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Covid for 4 weeks & still bed ridden. Anyone else had prolonged severe illness without hospitalization

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Res35
Res35

Hi,

I've had Covid19 for 4 weeks and if I had the energy I'd be tearing my hair out.

I've had 2 sets of prohylactic antibiotics to safeguard against bacterial infections, my temperature has been up and down but never higher than 38 the entire illness.

I've had severe neuropathy during the illness and some kind of night seizures accompanying the other more well publicised symptoms that mean my sleep is terrible also.

I went to hospital Day 14 after a week of seriously thinking I'm on death's door and my blood oxygen was good enough to be sent home for follow up at the Covid Hubs where they basically just take temperature, pulse and oxygen levels.

I was prescribed a 2nd course of antibiotics there as my temperature was still up and they are checking in on me every few days.

Meanwhile I am having one better day, then another terrible day, then a better day then a worse day..But 'better' is still bed ridden, just means I can breath well enough and not too dizzy to make myself my own cup of tea, have a shower and engage in some small talk with my family.

Everytime I have a good few hours I think, that must be me getting well now, but no, 4 weeks later and the last 24 hrs my breathlessness has been worse than it was for the previous 5 days..Am about ready to shoot myself.

Is there anyone else that's experienced being so ill with this virus outside of an ICU setting where it's carried on this long?

Even ICU patients are recovering in 3-6weeks .

Cannot understand why I'm not getting well yet.

I have no underlying health issues and I'm in my 30s.

I don't know if I still have Covid or if this is post viral inflammation and fatigue..There is no way of knowing as they are not testing community cases. Every doctor just says it's definitely Covid but I have no idea if I've passed the peak of the illness or if i should still be worried it could get worse.

Just feel it's going on forever.

Be great to know if there's any non hospital stories of people being sick, as in still unable to do a thing this length of time.

Thanks!

19 likes, 5383 replies

5383 Replies

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  • mark13066
    mark13066 Res35

    Edited

    Gary, My wifes symptoms at 12 weeks are a bit of general extra fatigue and some chest tightness. The chest tightness is only a handful of times a day momentarily that goes away within a minute. She suffers from epilepsy, arthritis and essential tremor as long term conditions that unfortunately give her an ongoing background level of fatigue.

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 mark13066

      Edited

      Thanks for the reply Mark I fully understand not only dealing with the her own conditions but also covid is remarkable its such a achievement for her I'm nearly 10 weeks in and I feel I'm improving then have a relapse but today so far has been a good one just need a target like 12 weeks to aim for thanks again for sharing gary

  • dawn84999
    dawn84999 Res35

    Edited

    Morning all,

    Well I perked up a bit yesterday afternoon after a bit of a meltdown in the morning struggling to navigate my way through some online forms .

    I took a short slow walk to buy some stamps and post a letter ,hit me coming back, had to take a little breather then i rested well when I got home.

    Saw the sun come up before I fell asleep this morning, managed about 4 hours.

    I get the headaches too Gary mostly first thing and then gradually fades off ,takes me a good hour after waking to actually get out of bed.

    Sorry to hear you feel bad this morning Jim hope things improve later.

    Good luck with the Scan today Lulu,hope it shows good results for you.

    Off for My ECG today.

    Have a good day everyone x

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 dawn84999

      Edited

      Thanks Dawn Ive not done any paper work or forms time sheets or anything else for about a month now can't be asked I have so far had a better day twice round the park then went to the shops get some ibuprofen incase headaches return and so far only tingling hands might try and hold out tonight for longer so I feel a bit more tired you have a great day too Gary

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 dawn84999

      Edited

      Good luck to you too Dawn for the ECG - am sure all will be fine. Let us know how you get on if you don't mind sharing.

      Definitely seems the sleep is a problem for many - I think I have been sleeping much better since walking more but it is a vicious circle if you need a day of rest that is what you have to do and then presumably not so tired at night. I had this badly in the middle of illness.

      Sounds like you are doing really well if you are now out and about and I too am having to take the odd breather whilst out walking especially on a hill but it is all progress in right direction.

      Have a good day.

