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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

    l have had symptoms for 5 weeks now at home. Chest pain, throat soreness plus fatigue. A days improvement is followed by a day when things seem worse. On second course of precautionary antibiotics. Averaging out how l feel over each week there is a very gradual week by week improvement. Worst of it is the lack of testing plus uncertainty as even doctor s don't know.

  • julie35925
    julie35925 Res35

    Edited

    Hi,

    My results came back last night as negative, felt a lot better this morning, just sore throat and cough left, but by this afternoon my temp had gone up again, throat and ears feel like they are on fire, and emotionally I just lost the plot! Ended up seeing a paramedic who said that lots of people are finding the recovery prolonged and these symptoms are most likely post viral issues, no antibiotics needed as chest was clear. The roller coaster of emotions is pretty unbearable, im normally calm and level headed but this has pushed me to the limit. I am in the Norfolk NHS area and, totally understandably, gps are reluctant to see you, even with a negative result as they are not reliable. Its just a waiting game, but we will get there .

    • dee89889
      dee89889 julie35925

      Edited

      Hi Julie

      Glad the result was negative - however, it does sound as tough you've had quite a day - I'm finding that, despite reassurances from Drs and Paramedics that what we're experiencing is common, I'm still losing the plot. My day hasn't been great as my throat has felt sore - this hasn't been a symptom so I've got it into my head that it's all starting over and am thinking the worst. You are not wrong when you say it's a rollercoaster ! Hope you have a better day tomorrow. Take care x

  • rensy68537
    rensy68537 Res35

    Edited

    hi.im from philippines

    imcovid19 positive on my 10th day.

    my systoms are mild cough and diarrhea

    .i just hope that we are all gonna be okey.

    im a single dad and im afraid to die coz my little girl needs me.im mid 20s.

    • dee89889
      dee89889 rensy68537

      Edited

      Sorry to hear you are not well - it is frightening. I'm by no means a Dr or medical professional but your symptoms do seem indicative of a mild to moderate case and your age does generally work in your favour. I would say that if you feel you are getting worse get medical help straight away - even if it turns out to be ok !

      Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery x

  • marie2466
    marie2466 Res35

    Edited

    Hi sorry to hear you are ill as well. It must be very difficult when you have children at home, I don't think I have heard diarrhoea being linked with covid in this country (UK) I could be wrong, it's so interesting reading about different symptoms people get, I hope you get well soon x

  • Lulu2020
    Lulu2020 Res35

    Edited

    Quick question when anyone has a chance to reply. What has happened to your partners? We live in a fairly large house so have kept our distance and I have been sleeping in spare room. Every evening my partner has had a "bit of a sore throat" around the dreaded 6.30 time but then it has disappeared overnight and he has put it down to hayfever. Today sore throat has got worse and we are both feeling anxious - my first symptoms were 23 March (slight sore throat which got worse over a couple of weeks) well that is over 5 weeks ago so surely he cannot have caught it now? Just wondered what others have experienced and whether their partners have become ill?

    Thank you.

    • dee89889
      dee89889 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Hi Lulu

      I have been keeping largely separate from my family since I stopped work in mid-March. I sleep separately from my husband - although during the warm weather I sat in the garden ( at a distance) with him. I believe I was exposed to the virus on 05 March - I was extremely meticulous about washing hands - hadn't socialised at weekends since Christmas , started walking to work and maintained social distance, refused to attend meetings unless over skype - except 05 March when I went to dinner with a friend who became ill a week later (and fully recovered after 2 weeks!).

      Fortunately, my husband is fine and has shown no symptoms (apart from his recent cancer diagnosis) and although I have been advised that I can start socialising - I'm still wearing a mask in his presence and sleep in a separate room. Husband has been really supportive and feels that he would have caught it off me earlier. Likewise our step-daughters who are isolating with us and have both tested negative.

