‘Long covid’, omicron and vaccines?

[Rispa42]

I tested positive for covid about 8 weeks ago. I was double vaxxed but not boosted. My last vax was in May so over 6 months before covid. My symptoms were on the mild side - high fever for a couple of days, then mostly neurological, bad headaches, tingling, and some odd ones like insomnia, very vivid dreams, anxiety (which I’ve never had) and extreme hunger for a couple of days, plus fatigue. I was kind of at 95% recovery after 2 weeks but after week 4 have been consistently suffering from dull headaches, earache, tinnitus (I’ve never had this either) and breathlessness (odd as I never had any respiratory symptoms, not even sore throat). Also just v tired.

I’m surprised as I’m late 30s, in very good health, super active (pre covid), vaxxed and I heard that omicron was quite mild. No one else I know who got covid at the same time seems to be suffering this late on, irrespective of whether they were boostered, so I’m feeling quite rubbish and lonely. Even my GP was quite dismissive. I’m also a part time fitness instructor and can’t do any classes.

Anyone else in the same position? Any light at the end of the tunnel? Is 8 weeks post covid still considered in the recovery period? I haven’t yet had the booster, not sure whether to wait and see if these symptoms resolve.

Thanks for reading!

I had my last vaccine last May too. Haven’t had the booster. Haven’t had Covid. Watching with interest as I can’t decide what to do.
I hope you get better quickly.

I'm double vaccinated and boosted in December, I'm two weeks after covid and still feel ill. Chest feels heavy as though I have a chest infection and feel like I need to cough something up. Very low energy and muscle weakness as well as breathlessness.

I'm early thirties, always been fit and healthy, enjoyed running and fitness classes and ate well.
I've had covid before (back in 2020 before all the vaccines) and was asymptomatic, completely fine.

Mid 30s, double vaxxed but not boosted. Had COVID 3 weeks ago, fairly mildly, biggest symptom was congestion. I felt I recovered really quickly but I'm still coughing up shite and struggling with fatigue. Yesterday I was so unbelievably fatigued all day. By 7pm I felt like my brain was offline completely. My house has started to go to the dogs because I've lost motivation and I have depression type symptoms even though I'm def not depressed, but I think this is just a response to not feeling 100% and trying to carry on. Annoyingly, pre covid I was eating really healthily, exercising a lot, getting adequate sleep, taking vitamins, doing all the right things. Since though I find myself slipping on these things, even though I know that I need to be keeping up with them to help recovery. I've just lost motivation! Perhaps I'm panicking too soon, but I've been caring with someone with severe long covid for 2 years so I may be feeling over sensitive to normal post infection symptoms and I need to give it time. And get back to looking after myself properly!

Thanks all for replying - such a weird illness...

@BonesJones - know what you mean your house, I’m the same, feeling so lethargic...

@Ajsjdjdk

I'm double vaccinated and boosted in December, I'm two weeks after covid and still feel ill. Chest feels heavy as though I have a chest infection and feel like I need to cough something up. Very low energy and muscle weakness as well as breathlessness.

I'm early thirties, always been fit and healthy, enjoyed running and fitness classes and ate well.
I've had covid before (back in 2020 before all the vaccines) and was asymptomatic, completely fine.

That’s really strange. So you’re worse after the vaccines than before?

I have been diagnosed with long Covid after testing positive at the beginning of December. I'd had my second vaccine 5 months before getting Covid.
I'm still not boosted as I'm worried about managing work and my children if I react in the way I did after my first jabs, I'm concerned the reaction could be worse whilst I'm feeling so rundown.
Long Covid for me means never feeling well, I have to manage it, if I do too much then I'll have a flare up which knocks me out. My continuous symptoms include pains, pins and needles, fatigue, headaches, lack of appetite and brain fog.
Of course, the booster could protect me from being very unwell if I catch Covid again but I'm running on empty and having to manage day by day at the moment.

