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
susan48029 Res35
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Hope your feeling better now
Lulu2020 Res35
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Ok thanks everyone and have all our questions ready. Appointment is at 14.00 so will update after that. Initially a phone consultation but he has agreed he will see me in hospital for any further tests required. I only went private route as just wasn't getting anywhere with NHS as they can't conduct the tests (lung function) that Ive been told I need. Just done a long walk and now my ears have popped and I can't hear properly - something else for the list - ha ha! Trouble is if I had a pimple on my nose I'd be paranoid at the moment thinking it was C-19 related!- so so fed up thinking about my body and how I feel - it is seriously boring and sure you all feel the same x
jim90098 Lulu2020
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Lulu,
I replicate your thoughts exactly. It's only natural that any form twinge, pain or twitch automatically sends us all into a spin.
I've always been a worrier at the best of times when it comes my health, so I fully understand the anxiety which goes hand in hand with all this tripe we're having to deal with.
When I spoke to the nice Doctor a few days ago, I mentioned a lung capacity test and seeing a respiratory physiotherapist for exercises having read Stuarts post etc.
She said all those type of tests etc had been stopped because of the current problem, as it put staff at an unnecessary risk of infection.
I fully understand that, however there are other forms of visual communication that could be used at the moment.
As for little sugar, she is consuming our world because she's nearly killed us. Fortunately, now we've got this far down the road we've dodged that bullet but she runs our lives at the moment.
It may be boring to non sufferers but we're having to live with it.
Hopefully for not too much longer!
Sorry for going on but I need a rant. My brain still works even though the body doesn't.
Thank you again for opening questions to the group. I'm sure its appreciated everyone.
Jim.
stuart68c jim90098
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Well said Jim. Agree 100%
Gazza10 jim90098
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It's great to have a rant especially when you have to deal with people who n not doing anything also good to get it off your chest I've just had a rant with myself I'm still trying to get hydrated was told juices of two lemons mixed with pinch of rock salt so I tried it god its awful
steph88359 jim90098
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Well said Jim !! The ones that make the headlines are those like the health minister that had mild symptoms recovered in extra speedy time and the poor critical ones on ventilators . We've not been represented at all. Most of us have been at deaths door more than once but because we are fighters and not our time to go we're still here !! GP's can't wait to get you off the phone quick enough but Mary don't let them win insist you get referred. Hopefully soon sugar will be a distant memory for us all we can only hope...
jim90098 Gazza10
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Gaz,
That sounds delightful!
My nice Doctor said whilst she was trying to wean me from drink 3 litres of water to suck ice lollies when thirsty.
Her rule of thumb on dehydration was the colour of your urine during the day. Apparently urine should be light yellow in colour and odourless. Mine was like water from a mountain spring, clear.
She said drink no more than 21/2 litres per day including all liquids and caffeine drinks too, which surprised me.
On my first blood test, I was low in sodium, which was corrected by my next test by reducing the water I was consuming.
For me, I'd go on the urine colour. You could also try your Doctors for another blood test and/or urine sample.
Jim.
Rufio222 steph88359
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Great point Steph. I have not seen much coverage of folks like us.
susan48029 jim90098
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I feel like that every little cough or sneeze, anxiety and panic, but been out for a longer walk today up a couple hills had to stop a bit, then sat up the green with my sister 6 feet apart doing yoga and breathing exercises, now chilling on sofa
jim90098 steph88359
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Steph,
As you know we're on or around the same timeline with little sugar, day 50 ish.
Over that time I've spoken to numerous Doctors at my local surgery, 111 and the Covid hub.
Out of all of them there's my nice lady Doctor who did all the tests in person at the surgery, called me with results and been an all round good egg.
A couple of Doctors in A&E were terrific too especially one who was so kind when I broke down crying.
The others however were, how can I put it, very dismissive in anything they could do and made comments like "ride it out".
Yes, I can imagine their frustration at not being help but sometimes an ear to bend relieves the pressure and helps our mental health.
We have undoubtedly fallen through crack and been over looked.
It's as if nothing has been put in place for anyone who's had to self medicate at home because surgeries wouldn't see us and A&E originally avoided seeing anyone with symptoms unless they were at deaths door.
As for the Government, they're playing the game to keep the general public in the dark directing the reports of the very seriously ill ICU patients and very mild cases, so they can attempt to revive the economy seeing the national debt rose in one month more than in previously recorded history. GDP is now 97.7%, so in reality the countries nearly bankrupt.
Further rant over.
That was very cathartic.
Gazza10 jim90098
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I didn't like it that much Jim it seems to me I can't get my pee to go to the normal colour whatsoever tried lots of different drinks even sos doesn't seem to have any effect I'm not sure if it's because the virus itself may be if and when little sugar decides to do one it might return to normal either that or I will have no taste buds left gary
steph88359 jim90098
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Jim , happy to listen to your rant as we're all in the same boat so to speak !! Hope like me you're having more gd days than bad. The comment ride it out i've also heard and like you say it's not gd for our mental health if you don't have a sympathetic ear to unload. They are the professionals here, even if they are still in the dark about sugar. What happened to a little bit of TLC , that goes a long way.
jim90098 steph88359
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Steph,
Really appreciate you posting that.
I've had a couple of days where I've improved.
Have a lovely evening and be well.
Jim.
maciej12002 jim90098
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Mine always is like water spring,I drink 4 litres a day, just have to take some electrolytes, the same that you take for diarrhoea. It is safe and helps with loosing mucus. Try for few days and see if it makes any difference. Just don't forget to take them as you will wash a lot of them out with overhydration
jim90098 maciej12002
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Hi,
I'll give it a try. Thank you for that.
maciej12002 jim90098
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I've been on keto diet for few months in the past and was drinking an about 5litres a day, mostly you will wash out sodium, but it is very easy to replenish, just eat more salt 😉
But seriously the only danger from drinking water is loosing electrolytes which can be very dangerous for your brain, so it is good to be cautious, but if you increase your intake it is best to drink electrolytes from time to time.
I hope it will help you, it does help me with my phlegm. I also take Mucosolvan tablets to help with loosening it.
Please note that this is not medical advice, just sharing my experience.