Covid fatigue - what helps?

Cherrydown · 2021-10-13T16:11:30+00:00

I'm on day 8 and feeling much better thankfully apart from this horrendous tiredness. I'm due back at work on Monday, I can't imagine ever leaving the house again atm! I'm taking Vitamin d, feroglobin for iron, multi vitamins, trying to up my fruit and veg, resting lots, what else can I do?

Mindymomo · 13/10/2021 17:22

Can you work from home or do less hours the first few days.

Beekindbeehumble · 13/10/2021 17:28

I rang the Gp today as feeling so rubbish on day 9. Nurse rang back and said keep an eye of my oxygen levels due to my asthma and blood pressure ( nope they will not see me after day 10 as no need to check me), to drink lots of water and regular paracetamol and rest lots.
Had to get a note to be signed off work as have a job that is full-time and cannot be done from home.

AlexaShutUp · 13/10/2021 17:28

@Cherrydown, I don't have any tips but I'm in the same position. Much better overall but the fatigue is overwhelming. I have never known anything like it. I'm also on Day 8. Trying to rest and eat well.

I'm so scared of getting stuck with long covid. I'd love to know what might help. I am also taking high strength vitamin d and vitamin c, and iron as I'm anaemic anyway.

But I am totally wiped out! Have just put away a few bits of our online shop and had to come upstairs and lie down. I can't imagine being back in the office next week! But I can't really work from home for any longer either!

AlexaShutUp · 13/10/2021 17:30

@Beekindbeehumble

I rang the Gp today as feeling so rubbish on day 9. Nurse rang back and said keep an eye of my oxygen levels due to my asthma and blood pressure ( nope they will not see me after day 10 as no need to check me), to drink lots of water and regular paracetamol and rest lots. Had to get a note to be signed off work as have a job that is full-time and cannot be done from home.

Sorry to hear that you're so unwell @Beekindbeehumble. I hope you feel better soon.

I think I need to drink more water!

HesterShaw1 · 13/10/2021 17:36

For your own sake, don't try being back at work on Monday. I tried going back to early and two weeks later I felt absolutely terrible. The fatigue was like nothing I'd known. I was then doing half days for a while and it took me a good 4-5 weeks to feel ok again.

You need time, sleep, good nourishing food, lots of fluids and no booze!

I felt so bad after a month I phoned the doctor's surgery crying. I also had a UTI - nice. He sternly told me to take it easy, gave me some antibiotics for the wee infection and then after another week or so I suddenly started to feel so much better.

Take it easy!

Beekindbeehumble · 13/10/2021 17:39

Water and paracetamol was what I was told. To be fair since fever went I have not taken paracetamol so hope it works! Order more online,

AlexaShutUp · 13/10/2021 17:40

Oh dear. I haven't really got any other option but to go back to work.

I've actually been wfh through most of it anyway, but going back into the office is going to be a different level.

I'm so scared of pushing myself too hard and creating long term problems but I simply cannot take the time off.

Possibly I could take a bit of leave to reduce the hours though. I might try that.

Original poster

Cherrydown · 13/10/2021 17:55

@AlexaShutUp the worry of long Covid is awful isn't it?

Sorry to hear others are also feeling like this, get well soon.

I've only been in my new job a matter of weeks so really could do with going back in on Monday, thankfully I'm not full time which will help.

I will clear my diary for the next few weeks so at least when I'm not working i can rest.

Guess it's just a case of being patient, which I'm not very good at!

OP posts:

Brickskithouse · 13/10/2021 18:10

I took spatone and a high strength elderberry extract which I had seen recommended. I do think they both helped although who knows really? I had felt really weak and unwell for about 3 weeks but I did go back to feeling completely well quite quickly after.

MrsLCSofLichfield · 13/10/2021 18:10

@AlexaShutUp - is there any chance of your employer agreeing a phased return and/or letting you WFH for a bit longer? I did 50% of my hours for a week or two, then 75%, then back to normal. If they are difficult about this, could you get a phone appointment with your GP and see if they would recommend this for you? I was really wiped out by COVID and know how hard it is, good luck

AlexaShutUp · 13/10/2021 18:17

[quote MrsLCSofLichfield]@AlexaShutUp - is there any chance of your employer agreeing a phased return and/or letting you WFH for a bit longer? I did 50% of my hours for a week or two, then 75%, then back to normal. If they are difficult about this, could you get a phone appointment with your GP and see if they would recommend this for you? I was really wiped out by COVID and know how hard it is, good luck [/quote]
Yes, I could carry on wfh in theory, or phase back in gradually. But there are things that I really need to be in the office for that I simply can't do from home, so wfh all week isn't really an option - I might do it for a couple of days though. I will definitely try to phase back in by using some annual leave, but the problem is that the work is urgent and it just won't go away. And there is nobody else who can do it.

