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
joanne82424 Res35
Edited
Hi,
I have just started week 6 of this virus. Looking back, the symptoms have very slowly eased, with good/bad/worse days.
I started with a very bad sore throat in week 1, then the other symptoms appeared, fever, tight chest, breathlessness, blocked nose, extreme tiredness.
I became unable to sleep lying down, and even sleeping sitting up is at times difficult.
I have tried to move around where possible, but at times this is difficult.
My symptoms now seem to be breathlessness and tight chest at times, blocked nose and tiredness.
I think I Must still have the virus because there is still a lot of phlegm, which I have read, is produced to get rid of viruses.
I have found breathing exercises very useful for my breathlessness, blocked nose and for relaxation.
Hope everyone's symptoms will soon ease.
stuart68c joanne82424
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Sorry to hear that. I'm starting week six too. Can't quite believe it. My experience is similar to yours except there was no fever (according to my thermometer) and I am lucky enough to be able to sleep on my side propped up by a pillow. I actually dread getting up as that's when the breathlessness starts.
I had three days of feeling much better last week - no coughing, less tight chest and breathing easier. But it came back yesterday and I'm back feeling pretty depressed. I live with elderly parents who after weeks of living in the same house as me, so far, have not caught it. That's a positive at least. Hope you feel better really soon.
michael68152 joanne82424
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Week 6 😢
I sincerely hope you return to good health soon, Joanne.
I myself have just finished with week 3, however still no temperature, still no phlegm and only a slight cough. It's the prevailing breathlessness which has me pinned down.
Best,
Michael
julie35925 stuart68c
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sorry to hear you've slid back a bit. I have found the same last night, no temp for 5 days and it hit me last night with sore throat and temp plus breathlessness. You feel quite alone as there is no one medically trained to reassure you! I now cant work out if its a good or bad thing not to have phlegm,? is it just going to continue and get worse? I find myself in a rather 'black' place today and cant see much light. I can have a test as I live with a key worker but, if its positive after 30 days of symptoms does that mean i have a high virus count, if its negative is that reliable as I believe they are only 70% correct. I just wish I could turn my thoughts off. sorry to ramble
stuart68c julie35925
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Hi Julie, sorry you're feeling down. I know how you feel. I have gone from positivity a few days ago to really low today. Coming on here and reading other people's experiences helps a lot though, as its easy to feel pretty isolated at the moment - especially as you say, there are no medically trained people to reassure us, so don't apologise for 'rambling', I reckon it's allowed here 😉
I wish I could answer your question about phlegm. Mine is clear, what about yours? (nice question eh? 😂)
I Hope you feel better as soon as possible.
Res35 stuart68c
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Mine is clear too..Wonder if that's a Covid thing as I've had a lot of respiratory illness in the past and when that sick it's never been clear.
I've had 4 'good days' in a row now...
That was after 31 days.
I'm sleeping better too. Can still feel the seizure pains but my neurologist has given me a drug to lower the volume on them and that appears to be keeping the worst a bay though I still feel them.
Only thing bothering me symptomatically now is a tooth infection which doesnt seem to be responding to antibiotics. Bit worried as had co amoxiclav 10 days ago as my 2nd prohylactic course from GP and now have tooth infection they have given me amoxicillin which is a less potent version of the above and also metronidazole for a 5 day course.
On day 3 now and pain just the same radiating into my ear and jaw which is very uncomfortable.
It's nice though not to be struggling to breath anymore.
I wouldnt say my lung capacity is what it was pre Covid yet but it's a damn sight better than last weekend.
Hope you see improvements again soon your side!
Am glad I started this thread as I couldn't find anyone on Google that had had symptoms so long at home and not been hospitalised. Is def nice not to feel alone with it.
julie35925 stuart68c
Posted
im not coughing anything up its still just a cross between a dry cough and very slight wheeze. I am half way thru antibiotics but I'm pretty sure they are not helping. See how the next few days go. take care
michael68152 julie35925
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Same here Julie.
Also Res, I'm very happy you've started to feel better, tooth infection aside! I'm also bloody happy you started this thread, it has been a great source of comfort for me.
