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Covid

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Original poster

Long covid - how long until you finally felt better

50 replies

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 10/02/2022 19:40

I'm now four weeks post Covid and have been signed off work a further four weeks.

I'm asthmatic but very well controlled. Shortness of breath and chest pain/tightness started on day 3 and have never gotten better. I've had antibiotics and steroids, I've increased my inhalers, I've been off work but I feel I'm getting nowhere.

I'm trying to relax and just take each day at a time but I'm really frustrated with how little I'm able to do. I get up every day and get the kids to school but I need to use my inhalers a few times during that, then I spend most of the day at home on the couch. I can put on washings and hoover but I need to rest in between or use my inhaler.

I have an active job, im a nurse on my feet for 11hrs a day, I can't tolerate a mask at all just now despite wearing them throughout my career and more with the pandemic so I'm concerned about that. I couldn't work where I currently do without one, nor would I really want to.

I'm worried about how long this will potentially last, I know noone has the answer but just wondering how long people felt like this, how long they've been off work or if they've been able to go back.

OP posts:

Luckymummytoone · 11/02/2022 00:13

I could have written this post myself! Literally the same except I’m 5 weeks post covid.
Had antibiotics and 3 courses of steroids but still struggling now.
All my GP keeps saying is people can take up 12 weeks to feel better!
Hope you make some improvement soon x 💐

Original poster

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 11/02/2022 00:50

12 weeks! Eugh!

Hope you feel better soon too, it's really awful isn't it

OP posts:

MrsKippling · 11/02/2022 02:34

Can't answer when you'll start to feel better unfortunately. I had covid in November with very mild symptoms. Then in December I was floored with what I am told was a viral infection as all LFT's and PCR were negative. I ended up in hospital as my oxygen levels were 80 and I was really gasping for air. I was given an inhaler and steroids on the 31st of December but after a week there was no improvement so my GP prescribed me 2 rounds of antibiotics which did clear the cough up. I'm still extremely breathless, exhausted, brain fog and my GP has now said he believes it's probably long covid.

I am due back in work on Saturday after 6 weeks off (luckily 3 of those were pre-booked annual leave as I don't receive sick pay). The prospect of wearing a mask for 8 hours is really worrying me but I'm going to give it a go as being at home is really bad for my mental health.

Sorry for rabbiting on just feeling very anxious about it all. I hope you start to feel a little better soon, definitely don't push yourself to do too much too soon.

slavetothekittens · 11/02/2022 06:29

18 months for me to feeling properly better. Covid hit me badly but I was on furlough when I caught it so was able to rest when I needed to. The breathlessness was awful, I couldn't get upstairs without gasping for breath, carrying a bag of salad across a room felt like I was carrying a boulder. Walked at a snail's pace as my legs hurt and wouldn't work properly.

By the time I was called back to work, I was able to cope but after work, I was fit for nothing and did very very little on my days off as I was just too exhausted. Gradually, I began to function again and can now walk to work or the shops and back quite happily and can do everything I used to do. I will never take the ability to breathe for granted again! Petrified of getting covid again though.

user1471509171 · 11/02/2022 06:58

I6 months for me the first time I caught Covid. Initially it was mild but on day 10 I started to feel breathless and have burning lungs and chest pains. I went from being a very fit runner to not being able to even go for a slow walk with my children. It improved slowly but took a long time. I was under a respiratory consultant for a year as my lungs showed inflammation.

countrylady2 · 11/02/2022 08:23

Do you take vitamin D as that helps with breathing, especially after a virus.

Original poster

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 11/02/2022 12:57

I'm really sorry to hear you've all been struggling too. It's terrible.

@MrsKippling I hope you get on okay at work

16 and 18 months just sound absolutely horrific! It's so interchangeable too, some days I wake up and feel great, then it hits me later. Like today current my chest isn't as tight and sore, whereas yesterday I was scoffing painkillers all day and puffing on my inhaler.

@user1471509171

I haven't tried VitD but I'll give anything a go!

OP posts:

FredBair · 11/02/2022 15:19

I don't think it's classed as long covid unless you have symptoms after 12 weeks.
I was hospitalised with covid and they told me to expect recovery to take 3 months. It was a long slog but I did make a full recovery by the 3 month point apart from a slightly malfunctioning sense of smell.

Amibeinghighmaintenance · 11/02/2022 15:24

Hi OP sounds though.

I don’t have personal experience but was reading what seemed a pretty comprehensive scientific study on recovery the other day which I’ll try and dog out. Were you vaccinated? Not a loaded question but I think the research depended on that and don’t want to send you something that will not be relevant and could be annoying!!

Original poster

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 11/02/2022 15:34

@fredbair I also thought 12 weeks post covid was when it was classed at long covid but my GP was following guidance which classes it after 4 weeks. I'm not sure if that's old or new guidance though

@amibeinghighmaintenance yes triple jabbed, I had my first two in Dec 2020 and Jan 2021 before the guidance changed to a longer wait time, booster on Oct 2021. Info on the study would be brilliant!

