Covid for 4 weeks & still bed ridden. Anyone else had prolonged severe illness without hospitalization
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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
Ellie007 Res35
Edited
hi, I was very I'll 2 weeks before christmas 2019. Other people had it first that I know but didnt tell me they had it in November untill I had it and catch it from them. first I had a cold symptoms and than coughing as the days went on it got worst worse 3 day I was weak and it was at it's best taking me out, I had high temperature and low I felt dizzy weak couldn't eat anything. I had migraine for 1 day and went next day. When i needed to do school run I felt very weak I am asthmatic also my chest would hurt in space of 5 minutes of walking when it never does that in walking and in 5minutes. I struggled to breath afew times at night and wake up struggling for air and than i started crying because i was scared and alone too got emotional with it. My sister was their to help me though to get me meds for it from shop. Thought it was flu because back then nothing in the uk at that time. I really do think I might already had it but within 2second week it was gone near enough still their but my energy was back and felt I was on the mend. My child than caught it one evening 5 year old and his eyes was running and coughing and can see he caught it. I rang 111 got him seen and they said it wasnt a flu but a some sort of virus and the lady their who was checking him couldnt understand what it could be abit confused. no meds just bed rest and fluid my son didnt get it as bad as me he was all better within afew days my sister caught it off me and had time off work for a week afterwards too.
lia81391 Res35
Edited
Depressing is absolutely the right word to describe this illness. I felt good for a week or more and thought, "finally, I am getting better" and than since Sunday/Monday (when I joined this group) I am having a relapse. nothing like I felt at the worst but general malaise and nausea.
After looking at the calendar, 11 weeks ago I went to the dentist with a weird undiagnosable thing on my gums. My flu like symptoms peaked in the beginning of March but between the dentist and than, I had a fuzzy tongue, ringing in my ears, serious malaise, sinus pressure (but no runny nose) a massive migraine like headache that was extremely sensitive to light and vertigo. the weirdest part was that I would wake up feeling ok, live my life like normal and than around 4 or 5pm it would hit me like a truck (or lorry for my new friends in the u.k.) the nausea has been the single worst symptom for me throughout. Because it would only effect me in the evenings, I was convinced it was anxiety.
One other oddity that I wonder if anyone felt the same... I get 1 or 2 cold sores every year on the same spot on my lip. Anyone who gets cold sores knows that tingly feeling you get right before you have an outbreak. I had the tingly feeling but no sore ever arrived. this convinces me it is in the nerves for sure.did anyone else experience a tingly feeling?
Finally March 6 went to the walk in clinic and he checked my ears, (fluid in the middle ear) diagnosed a sinus infection that was causing everything else and voila! antibiotic and sent home. a week later, after finishing the antibiotics I felt worse and for only a few hours at the worst point I had a slight fever of 38 degrees. by then it was beyond evident that the u.s. was having an outbreak so I called my gp and they wouldn't test me because I didn't have a cough (still dont) a fever or international travel. I was low risk, so stay home and isolate.
the fall 2018 i had pneumonia and in february 2019 the flu both times having a fever of 39.7 but as soon as you start feeling better you know the worst is over. this f* ing virus is ruthless. there were several times I felt like I was dying and I prayed not to take me because of my daughter. I never felt like that during the pneumonia or flu. I have a 2 year old and I am suppose to be potty training her and transitioning her to a toddler bed but I have no energy and I cannot commit to anything that needs consistency because I never know when I am going to get a head rush and get dizzy or nauseous and in the back of my mind I am wondering am I really out of the woods?! NO ONE KNOWS!!!
one thing I think is important for us all to acknowledge... we can't all be having the same symptom of "anxiety" at night. it seems to me that this anxious reaction we are all having has to be a bonafide symptom of this virus.
I am currently taking 4000mg of vitamin c, 1200 udi of vitamin d, a probiotic with 50 billion, elderberry syrup and a homeopathic anti anxiety called anxio calm at night (main ingredient is echinecea) plus eating food high in vitamin c.
I am going to start monitoring my food and how I feel the next day compared with how much sleep I am getting to see if there is a pattern for "relapse". I know our doctors and scientists are working so hard. and God bless them but it's so scary not having any guidance on this. frankly, I am worried about long term effects and illness.
btw I am 37 year old with no under lying health issues. I could get more sleep but as I mentioned earlier, I have a 2 year who has other ideas for me than sleep.
sorry about typos, I am writing on my phone.
hope to see the end of this soon!
lia81391 Res35
Posted
Depressing is absolutely the right word to describe this illness. I felt good for a week or more and thought, "finally, I am getting better" and than since Sunday/Monday (when I joined this group) I am having a relapse. nothing like I felt at the worst but general malaise and nausea.
