Long covid, still breathless and chest pain when talking.

[Tootsey11]

Just wondering is anyone who had covid March 2020 still having difficulties. I'm still having chest pain and sore throat, getting breathless after talking for a minute or so. I cannot get rid of this. Anyone the same?

Yes, me too, although not as severe as you, OP.
Hospitalised with Covid in March 2020, struggling with long Covid ever since.
My exercise tolerance has slowly improved - I was breathless at 100 yards, but can now walk about a couple of miles in a day, with pauses for rest. I had a heavy feeling in my chest, as if my lungs were weighed down with fluid - I only get that now with relapses.
My throat gets really sore if I chat for a couple of hours, and my sinuses seem to permanently discharge mucus.
If I try to do too much, I get relapses of fatigue and dry coughing, meaning I am stuck on the sofa for days.
You should probably see your GP, OP, just to check the chest pain isn’t unrelated angina, and to ask if there is a long Covid clinic in your area to which you could be referred.

Yeah, January 2020 here. It’s getting worse rather than better.

Sorry to hear you are still struggling. Long Covid is unfortunately the gift you didn't want that keeps on giving. Both DH and I are nearing a year and still having issues.

I was struggling with breathlessness and have found a steroid inhaler and salbutamol have really helped. I couldn't stand without being short of breath 6 months ago.

The chest pain needs investigating, my DH now has a GTN spray and is waiting on a heart CT.

We both still have episodes with faster than normal heart rate (120 bpm plus). Mine is related to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia and also can lead to breathlessness.

Persistent sore throat and swollen glands also seems to be a feature for both of us.

I do know of some people having vocal cord issues post-Covid that have needed speech and language therapy to help with their speech and swallowing food (see link below).

There are also people with post-Covid reflux that have chest pain, sore throat and breathlessness so that might be another thing to think about once the other things are checked out.

www.google.com/amp/s/medicalxpress.com/news/2020-11-vocal-cords-long-term-covid-symptoms.amp

March 2020. Still get occasional fatigue/chest pain but it’s very rare now (touch wood) and I can’t clearly link it to the Covid at this stage.

Hope you continue to recover, OP. It’s such a horrible illness.

Thanks everyone, it's good to hear I'm not the only one, but at the same time not good at all if that makes sense. I've had a chest xray last year which was clear, but I seem to be getting worse than better. I do think I have angina and have had it many years but doctor will not entertain the idea, says I'm too young at 46. Family history of it. Add in covid and I think that is one reason why I can't get better. 3 sips of water at the one time and I'm out of breath. I'm speaking in stages because I can't keep going. And the body fizzing or buzzing I've had every day and particularly bad in evenings and night, since the start. When does it end!

With a family history of angina, chest pain at 46 certainly does need investigated, OP.
I remember the awful fizzing and popping sensations in muscles from Covid - a medical colleague described it as like chilli peppers popping in a frying pan. Mine were annoying in bed at night, making it hard to sleep. But they settled after I had my first Pfizer vaccine dose.

I saw someone online who still has long covid one year plus. He said his breathlessness was resolved within one day of taking the h2 histamine blocker famotidine. There are no OTC h2 histamine blockers available in U.K. though so you’d have to persuade your gp which will be hard without control trials.

I have had symptoms of breathlessness, constant hacking productive cough and excess mucus in nose and chest for the last 6 months. GP reckons long covid although I've never had a positive test. I'm on all sorts of medication but it's up and down. I don't think I could stand this for another year! It's having a massive impact on my daily life. Just a bit of light housework has me breathless and coughing up all sorts

I've also had a clear chest x-ray and bloods that show lung inflammation. Montelukast has helped but it's still bad, ezpecially in the morning and at night. I can't laugh any more without coughing. It's not socially acceptable to cough when out either so I also feel like a leper

I'm left with relapses of mild chest discomfort mainly on exertion. Not really breathess though. Had a ct coronary angiogram last year which was entirely normal. Cardiologist thinks it's due to inappropriate sinus tachy but thing is I get discomfort when my heart rate is 70-80 and I'm sat on the sofa. She reckons it can't be angina even though I'm peri menopausal and have a family history of CHD. I was previously very fit and just don't look the part however. I developed POTS post jab which can cause these symptoms but I'm not convinced. I'm on b blockers which have controlled my HR but done bugger all for the niggling discomfort. Sorry to hear you feel so bad. Look up micro vascular angina. Very common in menopausal women but difficult to diagnose.

@einekleinenachtarbeit that's interesting, I'm through the menopause early and a have a few blood vessel disorders. Will do some more reading.

Hi @Tootsey11 I remember you from the early lungs threads. I am better but have a slight decrease in my cardio ability since Covid in March 2020. Also if I get a slight cold I get the old burning lung feeling with slight breathlessness but very mild. Sorry to hear you are still suffering. @Babdoc glad to hear you are much improved.

Gosh the gangs all back together again! I remember most of you from the original threads, sorry to hear you are still having problems.

I was originally sick March 2020, developed long COVID and had a second confirmed run in with the dread bug last Christmas. That didn't make the long COVID worse but its not gone away either - for me mostly burning (sinuses, tongue, lungs, skin on face and back), pins and needles, sore throat, internal tremors. Not all at once luckily but in an ever shifting cycle of fun. I do also suffer from post exercise fatigue- but again, not always.

JS87 can you not get ranitidine OTC?

It is good to hear from everyone, those earlier threads kept me sane. @Porcupineintherough, yes the burning, have it every day still chest and back. Interesting you say your face, mine has been burning for months now but I didn't connect it with cv. Add in all the lovely menopause symptoms and I just feel like hiding under the duvet forever!

Hope every one is feeling better soon so many people have extended covid symptoms.

DD had Covid last year in May. She had chest pains and shortness of breath, plus debilitating fatigue. We've seen various private consultants (cardiologist and endocrinologist) and she has now been diagnosed with Dysautonomia and MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome).

The PP about taking antihistamines is spot on. DD takes an H1 antihistamine (started with OTC Loratadine) and H2 Famotidine. She also takes Nytol at bedtime to help with the histamine dump at 2am. Try Dioralyte to increase your electrolytes as that relieves DD's chest pain when she's in a flare.

Unfortunately MCAS isn't treated on the NHS, though I've noticed over the past year that doctors are becoming more aware of the condition and its link to Long Covid. It's very difficult to diagnose via tests and the mast cell mediators (histamine, tryptase, leukrotine etc) tend to only show up in blood tests during a flare, and a 24-hr urine test is more reliable. Most consultants will base it on symptoms and how you respond to medication.

Also unfortunately the private consultants who treat MCAS are overwhelmed with the post Covid demand and whereas I used to get an appointment in a couple of weeks last year, I'm now having to book months in advance. Our cardiologist has had to close his list now. So it's getting harder and harder for new Long Covid sufferers to get the help they need. And that number is going up and up as this feckless government and public seem happy to let it spread unmitigated around our plague island.

@sproutsandparsnips

JS87 can you not get ranitidine OTC?

Not any more.