COVID lungs 7 weeks plus/ 49 days plus plus

[pinkoneblueone]

New thread,

I won't be a very good host as I tend to dip in and out of these things but have filled up the last thread. (Sorry)

@AndsLee

Yes me too exactly and I’ve wondered about fluid in my lungs. For weeks they felt dry and dusty and full of candy floss. Only a few days ago I said to someone they now feel wet and foggy. I’m also coughing a lot and they feel restricted.

I bought a nose spray last week but the instructions said don’t use with heart palpitations. I mentioned this to my GP and he threw a steroid one on to my prescription. The Olbas one was okay but didn’t last the night. It’s good though.

@Moodgie what bloods were they?

Oh, sorry. It was @fedupofbed that mentioned about the puffy hands... apologies... I also still have brain fog.

@MillStone I tried Beconase a couple of time to no avail. I felt it irritated my nose rather than helped. I am such a woose when it comes to meds, and try and avoid them. I've been prescribed Vallium, Betablockers and Prozac during this 8 week stint, and really all I want is a proper examination.

@Sunshinespacecadet

Sorry to read about your ordeal.

When you were diagnosed with Bilateral pleural effusion, was that something shown on the xray and did they advise you on what to do about it?

There were 1 or 1 tiny white streaks on mine too but the Dr said it’s nothing, just calcification.

@MillStone and others on steroids, particularly for the first time - are they effective please? Are the side effects bad? How long are you on them for? Just wondering whether to discuss using them with my GP.

@fedupofbed I had lots, I had the first batch two weeks ago which were standard ones I think. This week I had lots of tubes taken, full blood count again, d-dimer and some antibody ones like lupus I think (not covid antibody). Waiting for a couple to come back, they are about the blood being too thin I was told.

Sorry, @godhelpusall, the above post is answering to you.

Great news @Moodgie.

Good luck in A&E @baroqueandblue.

I’m pretty tired today and having to rest every half hour. Going to try to do my 5,000 steps and work for 4 hours with breaks though.

@Lightsabre

I’m only using a steroid nose spray unblocker because the over the counter one I bought contains something that can make heart palpitations worse. I think it’s fairly harmless for a week or two. Probably just pollen but it was making sleeping and SOB much worse so worth a try. As I mentioned Olbas do a nice natural one but it was only lasting a little time. I’ll stick with it though.

@AndsLee I hate meds too! Before this don’t think I’d had a paracetamol for 5 years. In the past few months I’ve had antibiotics twice, acid reflux medication called omozoleesomething, which I stopped after 3 days because it was horrible... and for the past few days 2 beta blocker pills which knocked me out and gave me blue toes. I think I’m too sensitive for meds so I will go back to my holistic approach with the odd pain killer.

Thanks @MillStone. I'm trying Omeprazole for a few weeks. I had Propranalol beta blockers a few years ago when I went through an anxious time (lots of situational stress). It was awful - I felt like I was suffocating so gave up after 3 doses. I'm so sensitive to medication hence I'm a bit scared of steroids but I think another poster has used them and they do help with SOB. I'll discuss with my GP and feedback.

@Lightsabre I'm taking racitidene rather than omprazole... They seem to be less harsh. Other than that... Like I was saying, a simple examination would remedy my anxiety.

So many are being diagnosed with, let's face it, are relatively serious issues, over the phone. I have had to fight the urge to scream "how do you know though??" a couple of times.

@Egghead68 please be careful. I am day 71 now and just hopped back on as have had a big relapse the last to few days. Fever, high HR, aches and exhaustion. Pretty much but back in bed. If your body is tired don’t do anything.

Last week I was doing 5000-7000 steps, working a few hours a day and looking after the kids on and off this week I’m how I was In week 4.

Please please pace yourself and if at any point you think ‘maybe I shouldn’t’ just stop and don’t. I didn’t even do ‘that much’ but it was clearly too much too soon and my body was telling me it was a bit tired.

I have realised I am no way going to be getting my life back gradually over a few weeks. I’ve got to do pretty much nothing for 3 months and then re-assess!

@Lightsabre please can I ask what the Omeprazole was proscribed for? I was prescribed it a few weeks ago but I’m not really sure why. I think it was for chest pain and heart sensations.

@longshot @Egghead68 I'm on day 61 now and back in bed since being fine since last Friday.

I gradually built up my walks, did a bit more work, then ended yesterday doing a full day at work followed by a long walk, then what I thought was going to be socially distanced drinks in my front garden.

I knew when I was back from my walk it was going to be too much, and last night had a sore throat. Today sneezing my head of, and needing to spend the day lying down.