    • marie2466
      marie2466 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Hi my husband was ill at same time as me, he has no other medical illness and apart from cough he has recovered. We only have a 2 bedroom flat and my nephew lives with us so my husband has been sleeping in the armchair mostly, he caught a cold and had a sore throat for a few days but otherwise he is OK.

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 dee89889

      Posted

      Thanks Dee for the reply that is helpful and so sorry to hear of your husband's cancer diagnosis - life can be very cruel and hope he is able to get the right treatment.

      I would have thought so too I think I was exposed to virus around the weekend of 14th March but can't be sure as the symptoms started very slowly and was 23rd March I noticed I definitely had a sore throat - I first called doctor on 7th April so am never quite sure when to count first symptoms from, presumably 23rd March so over five weeks ago so hopefully he has hayfever. I am glad the rest of your family are ok and interesting your friend recovered so quickly.

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 marie2466

      Posted

      Thanks Marie, sounds like your husband got off lightly apart from the sleeping in the armchair! Glad your nephew is ok.

    • dee89889
      dee89889 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Thank you Lulu - it came as a massive shock. Yes, my friend had classic symptoms, cough, fever, sore throat , she was feeling much better after a week , had a couple of days with a sore throat then after two weeks was back to normal and has been fine ever since. Just goes to show that there are so many ways this can go.

      I hope you have a restful night and feel good tomorrow.

      Take care x

    • richard53574
      richard53574 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Hi lulu to quickly answer your question about others living under the same roof I have a 20 year old daughter who has no symptoms along with my wife I did quarantine for two weeks in the beginning even though i wasnt tested.Getting an anti body test next week And also i was thinking of Dee and hoping everything goes better than expected in regards to her husbands treatment Hope eveybody has a good night

    • joanne82424
      joanne82424 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Hi Lulu

      I don't think my husband has caught the virus from me, although he has felt unwell a few times over the last few weeks with an occasional sore throat and feeling very tired.

      I've tried to be careful with keeping my distance etc.

      Hope your partner is ok

      Dee- sorry to hear about your husband and hope all goes well with his treatment

    • julie35925
      julie35925 richard53574

      Edited

      Morning,

      slept well last night but still have temp this morning, oximeter is showing around 96, usually im 99. Im not sure all these gadgets are helpful as they make you feel more anxious. I think my family are sick of asking how I am as they only hear about people getting over it within 2 weeks, I definitely feel embarrassed at having to reply that i still feel dreadful. My husband had same symptoms as me from 25th March but bounced back within 6 days, and to my annoyance, is now running 5k most days. Richard, if you dont mind me asking, how are you able to get an antibody test? It does seem the most logical step, as if it shows you have good antibodies you can feel a little more relieved that its definitely the after effects and not the virus you are feeling?

    • richard53574
      richard53574 julie35925

      Edited

      well julie my first answer to your question is still being moderated.The antibody test became available last friday to anybody who wants it with a doctors script and if your willing to pay.This is in NJ USA.I dont know about what the situation is in other parts of the world but it should be available to everybody

    • Res35
      Res35 julie35925

      Edited

      Yeah, feel you on the embarrassment.

      Lot's of people were texting week 2 and 3...they kind of gave up week 4😂.

      Not having the best day today. Breathless again and tired out. Maybe did too much yesterday!

    • julie35925
      julie35925 richard53574

      Posted

      Thank you, I have seen antibody tests for sale on the internet in the UK, but my concern would be how reliable they are, also if it was positive does that mean the virus has left the body?? I am getting pretty desperate so may buy one. Good luck with yours, will be interesting to hear how it goes.

    • richard53574
      richard53574 julie35925

      Edited

      The antibody test is done by one of the biggest blood labs in the US .The results will be monitered by my GP Im surprised they are available on the internet.Still a little breathless after day thirty but appetite has returned.also alot of the strange pains from my collarbone to my kidneys have lessened.wishing everybody a good day

    • julie35925
      julie35925 richard53574

      Edited

      Thanks Richard,

      very weird when you mention pain in collar bone, I too have this! What a strange time. Keep getting better .

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