How long until you felt back to normal?

[lousyhealth]

Just wondering how long people have symptoms for as im 3 weeks in and still feeling lousy. I am slightly better than at my worse but not massively. Still have a cough, sore throat, headaches, lack of energy.

I have other things going on with my health so not sure if that is what is causing it to drag out so long, or its just the current strain that is sticking around for far too long.

About 3 months until I felt restored to pre-Covid level of health. It really lingers! Thankfully I got a bit of rest over Christmas otherwise I think it might have gone on even longer. Take as much rest as you possibly can.

I'm nearly three weeks in and feel rubbish too. This time around, I needed inhalers as my chest was so tight. That's eased now but my throat is so sore again.... I even asked the pharmacist if you can get Covid twice in a month!

My adult son who never really gets ill. He hasn't had a day's illness in 8 years plus got COVID about 2 1/2 weeks ago. He felt really ill. High temperature, headaches, constant coughing, sore throat, sore ribs from coughing, sweaty and sleepy. He's just gone back to work after 2 weeks at home even though he said he still felt crap. I told him if he's still unwell to stay home but he only gets SSP and said he had to go back to pay his mortgage. I did offer to help him pay but he refused. I think a nasty strain of COVID is going around ATM.

This is exactly how I feel, almost like I started to recover just a little and then it got worse again. I said I felt like I have caught something else as it just started to feel like it was improving slightly (but not much).

It does sound like this strain hangs around a lot longer. I was wondering if it was just me.
My only option is to rest at the moment as I just have no energy to do anything at all. I have other health issues which is likely making things worse but I am struggling just walking around the house.

Two months on and I am still struggling to go for a walk without getting breathless.

Gosh the thought of another month and still feeling like that does not sound fun. I hope you feel better soon.

I'm starting to think I've got tonsillitis now - I am on the waiting list for removal too.

Feel so crappy!!

@lousyhealth try three and a half years 😒

3.5 years and counting. Sorry that’s not what you want to hear but Covid can be awful. To be fair I’ve had it 4 times now and only the first time was like that. All the other times took between 4-6 weeks to feel ok. But I’ve NEVER got back to my pre covid self or 2020 as with approx 2 million other people in the uk. This is why anyone who has had long covid will tell you it’s utter hell. Of course nobody believes that until they realise what it’s like to be ill for weeks and weeks and just never feel well.

Best advise - rest and allow yourself to really recover before you return to work or activity. If you ‘can’t rest’ that’s when it seems to really get people so you have to find a way. Work reduced hours / ask for help etc. Also if you’re not already doing this look at your diet and supplements / vitamins because Covid seems to really impact on those things and leave us depleted.

I’ve had chronic migraine since having covid in 2020. I’ve never been the same since. I now have around fifteen migraine days a month. That doesn’t include recovery days. It really pisses me off when people say covid is just like a cold. It’s been life changing for me and not in a good way. I’m not well enough to work and my social life is obliterated.

About three months for me. Try vitamin b12 supplements. I felt like they helped

I have fibromyalgia so completely understand that long covid is awful, its very similar to fibromyalgia. I constantly have pain, energy issues and a whole array of wonderful issues.

I also have something ongoing with my health affecting my adrenal system but they havent yet got to the bottom of it and im on yet another hospital wait list, so wondered if that had an effect.

Im 4 weeks in now and no sign of things improving at all.

I may look at doing bloods to check my general vitamin levels but do take supplements after years of low vit d not being resolved. But definitely a good idea to see where my levels are at.

Was it all symptoms that stuck around for 3 months?

I've been to the GP tonight as my breathlessness is ridiculous - she said it's deffo post Covid related and to come back if no better after six weeks.

Teaching is not fun with this!!

Gosh thats awful and I could not imagine teaching with this so you have my sympathy, I really hope it improves for you.

Has the breathlessness been from the beginning?

Im 4 weeks in but the past few days I seem to be getting issues with a cough and my lungs just seeming really irritated. I would have thought by now things should be going, not getting more annoying symptoms.

My breathlessness was the worst and most obvious symptom at the beginning of my Long Covid. It's improved somewhat now (after three and a half years) but still comes back if I overdo it. Taking it easy is essential otherwise you can make things worse.

First time about 2 years and still struggle a bit with exertion, the other 3 times about a week. I seem to have dodged the new strain so far but DH (probablY0 had it about 4 weeks ago and it led to a chest infection, he's finally feeling better now after a week of antibiotics. The doctor said she'd seen quite a few people with similar post covid.

DH and I are just one week on after a negative test, and we both feel rubbish. I am so chesty, constantly blowing my nose, sore throat and feeling more tired than usual.

We do get plenty of sleep as we're retired. I don't know how people manage a job when they have this.

I have prepared a tea made from sliced ginger, sliced turmeric, black pepper and water. It's boiled for 10-15 minutes, then strained before adding honey and lemon to taste.

If anyone wants to try it, it's supposed to have great health benefits. (I still feel rubbish but only made the tea yesterday).

@DaizyDee when did the lung issues/breathlessness start with you? Was it at the start of covid? I didnt really have issues to start with but now, 4 weeks in, my lungs are really feeling annoyed.

My energy is absolutely zapped but having fibro, its hard to know whether its that or the covid, but I can barely move at the moment, im just not sure how long to give things but its frustrating.

This sounds worth a try, thank you, will give it a go. I hope you both feel better soon.

@lousyhealth I had bad breathing difficulties with my acute stage of Covid, then I just never really recovered and over the next couple of months the breathing issues got worse. I did end up going to a Long Covid clinic and seeing a respiratory doctor and a respiratory physio. He was really helpful and gave me some breathing exercises which made a difference. I do recommend breathing exercises but you've got to stick at them. Good luck 👍

It was the feeling absolutely exhausted stuck around. Luckily I WFH.

Three weeks in, still knackered, coughing, not sleeping very well at night, and today oddly, my teeth and gums really hurt. I'm hoping that's a Covid related thing and not dental.

@lousyhealth Can you tell me the breathing exercises? I think that would probably help me.