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
was4hab Res35
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Hi im currently the same day 27 since my symtoms started, deep breathing hurts which is upper chest area into throat, breathing is slightly laboured time to time, dry cough on and off, also have major fatigue weakness took a course of Amoxcillian given by GP which made no change to me, have asthma so take my inhalers which aint making no change, never been so unwell in my life!!!
mariom Res35
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@andy86166 How's the prednisolone going? I ask because early on they said steroids were a no-no for this virus. I guess if they think it's post-viral now, maybe it's ok? I'm keen to hear how it's going.
@Lulu2020 and @Res35 - I'm with you (and all others) on the hypochondriac thing. My partner who showed symptoms on 16th March (fever but no real cough) has gotten over it and frequently tells me I'm making it up! Very frustrating. I've started answering 'fine' when asked if I'm ok. I've been trying to sleep in the spare room for the whole time but mrs says I'm disrupting our marriage...
I started on 23rd March, still going. Wednesday last week was a strange pivot though - my chest virtually cleared up and I started with a low fever (38). Went on through Thursday, then really painful abdomen Thursday night only. Yesterday Friday 1st May was almost fine, except the head cold symptoms showed up again. Today, back to the phlegm, slight shortness of breath, sore throat. Lord knows what's going on but it's a slow climb. It's the hope that gets you. I thought I was home free for a brief minute. Still - it shows it can get better. I have a second course of antibiotics waiting (doxycycline) although I decided to hold off until I 'feel worse' as my GP put it, especially as you have to stay out of the sunlight when taking it. My blue inhaler helps if things get tight, and I'm worried about using my brown at all.
On testing, please do be careful about putting too much meaning on it. Even a 100% accurate test with 95% specificity may be a risky bet. If you don't feel well, stay vigilant and don't hesitate to reach out to medical help where you are.
Well, it's 7.30pm and the worsening hasn't quite started yet so that's not such a bad thing. I hope you're all feeling positive and getting as much rest as you can.
M
andy86166 mariom
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Hi Mariom,
To early to conclude re Prednisolone as it's only my second day, but the inflammation/soreness I get after asthma/copd flareup is easing. That's the basis the GP prescribed it for, rather than any specific covid benefits. I'm in the 'sounds like you've probably had it, but too late to test' category, so they're trying to treat inflammatory symptoms. The latest evidence suggests that it wouldn't help with purely covid, if covid has irritated preexisting conditions (e.g. asthma/copd flareup) then it might. Does it make people more exposed - possibly, but I've already either got/had it, or, because i'm shielding (strict isolation) then there's no extra risk. Hope this helps
andy86166
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Hi Mariom,
2 days of Prednisolene and I now feel absolutely awful, but in a non covid way! I'll phone GP in morning and ask to be taken off it
Trude Res35
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I've actually tested positive for Covid-19 as I qualified for a test because of my husbands work. We both tested positive using a home test. I'm just unsure of how long I've had it for.
My first suspected symptom showed up about 6 weeks ago, on March 20th. I had chills and my chest started being achy. It would get worse at work, and the chest would alternate between being achy, feeling tight, or like something heavy was weighing it down. The only time I would experience any breathlesness was usually when I climed the stairs or other physical activity at work, but it wasn't really much. At the very beginning I thought it might have been a chest cold starting, but I didn't get any cough or mucus coming up. That's when I started worrying it could be coronavirus as something was clearly affecting my lungs. But as it wasn't a mentioned symptom at that time, I just kept going as normal. Then 4 weeks later I had 2 days at work where I was so cold I just couldn't get warm, no matter how many layers I put on (t-shirt, fleece jumper, fleece gillet plus fleece jacket), but I didn't meassure a fever and with the exception of the chest I felt fine otherwise. My problem is that it's very rare for me to get a fever at all. Around 8pm that night I started feeling discomfort at the very top of my stomach/ribs, but as I went to bed the pain got so bad I was worried I might have to call for an ambulance if it didn't let up. The pain was excruciating. After a while I managed to get it to subside by concentrating on my breathing though. But I was still so cold I had to get up and put on my winter pyjamas, which helped, but now I was warm and toasty while still having chills and I barely got any sleep at all. Next morning I took my temperature and I meassured 38.4, so ended up self isolating. I only really had a temperature that one day, and the next couple of days it hovered just around the fever/not fever mark. I started having symptoms like headache, very painful eyemovement, achy body, blocked nose and postnasal dripp. The last several days I've felt better, but like a lot of you guys I get periods where I feel worse again. I hung up my washing to dry the other day and I was exhausted for the rest of the day. Yesterday I had the worst headache I've ever had, kind of looks a bit like a migraine (I've never had that before though) and though today is the best day I've had in a while, my chest started feeling worse again tonight.
