Long Covid - how long?

BaaCake · 2022-06-13T18:25:30+00:00

How long has your long covid been going? I'm on 4-5 months. Fed up of all the people saying it's "mild". The ongoing side effects are debilitating.

CrackersDontMatter · 13/06/2022 19:29

I noticed a big difference at around 18 months. I know that sounds really depressing especially when 5 months is already a long time. I got it quite early in the pandemic, before the vaccine so I don't know if that makes a difference. Have you been referred to the long covid clinic?

Original poster

BaaCake · 13/06/2022 19:44

I'm waiting for the appointment to come through. Have been warned it may be a while. Actually 18 months is reassuring in some way in that even after some time you did find improvement. Its most fatigue, weird brain fog and aching. It seems to get better and worse though.

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Bubbublish · 13/06/2022 20:09

I was in hospital last August and I'm still under the long covid clinic. Just waiting for results of a sleep apnea test . . . it's a long hard road☹️

ThanksNoThanks · 13/06/2022 20:12

Sorry. Hang in there. Best advice is pacing,
Mindfulness, healthy eating and sleeping, lots of resting but just as importantly gentle pushing when it feels right. Lastly try and laugh, have fun and relax.

Original poster

BaaCake · 13/06/2022 20:18

ThanksNoThanks · 13/06/2022 20:12

Sorry. Hang in there. Best advice is pacing,
Mindfulness, healthy eating and sleeping, lots of resting but just as importantly gentle pushing when it feels right. Lastly try and laugh, have fun and relax.

Thank you. I had a long recovery from glandular fever as a teen so this feels familiar. Which is again reassuring as I know I coped with that most days. Still days you just want to wallow and cry.

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NailArtAddict · 14/06/2022 01:20

17 months and counting here.
No trials or clinics in our area so just have to carry on. Reinfection in Jan this year certainly caused a relapse but there is an improvement albeit slow!

Good luck OP. You have my sympathy. It sucks!

Jules912 · 14/06/2022 08:43

I've just hit 3 months, thought I'd started to improve after 2 but then I went on holiday and seem to have relapsed. At least now it's been 12 weeks the doctor will actually see me.
Mine's actually relatively mild which I'm grateful for but fed up of being in pain all the time and unable to do any exercise.

Original poster

BaaCake · 14/06/2022 08:48

Jules912 · 14/06/2022 08:43

I've just hit 3 months, thought I'd started to improve after 2 but then I went on holiday and seem to have relapsed. At least now it's been 12 weeks the doctor will actually see me.
Mine's actually relatively mild which I'm grateful for but fed up of being in pain all the time and unable to do any exercise.

Yes I think I naively thought it wouldn't get worse only better but I do seem to have new symptoms every so often. And then I spend a while playing is this long covid or something else.

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Rispa42 · 14/06/2022 11:00

I’m similar - I’m nearly 6 months in, and it sucks. Up and down. My main symptoms are breathlessness, head pressure, tinnitus, twitching / spasms at night and this weird anxiety feeling - I wake up wide awake at around 5am with heart palpitations and feel very wired. Also have occasional muscle pains. Prior to getting covid I was super healthy, used to teach fitness classes part time, no underlying health conditions, late 30s so felt very blasé about covid. My initial infection was also super mild.

what was your vax status? I was double vaxxed but no booster (which I regret!) I ended up getting my booster in March but it amplified the head pressure and tinnitus (I’d had had no side effects with first two).

I’m taking a load of supplements, not sure they’re helping or if they’re just expensive pee…

popsickle555 · 14/06/2022 17:04

For me 2 years. I am 2 years and 3 months now and I am basically recovered. It felt like forever. Months 1-9 definitely hardest. Not at all mild. I didn't work for 18 months because I literally couldn't. Now back to normal life with the exception of not being able to do proper cardio but gentle cardio is now ok.

Original poster

BaaCake · 14/06/2022 17:08

Rispa42 · 14/06/2022 11:00

I’m similar - I’m nearly 6 months in, and it sucks. Up and down. My main symptoms are breathlessness, head pressure, tinnitus, twitching / spasms at night and this weird anxiety feeling - I wake up wide awake at around 5am with heart palpitations and feel very wired. Also have occasional muscle pains. Prior to getting covid I was super healthy, used to teach fitness classes part time, no underlying health conditions, late 30s so felt very blasé about covid. My initial infection was also super mild.

what was your vax status? I was double vaxxed but no booster (which I regret!) I ended up getting my booster in March but it amplified the head pressure and tinnitus (I’d had had no side effects with first two).

I’m taking a load of supplements, not sure they’re helping or if they’re just expensive pee…

I am fully vaxxed 2 and a booster. Yes I get the tinnitus too. Also rattling with supplements!

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Original poster

BaaCake · 14/06/2022 17:09

popsickle555 · 14/06/2022 17:04

For me 2 years. I am 2 years and 3 months now and I am basically recovered. It felt like forever. Months 1-9 definitely hardest. Not at all mild. I didn't work for 18 months because I literally couldn't. Now back to normal life with the exception of not being able to do proper cardio but gentle cardio is now ok.

Glad you have managed to recover. Do you find it makes you more weary of catching it again? I'm terrified but I'm now also weary of getting any more boosters etc.

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popsickle555 · 15/06/2022 10:46

@BaaCake absolutely. I was terrified of catching it again. But I did in April and it was bad for 10 days but not nearly as bad as first time (like flu). I took about 3-4 weeks to feel mostly fine again, 6 weeks to get back to where I am now at 90%. So yes a set back but not too bad. I have had 2 x Pfizer jabs but told not to have the booster as I had a flare up of myocarditis from the second. Truthfully I am not sure if the vaccine helped or not. Maybe it did...my kids have both had it, one has had it twice and one 3 x. Each time it's been milder thankfully.

Original poster

BaaCake · 16/06/2022 21:32

@popsickle555 Good to know it wasn't as bad 2nd time round for you.

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Rispa42 · 19/06/2022 15:49

I’ve hit bit of a wall - I was really bad in April but seem to be sameish in May and June - having good/ok and not so good days. The mental aspect is hard, especially as the world has moved on from covid….

I went to a long covid clinic - the most helpful thing was they saw I had disordered breathing so have recommended some exercises for that.