Long covid - when did you start to improve?

[BG2015]

I had covid 16 weeks ago. Very mild case, I've honestly had worse colds.

However it's now been confirmed I have Long Covid.
Symptoms are:
Breathlessness on any exertion
Cough
Irritated throat
Choking occasionally when eating/drinking

I have asthma so my GP has been trying to tweak my inhalers etc to help but can't say it's made much difference.

I'm managing the symptoms as best I can and still working but the breathlessness is getting me down.

The nurse I spoke to yesterday did say that 'most' people do recover but it can take time!

@Starrr123 Me too- mine is all on forehead and bridge of nose- it's like sunburn and lasts for a day and then goes away - no redness, just a nasty sensation - it's gone down considerably though and now is maybe 4 or 5 times a month.

@Starrr123 I think initially it was more debilitating because you are convinced it's something life threatening. I literally was frightened to go to sleep . After 10 months of it , but not getting worse , your mind kind of tunes it out and I now think of it like a chronic autoimmune issue

One thing the neuro told me too that helped was if you get the weird light headed and blurry eyes thing was to focus solidly on a point in the distance - stare at it solidly for 2 minutes - don't move your head , don't speak to anyone and deep diaphragm breathe . Weirdly this did help me . Also lots of mild stretching excercise - feet, neck, arms, legs 20 minutes a day

@Crikeyalmighty thankyou for that:) ill try it as i suffer with blurry eyes etc xxx

@Goodcoffee just to mention my symptoms really , really spiked at 3 to 6 months before gradually going on a downward trajectory

Now my main ones are I think the stuff it's left me with, neck ache is probably a bit of arthritis and I get the odd numb toes and pins and needles most days for a few minutes - but not enough for it to be 'always on my mind'

@Crikeyalmighty that's really helpful, thank you. I'm at the 6 month mark and it's definitely got worse in last couple of weeks. So wearing. But hopefully it'll start going back the other way before too long. Thank you so much - as much as it's awful that you've gone through this too - it's very reassuring that there are others dealing with this. xx

@Goodcoffee I'm on a Facebook forum called 'long covid support group' (big membership) and if you search at the top you will find all the symptoms you mention coming up on a very regular basis - it doesn't of course mean ruling out other issues but it can be quite helpful mentally if nothing is being found to see others with identical issues including a lot of younger and previously very fit people.

@Crikeyalmighty I'll check it out - thank you so much, really kind. Half the battle is not panicking!

I’d made about a 95% recovery 18 months in, only thing that was left was some breathing disruption and possibly some messed up sleep. However I’ve just tested positive again, so hoping it doesn’t undo the recovery…

I caught Covid in May this year abroad and now almost two months later still not feeling right, I have no energy for anything. It is very frustrating.