AlexaShutUp · 13/10/2021 20:02

Does anyone know what the advice is on exercise post covid? I'm out of isolation on Sunday and don't know if I should be trying to exercise yet or not.

I am not intending to go back to the gym yet as I know I couldn't manage it, but would a long walk be a good or bad idea? (I usually walk a lot if it makes any difference.)

Want to do the right thing to speed up recovery. Just don't know what it is!

HesterShaw1 · 13/10/2021 21:36

I think the thinking is with post viral fatigue to take it very gently and do less than you think you ought to be able to. Otherwise you risk yo-yo-ing between days when you feel good and completely overdoing it, then paying for it in the days that follow.

HesterShaw1 · 13/10/2021 21:37

Basically be cautious about finding your comfort levels.

peachpearplum01 · 13/10/2021 22:08

Take it slowly, pace yourself, if you feel tired and can’t take a nap try and sit quietly in a room with no screens, no reading, no stimulation even if just for ten mins just to rest your brain.
Someone told me to do that and it really helped as I used to have a break and scroll through my phone..
vitamins, water, sleep, try not to get stressed about stuff
Weirdly getting the flu vaccine seemed to
coincide with my symptoms easing off.
It took seven weeks and if I pushed myself
too much on one or two days, I’d go backward the next and start feeling quite ill again
Good luck!

jackstini · 13/10/2021 22:14

On day 8 and finding it hard to keep my energy up - not really fussed about eating as can't taste anything

Agree try and wfh a bit if you can. Last few days I have just had to nap in the afternoon, could not keep my eyes open

Also finding it really hard doing some of the basic tasks I could usually do standing on my head - brain is just not getting it

Going to take some more vitamins and the one thing that does help is time outside

It's so hard to recover from - quite a few people have said I should not be surprised if it takes another couple of weeks...

AlexaShutUp · 13/10/2021 22:15

I hope that wasn't a coincidence and that the flu vaccine helps! I was supposed to have mine last weekend but moved it due to covid so now booked for a week on Saturday!

mumofthemonsters808 · 13/10/2021 22:26

I had to ring my boss and tell him I couldn’t return to work because I did not have the energy to walk to the tram stop.Even if I got a lift to the tram stop I would not feel comfortable having one of my coughing fits during my journey.Not sure he believed me, it’s very hard to understand the nature of the beast, if you’ve not had It. The recovery is slow, it really hot me down just not feeling right.3 months later I’m well, I feel good, but sometimes my chest gets tight after a big walk.I’m also getting a cold every 3 weeks.

middleager · 13/10/2021 22:48

Please take it easy.

I had Covid three weeks ago and still feel bad. I'm off work.

I'm wiped out, headaches, dizzy, fuzzy headed and every night feel like somebody has dunked my head in a swimming pool fue to sinuses/phlegm etc.

I'm going to ring my GP again this week as I feel low.

Pregnantmummmmm · 15/11/2021 21:22

I am still feeling overwhelmingly tired! I’m now officially on day 13 and although most of my symptoms have dramatically improved and I’m feeling 10x better… the tiredness is indescribable. I’m also nearly 36 weeks pregnant and have a young baby, but my god I’m running out of time to get my energy back!! Any updates from anyone on this??

solania · 15/11/2021 21:43

Rest rest rest. Four years ago I had bronchitis and developed post viral fatigue because I tried to do too much at once. It turned into chronic fatigue/ME and really affected me for ages. I’m in recovery but still get flare ups. Don’t rush to get back to work when taking a bit more time to rest and recover might mean that you don’t end up unable to work at all.

PieMistee · 15/11/2021 21:54

In case it hasn't been laid out clearly enough...REST! I went back too soon to work after a bad flu. I got ME and was off work for 2 and half years. I couldn't walk downstairs some days. I'm still fatigued every day 26 years on.
Take it seriously.

solania · 15/11/2021 22:07

@PieMistee

In case it hasn't been laid out clearly enough...REST! I went back too soon to work after a bad flu. I got ME and was off work for 2 and half years. I couldn't walk downstairs some days. I'm still fatigued every day 26 years on. Take it seriously.

Sympathies, ME sister. OP, please PLEASE don’t rush it.