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

Same here, I have clear/white mucus wet cough for last 5 weeks and cannot shake it off.

Morning,

Im the same with white frothy mucus.

On speaking with my Doctor theres no medication except if youve COPD?

Same here was dry cough but then turned wet which was better as could move the phlegm (white all the time). Had bad evening yesterday started dry coughing about 8.00 after a good day and just couldn't move phlegm from throat and chest then became super anxious as was such awful feeling. Waiting for chest xray result just rang doc but not in yet.

Wishing everyone a good day thought I was out of the woods as been pretty good for a week or so but last night was horrible. Think we are all scared to say things are better as it definitely seems to jinx it! About to embark on week 8 of this nightmare!

Ok so it seems white phlegm seems to be the most common.

Anyone had green/yellow phlegm?

My green/yellow phlegm lasted for around 3 days. Then 3 days of no or very little phlegm. Then the white phlegm started and lasted 3-4 weeks.

Also anyone had trouble sleeping? 2 days after the fever I suddenly started having sleepless nights, and still have trouble sleeping now.

Hi,

Ive averaged between 4 - 51/2hours a night.

Shattered.

That's terrible.

Do you think it's because of anxiety or something else? I'm terrified and paranoid that the virus enters your brain and makes you unable to sleep.

For me it could also be due to vitamin D deficiency. Did a blood test and doctor found I was extremely low on Vitamin D. Hopefully this will explain why I'm still fatigued, anxious, and somewhat depressed after 2.5 months, and still can't sleep properly.

I have a dry hacking cough that occasionally brings up white frothy phlegm if I'm lucky. Chest feels like it's full of gunk but nothing comes.

Hi again,

I had a blood test a week ago as yesterday at A&E but the only thing they mentioned was low sodium, which they put down to drinking too much fluid.

Since then I had a further blood test at my Doctors surgery and Im awaiting the results, which I was told the results would be back by Wednesday or Thursday this week.

I'll let you know the outcome when I receive the results.

As for the sleep, I work shifts and never have problems sleeping ever after night shifts, so I think its just one of the many symptoms of this little sugar.

With regard to mental health problems, Ive never had any before this began but honestly Ive been down a very dark for quiet awhile now.

Fortunately thus forum has helped, which is more than I can say for my supervisors at work.

Its taken six weeks and prompting from some of my work friends and colleagues to be referred to our Occupational Health Department.

Morning Stuart,

Im very much the same struggling to clear my chest.

This morning Ive called my Doctors and when the Doctor calls back this afternoon I am going to broach the subject regarding the COPD drugs for mucus loosening.

Earlier on in the forum its been mentioned and Im sure someone is using them.

Ill update you after the call.

A quick question on your breathing exercises if I can please? How often do you do the routine?

Have a good day Stuart.

Hey Jim, I do the breathing exercise when I feel I need it at the moment - if my chest is extra heavy or I can feel 'something' tickling when I breathe. I try to do it at night before sleeping too and also if I'm anxious. Other times in bed or throughout the day I just try to breathe deeply without the added details. I find it helps. I generally breathe quite shallow in normal day to day life so trying to expand my lungs and get more oxygen in at the moment is probably quite important.

I wouldn't worry about the details too much, do it when you feel like it or when it suits.

I did see a video of some nurses demonstrating a technique called 'chest percussions' where they tap the back of someone with chest congestion repeatedly all over the upper back and lung area. It's supposed to help dislodge mucus. I don't have anyone to do it for me but maybe your wife could try for you. Look it up 🙂

Hope this helps you Jim, let us know how the doctor chat goes. Good luck with that 🤞

Well done Jim for still working through this 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Thank you Susan.

I cant tell you how much that means.

Hi Jim

It might have been me I am taking Mucodyne tablets 6 x a day. Not sure if helping or not I thought it was but last night had phlegm stuck in throat and on chest which couldnt clear no matter how hard I coughed - have been feeling much better so no idea why it kicked off last night around 8.00. That is what is SO depressing about this just when you feel things have settled off it goes again. Still feel chesty today - have been for quite a long walk as feel that sitting around too long is not good either - I don't mind so much if can clear the phlegm it is when it is stuck in throat/chest and you can't cough it up. I also find a hot shower morning and before bed and have a good old clear out in the shower (not very nice I know and something I'd never normally do but am desperate and luckily have my own shower!) the steam definitely helps. Will hopefully get my chest x-ray results tomorrow.

I really hope things are looking up for you and on a positive note I think the Phlegm coming up is a positive thing it is just getting it out the body which is the tricky bit.

Take care x

Hi Lulu,

I remember, yes your the poster ref the phlegm tablets.

Do you think the tablets have helped?

Ive tried steaming but it hasnt helped unfortunately.

Id move more if I could but I really dont have any energy at all, which is the total opposite to how I normally am.