After looking at the calendar, 11 weeks ago I went to the dentist with a weird undiagnosable thing on my gums. My flu like symptoms peaked in the beginning of March but between the dentist and than, I had a fuzzy tongue, ringing in my ears, serious malaise, sinus pressure (but no runny nose) a massive migraine like headache that was extremely sensitive to light and vertigo. the weirdest part was that I would wake up feeling ok, live my life like normal and than around 4 or 5pm it would hit me like a truck (or lorry for my new friends in the u.k.) the nausea has been the single worst symptom for me throughout. Because it would only effect me in the evenings, I was convinced it was anxiety.
One other oddity that I wonder if anyone felt the same... I get 1 or 2 cold sores every year on the same spot on my lip. Anyone who gets cold sores knows that tingly feeling you get right before you have an outbreak. I had the tingly feeling but no sore ever arrived. this convinces me it is in the nerves for sure.did anyone else experience a tingly feeling?
Finally March 6 went to the walk in clinic and he checked my ears, (fluid in the middle ear) diagnosed a sinus infection that was causing everything else and voila! antibiotic and sent home. a week later, after finishing the antibiotics I felt worse and for only a few hours at the worst point I had a slight fever of 38 degrees. by then it was beyond evident that the u.s. was having an outbreak so I called my gp and they wouldn't test me because I didn't have a cough (still dont) a fever or international travel. I was low risk, so stay home and isolate.
the fall 2018 i had pneumonia and in february 2019 the flu both times having a fever of 39.7 but as soon as you start feeling better you know the worst is over. this f* ing virus is ruthless. there were several times I felt like I was dying and I prayed not to take me because of my daughter. I never felt like that during the pneumonia or flu. I have a 2 year old and I am suppose to be potty training her and transitioning her to a toddler bed but I have no energy and I cannot commit to anything that needs consistency because I never know when I am going to get a head rush and get dizzy or nauseous and in the back of my mind I am wondering am I really out of the woods?! NO ONE KNOWS!!!
one thing I think is important for us all to acknowledge... we can't all be having the same symptom of "anxiety" at night. it seems to me that this anxious reaction we are all having has to be a bonafide symptom of this virus.
I am currently taking 4000mg of vitamin c, 1200 udi of vitamin d, a probiotic with 50 billion, elderberry syrup and a homeopathic anti anxiety called anxio calm at night (main ingredient is echinecea) plus eating food high in vitamin c.
I am going to start monitoring my food and how I feel the next day compared with how much sleep I am getting to see if there is a pattern for "relapse". I know our doctors and scientists are working so hard. and God bless them but it's so scary not having any guidance on this. frankly, I am worried about long term effects and illness.
btw I am 37 year old with no under lying health issues. I could get more sleep but as I mentioned earlier, I have a 2 year who has other ideas for me than sleep.
sorry about typos, I am writing on my phone.
hope to see the end of this soon!
dee89889 Res35
Edited
I'm so sorry to whinge but I'm having a bad day and I'm frightened. I finally slept for 6.5 hours in one go -first time in nearly 5 weeks - should be overjoyed but woke up feeling nauseated, have a headache that won't go and feel generally unwell - in fact I feel worse than I have in a while . I have a pulse oximeter and that has just been fluctuating between 94 and 96 ( was 99 this morning). My recent tests have come back negative so I just don't get it. I appreciate there are poor souls in hospital who are suffering greatly. However, some of the severe cases are ok in a few weeks - look at Boris ! When will this stop for us ? I really need to be on my feet to support my husband through his chemotherapy.
Again I'm so sorry to go on but, at the moment, this seems to be the only place where there's any element of understanding and solidarity.
michael68152 dee89889
Edited
Dee, I'm sorry to hear you're having such a bad day - I've been up and down today myself, I've been confined to bed since midday.
Like you, I've wondered how we're all still suffering while others are recovering so quickly - even ICU patients like BoJo. But having spoke with my local GPs (all London based) there are many out there suffering for weeks and months. In particular I'm told breathlessness is a common symptom which has dragged out for people.
As I mentioned before, one of the doctors I spoke to was under the impression people like us are currently dealing with the aftermath of C19. So it seems your negative test result is to be expected - and you should take comfort in that (I certainly have, so thank you for sharing the result)!
I'm not one to generally call my GP practice but if you're frightened or feel like you need advice, speak to them... I know it's helped me.
Remember, since we've put up with this for so long, it's only natural that it will take it's toll mentally - try to stay positive, this won't go on forever, we will get better... and importantly, you're not alone! At the very least you have this group 😂
dee89889 michael68152
Edited
Thank you Michael - I was going to call my GP this morning but thought I'd stick it out for another day! I'm London based so it will be interesting to see whether they have the same advice as the GPs you have spoken to
I spent a couple of hours in A&E just over 10 days ago and now I've got it into my head that maybe I didn't have it after all and have picked it up in A&E and it's coming out now- despite the fact that all medical staff I saw had PPE, as did I. Then I panic as I cant remember what I did when I got home and I left on the plaster they used to cover where the drip had been ........
