How long is "long covid"?

[AndThenYouDied]

How long have people suffered from long covid? Is it a life long illness or does it last for months? Has anybody healed from it?

It depends. It could develop into me/CFS which is what happened to me over 8 years ago now. It's been life changing.

If you feel that you're not recovering from covid then my best advice would be to rest as much as possible and do not attempt to 'push through'. When you start to feel better don't jump back into life feet first. You'll need time for your body to get back up to speed.

For me it lasted about five months. Not sure if that's officially long covid or not.

18 months and counting for my DS. No end is sight.

I don't think we'll know for sure for many years if not decades as it's still so new in disease terms

People who have recovered will have had something different to someone who is still suffering in 10 or 20 years time. We simply haven't had long enough to define long yet.

Possibly forever, speaking as someone with CFS/ME, that some of the professionals in my diagnosis believe was triggered by post viral fatigue from tonsillitis.

I am currently well, but aware I could relapse any time.

Two years and counting here, OP. Gradually improving, from breathless at 100 yds/severe fatigue/had to hire a gardener and get shopping delivered, to being about 50% back to my normal exercise level. I still get relapses if I try to do a normal amount of activity.

My son was 8 months, myself nearer to two years as got it before first lockdown and only just feeling 'normal' although do have some very mild inflammatory/allergy type symptoms still.

Took me about a year to recover. I still have a few symptoms that flare up when I'm run down or ill but its manageable.

There was a recent episode of inside health on radio 4 looking at this. Some people had improved a lot a year on, others had seen very little change. It’s not one course for everyone. What works for one person has no effect for another. I don’t think we know anywhere near enough about it yet.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015b0g

About 18 months. I’m at about 15%-20% of normal energy levels. 1 year ago I was about 5%, so I’ve improved but my life is unrecognisable.

Sadly many people who developed LONG SARS cov1 are still ill and that was many many years ago…

I wish I had quit work sooner. Maybe I’d be better by now but I was trying really hard to hold it all together.

DP is 13 months in

I was completely healed at 14 months. My main symptoms were chest pains and shortness of breath. Also kept feeling like I was coming down with something.

My sister is 18 months and still having quite severe issues around fatigue, food tasting terrible and everything smelling like sewage.

I am 18 months in, still in CF and still struggling most days. I'm better than I was - but becoming gradually convinced that this is perhaps as good as it's going to get.

And it's not great.

I'm into my 25th month with LC. Have seen big improvements but currently relapsing and feeling really low about it all.

2 years and counting here. Tbf I've had COVID 3 times thus far and each time I do my slow recovery gets pushed back. I am currently relapsing after having had COVID 4 weeks ago.

What are your main symptoms?

2 years on March 13th and no end in sight!

@Whatalovelydaffodil

What are your main symptoms?

Burning -on my skin, my mouth, nose, sinuses. Painful throat. Pins and needles in hands. Severe fatigue after exercise. Internal tremors. Disrupted sleep, brain fog (although these last may be menopause).

Almost 2 years here

I'm breathless, haven't slept upstairs for 2 years as I can't move quickly enough to get to the loo if needed (it's downstairs) plus I can't actually climb the stairs unless crawling up like a toddler

I have crazy sweats all the time and developed a long term condition that I had to have chemo for that triggered early menopause

I can't sleep due to other meds and am not really able to do much now.

I hurt - my skin is painful to touch and I have joint pain and Pains caused by my condition and have to take opioids , I don't go out unless a medical appt as it takes days to recover :(

Sounds awful divis and porcupine! I am bit short of breath, but it's only been a few weeks. Sorry you've been unwell such a long time.

Sending to you all. Especially to my buddies from early threads @norugratsatall @porcupineintherough and @babdoc soo sorry to hear you are still suffering xx