Keep at it everyone!
gemma26100 stuart68c
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Not having a great day today either! Seemed to have slipped back again. Woke feeling tight chested again and dizzy as the day's going on. I did get up and potted about doing a couple of things then after I had no energy and my arms and top body just feel so heavy. I've noticed also the last day and today I've had a bit more mucus too and coughing out little phlegm which I hadn't had before. Just such a weird virus. Its definitely taking its time and just when you think its easing you feel rough again. Its definitely took it out of me! Good to keep in with all of you though and see how it is all developing, like keeping a diary. It helps strangely! Wish everyone better. x
stuart68c Res35
Edited
Res you're a super star for starting this thread. I spent day after day trying to find something similar to what I was experiencing and finding this helped me a lot mentally. 10/10 to you. So happy you have had 4 good days. Keep it up! Now you need to get that toothache sorted. Do you think the illness has given you an increased nerve sensitivity somehow? I have noticed that my teeth have been 'furry' for days no matter how much I clean. Could have been the antibiotics and dry mouth. Just wondering if your toothache is a side effect or virus related.
maciej12002 gemma26100
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what colour is your phlegm please?
I too have bad day today, tight chest and anxiety and panic attack, which does not help.
Do you know about anyone who recovered from this?
joanne82424 stuart68c
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thank you for your reply. It really helps to share experiences, as others are saying, there's no other help available.
Sorry your symptoms have returned, but this is how this virus has been all along, and hopefully the good days will continue to increase.
All the best in your recovery
joanne82424 michael68152
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thank you for your reply, it really helps to share experiences.
I'm finding that online breathing exercises help with the breathlessness, but of course then I try to do something, like make a drink, it comes back again. I suppose that's my body telling me I should be resting.
Hope you recover soon
stuart68c julie35925
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I can't say I cough up much either although I feel like my chest is full of something. I do this huffing breath technique that moves a bit of clear phlegm off my chest when I can feel a drowning /tickle sort of feeling. It's the only way I get stuff up.
My antibiotics finished two days ago. Don't know if it is coincidence or not but I took a backwards step once they finished.
Get well soon.
gemma26100 maciej12002
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Mostly clear but a cple of times I've noticed it green a little! lovely to talk about!!!
I'm just going to keep an eye on that one, as when I had severe pneumonia years ago I was coughing up lots that was dark green. I was hospitalised and in a bad way. So watch out for that and if its coming from your chest not back of nose especially. Hope this helps.
joanne82424 stuart68c
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I'm finding that drinks like lemon/orange and honey, vit c /zinc tablet in water, really get up lots of phlegm for me. Also warm compress on chest and olbas oil seem to help. Don't know if this is any use to you
Res35 stuart68c
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Thanks Stuart.
I def think the virus has increased my nerve sensitivity. Just hoping it hasn't left me very susceptible to picking up everything left right and centre. Think going to have to be careful not to expose myself to too much for next month. My immune system has likely taken bit of a hammering with all this. Think that's why have picked up an infection.
jx41870 joanne82424
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If you take zinc, should also take a "zinc ionophore" like quercetin or EGCG. Which sound scary until you realize it means green tea, black tea, apples, and onions, for example.
So then you don't have to take too much zinc, which can be a problem.
For that matter you can get zinc from dietary sources, generally red meat, nuts, and you can look up more stuff.
mariom stuart68c
Posted
Good spot on the furry teeth. I thought it was unrelated and just me. Sorry for kicking off the phlegm chat but my GP said the colour is an indication of infection. If it's green you may have pneumonia so call the GP. I read somewhere this virus hides out in the saliva glands which explains why it's so 'productive'. Anyway enough of that! I had 2 good days and went to bed last night fully expecting a drop today. As expected, less good this morning but I'm ready for it. Don't let it break your mood, your mental health affects your immune response. It's really heartening to have found comrades in this. Res - you need to get that tooth checked out. i don't think it's going to go with pills. And don't worry if you don't have phlegm issues (julie I think?) - it's just a symptom and we can be thankful for the ones we don't get. Be safe folks.
stuart68c mariom
Posted
Was just thinking that I have been drinking a lot of honey and lemon drinks which may well have stripped my tooth enamel, which could be a possible reason for the furry teeth.
tom16417 gemma26100
Posted
Same here. But the morning started with a nicotine withdrawal symptoms and a sudden panic attack! Relaxed myself with a nice warm bath and power nap. But day went quite well after that. On my 3rd/4th day with fever and tight chest sometimes. Be safe and think positive!