My neighbour who came for the drink is the one who passed on COVID to me in the first place. When she arrived last night she just walked right into my house and stood next to me in the kitchen. I said I'm still socially distancing (meaning please go outside) but she just took a step back I had to finally say please go outside. Then she tried really hard to cheers my glass with hers.

Feeling terrible now. She had a go at me saying there's no point staying far apart as we've both had it. But I said I want to follow the rules.

Finally I said maybe it's fine as we've both been isolated at home for 8 weeks. At which she said she's been going into London on the tube!!!

I'm furious at her and myself!!!

@longshot so sorry to hear that! I’ve been following your recovery. Hope you’re back up soon

@longshot sorry to hear about the relapse.
I’d agree you will have to look at recovering over a few months and it’s really sensible that you recognise that. F-ing annoying and frustrating for you though.
The thing I’ve found with pacing is that the tendency is to look at where you “need” to be, and reduce it, to build it back to where you used to be. This is the wrong approach. You need to look at where you have been recently and stay at that kind of level and increase it slightly for a week or so to see if that’s ok, then look at increasing again.
It sounds so simple, but (and I’ve been there soooooo many times) we have “stuff” we “have” to do. Work, families, shopping, housework. It really conspires to pushing you to overdo it. Added to the underlying BS we all buy into that exercise is good, you need to push yourself, don’t give up, don’t let yourself go, don’t be lazy.

@eyebrowsofinstagram and @longshot sorry about the relapses. Do you definitely think it's overdoing it?

Hey everyone

I posted on the last thread that I had done an antibody test after being ill for several weeks in March. I just had my results and they show negative. Tbh I'm gutted because I was hoping to have some immunity to this virus.
I am still having problems (burning lungs, tiredness, palpitations).
If I didn't have the virus then wtf did I have?

@longshot really sorry to see you back, in the nicest possible way! After my morning, I'd echo what you've just said - this is going to be slooooow.

I was seen after waiting about 90 minutes. Everyone at the hospital was lovely and they didn't seem that busy, but it took time nevertheless.

My oxygen level was around 98, heart rate fine, temperature fine. Doctor didn't even take my BP, just listened to my chest and said it was absolutely clear. However, he was very sympathetic and told me that among health professionals now this post-viral effect is an open secret. He said they don't understand it yet but it's definitely real and he wasn't surprised to hear that I was still in a lot of pain and feeling congested and short of breath. Except, well, I suppose it isn't S.O.B in my case, more that my lungs feel stuffy and sore and so I get anxious that I can't get proper breaths down. I mean, this morning I woke up and my nose was blocked and for a minute or two I was terrified I would suffocate. I'm sure it woke me and I'd barely been asleep 3 hours. (Had trouble getting off because the heat was making it harder for me to feel I was getting a decent breath.) And then the back muscles are still painful because they're inflamed and I'm congested and working harder to breathe. Anyway, he was adamant that I shouldn't take any more antibiotics, which is fine by me. Didn't mention steroids and I didn't think to ask, but I know it's something I can ask the GP for if I think it might help.

On the other hand, he did agree that I should have an xray of my thoracic spine and said it would show up any problems with the lungs too, if there's anything remarkable to see. So I went to Imaging and had that done, they said to call my GP on Wednesday for the results. The radiographer ladies were lovely and I think they would've said if there was anything concerning to see, but I don't know that for sure.

Well, I'm glad my chest and SATS are good. Not in as much pain and managed to eat a good lunch when I got back, so fingers crossed this is another blip and I'll get through it. Still shattered, going to try to sleep this afternoon.

Thank you everyone for thinking of me

Thanks @longshot and @eyebrowsofinstagram. You are both right. It is so hard to do enough that you don’t completely stagnate but not enough to trigger relapses. I was trying to avoid boom and busting by doing 5-6K steps a day irrespective of how I feel but I will cut this down to 1K. I am sorry you are both relapsing. I am pretty exhausted today although at the moment don’t feel ill otherwise (touch wood). Thanks too @letsbesensible. Very true.

@MillStone, the Omeprazole was prescribed as I had a raw windpipe/throat feeling all the way down. The GP thought it might be silent reflux ie; stomach acid working its way up my throat. I'm not so sure as the rawness feeling comes on in the evenings mostly - I'm beginning g to think it's something to do with the effort of talking throughout the day.

I do sometimes wonder whether we would have relapses whether or not we exercised or not. It is hard to tell.

In other news I am waiting on my antibody tests. What’s the betting? My money is on a negative result - all the “it’s just anxiety”s will have a field day.

@baroqueandblue I am glad the A&E visit was reasonably reassuring and that the doctor was aware of these long-term problems. I hope your X-Ray is clear.

@Lightsabre thanks yes mine was for that reason too. Hope it works out for you.