Covid Lungs week 8 plus plus

[AndsLee]

Hope this has worked... Welcome all.

Morning all, hope you’re okay.

Today is 12wk so I thought I’d sum up symptoms / situation because I find reading other’s very useful. Hope mine will also be of interest.

For the record, 38, was very active, fit and healthy.

Week 11 saw a big improvement in some ways but little change in others.

SOB - not much improvement and my worse symptom by far. Still very bad on minor exertion. SPo2 levels fine.

Back pain / chest pain - bad especially on exertion. Lungs also feel dry, sore, bruised after prolonged activity.

Heart - big improvement. Pounding significantly less over the past 7 days. Now short daily episodes of pounding / racing but they disappear with a short rest. Heart rate is still higher than it should be during activity.

Reflux - still bad. switched from Omeprazole to Lansoprazole because the former was causing sleep disturbances. Seems to have worked. Taking twice a day because if I don’t the hard to swallow, scratchy throat and wheezy feeling returns.

Getting more dull head aches and eye pain in the past 2 weeks. This is new - and shit.

Still can’t look at a screen too long without getting motion sick / head ache - also shit.

Energy levels and fatigue have improved a lot in the past week. Still resting a LOT in the day but I don’t feel quite as debilitated - not shit.

I had the result back from my CT scan. It shows no damage to the tissue / Ground-glass opacity, but it does indicate a pulmonary embolism in the lower of 1 lung. No advice on that yet!

I have been referred to a lung / respiratory consultant and another different type of CT scan has been arranged. I believe gas is also involved in this to observe where air is getting too (needs fact checking).

Latest run of bloods bloods showed no problems again - including no autoimmune issues. One test did indicate that I had glandular some years ago which was interesting.

I have another consultation with the infectious diseases consultant soon — Probably after the new test and consultation with the respiratory Dr.

Thanks hope it’s useful or interesting info.

@Millstone is this all through the NHS or private?

Hi @Kitcat122 it’s NHS. It seems where I live there are resources available or I’ve been lucky with timings etc. Not sure how or why. I’m in South Yorkshire btw.

@MillStone have you had a positive test or a gp confirm it’s covid? So much of your post resonates - the reflux, exactly the same throat issues, and then dull headaches (mine have just started in June, but my original infection was in January!)

@Kitcat122Hi no not tested positive for c19. Following a consultation with the infectious diseases consultant it’s been marked on my records as suspected Acute Covid but unable to confirm due to lack of testing at the time and lack of accurate Antibody testing now.

Thoughts go out to all those still suffering with COVID-19. Studies have shown COVID-19 causes an electrolyte imbalance and loss of potassium, which is a common cause of arrhythmias. If your heart rate is abnormal, ask your GP to test potassium levels and take a supplement if safe to do so.

People should never have been left to self-treat a multi-system disease like this at home. Paper on hypokalemia (potassium depletion) can be found here:

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.14.20131169v2

Also, COVID-19 patients in America are increasingly being diagnosed with PoTS, so ask your GP for a diagnosis if you feel the symptoms fit:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/postural-tachycardia-syndrome/

@godhelpusall Done!

Day 92/93. Mild chest pain and high heart rate (still awaiting “urgent” investigations) but otherwise ok. No repercussions from my cardio class yesterday so far (I took it very easy though). Just back from a 6000 step walk. Am feeling hopeful that I am in the recovery phase now.

Hope everyone is doing OK.

@MillStone you’ve had amazing NHS support. I wish this was available more widely.

@Whatnext2018 I also get different readings on different hands and choose to believe the more normal one! A pulse of 120 on standing is not normal but viruses often cause high heart rates and you will be aware of POTS (as also posted above).

Millstone I had issues with looking at a screen - nausea and headaches. Maybe it was just coincidence and I would have improved anyway, but I increased the screen view to 150% and increased font sizes which helped. I still cannot do hours but I can manage a couple of hours before the nausea kicks in.

That apart, very helpful update and I am glad you are getting such good support.

Thanks @Egghead68 I thought this had gone for me as had days of a very low heart rate, but looking line everything will come back as others have said! Do you know if it does permanent damage to the heart?

Does anyone still have instances when symptoms such as diareah (bright yellow-sorry tmi) come back and nausea etc?
I’m starting to notice that when my higher heart rate comes and the shakiness, nausea and loss of appetite is present, the diareah has come back too. Those things I would associate with the virus more? So I’m really confused.

We have a good insurance with our doctors so I’m going to use our planned holiday funds to get everything properly checked out with the doctor and keep on top of it.
If you could have everything checked, what do you think should be the most vital exams/tests etc at this stage? I’m thinking a heart and chest x-ray? In terms of blood tests, I’ve had a lot but the last set were 5 weeks ago.

