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 😕

Spoke to GP, he wasn’t unduly worried about any of the symptoms especially as oxygen is back up to 98. Ended up crying on the phone to the dr though as don’t I’m going to convince myself to stop worrying about it. Really struggling mentally with the thought of having this virus in my body and not knowing when/if my body has got rid of it. Dr agreed to a call back on Friday to check on progress. Has anybody used/know of any helplines specifically for support with anxiety etc related to covid19 recovery.

On the oximeter calibrating - i am interested to know too as some days mine is at 98/99 and other days it starts at 93. It can happen if your fingers are cold. At the GP mine slowly worked it's way up and she was comfortable with that as it eventually settled to 97/98. She wasn't concerned.

@user34254356 Also depends on what finger I use! So, I use both index and middle fingers to see if all four agree...

Really, I want it noted on my record so that if I am referred to out of hours with the express recommendation by NHS 24 in Glasgow that I should be seen, they will capitulate at a local level rather than dismiss this as anxiety.

@SirBale, a lot of health trusts have CBT help lines but there is often a waiting list. Some employers offer counselling through their employers assistance programmes. Or you could get a therapist privately if you can afford it. Don't rule out short term meds for anxiety either - there are a few people on here who have started to take them to help them manage. Can you get a Coronavirus swab? If it's negative, then you're post viral.

I get it. It's the not knowing that is so frustrating - not being sure you've had it, not being sure about when it's gone, not knowing whether we'll get better or if there will be long term effects. The GP's not really knowing either due to this all being so new.

@SirBale
www.anxietyuk.org.uk/coronanxiety-support-resources/

And you may want to look at:

www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips/

Home oximetry isn’t perfect so it starting low is just it calibrating. Equally, I’ve know them to start at 99 and then drop to the lower (correct) number. If you’re flickering on a lower number and it’s a matter of seconds, I’d completely disregard it. Keep the oximeter firmly on a warm finger for 5 minutes and you’ll get a much more accurate picture.
Being at the bottom of the normal range (94-100%) is absolutely fine, even if it’s not normal for you. Obviously if you have other symptoms, you absolutely shouldn’t be relying solely on it. It’s part of the picture but not the only picture. You can have a nasty bacterial chest infection with perfectly normal sats but obviously you need medical care, so it’s not all about sats. Be safe.

@Haenow

Yeah, my thoughts have always been that the initial readings are calibaration. Just unusual for me to see 93/94 on mine at all. I think in the instance of Covid, there is the "silent hypoxia" element that niggles in the back of my head. Also, having these allergy type symptoms over the last few days has been a worry for me, simply because I've never experienced them before. So, the worry about a tight chest and snorey hinderance to my breathing was heightened by seeing a reading of 94 on my oximeter.

It's all good. Spoke to GP. Calmer now. He's given me my instructions. I knoe this might sound daft, but last 3 days I have been using bar soap rather than liquid, so there does feel like there is a "film" on my skin...

I popped the meter on my right index finger just now...94. Then onto two fingers on the right hand, 99.

@AndsLee

I’m glad you’re reassured. I really don’t want people to unnecessarily worry over something when being unwell during a pandemic is worrying enough! If you are 94%, that’s perfectly ok and within normal. Even 92-94% isn’t necessarily a reason to panic.
I understand the importance of raising awareness of happy hypoxia in the media but it’s when a patient presents with low sats and otherwise appears normal. You’re really looking at unusual cases of people in the mid to low 80s (or even less) appearing ok. Also, it’s not everyone. Some Covid19 patients are very breathless. In short, do not panic. Be aware, of course.

@Haenow

That was basically what my GP said.

I'm still having very bad coughing fits, at day 105 of this illness. I'm really worried that I've had permanent damage now. I'm completely unable to do anything without becoming sweaty and breathless, which is making me feel really disheartened.

I suppose I should get advice from my GP surgery, but I'm so pessimistic about that achieving anything.

For those struggling with low level anxiety can I recommend Kalms (valerian)? Available from chemists and supermarkets and I find them pretty effective. Helps me sleep better too (although I'm still highly anxious)

I've been referred for a coronavirus test via the covid app and managed to get a home test kit. Not expecting it to be positive since no longer have typical symptoms that I had before (75 days ago) but the app wants it as a control sample I guess.

@TiddleTaddleTat I was thinking of trying Kalms too but am breastfeeding still, so am not sure if is ok 🤔
Do they just have a mild affect?

@Whatnext2018 they work pretty well for me, especially with sleep. Probably more noticeable for some people than others though

Thank you to everyone who expressed concern at my gung ho plan to discontinue sertraline altogether. I took your advice and have decided just to step the dosage down slowly.