It sounds ridiculous but last Thursday when I went to the Doctors, an hours trip, a bath and shave wiped me out completely.

I have to keep reminding myself Im only six and a bit weeks, where as the majority of posters are 8-9 weeks.

As for the mucus my friends sister an ICU nurse says its definitely got to come up at some point but dont hurt yourself doing it.

I hope you have a better time today and tonight.

Ill say it again, this forum is keeping my head above water.

Thanks to all.

Hi Stuart,

I have literally just put down the phone from the Doctor.

Chalk and cheese from the lady Doctor I saw last week.

On explaining I has the throws of little sugar I could hear his tone change.

I asked regarding phlegm tablets that Lulu is currently prescribed to be told theyre not appropriate and its just a matter of time with little sugar!

Try over the counter meds like sudafed I was told and the conversation terminated.

Umm, Im no amused to be fair.

Hi Jim

I think on balance they do help so if your doc will prescribe I'd give them a go. Yes think the mucus coming up has to be positive but it is the continuous feeling of wanting to clear throat and chest and not being able to which is so tiring.

I am fully with you on the energy I did the hospital trip Friday for x-ray and it wiped me out but partly as I didn't sleep night before. Sleep is the key and when body repairs itself. We need to find ways to relax at night but easier said than done as that is when the symptoms seem at their worse. I was sleeping well again but last night has thrown me back down the rabbit hole of anxiety - I am going to get a grip tonight. I have to! It can for me be as simple as hearing something negative on the news (let's be honest not much positive news at moment) or reading something negative or even a friend trying to be helpful and telling me something negative - so need to avoid all media at the moment if possible and friends (if they are not helpful!)

Hope you can get the tablets.

All the very best x

Where do u work? And can u rest

Hi Lulu, I had the same thing yesterday, I felt quite stable and improved through the day, come 8pm my chest became heavy, cough started, clearing my throat all that kind of thing. Luckily it passed after an hour or two but it has happened to me several times. Wish I understood it!

One thing I do know, central heating sets me off every time. I need a constant flow of fresh air, so I sleep with my window ajar at night even if it's cold and switch off my radiator in my room. Interesting about the hot shower, I have a hot bath instead. My breathing is totally fine while I lie there.

Well done with the long walk, I am scared to do that as it always knackers me out. I think it's brilliant that you're able to do it. All the best.

Susan,

Im a frontline emergency worker, so Im covered regarding sick leave fortunately.

I wont be back until Im better.

Thankfully I can rest at home.

Ive done nothing today except get up, make the bed, doing my breathing exercises and eat.

After lunch I went downstairs, walked round being nosey and went into the garage. Plugged in my bike charger, selected some DVDs and sat watching TV.

Suddenly I felt tired and had to come upstairs to lay on the bed. Its ridiculous.

Hey Jim, sorry about the doctor. What a drag. I had a similar thing too. Could you ask to speak to the more helpful doctor?

Lulu,

I asked regarding phlegm tablets to be told theyre not appropriate and its just a matter of time with little sugar!

Try over the counter meds like sudafed I was told.

Lulu Im shattered by going downstairs and just walking round the groundfloor!

Hope you have a good night.

So disappointing and it just seems the luck of the draw who gets prescribed what. I genuinely do not know if they help but maybe it is just the placebo effect that I am taking something!I have spoken to three different doctors - have to go through the whole story every time as don't seem to have read notes before call. One terrified the life out of me the other two were pretty good. I will avoid the first one when I book next appointment.

Looking at the positives at least they seem to recognise it is just a matter of time - we need to hang on to that thought and not panic (I am going to try really hard not to tonight!)

Take care Jim and keep in touch x

Hi Stuart,

My thoughts exactly.

The compassionate Doctor will be ringing with my blood test results thus week, so I will mention the meds.

Im the same as you having the bedroom window open all the time otherwise my nose blocks in quick sticks and the same when the heatings on.

I must look bizarre, duvet, sleeping bag and my head sticking out in the draft of an open window.

Ive ordered some sterimar you mentioned to see if that helps.

Hope everyone has a good night, I need the sleep.

Hi Stuart

It just comes on so fast - I have had this happen twice recently sitting in the evening fine and then can't clear the phlegm and feels like it is stuck between throat and chest really awful. Have been chesty today but it feels like it has cleared a bit - I also find if I sit for too long it is worse but is a vicious circle as no energy to be doing much else other than sit! I do one walk a day on the flat for about 20 mins and doesn't seem to cause any problems but yesterday I did walk quite a bit further so who knows maybe I overdid it.

Take care, sending positive thoughts your way x

HI Jim

Have you tried fruit drinks for getting the phlegm up? I don't know if it's just me but it seems to come up when I have fruit drinks, lemon and honey, and with my soluble vit c and zinc tablet drink it just pours out!

