How long for breathlessness to go away after Covid?

[thelastgoldeneagle]

DS tested positive last Saturday - this is day 9. He's not been too bad: he's had aching muscles, headache, sore throat, nasty cough but the worst thing is the breathlessness. After climbing the stairs his heart is racing, his chest is tight, he feels breathless.

How long should it take for these symptoms to go away? He's usually really fit - he's a county runner - so it's horrible seeing him like this. He also has asthma, but his peak flow is currently good (about 450).

Are you checking his oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter? It's possible to have quite low levels without realising.
I was hospitalised for covid and my shortness of breath lasted 6 weeks but bizarrely my asthma was fine.
You don't give his age but I would get medical advice if he doesn't improve in a day or so.
Also suggest he rests and practises deep breathing.Deep breath in through nose and long slow breath out through mouth five times, several times a day. (I was told to do this).

I tested positive on Sunday and still feel similar. No asthma symptoms but I feel exhausted climbing the stairs or doing anything in he slightest energetic. Blood oxygen is fine according to. the finger tester.

I keep hoping it will stop soon. The idea of returning to work at the moment scares me.

Yes, his oxygen sats are 99. We have an oximeter!

His heart rate is faster than normal, even resting.

He's 14.

I had the racing heart but am much older. My sats were fine too but my asthma was affected. 111 told me that in the acute phase heart rate does go up, only to worry if it stays above 110-120 bpm consistently once resting. I was better after about 6 weeks but then got long covid. I do believe that physically fit people in some cases are being hit quite badly - my Occupational health advisor said this was something she was consistently seeing.
I’d contact your GP - He might need some steroids and Antbx

It took me one month, maybe 6 weeks, to shake off the breathlessness. I took it easy and avoided exertion as much as possible. (I was totally fine after that.)

Thanks. He's out of isolation tomorrow but I'm not sure if he'll well enough to go back to school. He's done nothing all week.

He's normally so active - running, training, weightlifting, cycling - and it's horrible to see him like this. I'll see how he goes then might call the doc for reassurance.

Agree re keeping him off school. Now is the time he should be resting completely. So many LC sufferers pushed through the symptoms only to make things worse in the end. And LC is something he really does not want to get. Just make sure he's drinking 1.5-2 lts a day of water, eating small but frequent amounts of what he fancies, rest, rest and rest, sleep. There are also some breathing exercises on youtube which can be helpful. And don't presume he'll improve completely after 2 weeks, many take longer so don't stress too much.

I would check with GP or 111 but I am day 13 with asthma and still feel breathless but not normally tight chest and my heart rate is quite low, around 55. My oximeter sitting up is 95ish but lying down is often 94 but starting to improve. If he isn't well would keep him off.

My DD is 15 and she needed 9 days off with it, fairly fit, runs everyday normally and wiped out with it, she is now back to going to school and seeing friends after school (who had covid same time) though not 100% at 2 weeks. So it could be not too long but maybe just check with the GP/111.