Is it possible that I started my symptoms on the 20th of March and then tested positive 5 weeks later? I'm wondering if I originally had a very mild case but maybe got exposed to it even more? From what I can gather from what I've seen in the news, it seems like the more exposed you are to the virus, the worse it can get.
MRMR Trude
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Hello Trude
Sorry you're still suffering. Definitely fits the picture of everyone else on here. Interesting point about over exposure. All four of us in house have had/are having symptoms, but my daughter and I are the worse. My husband and older daughter seem to have shrugged it off in a few days. I'm unsure now whether my younger daughter and I should be separated from each other and other two, or if there's any point?
mariom MRMR
Posted
Yes you should totally stay separate. You risk increasing your viral load on each other - Dr Sarah Jarvis answered this specific question when I asked her in the Facebook Q&A sessions a few weeks ago. If you are both shedding virus, you risk inhaling each others virus and "increasing the army" that is attacking you.
Gazza10 Res35
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I have read a lot of these messages and can fully understand what you all are saying I've had nearly everything that has been said about on here mine started about 23rd of March I was at work and not feeling well at all I normally just carry on with it I was due to do overtime on the Sunday which I never miss but I was really dehydrated headache and fatigue on the Saturday was terrible so I phoned in sick during the week I had a couple of days where I started feeling a bit better so went back to work till about the 10th of April when I got really bad had to go to a and e had symptoms very similar but my breathing was what I was worried about and I normally don't worry too much about it was told that I have a viral infection and just keep drinking water and take parectamol a couple of days later I had a sort of popping noises in my nose which over the next couple of weeks stayed with me starting on the bridge of my nose i still got the popping only slightly I've had a lot of dehydration over the last 6 weeks breathing has been difficult comes and goes I feel like whatever was in my nose may have gone to my throat or lung had a really funny tickle last week gone now but got sore throat went back to the hospital on Tuesday they done all the tests and like everyone else I am expecting it to be negative because of the length of time it's been going on for I feel I am getting better but when I spoke to my gp last week he informed me that it can take up to 2 months I'm at the stage now where I have a sore throat little dry cough still a bit dehydrated not as bad as before breathing not 100 percent but getting a bit better had a slightly rough night fatigue again but for some reason I tend to feel good during the day keep fighting guys and girls you will get there
MRMR Gazza10
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Thanks Gazza
I love your positivity. Its really important to try and consciously take a positive approach. I will try and do this, though very hard sometimes👍👍
Gazza10 MRMR
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I know what you mean mrmr I have to say that there was times that I was well down and worried because I saw some people were isolating for a week and were well enough to carry on with their lives and I was like what is going on I have been to hell and back and not got any better same as others my friend who has been monitoring my messages because as everyone knows not all days are the same and like you all said it has been a long drag for many my work probably think I'm having a laugh I feel like I have to try and fight now to get to the end I didn't have too bad a night dry again and fatigue a little this morning but I've decided to try and get over the fatigue and have a good day
Gazza10 MRMR
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Another tough night started feeling anxious earlier last night roughed it out till as late as possible dehydration was bad again this morning it woke me with the headache taken the paracetamol just resting on the bed can hear the popping in my nose i have a notion might be wrong but I think that the virus has gone from my nose to throat and that is why it wasn't picked up on my xray very lethargic again today got about 5 hours sleep so not too bad my stomach is also going crazy making noises not heard before 95 62 on the oximeter hopefully will be a good day then get ready for the evening was a bit anxious earlier than normal last night due to my throat being a bit sore try and have a good day the doctor I spoke to yesterday called this a two part infection hopefully we will get to the third part quickly
joanne82424 Gazza10
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sorry you're having such a rough time with this virus, it really helps to keep positive.
I'm so grateful for this forum, there's so little help available for us and it's good to share ideas and support each other.
