob is now likely due to me having forgotten how to breathe properly and sensibly post recovery. Thank you for posting the videos, I will take a look. I've been reading through this too, found it online - in case it is of use for you. Take care - we'll get there! www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/UHS-website-2019/Patientinformation/Respiratory/Breathing-pattern-disorders-patient-information.pdf

@SimpleKindofLife I am sorry you had such an awful experience in hospital. I would have been in tears too.

@thedrswife46 how are you doing?

Sorry you are having such a bad day @Moominmamma33

Thanks @Egghead68, how are you doing?

I’m worried about my heart and resting in bed, thanks @moominmamma33. I will try to speak to a doctor for advice/a cardiology referral if my symptoms haven’t settled by Friday.

Sympathies @Moominmamma33, I have also been to some dark places with whatever I have with the same thoughts as you. I think the lack of medical help, scans etc aren't helping. I'm going to start the lung exercises posted here (thanks to the posters who have linked). I think it helps if we can feel like we're doing something.

Thank you @alittleprivacy and @emoojoo I will have a look.

I'm so sorry you're having a rubbish day @Moominmamma33 . It gets too much sometimes, the sheer relentlessness of it all. Small comfort I know, but you're not alone. 💐

@fedupofbed
I feel like I’m gonna bring the mood down as (assuming I’ve had it) I’m so far ahead, but I feel terrible today. Cried earlier and currently weighing up dropping out of a work call as I’m not contributing and all I can think about is how uncomfortable my breathing is.
No specific advice from the consultant. Gonna have another conversation with him next week to discuss how I’m feeling.
I was “well” for a good month before this came back, and I didn’t overdo it at all, no real exercise, just popping to the local shop once a week.
I’m gonna go and buy something nice that I’ve discovered through Style and Beauty 😁