Advice about long covid

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Hi.... just looking for advice, please.
I had coronavirus in January (tested positive on the 16th). Spent about a week feeling very rough, in bed , then slowly started feeling better. I tried to go back to work, 1 week ago (have emotionally intense, stressful job in the NHS), and just couldn’t manage it - felt tearful at everything, exhausted, etc.
I’ve been signed off sick again. I have good days and bad, but this weekend have been extremely fatigued, bad headaches, the cough is back a bit. Could this now be considered long covid? It’s always been a big fear of mine and I feel v miserable/worried.
I had a blood test just to check iron and vitamin levels, and they all came back normal.
Just seeking advice, or reassurance, I guess from anyone with experience.
Thank you.

4 weeks is nothing - rest rest rest, take lots of vitamins and fingers crossed it’ll ease. Very common for symptoms to ebb and flow for many weeks. I have long covid symptoms 11 months later.

I've been ill with long COVID for 11 months now. I was first sick in March 2020, was very ill (pretty much laid up in bed every day) right through until the end of July then have been up and down since then. I have improved lately, I have had a steroidal inhaler which I feel has helped to heal my lungs and I am generally feeling fitter overall although I caught a minor cold 2 weeks ago and it's laid me pretty low once again with severe fatigue and lingering cold symptoms.

At 4 weeks the way you are feeling is totally normal I'm afraid. Hopefully you should carry on recovering slowly. If it carries on after 3 months, then you are in long COVID territory but even then many do improve over time.

I'd suggest you eat well, supplement w vitamins if you need to and REST. Rest like you've never rested before. Gentle exercise on good days then sit down and on bad days no exercise at all.

It is always worth talking with your GP, to get some advice but the most important thing is don't rush your recovery. If you feel ill Mon Tues Weds then a bit better Thurs, don't go straight back to work. Go back the next Monday instead. Build in rest and accept your recovery will take time.

Thanks so much for all your replies. I’m sorry for those of you struggling for many months with ongoing symptoms - and I hope you get some longer term respite soon.
Thank you for the reassurance around timescales for recovery - I do need to cultivate some patience with myself. Think I have been a little thrown as my entire household got sick at the same time, and everyone else has bounced back already, apart from me.
I do feel a bit brighter today - possibly because of the marathon of bed rest I did yesterday. It’s just working out to manage life/family responsibilities around the need to rest. I’ll get there.
Thanks again for your replies.

After only a few weeks, it could be a totally normal response to healing from a virus. I'm not sure what the official criteria is for a diagnosis of Long Covid, though. If you are struggling with anything in particular that you think could be helped, please do contact your GP though

Sounds like a normal recovery to a nasty virus. Many people take similar time to recover from flu (not saying covid is the same as flu before anyone jumps on that, just comparing to other nasty viruses). Can you do a phased return to work? Would let you slowly build up to it rather than jumping straight in at 100%

If I remember rightly, the cut off point after which it's considered long covid is 12 weeks, but I can't recall where I read this. For me I had lingering fatigue and other symptoms around 20 weeks then some occasional on - off episodes subsequently but was mostly ok. So long covid but not as badly off as some others. At 4 weeks it could well be normal. You really can't push yourself in terms of activities, that's for sure.

At 4 weeks it's very early days and well within normal timeline for recovery from any bad virus or flu. Just take it easy, lots of rest!

@MrsBennetsnerves

I seem to have 12 weeks in my head too, but also don't have a source to reference.

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/post-covid-syndrome-long-covid/

NHS England site references 12 weeks.

Again, thank you .... I actually feel really reassured. Was having such a bad day, when I posted yesterday and was feeling very low and worried. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

12 weeks was when my care was moved from the gp to the COVID recovery unit at the hospital. From where I hopefully will be discharged next month.

I would speak to my GP soon then so you can be transferred promptly if necessary, after reading @Porcupineintherough's update.

Hi op sorry you was feeling so rough
I work for the nhs too
I think it all just get too much sometimes.
What we see and what we hear regarding this terrible virus.
As the other posters have said
It will get better. Rest and drink plenty, take some good quality vitamins.
I keep thinking in a few weeks we will be in March!
Last March the weather was lovely and hot.
💐💐

I haven't had Covid (AFAIK!) but many years ago I had flu very badly and, like you, just couldn't get back to work. It took about 12 weeks until I could get through the day at work and about a year before I stopped going straight to bed when I got home.

I think that now we have vaccines and antibiotics to deal with most illnesses, we've forgotten how much they take out of our bodies. In the old days it was quite normal to take a period of convalescence after an illness, whereas nowadays we feel we have to just jump straight back into the harness. But our bodies have been through a major event and need to recover.

Take it easy. Eat and drink well but in moderation and let your body heal and rebuild its resources. And your mind - dont put yourself under pressure, you've been through the mill.

That’s really true..... amicissimma.....I was having a self indulgent little research the other day, about old fashioned “convalescence homes”, where you would be wheeled off after an illness for a month or so of lying around, being fed at regular intervals, and a bit of sea air! Would definitely fit the bill right now. In fact, probably most of us could do with a spell like that once a year or so, just to recover from the pace of normal life.... have been thinking about that a lot these past few weeks as well.
Thanks again for your collective wisdom.

I haven't had covid. I do have ME. Healthwise I would consider yourself in a two year convalescent period and do everything you can to take care of yourself, but financially plan as if you might not ever get better. I have just seen this tweet, can anyone confirm it is accurate?
twitter.com/TilmanAndris/status/1361945129167257600

it says "If you have #LongCovid, don’t agree to reduce hours on your work contract as this may affect future disability payments if your illness forces you to stop working. Some long haulers who end up not recovering will never get back to work, like many of us w ME. No one should not agree to go part time for less pay as it will effect the base pay of their disability benefits. They should fight for sickness benefits."

is this correct?

It depends on the country you're in - the tweeter you quote is in The Netherlands.

It's certainly worth researching national programmes as well as employer ones.