Please reassure me, I feel like I'm never going to get over this

[StrugglingWFH]

Tested positive last Friday but had symptoms since last Tuesday, today is day 8 and I feel the worst I've felt, I'm really struggling with coughing and a fever, nothing is working. I can't eat, I'm dehydrated even though I'm trying to drink. My heart rate is high and I just feel awful. I don't know what the point of this thread is. I've spoken to my Doctor twice and he just said if I struggle to breathe to call 999.

Has anyone who has had COVID felt the same for this long?

A friend of mine was hospitalised with Covid not because of the cough, but because of dehydration. It could contribute to your heart rate being high and doesn't help with the temp. The hospital admissions are not as high as they were, so they might admit you. Or they might just give you oxygen and a drip for a few hours and send you home. Call 111 to start off with please, and do it right away. Don't wait.

I’m sorry you’re feeling so sick.

The worrying thing that stood out to me on your list of symptoms was the dehydration. I’m no nurse but have had plenty of experience in hospital for long periods with my child and once you get dehydrated you’re on the back foot.

Id be pushing to be seen if I were you x

You need to get seen by a medical professional

Could you try sucking some ice cubes or ice lollies at all?

Do you have an oximeter to check how your oxygen is doing?
Honestly, if you're worried I would ring 111 and get triaged to see if you need hospital, but also bear in mind that all the cases I have heard of speak of a 'dip' down again at day 7/8 and then getting better towards the 2-week mark.

I had covid, not as badly as you, but my sickest day was day 7-8 (for temperature and aching and fatigue). Then on day 9 I lost sense of taste and smell but never really had a cough or problems with breathing.

Let us know how you get on, have you called 111 yet?

For me day 8 was my worst day. The first week was a fairly mild illness with mostly sinus issues

On day 8 I felt truly dreadful with a lot of the symptoms you mention.

Do you have a pulse oximeter? We got one from Argos for £20. It was very reassuring to be able to see that our oxygen levels were ok and steady. Using one will also alert you if your oxygen levels drop and you need to seek help.

I found it hard to drink too but kept a small juice carton with a straw in my hand so I could slowly sip at it without much effort. I set myself a target of getting through 2 cartons in a day. It wasn't enough liquid really but it was a manageable and measurable target.

Get as much rest as you can. The second week was very hard for me but by day 13 I was feeling a definite but slow improvement.

One of the worst things about Covid for me was how long it went on for and also the uncertainty on when it might get worse or better. It's all so unknown and time goes very slowly.

Don't hesitate to ring your GP or 111 for advice and help if you feel you need it. I hope you start to feel better soon.

Have you tried cold and flu max strength drinks or capsules? Also rehydration sachets? I found covid affected my thoughts and I felt everything was a bit dark for a bit.

I felt everything was a bit dark for a bit
It is probably me but you do you mean dark as it unhappy dark or unlight dark?

I second getting hold of a pulse oximeter. Covid can cause silent hypoxia, where you don't have breathlessness but your oxygen levels are dropping. It's very reassuring to see those levels are OK.

I felt terrible for two weeks, and quite shocking for a few weeks after that. I had to go back to work after three weeks, which was hard. It was only after three months that I felt normal again. You’ll get there 💐

I Hope the Op will be feeling better soon. The worry for me is even after one vaccine there is a second waiting and talk of booster vaccines in Autumn- I don''t wish to be continually having vaccinations every few months for a virus I don't feel vulnerable to.

My sister felt similar to the OP and had inhalers and antibiotics from the GP.

@Bluntpencil That's really interesting to read that because I had the same, a real sense of doom.

Do you have someone who can get you some Dioralyte or electrolyte filled drinks? Ice lollies, ice cubes and soup will help too. You need to stay hydrated or you'll end up on a drip.

You can get a pulse oximeter on amazon for around 10-15 pounds (if you don't have amazon prime you can sign up for a free trial to get next day delivery with no charge).

Hope you feel better soon, OP

Op, rest, force yourself to eat and drink. I was in bed for nearly 3 months, and has continued on, now long covid. You need to eat, drink even if you don't feel like it. Do only the essentials.

It can go on unfortunately. I was in bed for a month, dp had it recently post vaccine and was really rough for 2 weeks or so. Obviously if you are really worried then call 111 but it's not unusual to feel really unwell for a good while.

My sister in law in Pakistan had covid a couple of weeks ago. She wasnt hospitalised but they put her on a drip at home. I imagine it was for dehydration? So i second the electeolyte sachets and if no improvement in a day or so call 111 again. My sil has recovered now and she is about 4 stone overweight and "bame". So hopefully you will be fine. Sil never had a cough either.

dd is terrible for not drinking when she is is ill. The method I found that works for her is to set a timer for every 8 minutes-every time it goes off you drink a little shot glass of juice.

What level of oxygen data should one be concerned about? I've heard conflicting things. Hope you feel better soon, OP.

I was like this OP I was told by NHS lady to have a big jug of honey and lemon water by my bedside and I just kept taking drinks of that, it really helped I think. Made it with fresh lemons, honey and boiling water. Also the oxometer as others have said kept me sane. Every time I felt like I couldn't breathe, would clip it on and my Oxygen was fine. 98 or 99%. I loved it. Sometimes I was checking every 5 minutes. Covid-19 is scary and lonely.

My covid was very mild but I have suffered with severe dehydration during Hyperemesis in pregnancy. I honestly felt like I was dying. My heart rate was through the roof, I had a fever, I could barely move. I ended up in hospital several times but I cannot tell you how much better I felt after 3 bags of fluid each time! Felt almost human again for a short time until the violent vomiting started again..

Any illness that prevents you drinking is a concern medically. Dehydration is serious. Get yourself to a hospital or at least ask your GP to check you for dehydration, they can dip urine. Some other signs are cracked & peeling lips, flaking skin, skin that doesn’t ping back when pinched..

How are you OP? Hope you called 111 and talked to a medical professional. Oximeter is a good idea to prevent silent hypoxia as PP have mentioned.

Also rest, rest and more rest. The research shows that if you push yourself to get going again too soon you are more like to get Ling COVID so you’ll need a few weeks recovery time.

Hope you feel better really soon.

Here with you in solidarity I'm on day 8 since symptoms started (started with a sore throat)
No signs of let up on fever, headache etc. My lungs were initially very bad but my Dr put me onto steroids very quickly.

The oximeter I have is great for checking my levels. I have had a few dips down to 92 but managed to get them back up again (I know it's not the reader as my DH is also using it).

I don't know how long it will last I've been in bed a week now it's very frustrating but just breaking the hours down.