Hope you have better luck with it

Yes I think getting this stuff up must be getting towards the final stages in it all, hopefully

All the best

Joanne

Hi Joanne,

Thank you for the information.

Ill have to ask my wife to pick up some fruit drinks and give them a whirl.

Any in particular?

Hope you gave a good night.

Jim.

Hi Jim

I usually have fruit juice, pineapple or orange, or fresh lemon and orange juice with honey. Hope this works for you.

Have a good evening

Joanne

Thanks Joanne.

Ive literally just found a recipe for hot lemon and honey which Im going to have a bash at.

1tbsp of lemon juice, 2tbsp of honey with hot water.

Its brought out the inner chef in me.

sounds good, Jim, good luck

Interesting what you are saying about having the window open at night. I wondered why my nose keeps blocking, hadn't realised it's better with fresh air. Thank you

Jim you sound like me, I wear three long sleeved vests, a pair of thick socks, a duvet and thick blanket, pillows all round me and a freezing cold room with a northerly wind blowing through it!! Ridiculous isn't it? 🙄😂

I hope you sleep well (in your cold room) and hopefully have a good day tomorrow. I wish you all the best.

Thanks Lulu, much appreciated. Positive thoughts to you too.

Morning Stuart,

Id like to say I have but the past few days its been a south westerly wind.

We are at 820ft above sea level on the Pennines , so its been too windy for a fully open window.

Last night I have had an intermittent span of 5 hours.

Shattered again. Boo.

Morning to you Jim. I had 5 hours too which was disappointing but managed to go back to sleep again for a couple of hours between 7 and 9.

I've had good periods of sleep during these weeks and terrible periods. I had been putting the bad sleep down to lack of activity - physically and mentally, during the day but maybe its the virus.

Wish you could get some rest. Hope it comes soon and gives you some relief.

I have just spoken to GP - chest x ray showed no signs of infection or Pneumonia and heart size etc was fine but apparently my lungs are hyperinflated and I have to go for a breath function test. Am now really worried as made the mistake of googling hyperinflated COPD etc. I had no lung issues before becoming ill and am now terrified that this is not reversible or maybe I had an underlying problem I wasn't aware of. I am an avid swimmer and swim 50 lengths in 30 mins so would have thought would have been aware before if had a problem but who knows. I just feel I am going from one stress to another - I hadn't factored this in was just worried about infection/pneumonia and now have something totally different to worry about.

Hope everyone has good day. Wishing you all the best x

Hi Stuart,

Im up but my chest feels really heavy today and Ive been trying to clear the mucus to no avail really.

On top of that Ive had a nose bleed, so my nose is blocked.

You couldnt write it.

A bad day ensues.

Morning Lulu,

Im so sorry the hear of the hyperinflation problem but until theyve tested you properly theyre only going from an xray. The rest of the news is fantastic!!!

As they say theres many a slip between cup and lip.

Theyll be referring you through to experts in the field who know their stuff.

Fingers crossed for you.

Jim.

Stuart,

You might have hit the nail on the head with poor sleep due to lack of physical and mental stimulus.

However, its a cleft stick. Exhausted, so cant physically do anything, which traps you in a lonely bubble.

Sorry if it sounds depressing, its not a good day.

Jim.

Hello Lulu, I'm sorry to hear that, I can understand you being worried, especially if you Google stuff. It always seems to give horrible news with medical stuff. I would think this is all to do with the virus and not a previous condition as you sound like you're pretty fit to me. How long do you have to wait for the test?

Yes, catch 22 situation.

Don't apologise though Jim, there's no point sugar coating reality. The forum is here to let everyone know what's happening in our lives with this damned thing. I know how you feel though, I hate to write negative stuff or keep talking about myself (there I go again!!)

I hope your nose breathes easier asap. You could try Googling nose unblocking techniques. There was a period where I was blocked and struggling to swallow. I was desperate so I looked online to see if there was anything I could do. I found various things like pressure points and other stuff I won't describe here. Take a look. My nose did unblock, whether it was time or the techniques I don't know, maybe they are nonsense, but i hate being helpless and am willing to try anything to get out of the problem. Sending you positive thoughts Jim I really hope you have a better afternoon and evening.

Thanks Stuart and sorry about your result too. We just have to be hopeful that this has been caused by virus and it will get better. Think the problem is the doctors don't really know they can only comment on what they can see on X-ray. My doctor also seemed to think the lung function test was quite important to show what is going on but have to say can't see my lung function is going to be that great at the moment. When they have that result will do another X-ray in a couple more weeks to see if any improvement. I have just done quite a hilly walk and was ok - had to sit on a log for a bit but overall not too bad and my friend commented that she was more out of breath than me.

Anyway, have to try not to worry although it is hard am going to try and stay positive and just hope and pray time is a healer.

Take care.