1. Community
  2. Infections
  3. Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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

Posted , 209 users are following.

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

Prev Next
  • Littleflower26
    Littleflower26 Res35

    Edited

    Hi.. interesting to read some of these threads.. My symptoms started nearly 3 weeks ago.. Floored with tiredness and very dry chest one day.. had dry cough (no fever) for about 4 days and then i felt it was lifting a little.. was able go get on with most things for a few days as thought was improving.. then day 9 woke with sore throat and ears and chest very dry, heavy again. Then i started to become quite breathless and tight especially from 5 on in evening or with any exertion at all.. i am constantly trying to clear throat with very unsatisfactory cough and my back ribs are aching from tense breathing..

    i am now day 20..

    i wake every morning thinking im better but within 30minutes im coughing and breathless..

    i do have a lot of anxiety as ive had a severe pneumonia in the past and know i have a weak lung..

    can anyone relate to these symptoms? I have phoned Gp and have now started antibiotics.. to no avail at the moment.. feeling frustrated and anxious ..

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 Littleflower26

      Edited

      Hi Littleflower

      Symptoms very similar to mine - no temperature all along and sore throat which is still a problem and the breathlessness always seems to be worse in the evenings - I start to deteriorate around 6.30 can almost set my watch by it. It is so frustrating and as everyone said the anxiety is very debilitating - I took a course of antibiotics right at the start maybe 4.5 weeks ago and have now just been put on a course of Penicillin as the throat won't clear up and have had problems with phlegm in throat and on chest. Hope things improve for you but does seem like a rollercoaster from one day to another and sometimes even hour to hour - I find on the days I feel better the anxiety lowers but as soon as feel unwell it obviously rises again but am trying to keep it under control. Keep in touch on here as I have found it very helpful sharing information x

    • Littleflower26
      Littleflower26 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Hi Lulu2020

      Thanks very much for your reply.. the course of this illness is very strange.. my symptoms that concerns me the most is that from day 1 I have been experiencing a rattle sensation low down in my lung.. 3 weeks on and its still there alongside the constant need to clear throat.. it is just a constant 1 step forward 2 steps back.. maybe it just takes a while for the lung to clear after a viral illness.. the rattling is just a very unnerving sensation that doesnt seem to be getting better..every time i feel it of course my anxiety kicks in..I can completely relate to the evening breathlessness.. from 5 on mine turns up a few notches.. with regard to others in household..

      my little boy came down with a night time cough 5 weeks ago as well as gastro issues.. i then started feeling unwell 1 1 days later.. my husband then started with dry cough and slight breathlessness 10 days after me.. none of us have been floored but its a very long lingering scenario.. its all a bit coincidental..

    • Aliq
      Aliq Littleflower26

      Edited

      yes, i can relate, day 11 for me. I started feeling a bit breathless going up ans down stairs, felt very tired lost sense of smell/taste upset stomach and although i have been drinking pints of water always feel dry.

      Lost appetite i am forcing bits of soup or porridge down, also have strange jumpiness more evident when i try to relax an have some sleep.

      I have tense feeling of what seems like anxiety and have noticed i have been shaky most of the time.

      For the past couple of days left side of chest feels heavy and i expect that will become the main issue in the next few days. Feeling of impending doom, feeling quite weepy. There does not seem to be anyone who is able to sort anything out we are just left to make our own way through and not everyone of us has a mild experience.

    • dee89889
      dee89889 Aliq

      Edited

      Hi Alison

      I experienced the shakiness, anxiety stomach issues and sense of impending doom too. I also have not had a proper night's sleep since I got sick. The issue is that, in usual circumstances, we'd get medical support and attention and, as you said, we're very much left on our own to get through - unless things take a turn for the worse. Many of us on here have had symptoms for weeks - I'm now entering week 6 - most GPs are saying that it could take a couple of months to be back to normal - this group is a comfort because we understand each other.

      It might be worth getting, if you haven't already, a pulse oximeter which will give you some indication of your blood oxygen levels and do not hesitate to get checked over if you feel worried. Hopefully everything will rectify itself and you won't have to endure week after week of this. However, you are not alone and this site will be a great help.

      wishing you all the best, take care xx

    • julie35925
      julie35925 Aliq

      Edited

      Hi Alison,

      As Dee said, I think we all keep going through the rollercoaster ride of anxiety, weepiness and sometimes sheer panic which feels like a cold icy grip! But we are all still on this chat, Im in week 6 and it is getting to be two steps forward but then one step back. A hard thing I find is that one symptom disappears, you think great, but its then replaced soon after by a different one, the then seem to play games with you by rotating as to which smptom you are going to suffer with today!! My sore throat has eased this morning but is now replaced by a different and painful kind of cough tonight. I felt great Thursday and Friday Morning, but then ended up crying and panicking on Friday teatime as felt dreadful at the flick of a switch. I am rambling terribly but in essence I am trying to say we will get better, just may take different lengths if time for all. Best thing is to keep positive and keep reassuring each other .

    • dee89889
      dee89889 julie35925

      Edited

      Summed up perfectly, Julie. I've developed a sore throat , something I've not experienced this past 5 weeks and that has freaked me out. It really is a rollercoaster ride.