I'm on week 7 now and probably on post-viral stage. I've had very bad stomach pains and lots of churning, I don't know if it's due to the amount I've been drinking or the virus. Also I'm producing huge amounts of phlegm(sorry) which I'm trying to get rid of with fruit drinks etc, and I find my breathing improves afterwards.
Hope you have a better day today, like you say, we need to get through each stage of this virus, we're getting there
Gazza10 joanne82424
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Hi Joanne thank you for the reply I'm not a person that gets down and normally would just get up get on with it and go to work but this little sugar of a virus wants to keep me down and I can tell you it has at times like everyone else it is having a go at you and me I had a half decent night tried to be ready for sugar last night but got into me earlier than normal maybe why I was awake only headache and fatigue today breathing is again OK but it normally is a in the morning hope little sugar doesn't pop out till tonight try and have a battle with it and have a good day everyone
Trude Res35
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Today is my last day of self isolation, which means I'm due to go back to work tomorrow. I must admit I'm a little nervous about going back. I feel mostly fine, but it's the curveballs this thing throws at you. Like the sudden migraine like headache or my chest getting worse. Also I'm worried about my lack of energy, like I could get to work and be fine for a little bit, but then the exhaustion hits like a brick wall. When I've tried to do things around the flat, that's what usually happens. I don't feel like I'm still sick enough to say I have to stay home though. It's like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I suppose I'll just have to try and see how it goes. I'm so desperate to get out of the flat now anyway, it'll probably be good for my mental health.
Gazza10 Trude
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Hi trude not sure if you should go back to work I would consult with your doctor first I understand what you are saying but what happens if you get a tempature at work can you still infect someone and imagine if you did I know its a tricky situation but after what you have just been through you wouldn't want one of your work colleagues catching the virus gary
Gazza10 Trude
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I spoke with my bosses today because I was a bit concerned about the amount of time I was going to be having off to tell you the truth I said that my gp had told me that this virus was an whole new experience for them as well I said that I was more concerned about my work mates than myself because I'm pretty certain that I have had this little sugar and I will fully explain to who wants to listen that it is not a fly by night pop in pop out virus and at times I have been struggling with it as do loads of others that are experiencing it hopefully one day soon the media will eventually understand what a lot of people are trying to deal with especially the breathlessness and all the other symptoms that effect different people I won't go back to work until I know I am over sugar my nickname for the little sugar if there are any after affects I will be visiting my gp when they open to get advise to help me I hope and pray that everyone on here gets through this because we will all be able to explain to others what they do not want to experience right had my rant for the day water time might even throw in a sandwich
lia81391 Gazza10
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I am definitely going to start referring to it as, sugar.
thanks for the laugh Gazza.
Gazza10 lia81391
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Had to call the little s t something lia it's doing some damage to my sinuses and throat any idea what will help for the throat if only I can get sugar out of there I think I will feel a bit better so dry had a better day today so I feel little sugar is going to kick my butt tonight might try and stay up till as late as possible dehydration is quite bad today so got water ready for the little sugar to suck on hope you all are coping today
mariom Gazza10
Posted
I've found that strepsils (or Aldi version) help a bit, also tea without milk - I find milk makes the phlegm(sorry) worse. At night I put a good dollop of Vicks on my upper chest and it helps me get to sleep. I've seen references to honey and lemon drinks, but not sure how that works - also I'd have to buy some honey 😃
Day 43 here. Chest is rattling a bit. I started 2nd antibiotic yesterday (doxycycline - no alcohol, no sunlight) to see if it helps. Went for a test on Sunday, negative result but it doesn't tell me if I've had it already.
@andy86166 The reason I asked about the steroid is I've used prednisolone in the past to get over chest infections (I have asthma also), and there was evidence that if you have the virus steroids would actually make things worse. I really want to get back on my brown inhaler but I don't think I can chance the extra damage right now.
Gazza10 mariom
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Guess what mariom I use vicks on my throat just before go to bed my boy got me some honey yesterday been using that tried saltwater I've had a result though last night was another half decent one had everything ready for the little sugar and it was like fooled you today has been OK as well no breathlessness only slight just want to score a hatrick at night get rid of the sore throat you never know hope you all kick the little s ts butt tonight
was4hab mariom
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hi ive been using my Brown inhaler aswell as my blue inhaler since 6th of April as my Gp advised the brown is a preventer to stop me from getting a Asthma attack and must not be stopped for any reason, however do check with your GP
thanks