Sorry to hear that @catchingzzzeds - can I ask what your health was like prior to Covid / jabs?

I’m in the same position as you - I don’t want to get boosted until I feel better but equally have heard that in some cases, people’s long covid symptoms improved after the vax! Who knows, it’s all so confusing....

@Rispa42 yes this is definitely long Covid and you are definitely not alone. I have had it (pre vaccines as had Covid April 2020). Acute infection was worse (have had it again mildly last month Omicron I assume) but the long covid just dragged on and on, 18 months in the end. I am recovered now but still can't exercise properly (can do walks/weights/pilates/bike but no running/hard cardio stuff). My health before was excellent, running long (ish) distances weekly, pilates, weights, walked 15-20k steps a day, 37 no issues, health eater etc. It has ruined my health but finally after almost 2 years I feel a lot better although still have to be careful. I am hopeful you will suffer at lot less than this due to the vaccines and your infection being mild but please rest and be careful. Check our Run DMC covid videos on youtube for help and advice, they're really good. You will unfortunately discover that contrary to what is presented in the media a very large proportion of long covid sufferers are aged 20-45, no health conditions, very fit beforehand. It doesn't seem to matter! Lots of support groups on FB etc if you look. Take care and go easy on yourself!

And personally I would avoid the booster for now. I have had both my vaccines (not booster) and both made me feel a lot worse but I was terrified of getting Covid again BUT i caught it in Jan and it was fine, 10 days very mildly ill and no worsening of my long covid stuff (which is almost gone now)

@Rispa42 my health was fine, I had no reason to think it'd hit me so hard.
My reaction to the vaccines lasted a couple of days each time but I recovered from them with no issues.
I too have heard the booster can in some cases help with long Covid, I'll do some more research.
I hope you're feeling better soon 💐

Hi I’m 59, normally v fit and active, vaxed, and boosted in October. I didn’t have much reaction to the jabs.
Had Covid at xmas. Still off work. Fatigue, headaches, body ache, tinnitus. It goes up and down in severity but I haven’t felt right. Now waiting for occupational health to discuss I hope, phased and supportive return to work.

@popsickle555 interesting regarding your fitness ability. I had Covid in 2020 initially very mild but developed breathlessness and chest pains at day 10ish. It took 14 months for me to feel better. I can exercise now HIIT cycling but still cannot run. My lungs just can't take it.

I had Covid really recently and was surprised how much I suffered with it. I’ve since felt incredibly low, my previously well managed anxiety has come back and I feel breathless from just a normal walk. I’ve also got ringing in one ear intermittently :( I just feel like a shell of my usual self. A lot of it could be down to anxiety which can manifest physically for me but it seems a bit coincidence that it’s all kicked in since I had Covid.

@youhadmeatjello

I had Covid really recently and was surprised how much I suffered with it. I’ve since felt incredibly low, my previously well managed anxiety has come back and I feel breathless from just a normal walk. I’ve also got ringing in one ear intermittently :( I just feel like a shell of my usual self. A lot of it could be down to anxiety which can manifest physically for me but it seems a bit coincidence that it’s all kicked in since I had Covid.

Do you mind me asking if you’re vaccinated? It seems people are having Covid quite badly despite vaccinations.

@OneSwallow of course I don’t mind :) yes I’ve had both vaccines and the booster. My toddler obviously hasn’t had any vaccines and had fever, lethargy, chills, I think he had aches from the way he was behaving and a headache, and went off his food completely. He’s now got a lingering cough and gets tired out much quicker than normal.

Scary.

Thanks for that info @popsickle555 - that video is very good.

I agree - the media narrative has been that covid (and esp omicron) is very mild for younger, fitter people. Especially after my first 2 jabs, I was pretty blasé about covid, and as I had a frontline job and hadn’t caught it at all, thought I was pretty invincible...

I’m going to wait a couple of months before getting my booster!