      Take care xx

  • dee89889
    dee89889 Res35

    Edited

    Well, after an ok night, I called my GP. She basically told me what we've already discussed - they're finding a lot of people in our situation and it can take weeks/months to fully recover. She told me that they believe that it is not necessarily the virus continuing to cause the symptoms but the effect this has had on our immune systems. She also told me that after almost 5 weeks, they would expect a negative result. She also told me not be expect to feel better over the next week or so and to eat well, take light exercise, try not to catastrophize, take it easy for now and to keep them on speed dial if needs be!

    Hope today goes a bit better for everyone

  • a09581
    a09581 Res35

    Edited

    Hi. around mid-march i started with a dry cough (but no temperature). so took a week off work. started to feel better but the slight cough continued. Then whilst working from home during lockdown cough starts to get a bit chesty. Now 1 May still got cough and bit chesty but slowly improving, although feel knackered. never really had a temp its normally 36.6-36.8, highest 37.1, however this is the longest cough i have ever had despite getting frequent colds. has anyone here without a temperature had a test several weeks after symptoms started and if so were you positive? Thanks

    • maciej12002
      maciej12002 a09581

      Edited

      Hi,

      I had a test done last week and it came back negative (my cough started at the end of march) after speaking to the doctor he said that after this time it was expected. Please let me know if you had a better days and worse days or was just improving? How is your breathing?

      Thank you

    • a09581
      a09581 maciej12002

      Posted

      Hi. Is your cough getting better? I've never had breathlessness, just a cough/feel chesty which is much better now. Some days inbetween felt better and wondered if it was just a cold or other virus but im not sure. i know my immune system was low as i had blood tests in January for fatigue and GP found my vit d was extremely low. GP prescribed high dose vit D but i'm not sure it has made any difference to me catching stuff.

    • maciej12002
      maciej12002 a09581

      Posted

      My cough is a little bit worse today and don't see much improvement to be honest. How is your cough getting better?

  • marie2466
    marie2466 Res35

    Edited

    Morning all, so I have just spoken to my dr, as a smoker and asthma and copd sufferer he is starting me on tablets as I want to quit smoking. Due to having bipolar and other mental health problems they may not be suitable but he is going to let me try. I told the Dr I was worried about my breathlessness whenever I try to do anything he told me it is typical with covid and has said it can take at least another 4 weeks to even begin to feel a difference. Also he has said if my test result for covid is negative he can proceed with further tests to see any damage to my lungs or if asthma/copd has escalated. So another 2 weeks sick note. X will let you all know what results are xxx

  • Lulu2020
    Lulu2020 Res35

    Edited

    Hi everyone

    Hope you are all having better days. It is interesting when people post what their docs are telling them. We are all from different regions (London for me) but good to compare notes so if you speak to a doctor please post what they say if you don't mind sharing (so long as it is mainly positive!!) we will then get a broader medical view which is what I think we are all missing - the lack of medical support. I started the Penicillin yesterday and anti mucous drugs and feel better today but that could be coincidence or just down to a decent night's sleep who knows? I am so fed up monitoring how I feel and being in lockdown gives you plenty of time to think about every ache and pain and analyse it. Chest and phlegm feels better but today a pain when I breathe in right lung - it did seem a couple of weeks back all the pain was in my right side and lung and I see someone else mentioned this so am hoping it just goes away again and am trying hard not to focus too much on it - it is just unbelivable how the symptoms literally re-appear when you think you have seen the back of them.Anyway positive thoughts and energy to everyone today x

    • Res35
      Res35 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Hey Lulu,

      I'm London too...Slightly beginning to wish I wasn't. At this point wanna move to a tree house in the jungle till they find a vaccine 😂. Never wanted have this thing ever ever again.

      I hear you on the being ' fed up' monitoring how you feel.

      I feel like a raving hypochondriac right now. Is at the stage that when I speak to a doctor I'm inwardly cringing..But it's got to be done as I'm not taking any chances with this thing. It's a constant case of " Do I ride this current symptom out or risk feeling embarrassed.."

      At least by now I know the symptoms I CAN ride out as getting used to sudden burning chest or ear pain that feels super bad but 3 hrs later is magically gone again..Bloody odd virus!

      Just spoke to my neurologist and he is sending me for an MRI scan to see if there's any brain or spinal fluid issue.

      Hope everyone is having a better day.

      Generally I'm doing a lot better.

      Managed a 10 minute walk today. was exhausted after but it's progress.

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 Res35

      Edited

      I am seriously looking at moving to the country having been a City girl all my life and working in the City. I can't believe you just mentioned the sudden burning in chest - Ive had it ALL day!! The phlegm is better and moving with coughing and woke up feeling positive but have the burning sensation every time I inhale - I keep telling myself it is the inflammation from the virus just hope I am right. I think my partner thinks I am exaggerating as every day it is something different and sometimes more than once a day - I just dread the evenings as everything gets worse.

      I too am now doing 10 mins walks my doctor advised light exercise and a lot of time lying on my yoga mat wondering what the hell is going on.

      Sending positive thoughts to everyone and the sun is back over the weekend so hoping that lifts our mood.

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.