Weird virus? - insomnia, anxiety and thirst

[Pelvicpaininthebum]

Anyone else awake with an illness that won't let you sleep?

Started a week ago suddenly in the morning my heart rate went up and stayed there, was fatigued for a couple of days, poor appetite, severe anxiety I ended up taking myself to a&e as I thought it was my heart.

I'm now congested and feel like it's all just been a nasty virus. I'm still having temperature fluctuations and am incredibly thirsty especially at night.

The worst is the insomnia. I slept for 1 hour tonight then have been awake since 11:30pm. This has been a week now.

Anyone else? I'm getting worried I'll never sleep again.

could you be diabetic? Also can I ask your age?

Not diabetic, I've been tested.

40 - did think maybe peri but now convinced it's "just" a virus. It's hit me like a ton of bricks, was fine before the last week!

Have you Covid tested? I’ve been exactly the same for nearly a week and have it (hence being here at 2am!)

Yes I was thinking peri/menopausal. Did A&E do blood test ? I would get an appointment with GP, contestants thirst is a symptom.

• constant thirst

@Toooldtopretend I tested Thursday and it was negative, but I know the tests aren't that accurate these days?!

Glad to have found you though sorry you're suffering too! Have you had the anxiety, thirst and insomnia.

@Messycoo yes they did a blood test,. definitely not diabetes.

Oh yes, although I have had different cold symptoms that change each day. Started with a sore throat on Monday, then headache, then runny nose and sneezing but with a couple of hours of insomnia each night. I only tested after losing all taste and smell and got an immediate strong positive.

I’ve had covid a few times and the insomnia/weird dreams when i do sleep have been something I’ve noticed every time.

I've been the same, very congested tonight which is probably making the thirst worse.

I haven't lost my taste or smell though which makes me doubt it's covid (along with the negative test of course!).

Do you have a really dry mouth and throat?

Yes, I came to bed at 9.30 absolutely shattered but have slept for less than an hour. Already gone through 2 pints of water. My taste went 4 days in so it might still happen yet. Maybe try another test?

Wow two pints!! I'm trying to just sip my water as otherwise know if I do sleep my bladder will wake me but it's hard being so thirsty. Actually thinking about it I think the thirstiness was my first symptom, before the high heart rate and fatigue. So weird.

I'm already a week in, tested on day 6, so feel if it was going to be positive it would have been. I might try again tomorrow (today, I guess!).

The thing is I'm ok in the day now, just the cold symptoms and feeling a bit anxious. So it's really frustrating the not sleeping.

I had something similar turned out I had hyperthyroidism, may be worth talking to your gp and asking for thyroid function testing?

I ended up being awake 11:30 - 3. So have had 4 hours sleep total. Aarrgghh.

Any chance you could be pregnant? Raised heart rate was my first symptom (along with a hugely heightened sense of smell) and the insomnia soon followed.

I have actually asked for this but blood test.on Sunday showed tsh was fine.

No chance, no.

Think I've lost my sense of smell this morning so think you're right about it being covid!!!

Did you end up getting some more sleep? How are you feeling this morning?

I got about 3 hours but feel dreadful. On the plus side my cold symptoms seem to have largely been gone but I just feel hot and rough and really uncomfortable (and tired but wide awake!).

It's so strange isn't it. The feeling of being wide awake but tired and knowing you can't sleep if you wanted to.

I'm still full of cold.

I think I can smell a bit but definitely reduced.... Just been shoving my nose in the coffee jar!

Bump for anyone else with this...?

Maybe the Covid tests aren’t accurate as it very much sounds like Covid. It can attack the nervous system- hence the impact on heart rate. The nervous system also impacts stress levels. you basically get stuck in ‘fight or flight’ mode and you can’t get in to rest mode. I also had the insomnia and raging thirst.

My only advice is rest and don’t try and don’t try and do too much. You can really prolong this and it can lead to lingering fatigue.

Oh and make sure you are having electrolytes with salt in them rather than pints of straight water as that won’t be hydrating you properly.

Thank you. I really spiralled into anxiety this morning and think I just had a panic attack.

It definitely feels like something is attacking my nervous system.

How long did it take you to feel better when you had it?

Oh gosh I don’t want to alarm you - I unfortunately developed post viral fatigue which has lasted a long time.

I rushed back to exercise too quickly though when I thought I was better and over did it. I’m much better than I was but still can’t do any high intensity exercise.

I am sure if you rest up you will get over it a bit more quickly. I think when the nervous system is affected you just have to be very cautious.

I have become very familiar with meditation and acupuncture and lots of things I previously thought were rubbish…!

I can’t stress enough - rest is key with this virus! I hope you feel better soon.

That's awful, I'm sorry that has happened to you.

Thank you.

I'm really trying to figure out if I do have covid/virus making me feel like this or if I am just suffering from sudden anxiety/panic attacks so it's nice to know others have felt like this and there has been a physical cause.

I have two little kids and a job and so rest is difficult (I'm off sick work at the moment).

Ah thank you.

Yes it’s so tricky with little kids to look after. I think if you have all the symptoms of a virus then it most likely is that. I think there’s some new research out now that shows Covid (if that is what you have) can affect the nervous system.

Hopefully with some rest you’ll feel better soon. It’s awful being tired and not being able to sleep!