Long Covid/post viral fatigue with a 8 week old baby …. How am I supposed to do this?!

[Riley1989]

I posted not long ago when me and my hubby had Covid and I had just had my baby DD1 via c section 3 weeks prior to catching Covid. It was awful I was bed ridden but not with the normal fever and cough it was more neurological symptoms I had. Muscle weakness/aches/tremors, a feeling of my whole body fizzing and the most awful anxiety attacks/feeing of impending doom. I now have been diagnosed with postnatal depression/anxiety and OCD. I have long Covid I think the fatigue I’m feeling day to day is debilitating and my joints and muscles hurt so so much all the time. I have the fizzing sensation come back when I have done too much or I don’t get enough sleep. I’m struggling to even pick DD up as my arms are so weak. How on earth am I doing to get through this?! I’m Terrified I’m going to continuously get worse and end up bed bound I’m only 32! I know a lot of this is my anxiety and OCD but I’m so terrified I’m not going to be able to look after my baby when I’m on my own at home as Hubby works long shifts and is out of the house for 15hrs a day. I’m going back to the drs tomorrow to get antidepressants as I’ve finally accepted the fact that I need medication. Can anyone talk me down. Will this long Covid get better? Could it all be anxiety and the antidepressants might cure me of all of these symptoms?! I’m only 6 weeks post infection so surely there’s a chance it will go away right?! Sorry I know I sound crazy I’m a right mess

Oh and just to add I am already having intensive CBT therapy. I think finding the right medication on top of the CBT is going to be the best treatment for me as I just feel so terribly down and afraid all of the time. It’s not just anxiety that I’m feeling it’s literally dread/terror constantly that something is going to happen to me and I’m going to die and leave DD without a mum. Then the OCD starts and I start cleaning/planning/organising things so that it’s all done for when “I’m not here” so I know DD/DH will be ok and be able to cope whilst I’m not here. It’s horrendous. Surely some of this has got to be contributing to the symptoms and hopefully I don’t have long Covid??

Long covid isn't diagnosed till 3+ months.

You have gone through massive physical changes from pregnancy and birth and then covid on top. You need to try and rest as much as possible and spend time with your new baby. Hormones and PND need treatment and it's good you are seeing the GP.

please take the anti depressants if your GP advises them, i held out for 3 months (PND started straight after giving birth) because I'd got so fixated on the importance of breast feeding but its more important to get well and get some sleep as the awful thoughts are so debilitating. Once I was on the right meds my mental health become much more stable and manageable. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, take whatever help you can get and do try and tell your close family and friends what you are struggling with, people often keep PND thoughts secret as they can be afraid of being judged. The physical side of things is very hard to assess at the moment, hormones go haywire in PND and do have very real physical affects .If you are constantly fearful your body is going to be full of adrenalin and cortisol, its the fight or flight response so try and get out everyday for some fresh air, even if its just a short walk. You have been through a C-section which by itself can be very physically and emotionally debilitating for some people, never mind having Covid on top of that. You may well have a specific PND charity or support groups in your area, having contact with other women and supportive workers can be really helpful. Things do get better so take things a day at a time and try to be kind to yourself, best wishes and big hugs.

Thank you both so much. I’m just feeling absolutely dreadful mentally and physically. I look at pictures of myself from before and I feel a shell of that person and im so worried im never going to get her back. I just want to be able to enjoy my daughter and give her the life she deserves

Just take your time to rest as much as possible. I have ME (similar in lots of ways!) and I know how hard it is, with a baby you must be really struggling. It won’t be this bad forever, you just need to give your body a bit of time to recover

Do you have a bit of money to throw at things while you’re recovering? Healthyish ready meals, pre chopped veg, a waist height baby chair so you don’t have to bend down to pick them up.

Try and conserve your energy where you can- don’t stand if you can sit to do a task, bundle items together so you don’t have to move more than necessary (eg I’ll sort the washing when I get up to go to the loo, rather than getting up twice)

It’s not long covid til after 12 weeks, pls speak to Gp for help.

I developed M.E. after being ill with a virus and the most important thing you can do to help yourself recover is to rest as much as possible. Honestly, I could hardly look after myself, let alone a baby at the time. Do you have a support system?

