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!

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  • Edited

    how is everyone doing today?

    • Edited

      A little better than the previous 5 days, which is good - I'll take any respite I can get.

      Still mostly in bed, still a tad breathless but I can focus on watching a TV programme instead of breathing which is a welcome break.

      This is now day 19 of breathlessness, whoooopie!

      What about yourself? Feeling any better?

    • Edited

      Honestly I'm not sure there's much more we can do other than to wait it out. We need to trust that (eventually) our bodies will deal with it. Of course plenty of rest, healthy diet and perhaps some vitamin supplements (vitamin D as well as zinc I hear is good) will help.

      Call your GP, see what they say. I hear some are prescribing inhalers (ventolin and such) though I'm not sure how much that would help us, perhaps worth a try though.

      Some people on this thread appear to be getting better, so that's a promising sign for us at least.

    • Edited

      Fingers crossed we will survive it. Take care of yourself. Wish you all the best.

    • Edited

      I have had three days of gradual improvement. I am reluctant to say too much as I have had false dawns before, but the breathlessness is less and the cough subsiding so that's a positive. Sitting in the fresh air with the sun on my chest has helped me a lot. Hopefully the rest of you are feeling improvements too.

    • Edited

      Hi, I think i'm feeling a little better, just don't want to jinx it. This is day 28 for me, still a little breathless but easier, still cough, headaches and sore throat, but no temp. Worst is the mental anxiety, which I dont usually suffer from and the tiredness. Hopefully we will all just gradually improve. take care

    • Posted

      Yeah, I'm pretty much the same.

      Lying out in the sun.

      A better day again but not wanting to speak too soon for same reasons.

      also have a tooth infection so back on more antibiotics 3 times a day which is annoying as..

      Of all times...🙄

      The night time seizures though seem here to stay.

      Was referred to the rapid access heart clinic when I went A&E Monday but I don't know how rapid they are as still not heard from them.

      Rapidity in the NHS may be a month rather than 6. Will see.

      It sucks though as cant relax when that's happening every night still.

      Glad everyone is starting to feel slightly better though. Fingers crossed!

    • Edited

      So sorry about your seizures, I hope you can get all of that sorted soon. And tooth ache too??? Talk about insult to injury , that's just terrible. I myself pulled a muscle in my lower back last night and can't lie down! I have to laugh 🙄

    • Edited

      glad to hear that you are feeling better today, I hope that it is the light of hope at the and of the tunnel. take care of yourself and use as much sun as you can it looks like it helps a lot of people 😉

    • Edited

      Hi all. Yes sounds like most on here are starting to have a couple of better days. Like you I am not wanting to count my chickens yet but am feeling slightly better today. Breathing is better and sitting in the warm sunshine relaxing definitely helps. I have heard that Vitamin D is very good for chest infections etc, so maybe the sun does heal!

      The night time is the worse for me too. My sleep was awful last night, challenging to breathe and frightening. Thought u was going down hill again but today not so bad, just lack of energy. So not looking forward to the evenings so much and I need to sleep. But I so good this is the start of a turning point for everybody on here. And some of you who are not yet, start feeling better real soon. xx Keep going all.

    • Posted

      Yeah, this illness has conditions me to dread the coming of night to be honest.

      Never had more scary awful nights in my life to be honest than in the last month. Has actually affected me mentally a lot.

      Here's hoping the nights start to get a little better soon too.

    • Edited

      hi. I agree, I'm day 24 with symptoms of sore throat and cough. main issue is the anxiety which doesn't help with symptoms, it's such a scary situation. hope you feel better soon.

  • Edited

    Hi I'm into my 6th week off sick from work. I was treated for first 2 weeks with chest infection but it didn't get any better. After I was diagnosed with suspected corona virus. I get breathless just having a shower however I do have copd and asthma. I was advised to go to hospital but along with being to frightened to go I also just about manage with my inhalers. I have a fluctuating temperature along with good days and then bad days. I get breathless going from bed to bathroom. So like you I'm at home and at the moment see no light at the end of the tunnel, hope you feel better soon

    • Edited

      Afternoon everyone, hope some of you are feeling abit better today! I had a really bad night,got about an hours sleep! has anyone else had what feels like an itchy lung, and really tight dry throat, cause these are my latest symtoms.

    • Posted

      Sorry to hear that Marie.

      At 6 weeks in you must be totally fed up at this point.

      at 4.5 I've been struggling mentally.

      6 weeks is bloody awful.

      Keep in touch with your GP. given how long has gone on you may need another set of antibacs just to cover you for secondary infection if nothing else.

      They won't clear the virus but they can stop any nasties setting in and lower inflammation.

      Not easy. Hope you have support at home.

    • Edited

      hi Michelle,

      Have had the throat, which still comes and goes now, but im sure it will gradually improve. A friend of mine described their symptoms as an itchy lung which has all improved now. I wish that reliable and accessible antibody tests were available, just for peace of mind.

    • Edited

      Yes, I had that in my fourth week. Used Olbas oil, Beconase spray and Sterimar saline spray, plus honey and lemon drinks to try and keep things lubricated. I had terrible post nasal drip. It has passed now thank goodness.

    • Posted

      I have felt the itchiness on my right lung at night while i sleep but i also feel pressure on it during the day. Does that happen to you? any improvement ? If so, after how many days?

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