COVID long-termers 14 weeks+

[isitorisntit]

Welcome all. I'm sad that many of us are still here but at least we have each other. The other thread is full, hence this new one.

Welcome anyone else who is struggling with a long recovery from COVID. They're a supportive lot, here.

Forgot to mention, I had evident muscle wastage on my back breathing muscles. So I was breathing incorrectly with tired and wasted muscles.

I started trying to do these following breathing muscle exercises months ago but it was too tiring and painful. I carefully started them again a month ago and they seem to help loosen up the breathing.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp8WK4hFsTs

Thank you @Millstone I will have a look. Xx

Thank you @MillStone . I'll try some of those too. Some of the exercises tie in a bit with what my acupuncturist said - she was advising gentle stretches/postures to open up the chest, such as lying with arms in goalpost position with a bit of support under the back. She also gave me some useful advice about breathing - so I thought my diaphragmatic breathing was fine as my belly rises when I breathe in but she said that although this was good I could expand things more by placing my hands either side of my belly on my ribs and try and feel an expansion there too. I found this much more challenging.

@fedupofbed hope you’re still feeling good. Thanks for sharing your acupuncturist’s advice, I’ll try it - everything seems to help.

Hi all,

Hope symptoms aren’t too bad and you’re enjoying your weekend.

Was wondering if any of you have felt any affect on your emotional/mental health? By that I don’t really mean having the illness itself is bringing you down etc. But almost as a symptom of the illness? I’m not sure but I find myself losing my temper/getting upset easier? Do and I have had big arguments this weekend, which haven’t helped as my chest feels so sore now, but he was saying it’s like he’s walking on eggshells and I’m reacting to things too angrily..I feel it’s him annoying me! But he may have a point, I do find myself getting over the top upset, when I was fairly calm before..does anyone else have similar? I’m premenstrual so could just be that, does feel different though.

*Dp

Sorry to hear about the arguments @Whatnext2018 it is really tiring having lots of emotional disturbance on top of the rest of it. I can't say we are arguing more - probably less to be fair since I can't be bothered to rise to the bait !!
I do feel strong emotions, on the whole I'm probably happier than usual if anything though. I think that it's because I probably never usually allow myself a break from anything. In a way having this health scare has absolutely forced me to slow down in a way that I have never probably done so before.
I'm seeing progress every day at the minute, still expecting a relapse and waiting for it to happen... but I'm about 13 days in to a steady day on day improvement. This is the best I've felt in about 5 months. I'm still being careful with pacing and my step count. Hardly leaving the house and garden but looking forward to doing a few more 'normal' things in the week if I possibly can. Sounds pathetic but drive my car 5 minutes away to a charity shop. Walk to the post box and post a letter. That sort of thing!

I am sorry you are having a tough time whatsnext - it must be really hard to actually physically have an argument, I feel like I lack the capacity to carry my voice in any way, and I am not surprised your chest is sore.

Do you are your partner usually get on fine? I think you have been through an emotionally and physically difficult time and if you are feeling like you ‘should’ be better and doing more than you are physically and mentally able to, then this will make you irritable I think - I know I can be physically in pain from fatigue and not able to take or do anymore at times, and that is hard to explain. Be kind to yourself and just try to step away from any arguments - even if you need to ask him to leave you alone for a bit and then you will discuss whatever it is, so you can rest and be in a better place to think about whatever the issue is?

However, in any relationship there are two people and so I think one person blaming the other without looking at the overall dynamic is not very helpful. Is this a blip or a pattern?

I am single by the way, so any relationship advice from me comes with this caveat - I might not have a clue what I am talking about!

Thanks @TiddleTaddleTat @KatySun
Its hurt my throat to even raise my voice a little and my chest feels shaky, which shows stress doesn’t help things at all.
I’m not sure really, he’s always annoyed by picking at things when I’m driving and I usually get pretty pissed off but it feels like I flip and get really upset/annoyed and my reaction is a little crazy.
I remember getting a little like it during pregnancy and when my dd was a newborn (not to her/in front of her obviously) but if I argued with him.
So perhaps this does do something to our hormones 🤷‍♀️I’m hoping it’s that more than it somehow changing my mood/character, who knows with this thing. But if others aren’t experiencing it, it seems unlikely.

And @Katysun probably better off single 😂I find more peace by myself currently.