Thank goodness for this forum - until I found it I was going crazy - the isolation is soul-destroying
Take care x
joanne82424 dee89889
Edited
so sorry you're having such a bad day. Recovery from this virus is so slow with many ups and downs
I've had it almost 6 weeks and like you, I've struggled to sleep more than a few hours, and it seems the longer I sleep, the worse I feel.
However, the last few days I've noticed I'm not feeling quite so rough in the mornings and my head is finally starting to clear.
I know we all recover at different rates but I really hope you start to feel better soon.
I have started to feel nauseous the last few days, but hopefully that is to do with fighting off the virus.
I don't really know if I've still got the virus, or like you, I'm post-viral.
Sending you positive thoughts and hoping tomorrow is better for you
dee89889 joanne82424
Edited
Thank you, Joanne. Let's hope we all turn a corner soon.
It's just a shame that there's nothing out there to prepare us for this - all advice points to a 2 week duration - totally misleading! Although I guess, as a new illness, it's very much a case of learning as we go along.
Positive thoughts and speedy recovery to you too x
julie35925 dee89889
Edited
keep your chin up, it is definitely scary but we are all still here and, albeit very slowly, we are getting stronger. I have had a good day today, but now panic it will go back down tomorrow, but I think that as we all have some good days or at least a few hours, we will get through this and be fine. I rang 111 last week and got a call back from a Dr, even if they cant help it does make you realise they are there if you need them . Its not easy getting your head out of that dark place but we have all been there and there is some light at the end of this tunnel. hope you sleep ok tonight
Lulu2020 dee89889
Edited
Hi Dee
Sorry to hear you have not had a good day. The anxiety is enormous it comes over in waves for me. I was feeling so much better last few days then last night around 6.00 (always seem to deteriorate at night) suddenly felt like couldn't clear phlegm from back of sore throat and chest no matter how much I coughed - went into a downward spiral of panic and literally slept sitting up for maybe two hours. I decided to phone doctor this morning as approaching weekend and she has now prescribed Penicillin and an anti mucous tablet as have had sore throat for around 6 weeks and she thought it may be a secondary infection - I then went into a further downward anxiety spiral with racing heartbeat but have since pulled myself together as things feel a little better. I agree if you are worried phone the doctor before the weekend even if they can just reassure you it may help. This really messes with your head and also the tiredness doesn't help. Take care and try and have a relaxing evening and hopefully tomorrow will bring a better day for us all x
richard53574 dee89889
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Hi dee Richard from NJ I know what your going through and you have to keep telling yourself that this will all be behind you soon.The anxiety can drive you crazy .I tried to get a script for xanax from my GP but she wouldnt have any of it.She prescribed an antihistimine called Hydroxyzine and said its excellent for sleep and anxiety and not dangerous like a benzo.Lord knows we are all sleep deprived.Also we can only dream of the kind of care Mr Johnson got in the hospital.So thinking of all the people out there who are going through the same thing.Take care everybody
Res35 dee89889
Edited
Yeah, this is what gets me too.
It's mentally all very draining.
I do feel ice felt a lit better this last week than the following but it's so long you begin to lose patience and feel dispondent.
Seems it just takes us all differently. The main linger for me is the neurological stuff. its majorly getting me down as half my body just feels 'off' ...The left side to be specific...And I've no good way of explaining it. Just feels jumpy, twitchy, not right. Consequently just don't feel like myself.
It's weird, as all the dental inflammation and the ear inflammation, the lung inflammation and pain generally has been all on the left side the entire illness. The doctor at the Covid Hub even said my lymph nodes were swollen..all on the left side. Bizarre!
In other news...finally got my call from the Rapid Access Heart Clinic ( 10 days later) and they were worse than useless...Basically said " Come back when you're well if you're still experiencing those symptoms."...Thanks mate!
The alternative was " Go to A&E"....To which I said, well I did and they referred me to you🙄 .
So basically if you have Covid and any other weird side symptoms like suspected arrhythmia or seizures...Unless you are in ICU or high dependency the message seems to be..It's the virus..we will only investigate when you're over the virus..Helpful!
Seriously though the guy was barely listening to me. Just kept saying it wasn't angina as if it had been it would be during movement..I'd never even thought it was angina..Neither did A&E..they thought it was a Covid induced arrhythmia..But basically I've got to sit it out and see.
Then he told me I should give up smoking after I told him twice I was a non smoker..Super reassuring that. Listening intently clearly😂 .
Hope all of us get to a point we can look back at this as something to tell the grand kids..Right now though I'm worried about lingering problems for the future...
Hope you have a better day tomoz Dee.
