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 😕

Ad not as

@Lightsabre
He wrote that there is no doubt that I had a viral infection but it was 'really unlikely' to have been Covid. So of course it would be that other random virus doing the rounds with the same timeline and symptoms. I haven't told my GP yet - can't face it today.

Thank you for the information @Egghead68 that makes more sense. How is your heart rate these days?

@fedupofbed
I remember all your early posts. No way did you not have covid! What else at that time would have had the exact same symptoms? So frustrating.

Day 70 something for me, I need to check my phone to get the correct day.
Full body fatigue. Wading through treacle 😭
Weird stabbing pains in my arm pit and round my flank on the same side and stabbing pain in my lower left abdomen.
I took piriton this morning as it definitely helps with my nose and throat symptoms. I actually woke up with red, mucusy eyes this morning.
Still feel faint when I get up and sweat on exertion.
Acid reflux was BAD last night.
Just fed up really.

Oh and I asked my surgery to do an antibody test and they said they can't even get them for their own staff yet.

I've noticed week 8 seems to be problematic for a few people. Myself, a friend with similar symptoms who I'd been in close contact with beforehand, and a lot of posts on here seem to talk about a bit of a relapse 2 months in.

That's a really interesting T-cells video @Egghead68 especially if it means we may be protected against the next crazy virus doing its rounds.

Do many of you feel that your household also have had this or not? My DH had a really bad bout of something in February, but kids have been fine. I havent isolated in the house away from them.

@Egghead68 I get the frustration. Doctors have such an attitude, you can’t “question” them otherwise you’re anxious, or you’re over-invested in google/internet theories if you challenge them. Walk in with science and facts set out, or notes, and they get on the defensive. I just don’t know how it’s still like this in these modern times.

@letsbesensible

Here's a smashing quote from my GP:
"You're going to have to learn to manage your anxiety without accessing the health services". Wait! Isn't anxiety a health issue, with physical symptoms?

@AndsLee and fellow Scots there is a call. For case studies in Scotland on slack

Here's the request

Scotland folk - I've just spoken to a journalist and the editor for Scotland on Sunday who is desperate to write a piece about long term sufferers. She can't believe my story and the lack of coverage and GP help. She's completely fired up to write an article. It would help if there was one more Scotland based case study. She is particularly interested in anyone who has had secondary pneumonia with little medical help, but happy to speak to anyone really especially if you were written off as 'anxious'. She's absolutely raging on our behalf.

If you're happy to talk to her please could you message me and I'll send you over her contact details. She's keen to talk tomorrow.

For UK wide she thinks once it's posted up in Scotland it will run big time in the rest of the UK. Here's hoping something will come of this. Xx

@godhelpusall

Ta... :) xxx

@AndsLee that's awful what your doctor said!

@ofwarren sorry you're having such a bad day, with such a nasty array of symptoms 💐

My test was negative. I think I should have gotten it done about 5 days earlier though really.

@fedupofbed
A couple of weeks later when I felt stronger I called him on it... It wasn't my GP, but the senior partner in the practice. I was surprised he called me that 2nd time actually. He didn't apologise, but seemed to take my complaint onboard. I worked as a lecturer for a few years, still do bits and pieces here and there in my current role, so more than happy to argue my point. I just wasn't physically strong enough to do it there and then. But...I got my "day" eventually.

@fedupofbed thanks for asking - my heart rate is still rubbish unfortunately. They finally moved my referral request to my nearby hospital today 12 days after they said they would (I’ve chased 7 times).

@godhelpusall

Sent an email.:)

Oh I'm sorry @Egghead68 that's rotten 💐. And so exhausting having to chase. It took a few emails to get my antibody test back.

@fedupinbed when i was in a hospital for tests last week the consultant i spoke to had been through a similar up and down journey with suspected covid. She mentioned that many of her colleagues based elsewhere who were being tested were getting negatives despite classic symptoms.

Just to clarify this was the antibody tests.

@godhelpusall that’s brilliant, I’m not in Scotland but I’m half Scottish so doubly excited. I’m glad the journalist is “raging” on our behalf!
@AndsLee glad you got to call him/them on it... I have years of CFS interactions with know-all Drs (not all doctors) I was surprised to see in the stories of men who have long tail covid that they were getting the old “anxiety” line thrown at them, thought it was reserved for women.

@Egghead68 I think the NHS re-opened today, as I was offered an afternoon blood test OR to get it done at the hospital (which is nearer than GP) I guess the moral of the story is if you can spend 4-5 weeks getting the run around and being told no, one day you might get a yes?

@godhelpusall it’s great about the journalist. The word is getting out there.

@AndsLee bloody hell. I’d be complaining about that if they wrote your symptoms off as anxiety rather than doing any investigations.

@Letsbesensible - I didn’t post clearly! My last A&E doctor, my GP and lung specialist think this can only be covid, so they are agreeing with me. Earlier medical staff did try to push the anxiety line a bit though.

@Monty6 the swab tests are thought to miss around 30% of positive cases.

@ofwarren sorry you are having a grotty day. Your today sounds a bit like my yesterday. I hope tomorrow is better.

@fedupofbed your symptoms sound like everyone else on here’s to me. I really can’t believe there are two viruses with identical weird symptoms and time courses going around.

Hi @Egghead68 - i realised my earlier post was unclear. The doctor was referring to the antibody tests which are starting to be made available to the medical profession.

Sorry @Monty6 you did say and I missed it. Thank you for clarifying again. That’s interesting. There are increasing numbers of reports of people who test positive on the swab test and later negative on the antibody test too. It seems that the immune response is quite complicated and variable.