Return to exercise

[thisusernameismine]

Sadly I have covid. About 12 days since exposure and 8 since any symptoms developed. I've been quite 'lucky' in that symptoms have been mild and included sore throat, headache, one feverish sleep but never had a temperature, complete loss of smell, stomach upset.

I usually run 6 days a week and do HIIT/strength workouts 3-4 x a week.

When can I get back to exercise, has anyone got experience of this? I'm going out of my mind but my mum is terrified of me doing lasting heart damage.

I'll call the doctor tomorrow but very interested in others' experience and knowledge. Thank you.

I'm 40 with a toddler. Recently (August) lost a twin pregnancy at 6 weeks in case relevant but I'd got back to normal fitness before catching the virus.

Why would you do lasting damage? If you’ve been mildly unwell then your ready to get back to exercise as soon as you’re (1) feeling better and (2) out of isolation. Yes Covid can cause a range of on-going health problems but there is no evidence of that happening to people mildly unwell and feeling completely recovered - if you’d been more severely ill and were still experiencing symptoms that would be different, but if you’re back to normal then highly unlikely there’s a hidden problem just waiting to emerge. I had Covid in March - mildly unwell for a couple of days. Went straight back to running etc as soon as i was allowed out.

Do you have a fitness watch with a heart rate monitor?

I had a virus in March that kept my resting heart rate high for about 4 weeks, so I waited until it was back to slightly higher than normal (to account for lost fitness) then started back steadily.

This is pretty standard for recovery from a virus.

Then start gently and get base fitness back before pushing hard.

Frustrating!

I’d wait. A quick search shows Covid is very inflammatory/clotty even in mildly affected. There’s lots of reports of Pulmonary Embolisms I’m mildly affected recovered.

I’d give yourself a few weeks rest and recovery. What’s the rush.

Someone who had blood clot post flu (no genetic risk factors)

I had suspected covid in March (no testing back then). Not very ill at all, and recovered fully within 2 weeks. I waited 4 weeks before exercising but after 3 days of HIIT type training I became very ill with similar but much worse symptoms than the first illness which are now only just subsiding after 6 months.

Obviously this is all anecdotal and there is no reason to believe the same would happen to you but there are many people who have suffered for long periods of time who have linked it to doing too much too soon so defo check with your GP just in case.

It depends how you feel. If you don't have breathing issues you should be fine. My husband was off exercise for about 2 weeks then was back fine. Me on the other hand had breathing and chest issues and and still not able to exercise 7 months on 😢

I would look at what happened to the elite athlete Tom Bosworth - he had it early on, went back to training and it didn't go well and he's still not where he should be. I would suggest very gentle exercise to start with - maybe brisk walking and cycling rather than HIIT or hard running.

I’d err on the side of caution. I had an awful virus last October/November. Was desperate to run, came back too soon and ended up with a relapse and a bad chest infection. Prolonged the illness by about 4 weeks I reckon.

The advice about heart rate is good. I could see mine was high, and it was maxing out in runs where it would normally have been lower. Yet still I pushed it!

We know COVID can be inflammatory so have to be careful

DH runs a lot and he reckons anything above the neck is ok, anything below is not as you can get a chest infection. Someone I know overdone it after flu and got pneumonia.

I would take it very gently and test building up from the begining. I've heard a lot of anecdote from runners who felt superficially fine, and quickly realised that they weren't. Even a normal cold can knock you for a couple weeks.

If you feel fine, then you can build it up quicker.

Thanks all. Wow just another depressing drawn out shitty addition to this hideous virus. Absolutely devastated to hear about those who've had setbacks later on - so difficult to go through I'm sure. Fitness keeps me mentally well and free of eating disorder thoughts and now this.

Nearly made it out of London and into remote village life before contracting this thing - we were just two weeks from finally moving out. I got it from a friend. Had been so bloody careful throughout as well :(

Those who have had it, did you lose sense of smell and has it come back? I'm 8 days post any sort of symptoms starting and have had zero sense of smell for two days and pretty sure my taste is going too. Does that come back or does this virus literally suck every last bit of joy out of life?

And yes I have a garmin forerunner and always use that when working out (seriously losing out on vitality points at the moment )