COVID Lungs 8wks plus

[baroqueandblue]

Saw the previous thread is almost full. Hope I've not duplicated a new thread! And I might not be the best person to be custodian of this one, so feel free someone else to start a replacement and I'll get this deleted. Otherwise -

Here we all are, at least 56 days plus 😕

I can’t tell what is real again. Everything I am experiencing could have anxiety as an explanation

I felt horribly sick all night, I’ve been having an off stomach for a few days now. I’m not sure what is setting it off, if anything.
Had a few heart palpitations this morning, but at least the fear has worn off for now.
The dizziness I’ve had nearly every day for 9 weeks seems to be retreating more and more as well. I will take that as a small victory

Anxiety is high for me today too.
I'm worried that I picked up the virus from the doctors surgery yesterday as I've not been tested and cannot be certain it was covid that I had 2 months ago.
I coughed earlier and my nose and throat feel tingly. I'm so scared to go through it all again.
I've just emailed my doctor's to see if they can add the antibody test on to my bloods on Wednesday, now that they are allowed to do it for anyone.
If they don't I'll have to pay for one or I'll be anxious till 2 weeks has gone and I know I don't have it.

Coffee and alcohol are both only tolerable in small amounts for me. Mainly as they increase anxiety.
I'm trying to follow an anti inflammation diet, red wine is ok in moderation, so is dark chocolate. Lots of veg and very little bread and processed foods. I'm trying to be led by what I feel like and to stop if something feels like it isn't helping.

Hi guys. Day 74 here and (hoping I'm not jinxing myself) I'm really starting to think I'm very much through the worst of it. I'm not fully better by any means. I still have some chestwall inflammation and I need to take the medication for GERD (though a half dose to try and avoid constipation). My sternum and right upper back are very easily irritated. I'm still feeling the effects of the gardening I did on Wednesday there, in a way that would never have happened in normal life. The inflammation is there, even on days I can't feel it and is very easily inflamed again. But it's in a way that feels normal. What I'm not finding is that if I inflame it, I have a relapse over the next few days like what had been happening for the last 2 months.

So what I'm assuming is that the immune response is over. It seems as if my body is no longer acting as if aggravating inflammation or raising my heart rate is an attack. I still have a way to go but I am adding more and more bursts of cardio activity to my day, while protecting my chestwall as much as possible. I feel that apart from the times that I can't help but aggravate the inflammation, the rest of my recovery should hopefully be more linear. I'm not there yet but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Yay @Alittleprivacy!!

That's great @alittleprivacy !

Thanks guys. I'm terrified I've jinxed myself now. I'm not superstitious but terrified of going downhill again. I was 100% sure I was better at the start of April, I felt much better then than I do now, and the relapse was enormous. So I guess I really won't now if this recovery period is real until it's way in the past.

@KatySun - sorry to hear you are also dealing with tummy problems in your house. I have also wondered about gluten free or dairy free to see if they help my son. He is such a picky eater I haven’t attempted It yet.

@Toptottie24 - sorry to hear about your scan. It must have been a shock. Sending best wishes.

@Tangledyarn, @longshot - good to hear you are making progress.

Really good news @AlittlePrivacy !

@alittleprivacy, do good to hear your news.

@Crayfishforyou and @Whatnext2018, anxiety is a dreadful thing also - I had it four years ago when going through a very difficult patch in my life. There are some similarities- I found meditation helped but it only went when the sources of stress went. Hopefully as your physical health returns, the anxiety will lessen. There are a few people on this and previous threads that have started anti anxiety meds.

@JaggedHedge, interested to hear about your steroid experience as I'm still breathless and it feels as if there is a vice around my upper chest/torso. It's probably all inflammation still but I'm thinking of asking for steroids to see if they'll make a difference. My GP was reluctant to give these to me last week - just adopting a wait and see approach. Can I ask which one you've tried please? I have very little experience of asthma - I have a Ventoljn inhaler which hasn't done anything for me.

@baroqueandblue, really sorry to hear about your fracture and I hope you get the medical help you need to deal with all of this. We'll miss you on the threads - hoping you come back and let us know you are well, whenever that might be!