And btw..those pulse oxomitres can be inaccurate both ways. The paramedic told me not to relly on them too heavily and to make sure to keep hand as still as possible when using it too.
I've had a couple of 94s but apparently that's still ok so long as it doesn't linger there and lower.
dee89889 Res35
Edited
Thank you everyone - I'm going to try and get some sleep. It was good to hear from you all - it does seem that we are all in the same boat and very much left on our own to deal with this.
I'm also concerned about lasting effects, given that we're not being monitored (I'm really concerned about my heart) in any way. If I had the opportunity to try one of the experimental treatments I'd do it at once.
Anyway, wishing you all a, hopefully, restful night and let's hope tomorrow brings us some improvement and the right direction to recovery.
marie2466 dee89889
Edited
Don't ever be sorry, I'm sure no body on here thinks that, we are all in same position so we understand, it's horrible, and as much as your test is negative you may well have had the virus so some people take longer to recover, I am waiting for my results but I too still feel awful most of the time. Today I have had a good day but I will probably have another bad day. Keep talking to us on here. I personally find it helps as we are all going through the same thing.
andy86166 michael68152
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Thanks for your contributions Michael. I've found them both helpful and anxiety reducing. I'm probably half way through my 8th week since symptoms began. I teach in an international college in the UK and had a lot of Chinese kids with persistent coughs, some of them masked up since January. I have asthma/copd so I'm in the 'shielding' category, working from home teaching online. I've had no cough but quite a bit of recurrent breathlessness. It's been a lot worse than the mild late-onset asthma I suffer from. Testing wasn't available outside of A&E when I first felt unwell. My GPs have said it's not worth having a test now as I would be past the infectious stage and nothing would show. I had a course of antibiotics just in case it was something else, but they think it's most likely covid. They subscribe to the post viral inflammation view and I start a short course of Prednisone today, to see if that helps. I'll let everyone know how I get on. Thanks once again; it's reassuring to hear that we're not so atypical.
michael68152 andy86166
Edited
Glad my input has helped, Andy. It's good to hear from you too. I hope the new course of medication works out for you. I'm due to speak to my GP sometime soon so I'll share any useful information/advice I receive.
rachel02167 dee89889
Edited
Hi everyone , i m also in week 6 now and experiencing many of the symptoms you describe . Feeling ok for a while then awful again , wondering when it will ever stop .
Breathlessness , racing heart , tight chest , phlegm , anxiety when i cant breathe well after all this tim e . Spoken to several Dr s , some are reassuring some clueless . Just started 2 nd course of antibiotics to cover any secondary infection .
My brother just sent me this from The Guardian .
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/01/lingering-and-painful-long-and-unclear-road-to-coronavirus-recovery-long-lasting-symptoms?
Elizaphant dee89889
Edited
God Bless you dear one (& everyone out there).
It is all very frightening & isolating.
I'm not convinced (from what I've read in various places) that the tests/results are necess correct/accurate. This also adds to an already extremely stressful situation (& you have a serious extra on top of that). It might sound "pants" (!) but just look after yourself as thoroughly as you can (all the common sense basics); ignore test results for now & try your bestest to be calm (I know - ridiculous!!) & patient. And don't under-wotsit(!?! erm, play?!? estimate?!) what you're going thro' - I've had the same thoughts about how I might be being pathetic compared to folks who have been hospitalised (I really laughed at Res35's recent comment of hypochondriacal: YEP!! We're ALL there!!!!!); but altho' such folks might appear to be in a clearer situation, I guess it's probably another case of the grass appearing greener! Esp when very poorly people have a couple of tests & are then sent home again to get on with it (whatever "it" turns out to be for them)! So,erm...
Hang on in there & be kind to yourselves xxx
This is a testing season - it will change/end/resolve in due course.
... & these three things remain: Faith, Hope & Love; & the greatest of these is Love - but I always think that Hope is SO important too & so just wish everyone ALL three of the above!!
Lulu2020 rachel02167
Edited
Hi Rachel
I am exactly same starting week 6, second bout of antibiotics and anti mucous tablets. I have been avoiding news and articles as have found generally not been helpful to me mentally but took plunge and read this and so glad I did - it is exactly what we have all been saying/feeling and at last it seems people are recognising that not everyone who does not go to hospital bounces back in two weeks. Have had a good day today but breathlessness/heart racing still there just not quite so bad but who knows what tomorrow will be like - I'm too nervous now to say I am feeling better so we have agreed not to discuss - my partner can just judge by my mood and anxiety levels.
I might send this article to my boss! Thanks for sharing and would be interested to know how you are getting on as we seem to be at same stage and similar symptoms.
Hoping everyone ok and have a good night's sleep -it helps so much - I use the sleep App Calm and listen to a sleep story - distracts me from all the anxiety in my head - thought Id mention in case helps anyone else.