      Lx

    • maciej12002
      maciej12002 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Good morning Lulu,

      I just wanted to ask how is your phlegm? Do you have a lot of it? Does it bother you all day? Is there any time when you do not have any? Does it improve when you cough it out? Does your chest burn when you cough it out, please?

      I know it is a lot of questions but i struggle with mine and cannot get rid of it for weeks.

      Do you do anything that helps you with this symptom? Maybe I do something wrong?

      Thank you

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 Gazza10

      Edited

      Hi Gary,

      Well done you !that's a great achievement.

      Hope that headache holds off for you. x

    • adrian18598
      adrian18598 maciej12002

      Edited

      so i had lots of phlegm and it always felt like something was stuck between chest and throat what helps alot is salt with vinegar and a whole lemon with a bit of warm water gargle in the mouth for at least 2 min and repeat, do it in the morning and night time it should help, also a medicine called tukol ive been using to ease off the phlegm

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 maciej12002

      Edited

      Hi Macie

      I am conscious of it all day - often go upstairs and have to have a good spit in loo but not to the extent it particularly bothers me during the day. I mostly notice it first thing in morning when I have to clear it and in the evening. Some evenings it has been terrible just keep coughing trying to get it up and other evenings chest feels calm and no coughing. Last night I genuinely thought it had gone as felt so good but no it is back today! - my chest did burn but that has stopped last couple of weeks but still getting pain in my back/lungs but that is intermittent - has for some reason been quite bad today.

      I have tried to work out what makes a difference. I think a walk late morning really helps me - I think it gets things moving and seems worse the more I sit around.

      I definitely think the more I cough it out the better it is. I think maybe it is worse today as I didn't cough it out last night as didn't feel the need but it is as if it has settled on chest today.

      Am just back from hospital so was pretty anxious and it was noticeable that my breathing felt worse/tighter so that has proved to me the anxiety is still causing issues.

      Anyway, hope yours improves soon, specialist did say it will gradually decrease and to be fair I think I can say mine is but it is slow.

      Apologies for the Eugh. ..factor of this post hope no-one was having a late lunch!

      Lx

    • adrian18598
      adrian18598 Lulu2020

      Edited

      definitely ive noticed also walking does very good, yesterday i went for a walk i did get tired but i started feeling better and i know covid patients are meant to be home but if you wear the mask and are far from people as possible you wont get people sick so guys definitely if you are having breathing problems go out and walk

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 adrian18598

      Posted

      Mine felt same in early days - a large phlegm ball stuck in lower throat and chest - disgusting! Thanks for the tip - the gargle mix is getting worse I've done salt and lemon and NOW vinegar to add to the mix!

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 Lulu2020

      Edited

      I really think that the more water or liquids or lemon like you told me about lulu or honey will loosen the phlegm only because my dehydration was bad so I was trying all different things even still using the sos like the coconut one now and because I was drinking quite a lot didn't get much phlegm and now has nearly cleared up also don't want to jinx it but I have actually had a really good day had a case of the two bob bits but besides that and my heart rate going up and tingling hands anyone get that twice round the park this morning and just now I feel really good little sugar better behave tonight Gary

    • maciej12002
      maciej12002 adrian18598

      Edited

      thank you, for me it is more in the lower part of lungs. Cannot get rid of it.

  • dawn84999
    dawn84999 Res35

    Edited

    Hi all,

    update concerning ECG...

    So for anyone that's had an ECG its pretty quick, they wire you up click a button read out comes out and you're done.

    Not today ,she took about 4 readings a bit of fiddling around and then gathered them up and said just lay there, relax ,dont get up ,I'll be back soon...that's when I thought am I going home today.

    She came back and said lucky for you we have a cardiologist here at the moment hes taken a look and he wants you to have an echo.

    I tried to make light of it and said so should I take it easy ,which she replied I don't think you'll be doing much else in your condition .I cant tell you what to do but get this letter back to your GP asap.

    While walking back down the corridors with her I became lightheaded then emotional and had to take a seat for a bit ,she was so kind bless her.

    So letter now delivered , will have to see when the next test is.

    I'm pretty calm about it at the moment and trying not to worry myself too much.Just hope the anxiety doesn't kick in tonight .

    • Rufio222
      Rufio222 dawn84999

      Edited

      Hey Dawn,

      We are all hoping for good news in the very near future! And we are always here if the anxiety starts kicking in and you need to vent.

