Covid for 4 weeks & still bed ridden. Anyone else had prolonged severe illness without hospitalization
Posted , 209 users are following.
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
mkqq Res35
Edited
Man I'm getting somewhat discouraged, having a major setback in my sleep.
Previously it wasn't great but most nights I manage 6-7 hours of interrupted sleep. The last 10 days I've only been managing 3-4 hours.
This is a relapse I think from doing too much in the previous days/weeks. I have to say despite the short sleep duration, my daytime energy was still better than when I first started having sleep problems. So I guess the relapse is not as bad as the original.
What I find strange though is that nobody in the media has mentioned insomnia as a Covid-19 symptom.
mkqq Res35
Edited
Man I'm getting somewhat discouraged, having a major setback in my sleep.
Previously it wasn't great but most nights I manage 6-7 hours of interrupted sleep. The last 10 days I've only been managing 3-4 hours.
This is a relapse I think from doing too much in the previous days/weeks. I have to say despite the short sleep duration, my daytime energy was still better than when I first started having sleep problems. So I guess the relapse is not as bad as the original.
What I find strange though is that nobody in the media has mentioned insomnia as a Covid-19 symptom.
rlwings mkqq
Edited
I agree with you. It would appear that sleep has been severely affected by our versions of Covid-19. Relapse seems to bring anxiety and strange brain function (Weird dreams, brain fog, inability to fall\stay asleep, and possibly lack of REM sleep). Even during the good days falling asleep has been more difficult than before contracting the disease... I really believe that for some of us Covid-19 has effected the central nervous system\brain which in turn is directly causing inordinate amounts of anxiety, panic and stress on our entire systems. Which may then be manifesting in secondary symptoms.
mkqq rlwings
Edited
The doctor did tell me today that he doesn't believe our brain chemistry is changed by the virus, so our central nervous system is not damaged. He doesn't believe so because he says otherwise we'll be showing more neurological symptoms.
But he also couldn't say why it is that we cannot sleep.
I do believe it's our immune response that somehow magnified our parasympathetic nervous system (fight/flight) causing sleeping difficulties.
mkqq
Edited
Also should mention that it seems there is too much REM sleep, as during REM dreaming takes place which I experience a lot of.
I don't seem to get the brain fog, but I do find it hard to concentrate for a long time.
maciej12002 mkqq
Posted
Have you tried to use melatonin?
rlwings mkqq
Posted
Yes, I guess when I said the disease causes anxiety what I really meant was our response to the disease (an over active immune response) since the infection has left us long ago.
And yes, having strange dreams would indeed imply that we are having REM sleep cycles. Somehow I failed to put that together. Must be the brain fog, Lol... Hope you recover soon!
susan48029 rlwings
Posted
When I was really ill at beginning it felt like I was detached from my body like there was 2 of me, really strange.
caroline84707 Res35
Edited
im on near 4 weeks , after 10 days really poorly i could start getting stronger by the day, still coughing and breatless.
3 weeks in over night my cough got very worst , breatless, sharp pains in my lungs, sent me to bed again .
got hold of a doctor to talk to , my stats was 94-96% oxygen , blood pressure normal, but low temp 35. they decided chest infection and have perscribed antiobotic and steriods .
5 days in to taking perscription , not feeling any better , but not feeling worse .
when will this end !!
MRMR caroline84707
Edited
Hi Caroline
Welcome to the 'club'.
Sorry to hear you are unwell, but glad you have found us. If you've read a lot of our posts, you'll see we have all had a range of symptoms, but are mostly all going in the right direction, with some blips along the way.
What we have learned, among lots of things, is that you should make sure you seek medical review whenever you need it, so make sure you see your GP regularly to see how your chest and 02 sats are doing. Some of us here have had repeated a and e or GP chats/visits, myself included. Rest is really important, so don't overdo things, which you've probably discovered already. Stay hydrated and ask your GP about anti inflammatories/other meds that may help you.
Do let us know how you get on
Mary👍
caroline84707 MRMR
Edited
thankyou mary , thankyou for replying to me. x
im not a good one to rest , but i know i have to , and i am now .
im hoping each day the antibotic or steroid will kick in .
sending love to everyone suffering xx
susan48029 caroline84707
Edited
Hi Caroline welcome, as Mary said we've all been in the same boat, we've had 2 lots of antibiotics, xrays, bloods, stats, breathlessness, mucas, cough, temps, chills, shivers, headaches, exhaustion, etc but we are over the weeks improving I'm on week 11 now and have really improved alot from week 7 onwards, just restget a family member to keep eye on you and if any doubts, 111 or 999 we've all done that. 💖
Gazza10 caroline84707
Posted
Sorry Caroline I couldn't help but notice they told me that I had a chest infection as well they got it wrong I took the antibiotics till the third day went back to a and e they must have checked the xrays properly then because the doctor said you haven't got a chest infection and the antibiotics made me really sick so just be careful Gary
caroline84707 Gazza10
Posted
im on steriods and antibotic , not got any worst but no improvement . oxygen is ok , heart rate up , blood pressure low (normal for me ) temp low . was going to ring doc tomorrow morning .
what happen with you when they thought it was chest infection ?
Res35 caroline84707
Posted
So sorry to hear you are in the thick of it still Caroline.
Can only say from a little further down the line don't get too dis-spirited.
It crawls slowly in the right direction.
Hopefully you will get there quicker than some of us!