How long did you cough last for if you have had COVID?

[Mummytotwonow]

Hi,

Still suffering and on day 13.

Still have lots of symptoms and smell and taste have totally gone. I have an awful taste and smell like feeling (even though I can't smell or taste anything) of something horrid in my throat and nose. However, my cough and heavy chest will not go and is not improving. I have cough induced asthma so this probably doesn't help. Oxygen levels are ok averaging between 95-99 and pulse fine.

I have no energy because of the coughing and can't do anything. Have been off work since the start and they need me back and it's all stressing me out.

I'm in bed all day every day. I did try venturing in the garden to get some fresh air but this knackered me out. I can't see to my children who are dying to
Cuddle me and play (hubby being amazing and do everything along his FT job). I am isolating in my room all day still just incase and I feel like I'm going to be here forever.

How long did your cough last? When did you start feeling normal again. What happened about your work?

I'm feeling sorry for myself and can't snap out if it. I feel helpless and hopeless. Can't get through my doctors and don't want to bother 111 again.

There are people a lot worse off and I need to somehow snap out of this. Looking for any hope from people that symptoms might start dying down soon.

Sorry for the ramble

OP no other advice other than try to stop overly worrying yourself and just rest as much as possible. Give yourself a few more days, it should pass eventually, but everyone’s experience is different and long covid is a real thing too so when you do eventually speak with your GP they can perhaps give advice how best to manage this.

I imagine it’s pretty grim though and your DH sounds like a good support. If you’re ill your work can not expect you to be present so try to put that to the back of your mind for now.

Here’s to a speedier recovery!!

Poor you OP. You're probably on the cusp of recovery now. Just try to rest.
Can I ask, were you vaccinated?

Ps: tell work to sod off. If you've still got symptoms you're still infectious so they don't want you back

@YukoandHiro yes double vaccinated. I hate to think how bad I would have got without them

@Thewiseoneincognito thank you x

I’m about the same as you. Day nine for me. Cough is crippling. Doctor has just prescribed antibiotics and told me to sleep sitting up. I’m utterly wiped out and can’t imagine working yet. Fortunately, I’ve got a week’s leave booked next week

Hope you feel better soon

@OvertiredandConfused sorry to hear you are poorly too. I've been crying all day on and off as I'm so fed up of feeling like this. I now have a new symptom where I feel shaky. It's starting to hit me mentally now. I had to start back doing some work this morning from home (I've been off for nearly two weeks) and it's nearly finished me off. Work are trying to be understanding but there is urgent things I can only do and I feel even worse I can't perform properly. Hopefully speaking to a doctor later yucky who might be able to provide some more advice. I am just seeing no signs of improvement at all. I didn't know they give out antibiotics for Covid - I'll ask my doctor - I'll try anything to make me feel better

You have my sympathy OP. So often people describe covid as mild, which technically it may be if you are not hospitalised, but it can still make you feel very unwell and can last for a few weeks.

I think we are all used to getting over a cold in a week or so that being ill for longer periods is psycologically difficult as well as physically.

I'm five weeks in and recovering. My cough probably peaked around 12 to 14 days (I also have asthma) but even when the cough went I had breathing problems and intense fatigue. I still haven't got proper taste and smell back - it's about 50% and I am still extremely fatigued.

Antibiotics won't help covid but many people get a secondary chest infection, I got pneumonia.

@CatAlice thank you and sorry to hear you are still suffering too.

I think it's the worry how long it's going to last and when you can feel back to normal again.

Hope you get fully better soon x

Don't pressure yourself to do anything, OP. Rest, rest, rest. Plenty of liquids. Feeling depressed is part of being ill, unfortunately. Hope you feel better soon.

@CrunchyCarrot thank you x

I tested positive for Covid almost 6 weeks ago and am still coughing although touch wood I haven't had a hardcore coughing fit for almost a week now.

Been off sick since I caught Covid. I have a lot of underlying conditions - asthma, psoriatic arthritis and ehlers danlos, amongst others.

Because of my conditions I received support from the Covid monitoring team in my area until I was out of the 'danger zone'. They were very clear that I needed to rest carefully - doing too much, too soon increases your long Covid risk.

I have also had antibiotics 3 times in the last 4 weeks, once for a chest infection and twice for a kidney infection.

The Covid team told me a lot of double jabbed people are expressing surprise at how long it's taking them to shift Covid. When people hear 'mild illness' they think of a cold or something which goes after 5 days or so. So Covid can come as a shock.

Just be kind to yourself and get the rest you need. Don't be bullied into pushing yourself and making yourself worse in the long run.

@IWishTheBishopWell thank you so much for sharing your experience. How did you get in contact with the COVID team for your area? Did the doctor refer you? X

[quote Mummytotwonow]@IWishTheBishopWell thank you so much for sharing your experience. How did you get in contact with the COVID team for your area? Did the doctor refer you? X[/quote]
Yeah, it was a GP referral - I asked for advice on managing my asthma with Covid and had an appointment with my GP about a week in and as I still had symptoms and had underlying conditions my GP referred me.

The Covid team rang me every morning to check how I was getting on and to get my pulse oximeter readings, temp, peak flow and blood pressure.

It's a service set up by my local NHS Trust (I'm in London) but I assume similar services exist elsewhere.

Hey OP,

I know this is an old post but I hope you’re better now. How long did it take to get over the cough? I am on day 12 and stuck with a chesty near continuous cough 😒 losing hope I’ll ever get better. Spoke to the doctor yesterday who said it’s par for the course. It’s so depressing and has reduced me to tears. Thank you

@Mandi1980 so sorry to hear you are going through this. For me it lasted around 2-3 weeks and then tapered off. I have long Covid now and still have a little cough (no where near as bad) today. However, I know LOTS of people that have had it and it's only lasted from 5-14 days and then they have got totally over it. Take multi vitamin, extra vitamin D and take vitamin C dissolvable in water. Have fresh air in room and get one of those blood oxygen pulse monitors from Amazon (about £12-15). Rest, rest, rest. Doctors constantly told me that people can recover quicker but they don't rest enough. At the time when you're in the thick of it you can see no end, but you will get better. Keep positive and be kind to yourself. Pls feel free to ask any other questions xx

Mine didn't start properly until day 10. Hat was 9 days ago and it's still here. Properly tickly and annoying. We're wondering if it's a different lurg.

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I am so glad that at the least the cough tapered off. I am so sorry you have long covid and I hope you’re taking care of yourself. Will start the extra vitamins today. Have been taking vit c and d but probably not as regularly as I should. Trying to rest but am a single mum with two kids. One is out of isolation and at her dad’s and back at school, but the other (4 year old) tested positive much later than us and so I have to have her here isolating until midnight Thursday. Am trying to rest but it’s so hard. I’m hoping we all get through this fast. What a horrible time. xx

@Mandi1980 gosh that must be tough! I don't know how old your children are but have no guilt for using iPad, tv anything so you can get some rest. One thing that helped distract me a bit when I was feeling so rough was binge watching box sets - have you seen Motherland?? My gosh it is hilarious and really raised my spirits watching all the episodes and gave me something to look forward to through the day. Xx

@Mandi1980 I've just seen the ages sorry I missed that. Watch films, tv anything so you can just rest x

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me - you’re so kind. I haven’t seen Motherland but will give it a go later 😊 xx

@Mandi1980 it is hilarious and trust me it will put a smile on your face. It's about a group of school mums and a dad and the challenges of being a parent!! You will love it x

Nearly two months but this was long before the vaccines

Thank you for replying. I am sorry it lasted so long. I’m hoping I turn a corner soon x