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 dawn84999

      Edited

      So sorry Dawn that sounds like a really stressful afternoon for you. So have they done the echo or is that what they've written to the GP to have done next? I do think sometimes people say stupid things I had one GP who had just diagnosed me with Covid say "good luck and God bless" - What?? not exactly reassuring and another time I spoke to her she said "we don't want to send you to hospital as people are being put on ventilators and not coming off .. oh and btw what is your heart rate" well not surprisingly after telling me that it was off the scale. What a stupid thing to say to someone who is sick??!

      I was told by receptionist Friday I would have dye pumped through me for my CT scan this afternoon and did I think I had any allergies to it - been worried about it ever since and when I asked the radiographer today when she was going to pump the dye in she looked at me as if I was mad - there was no dye and no pumping it into me! All that anxiety for nothing!

      My point is she shouldn't have really made that comment to you about "not doing much else in your condition" it was obviously going to stress you out and wasn't even as if you were going to be reassured by the consultant today you then had to go home and worry and wait on your own which is not fair. On a positive note we are being looked at by specialists now not GPs and even if there is an issue it's a bit like if you broke a bone and had an x-ray it may show a break today but that doesn't mean it won't heal and get better in the near future.

      It's such an emotional time and I think a lot of people don't understand how sensitive we feel.

      Take care,

      Lx

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Hi Lulu ,

      pleased to hear that your scan wasn't as bad as you anticipated bless you but unnecessary anxiety we definitely don't need.

      I Probably didn't make that too clear my error, she was actually very kind and when she said about my condition she was referring to my on going symptoms from the virus .

      I do understand that they can't personally discuss results with you or give advice but she just wanted to ensure that the letter to GP about ECG result and Cardiologist request for an Echo was received quite quickly.

      She even offered to take me down to the front of the hospital two floors down to make sure I was ok.

      Recieved a lovely little clip from my 3 year old Grandson ...'Dr Louie ' having an imaginary conversation on the phone to me while dressed up as a Dr getting out all the instruments he was going to use on me to make me better 😂

      Best medicine today x

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 Rufio222

      Edited

      Ahh thank you,

      Its nice and reassuring that we all have that little bit of extra support to give each other and a place that we can truly be honest about what's going on with us .x

    • susan48029
      susan48029 dawn84999

      Edited

      Sorry to hear that Dawn but if they wree really concerned you would be in the hospital, so let's hope it all goes well for the echo x

    • Res35
      Res35 dawn84999

      Edited

      Really hope will all be ok Dawn.

      I had my echo and 24hr tape last week so am waiting on hearing the results now.

      Fingers crossed for you!

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 dawn84999

      Edited

      Ah sorry Dawn I totally misunderstood. So glad you were well looked after and cared for. There are some very kind people around.

      That is so cute - 3 is perfect age, can communicate and lovely they are so innocent. Glad this came at the right time to brighten up your day.

      Hope you enjoy your evening.

      Lx

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 susan48029

      Posted

      Hi Susan,

      Yes my thoughts exactly.

      Thank you, I'm sure it will be ok ,I'm telling myself they are just being more thorough due to the virus x

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 Lulu2020

      Posted

      Hi Lulu,

      It certainly did😊

      Have a nice evening too x

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 Res35

      Posted

      Thank you,and for you .

      Hope you get them soon,the waiting time can be quite anxious.

      Keep us updated. x

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 dawn84999

      Edited

      That's what you need at moment Dawn something that cheers you up when things are stressful maybe one day your grandson will make a great doctor can't be worse than some we got now Gary

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 Gazza10

      Edited

      😂

      That made me laugh ,thanks Gary.

      Well if he does I hope he dresses a little more appropriately ....he looked like a naked butler with just a medical apron on 🙈

      Have a nice evening x

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 Res35

      Edited

      Let us know how you get on Res, we are all waiting on results so fingers crossed for all of us it is the positive news we need to hear.

      Lx

    • austin12345
      austin12345 dawn84999

      Edited

      thats interesting my gp ordered the same 24hr tape and ECHO for me too i'm waiting for mine aswell. i think they've realised that there's something going on that they cant see

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