One positive thing for me today is that I haven't had to take any painkillers so far for the first time in 9 weeks. I've been so worried about being on continuous paracetamol and anti inflammatory gel. I'm tight chested and have the armpit aches/back pain but it's slightly eased off as long as I keep fairly still and rested. I'll put some ibuprofen gel on my back later on as it seems to be worse in the evenings.

@fedupofbed that is great news that your GP is rolling out antibody testing. Whereabouts in the country are you? My GP surgery has been useless and so I am not very hopeful they would offer it to me even if they had a stash of antibody tests sitting in their drawer. I will ask though. From comparing notes it seems my area is the slowest in making changes even though I live next door to King's College hospital.

Can i also ask what you saw the chiropractor for? I am having quite a few muscular issues or so I think. I was wondering if I should reach out to one too.

@ofwarren if you are worried about having been reinfected then it may be better for you to do the antigen swab rather than antibody test? Might be worth doing both. For the swab you can get a home kit if you go to the government testing website.

@Lightsabre that is great news!!

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all feeling a little better and enjoying the lovely warm weather.
Yesterday was definitely a shock!!
But hey ho I’m sure it’s nothing sinister.
Will let you all know.
As for the lingering Covid for the past 9 wks I’m feeling better (yay!) so hopefully it’s on it’s way out.
But I seem to get a few days of feeling better then feel rough again.
Thank you for all your kind words 😊

@user34254356 I am in the South East.

I thought about the chiropractor when I was having the continual jittery 'fight or flight' feelings. I kept reading about the role of the vagus nerve. I wouldn't necessarily have thought about a chiropractor but she's hugely experienced and helped my family a lot in the past. I spoke with her and she has done a lot of work with people with CFS. She talked about working on my parasympathetic system and then spent most of the session working on the area around my neck. Afterwards I felt very tired and a bit 'floaty'. I've no idea how it works but it seemed to make a difference the next day. It will be interesting to see how it goes again next week.

@longshot absolutely with you on the benefits of mindfulness / meditation.

I upped my practice about a week ago to 5 or 6 10-15 min sessions per day and the difference to my heart and mood has been amazing.

One session is more refreshing for my mind and body than laying on the sofa for hours.

@Toptottie24 I'm glad at least that the covid symptoms are disappearing.

@MillStone you have inspired me. Could you or anyone else on here recommend any good introductory resources/ videos for someone who's never done it before?

@fedupofbed thanks. That is useful to know
, hope your next session goes well.

@millstone i would also be grateful for any suggestions for a beginner

@Lightsabre my prevented inhaler is a Clenil Modulite (Beclometasone) and it took about a week to make a difference. I rung GP as my chest was permanently tight across the top and some days i was still feeling like i had to gasp for breath. She said it was quite likely that I could have developed post viral asthma, especially as I have hayfever.

I noticed after a few days I could actually inhale properly to the bottom of my lungs - hadn't realised before that I couldn't

Interesting about GPs starting to offer an antibody test. I did the finger prick Abbott test but it was negative - but at 9 weeks as I understand it, it could be less sensitive. Does anyone know if its the Roche test they have?

@user34254356 @fedupofbed

Great

If you’re new to mindfulness you probably can’t go wrong with starting on Calm or Headspace. They’re the giants of app mindfulness.

They are both good, cover all bases and there’s loads of content in each. Maybe try the free versions and see which you prefer. Both probably offer a trial.

The benefit of these is that they can introduce the basics and teach you the process.

After that and when you get an idea for the type of practice you enjoy you can look for guided meditations elsewhere and work on your own guided practice.

Thank you @MillStone, I should have thought of those myself. They're both on my phone, but yet to be used!

Anyone feel faint after eating?
At first I thought I was going to be sick, then get diarrhea. It didn't happen but I just feel really dizzy and faint.

@millstone thanks. I have both including subscriptions as i tried their sleep stories. Those didn't work but will try the mindfulness sections.

Hi all,
Temp is high for me, almost 37, I’m generally 36 or even a bit lower, would you be concerned?