OP posts:

adriftabroad · 11/02/2022 15:35

4 months now, gradually getting better but exhausted and walking is difficult.

Mollysocks · 11/02/2022 15:37

I got COVID just before Christmas and even though all other symptoms has disappeared, I still have this tiredness that comes in waves. Usually mid afternoon. It’s sometimes so strong, I have to nap as my eyes are burning and closing. It doesn’t seem to be going away :(

Mollysocks · 11/02/2022 15:38

I can feel it starting now…

Amibeinghighmaintenance · 11/02/2022 15:39

Let me do some
Digging!’

Frenchfancy · 11/02/2022 15:39

DD was off work for 5 months, but it took over a year, 2 vaccinees (which made quite a big difference) and a second dose of covid before she was well enough to think about going back to the gym (for a gentle work out).

Original poster

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 11/02/2022 15:52

Oh gosh I'm not holding out much hope that it'll be better anytime soon then, how depressing

OP posts:

HundredMilesAnHour · 11/02/2022 15:59

I was off work with long Covid for 3 months and I've now been back at work on a phased return for 1.5 months. I'm still not fully recovered 4.5 months later, with my brain fog/cognitive issues being the biggest problem. I also have to really pace myself and take a lot more rest than I used to.

I have well-controlled asthma and my breathing is almost back to normal now. My energy levels are getting back to normal too. It took several months before I could start exercising though as even a short walk wiped me out for a few days afterwards.

The best advice I was given by my doctor was only do 70% of what you feel capable of. Any more than that and it will set you back further. At first I ignored this advice (I was so determined to get back to normal) but quickly learnt the hard way that my doctor was right (duh! I know!)

Original poster

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 11/02/2022 16:09

That's exactly how I'm feeling! When I've had a good day I'm going all out, going for the shopping, cleaning, taking the kids to school etc then for a day or two I'm in so much pain and my breathing is bad.

Trying so hard to just take it a day at a time but I'm so frustrated. I'm looking in to other nursing posts just now which don't involve nights/weekends/on calls. I'm thinking now might be the time to just get out of the acute/emergency type sector and find a job with more stable hours and less running around.

OP posts:

CrackersDontMatter · 11/02/2022 16:16

Honestly? About 20 months. I did have it right at the start though (April 2020) before the vaccines were available. I was off work for two months and ended up getting sent home again because I couldn't work. The past couple of months things have been better, I've been able to start exercising again and I get a lot less pain in my chest and upper back. Not 100% yet but there's been a big improvement.

middleager · 12/02/2022 09:24

@HundredMilesAnHour

@HundredMilesAnHour this is me too. I'm really struggling. Work is demanding, fast paced snd requires a lot of brainpower that I just don't have. My brain feels in sludge, yet I know work expect me to snap back, but I am not the same person I was pre Covid.

HundredMilesAnHour · 12/02/2022 20:59

@middleager I totally understand. I work in a high pressure, fast paced job in Financial Services and right now I'm just not capable of doing it. It is so VERY VERY frustrating and I have shed many tears over it. For a while I was worried sick that my brain would never recover and I would feel like an idiot forever. But I am improving, it's just much slower than I'd like. My employer won't let me do client work yet as I just can't operate at the speed required or under that level of pressure. I'm hoping by that will change soon but I feel like I'm just treading water as well as damaging my career.

AntsMarching · 12/02/2022 21:06

I’m 14 months in and although I’m heading in the right direction, I still struggle. My recovery is moving at a snail’s pace, but if I compare to a year ago, I can see how far I’ve come. I’m only working 3 days a week now as I get fatigued from concentrating so much.

Justalittlebitfurther · 12/02/2022 21:35

I got Covid in Dec 2020 and still have most of my symptoms although some to a lesser degree. I had to take 4 months off work. I still have tinnitus, pain, fatigue, brain fog and Post exertional malaise. I have only managed to return to work part time. I really really hope you recover more quickly, I honestly feel my recovery was hampered by me returning to work too soon and pushing through the fatigue for many months. Rest is so so important - that would be my advice to anyone if your body is telling you to stop then definitely listen.

All4Love · 12/02/2022 22:02

I got COVID in March 2020. It took a year for for the chest pains and palpitations to resolve. What's ongoing is a degree of tiredness, myalgia, high BP and slight hearing loss in one of my ears. Nothing is linear and it feels like a roller coaster. It feels insidious at times.

I can work full-time and I'm completing a postgraduate degree. However, recovery period are prolonged.

Also had 3 bad colds in December-January and I never had that bad before. PCR and LFT all negative. Is it because COVID damaged the immune system?

I don't want to be reinfected with COVID because I don't know what long term damage it will do. I've already seeing many people getting their 2nd infection and it's only been two years since the pandemic has began.

Original poster

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 13/02/2022 22:52

Oh no I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles everyone. I'm so worried about how long this will take.

I have some appointments coming up next week for the respiratory clinic so I'll see if there's any advice there too.

I think I'm just so desperate to get back to normality and I'm always thinking about work that I'm setting myself back by doing too much.

OP posts:

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