Day 5 Breathlessness

[Laffielle]

I'm day 5 of symptoms. Short of breath. Chest pains. Exhausted just going up the stairs. Headache and nausea. Everyone I know has been over it after a few days. Should I be worried?

I started to get like this on day 5 - back in 2020, so pre-vaccines. I was ok, shortness of breath went away after a week or so, although other symptoms took longer. If you're vaccinated you will probably do better than this anyway.

I would recommend buying a pulse oximeter if you don't have one - your blood oxygen is likely fine but it does no harm to keep an eye on it and it can be reassuring. Argos do cheap next-day delivery. Also google 'Queens Hospital breathing exercises' - very simple, helped me and many others. Rest, hydrate, all the usual boring advice. Another tip I was given on here was that if you can exhale then count briskly to 30 before you need to inhale again, this is a good sign.

Hope you feel better soon

*I mean count to 30 in your head, obviously!

Do you have an omimeter, or know someone that can drop one off for you?

If you get to the stage where it hurts to breathe in and you don't feel you're taking enough breath, then I personally would be phoning 111 or my GP at that stage. Not saying you have it, but I've had pneumonia twice in the past though, so I wouldn't risk it.

Thank you. I've got an oximeter. I've been sat between 93 and 95.

@Laffielle I do not have chest pains, but I'm exhausted and just got out of breath going upstairs. Also have a ringing in my ears which is really making me feel quite wobbly. I sound miles better, in that my hoarse voice is better and I just have a stiff nose, but my energy levels are the same - low

Have you called a Doctor? Your O2 sats are low.