As the OP on this continuation thread I probably ought to be responding more and I apologise for not doing so. Thing is, some of you will know I've been in a lot of pain this last 2.5 months that just hasn't gone away. I had an xray last Friday after going to A&E in desperation again. When I went at the beginning of the month the doctor said I probably had/had had the virus and gave me a choice : go through the covid ward for xrays or take antibiotics and see how I got on. I chose the latter. They did help my other symptoms a bit, but the pain continued to worsen.

So when I woke up yesterday morning my GP practice had texted to say I had a phone appointment this morning. I thought, well either they're being uncharacteristically super-efficient or something's wrong. Felt pretty unwell especially second half of yesterday then spoke to GP this morning. Turns out I've got a new spinal fracture, T6. I fractured T8 in an accident 7 years ago and the recovery was long, but at least I knew how it had happened. This time I have no clue how I fractured, it's what they call an osteoporotic fragility fracture and means my bone density has lowered significantly since my last derxa scan 2 or 3 years ago.

So I've been urgently referred to my rheumatologist at Guy's, and the surgery rang me back shortly after I'd spoken to the GP and said I've got a rheumatology appointment next Tuesday. Except they couldn't tell me if it'll be face to face or telephone triage 🤔 But well, I've put up with this shit for nearly 3 months now so at least I know I'm on their radar at last!

Whatever happens, I really believe the virus attacked me and weakened my already fragile bones. I haven't drunk for 13 yrs so it wasn't anything that happened while I was pissed and can't remember! 😄 And I wasn't exercising other than walking, around that time. I suspect I caught the virus mid Feb. I'm going to insist they put me on a list for an antibody test, if such a list exists.

My best wishes to all of you still floundering and suffering. I now question the either/or choice the A&E doc gave me at the beginning of the month, given that I mentioned my medical history and had a letter from my GP ordering an xray. When I went for the xray on Friday they looked at me like I was stupid when I asked did I have to go through the covid ward?! 😬

Ah, just had a text to say my appointment is face to face, at the Rapid Access Diagnostic Clinic next Tuesday 🤞

@TiddleTaddleTat I think I’ll give them a try if the chemist says is safe 👍

@baroqueandblue Oh no, that must be painful! At least they are sorting you now and you know what was causing the pain 💐

Has anyone/does anyone else have quite pale lips? Have noticed the last couple of days that mine look a little paler and the lip line around them stands out more. I remember having similar when pregnant 🤷‍♀️

Oh no @baroqueandblue. How painful. At least they have found it now. I hope it heals as quickly as it can and they provide you with good pain relief.

Oh @baroqueandblue you poor thing, you've been in so much pain for so long and no support! Hope they can finally help you now.

@Egghead68 thank you as ever for the fantastic resources you send us. I thought the Welsh one was particularly helpful.

I just had my first talking therapy phone appointment. It's a bit of a misnomer as there doesn't have to be lots of talking, which is great as I find phone conversations really exhausting. I talked through everything I'm going through and feeling with the practitioner. He will now meet with his supervisor and discuss strategies that they think will work for me, and get back with a plan for me next week. I got the impression that he's not particularly experienced but he listened really well and completely got what I was saying, and I like the way it's not a one size fits all approach. Just another wait now till next week! My GP suggested this but anyone can self refer:

nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/free-therapy-or-counselling/

Oh and I think someone asked about the Slack group yesterday? Here's a link:

www.wearebodypolitic.com/covid19

@baroqueandblue

Um, so this eejit played music today and in spite of many, many warnings to myself to be careful I got carried away and danced like crazy for a good 20 minutes. And I don’t exaggerate with the crazy, I was full on spins and jumps and squat bounces with lots of fast footwork and full on windmill arms. Pretty much as soon as I stopped the lump in my throat was back. I’m pretty sure I’ve just massively relapsed myself.

The worst part is, it felt fucking great and I so badly want to play more music and dance some more!!!!!

Glad my link was helpful @fedupofbed. Thanks for your links too. I hope your telephone talking therapy is helpful.

Hello everyone, just a quick update.
I think I’m day 81. Can do a daily shortish walk, but any activity in the house shows how fatigued I am, feel like an old lady, walking up the stairs and it’s like a block in my chest. Breathing issues reappear at times. Few red patches that would come and go on thighs and knees. Morning rush.

@Lightsabre

Thanks for the advice. Depending how I feel when GP phones back Friday I definitely haven’t ruled out anxiety meds. I have thought about have another saw an to see if I’m free from the virus but not sure what it would do to anxiety levels if it can back positive again.

@Egghead68 @TiddleTaddleTat

Thanks for the links and the suggestion of Kalms. I think a lot of my lingering symptoms are anxiety related.