9 weeks after hospital discharge, still coughing
Posted , 3 users are following.
I was in hospital for one week with Covid 19 , bacterial and viral pneumonia. During the past 9 weeks at home I have suffered, cough, taste and smell loss, terrible night sweats, a rhythmic heart grating feeling, very weak muscles, shortness of breath, mild headaches, loss of appetite. BY week 7 most symptoms had ceased and i was able to start walking again outside. I have built this up to a mile and i have started riding my bicycle again, all be it only 10 miles. However i still have a lingering cough and
shortness of breath. I am an asthma sufferer but this is normally totally controlled with preventer puffers. Ventolin does not help at all and i can feel that this is not my asthma. All the coughing is tiring me out. Does anyone else in a similar position still cough?
0 likes, 2 replies
julie54500 pamela2453
Posted
Hi Pamela,
So sorry to hear you're having such a rough time. I am on my 8th week and still struggling with shortness of breath and on meds that you give to people suffering with cystic fibrosis and COPD despite never suffering with any lung conditions so i think as you have asthma and you were in hospital you are doing really well. I do think you are overdoing things with riding your bike as drs keep telling me that you need to rest to give the lungs time to repair, drink fluids and make sure you are eating well. It could take a while to get better especially after having pneumonia. I am still experiencing the feeling of phlegm deep down in lungs and tiring trying to cough up so i really understand what you're going through. I even tried leaving meds off but found my chest was even worse so went back on them. I understand how frustrating it is as i too feel its neverending. Keep going it may take some time to recover fully. Take care.
SuzieLouise pamela2453
Posted
Hi Pamela.
I have never been confirmed as having had Covid, but I have had ongoing symptoms since late March.
I had a mild temperature for a few days and felt a bit achy and flu-like. Since then I've developed a persistent dry cough, which i just don't seem to be able to shift. It got worse and worse, and occasionally better for a day or two, which made me think i was recovering, before returning with a vengeance. I've found it really difficult to breathe at times, especially at night and I've just been feeling pretty miserable really. i have 4 kids at home and just really struggle to find the energy i need just to do normal day to day chores. i spent two days this week just lying motionless on the sofa, and felt a little better.
i have had historical lung problems so I always thought that was the problem and not Covid, but now I think it may be ongoing Covid19. I have had two tests which have both been negative (but both are weeks and weeks after first symptoms, so i guess they would be?
I've had two courses of antibiotics as GP suspected chest infection and now I'm booked for an x-ray to check my lungs.
Anyway, reading all these posts makes me think maybe this is indeed Covid. It sounds very similar to what many of you are experiencing.
I used to be really active. I would run 5-8 k three times a week, but hobble around at the moment and have to sit down after a short walk. I was feeling much better last week and played a gentle set of tennis. By the end of the game I was really achy and tight in my chest and coughing a lot. I was wiped out afterwards for a couple of days. I definitely feel like exercise exacerbates the symptoms.
Thanks to everyone for sharing. makes me feel less hopeless. I've been really low recently.