My god the relapse has a life of its own. The less I do the worse it gets. Started getting breathless again from standing up and walking to the kitchen.

@Whatnext2018 I think it just erodes us a bit being ill for so long. I have felt quite negative and grumpy at times throughout this horrible illness so I'm sure it's normal. Alot of us seem to be having longer periods of feeling better so hopefully we are all getting better albeit slowly.

Do you think he is trying to get a rise out of you whatsnext or is it more that is how he is and when you have more energy (ie not as a new mum or recovering from serious illness) then it is easier to let it go? Is it possible to just ask him to stop picking at you? (I guess you have tried this, though).

I had some stresses with my ex during lockdown, mainly around (lack of) contact with DC when we were all ill and it definitely made my symptoms worse - probably because stress interacts with your immune systems. On the plus side, I was hugely thankful we were spending lockdown in different houses - so I think there is probably an element of the circumstances being challenging as well.

I am sorry you are experiencing SOB again LetsBeSensible. I hope you feel better soon.

I have the full body fatigue and pain from having done way beyond my usual average today. It will be an early night.

@Mittens030869 hope you are feeling better and have a lovely holidays tomorrow.

@KatySun I’ve told him until I’m blue in the face (especially today!) he’s not doing it to get a rise out of me, I genuinely think he can’t help it when I’m driving (back seat driver) but it’s really annoying and stresses me out. My reaction was nuts 😬but I’ve said we just need to stay away from each other as it gets me stressed, no one else does 🤷‍♀️Just can’t ssem to be around each other recently.
It definitely has an impact..I couldn’t stay awake this afternoon, aching all in the back of my neck etc..so I can’t do this or be around it 🙄
Sorry about the issues with your ex, the least stress the better for recovery.

Hi All,
Yes, emotional stress is part and parcel a symptom of the illness.
Hardly, surprising. For me, and friends and family think I'm paranoid about infecting people.
But, you do wonder? Especially after relapse at 16 weeks, after a couple of really good weeks.

A couple of days ago somebody suggested feet in cold water to boost immune system and tried this.
How many times a day did you do this.

Hope you all have good night.

@Kitcat122 Thank you, yes I've been doing a lot better the last couple of days and I'm looking forward to our family holiday, we're leaving tomorrow. (It's my birthday tomorrow as well. )

Happy birthday 🥳 mittens
I hope you have a lovely birthday and a good break.

whatsnext I hope you can get a bit of rest and things settle down

@Mittens030869 Happy birthday and enjoy the hols! Xx

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes; I'm looking forward to getting away, especially as I've barely left the house in months.

Have a great break @Mittens030869

Wishing we'd planned a holiday (in the UK) now ... lots of our friends and family are away. We are usually campers but felt it would be too physically strenuous for me - I still think that this would be the case - and not really fair on DH to have to do all the driving and physical work. Still, the prospect of getting better only to be in a winter lockdown and still stuck at home terrifies me a bit!

Did a few too many steps yesterday - just trying to sort a huge amount of laundry - and saw some mild chest pains and hot flushes return in the evening. After an upward trajectory for 2 weeks I need to be so careful still.

@Mittens030869

Happy birthday Mittens, carry on enjoying your holiday and don't over do things too much.

Happy birthday @Mittens030869 🥳!

@TiddleTaddleTat sorry that you've had a little setback but hope it is just little and so wonderful that you're on an upward trajectory. I'm seeing small improvements too but almost too scared to type this so not going into too much detail yet... 🤞🏻🤞🏻. We're unable to go away this year too (we had booked to go to Italy) but have postponed all our plans till next summer, and it is my goal to be well enough by then.

@Whatnext2018 sorry you're having a tough time, and hope you can get some rest.

Thank you, everyone! I've really appreciated the support from this thread through this time. It's helped me so much.

Hope you are all helping well and improving. I’m at a very low point now, 20 weeks in and still got burning lungs and pain across my back. I’ve noticed palpitations for a while and always assumed my heart would be racing, it isn’t my heart rate is dropping into the 50’s. Managed to get an actual docs appt last week, checked pulse, temp etc and all ok. Doc is still going down the it’s a musculoskeletal problem and suggested Ralgex. Surely any muscular problem should be improved by now? For the record I didn’t have any of this before I was ill in mid March. What are your thoughts??