Don’t know if anyone watches Dr John Campbell’s updates on YouTube (I find him easy to understand on all this!)
He has posted an update today entitled ‘Update of clinical features’ which discusses long term covid sufferers..he seems to say it’s a small minority, but I estimate it’s larger than they think. So it’s getting out there, but needs to be much quicker!
He also discusses the new drug and says how it calms the inflammation in the body..in theory, if it IS inflammation in our body causing all these issues, couldn’t it work, or a variant of it at least? He believes is inflammation but obviously can’t say 100%, the strange this is the reoccurrence of ‘Viral type’ symptoms, for example diareah, sickness etc..would that occur from solely inflammatory damage/post viral illness...

The other thing I’m becoming a little concerned about it if we’re still infections at all..I assumed not, but looking at his report and times when we do have these flare ups that seem viral, could we possibly be.
I have my parents flying over to stay with us for two weeks in a few weeks time, they haven’t seen us and their granddaughter for 9 months so they’re desperate to come over. I was already concerned about them going on the plane, but to stay with us.
Mum is in her late 60’s with asthma and some arthiritis, dad is 71 with arthritis and what I sadly believe might be the beginning of dementia the last couple of years. Would I be putting them at risk?
I’m wondering if I should pay for testing to see if I have it and the antibodies, but looking at others incorrect results, would it make any difference...

Sorry for all the typos..and the huge essay..! Starting to get my head around all this and want it gone.

@whatnext2018 I had a high heart rate and POTS after a previous serious virus and saw a private cardiologist for loads of tests. She said there was no damage. I’m assuming it does not usually cause lasting problems (but there are always exceptions I guess).

Ive had severe nausea for 4 days now, I may have to call the G.P tomorrow, Its so awful.

Week 14 & counting

My GP said my blood tests showed no markers for inflammation whatnext but I still have chest pain, a cough and fatigue which is worse when I exert myself in any way.

I cannot say I understand this at all, but the lack of markers for inflammation surely means that inflammation is not the cause of the symptoms. I am too tired right now to think through what that means, if anything, in relation to whether we are still infectious or not.

I am 13 weeks and 2 days - I had to check - which makes me 93 days if my maths is correct.

@KatySun I had the same - no inflammation markers on bloody test but the same chest pain, heart pain, racing heart on standing, fatigue and temperature changes.
The GP said my symptoms were typical after a nasty viral infection and that I was still very much in the recovery phase.
He prescribed beta blockers for the racing heart on standing, and advised me to gradually increase my activity levels while taking them. He said something about the racing heart causing adrenaline spikes so I would constantly be in fight or flight mode.
The beta blockers have chilled me out a lot but symptoms remain, actually now I'm a bit concerned about how low my heart rate gets.
This GP said the chest pain was most likely pleuritic or muscular

I don't want to badger you but we really need to represent (!) - there is a huge movement to get this really noticed, lots of involvement on behalf of each and every one of us. We all need to drop a photo in - just hold up paper with #longcovid #messageinabottle Days sick/ symptoms today

These photos are going to Boris Johnson m but the media/ other mps will be involved .

They will also be part of a video being made about us. It won't have the impact if it isn't all of us, they can minimise it as a few mad women

www.dropbox.com/sh/0gmd6xi26pffpyi/AACgPLO1LZG-GU0JoWLVKntga?dl=0

Period turned up 4 days late. Have to say, fingers crossed it’s not been so extra this month. My resting heart rate is still dropping and is finally in the 70s. Am quite glad that I am slowly improving, butI am taking the rest very seriously.

Great heart-rate @LetsBeSensible.

@godhelpusall thank you for posting that. However I’ve already been ridiculed irl for saying I have had Covid when I tested negative which makes me very wary of putting my photo to a campaign. I will be writing to my MP though.

Thanks @egghead68
My usual is in 70s (am unfit) so it’s big progress. When I started monitoring it on week 5 it was in the 90s

Are there many with problems with looking at screens and headaches / motion sickness?
My 12 year old dd has been complaining of this and whenever she moves her head hurting but in particular after a screen. I have had to email school as she hasn’t been able to work...

Hi, It’s been a while. I am recovered now but see some familiar names and wanted to send virtual support and and x

@MillStone, thank you so much for the update. You're so lucky to be receiving such good care and treatment. My symptoms are the same as yours minus the headaches - I'm sure there is a problem in my lungs but my chest X-Rays have been clear so they won't send me for a CT scan although I've been referred to the respiratory team. I am investigating private options now.