You may like to read up on pacing for guidance on managing this sort of illness. You want to avoid ‘boon and bust’ where you do loads in one go but are then left completely exhausted and wiped out afterwards.

Anxiety can be really bad news for your body, absolutely. It can cause all sorts of physical symptoms in and of itself so it is far more likely that is the cause of your symptoms than long covid. I'm not surprised you're terrified, it sounds utterly overwhelming, but equally it's crucial you find ways to calm yourself down so your body can rest properly and heal. The body is really incredible at healing all sorts when you allow that process to happen. You are very unlikely to have long term problems from this virus - the vast majority of people don't and many long covid sufferers have found their symptoms still ease with time. The more you wind yourself up (I mean that kindly, that's what we all do when we're anxious), the more things will spiral including physical symptoms.

I think the number one thing is find ways of helping yourself practically for now - supermarket deliveries, ready meals, anyone who can help look after your baby for a bit here and there. Prioritise rest and essential care and if you catch yourself worrying about things days ahead, be strict with yourself. That will sort itself out, just think about now. You also actively need to be doing some mindfulness or really basic gentle yoga to calm things down more. There is so much help online with anxiety - try TikTok or Youtube videos for some tips. Nicole Sachs does an amazing anxiety course which really helped me.

Just for today - every time you find yourself panicking you need to stop and check in with the present moment. Where are you? What can you feel? What is the weather doing? Can you slow your breathing. If you can breathe in for 4, hold for 4 and breathe out for 4, that will help a bit. Everything else - the panic about the future and the what ifs, you need to be strict and say 'I'll worry about that another time. I will be able to sort anything that comes up when it happens.' Keep repeating it even if you don't believe it.

You've had a lot thrown at you but you can do this. It's absolutely brilliant to be asking for help from the GP, the medication will hopefully help too. You keep going. You're doing brilliantly.

Far too early to worry about long covid ....anxiety can have a lot of physical symptoms....hope you've got lots of support

I'd say you're still recovering. I was positive 5 weeks ago and I'm still exhausted.
Stay in bed with baby, keep everything to hand.
Good advice if you've a good baby, not so much if you have a velcro baby who likes to be walked in your arms.

Thank you so much to you all for your replies.

@Sasketchewoo thank you so much for all of the advice. I feel like I’m constantly battling with myself. I’m a very rational person usually so having developed PND/PNA & OCD is absolutely terrifying for me. Yes I have had anxiety all my life but I have always managed it myself and without medication. I can literally feel myself falling into despair and I just know that I need help which is a really scary in itself. I just hope that a year from now I can look back and think, I made it! but right now I just can’t see myself being better ever again. I keep telling myself my baby will be better off with anyone but me as a mother and I know that’s the PND talking (I’m really not stupid) but my brain won’t stop telling me these horrible intrusive thoughts!

Do you mind me asking if you were vaccinated? I am 32 weeks pregnant and terrified of getting long Covid. I have had both the jabs but still waiting for my booster.

Hope you are feeling better soon x

@babouchette no I haven’t had any vaccines yet. I was consultant led during my pregnancy because I have some health issues and was told not to get the vaccine whilst I was pregnant. I was due to get my 1st vaccine a week after I caught Covid but I can’t get it now until all these symptoms have disappeared According to my GP xxx

Fair enough and thanks for sharing that. I am pinning my hopes on the booster as it seems inevitable that I am going to get Covid at some point. I hope you're on the mend really soon x

@Riley1989 i was exactly the same! A year on! Abit better but still feel soo ill! Couldnt have my jab as i was pregnant!
Mine was all neurological symptoms! And now i get weird sensations in my body! How are you getting on? Xx

Hiya @Starrr123 I’m not doing too well to be honest. Turns out I was actually having a mental health breakdown/crisis as well as covid. I’ve been diagnosed with postnatal OCD ,depression and anxiety and it all fits with my symptoms and now looking back at this post I can see and remember how bad I felt mentally but put it all down to covid. I’m under perinatal mental health and I was nearly admitted to the mother and baby unit. It’s really tough and I’m treading water every day to stop myself from drowning. Thank you for you message. I hope your symptoms improve xxx

@Riley1989

@Riley1989 to you. I wish you the absolute best of care

@Riley1989 how are you now ? X