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
mariom Res35
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Also thanks on the zinc tips! I'm not very savvy like that. And apologies Gemma I had not read as far as your message on pneumonia.
maciej12002 Res35
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just got my test results as a key worker and it came back as NEGATIVE!!!! Over the moon with it, maybe we all have bronchitis? Same symptoms and lingers for ages?
amen73317 maciej12002
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i am happy for you . i 'll book my test today as a key worker hopefully it will come negatif .
gemma26100 amen73317
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I too was going to be booking one but look a couple of times deliberating as its says only eligible in the first 3 days of symptoms as will possibly show a false inaccurate read anyway if over this time!? So haven't yet. May just wait for the antibody test to know atleast if had it for the future. ?
Res35 maciej12002
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That's good news..however a lot of people are testing negative who are positive so just bear that in mind, but hopefully for you it is just bronchitis or you are already post viral and just taking longer to recover.
julie35925 Res35
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I have a test for tomorrow but it's worrying that they are only 70% correct. Also, if you still have the virus 32 days on surely that should still show up ? - very confusing
Res35 julie35925
Posted
In other parts of the world some people that are hospitalised are showing negative one day, positive the next, negative the next etc..Not exactly heartening to be honest as far as the testing process goes.
alexbillo Res35
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I live on the boarder of Cheshire and Merseyside, UK.
Thought after 4 weeks husband would have recovered. He wasn't admitted to hospital as we had an oximeter at home and decided if sats level went to 90% we would go to a&e. Fortunately lowest was 92. fever, cough gone after end of week 4. Week 5 and he still has no energy whatsoever. We walked around our village yesterday which is 1 mile and its wiped him out. Normally we walk around 5 miles on a short walk.
He woke at 10.30am today and was asleep again 1pm-4pm. Then slept for an hour again and in bed asleep 8.15pm
He is 56, normally fit and healthy, no meds, no underlying conditions.
I have suggested blood test to see if they can understand why its taking so long.
stuart68c alexbillo
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Hi Alex, I am 52 and enjoy walking at quite a high pace normally. I'm quite fit and healthy generally, slim build. I changed my bed sheets last week and felt like I had climbed a mountain. Totally out of breath. After more than five weeks of this illness I decided to take a very short walk yesterday around a field at the back of where I live. Half way round I found it hard to put a foot in front of the other. My chest was burning by the time I got home (10 minutes later) Wished I hadn't tried to exercise. I haven't felt very good since. I obviously wasn't ready. Your husband is not alone in this. I hope he improves soon. All the best.
alexbillo stuart68c
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Hi Stuart
Technically you have had pneumonia so I guess its going to take a long tome to feeling up to any form of exersion.
Reading other forums it could take a couple of months.
stay well and don't do too much.
Lulu2020 stuart68c
Posted
I have done the same over last few weeks decided need to go out for a walk and then regretted it as breathless and lungs feeling inflamed. I think it is really important to do nothing at this stage as it seems to cause a set back. I literally just walk a few hundred yards and that is enough I can feel it in my lungs. I am a strong swimmer and am used to feeling fit and it is just so frightening and frustrating. Wishing you better soon.
rachel02167 Res35
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thanks for posting , this could me an exact description of my symptoms and ensuing state of mind
dee89889 Res35
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Hi All
This is an interesting discussion so thank you for starting it. I'm heading into week 5, my main symptoms were severe nausea for the first few days , stomach pain (no diarrhea), internal tremors and fast heart rate - in addition I've had sinus pain and severe post nasal drip but temperature within normal range - I have developed a sort of cough but it's been more throat clearing as opposed to coughing fits and for the past 10 days on and off I feel as though I'm breathing through cotton wool which seems to abate if I can clear my chest although there's very little mucus. The first five days were the worst, I've never felt so ill in my life. However, I don't feel anywhere as bad and am able to do things and even taken the dogs out a couple of times so not really experiencing breathlessness but do have a tight chest and still have stomach pain. Have only slept a couple of hours per night for the past 4 weeks - but not because I'm breathless.
I was in regular contact with my GP but I ended up in A&E last week due to my heart rate which was a worry. However, from the bloods and chest x-ray everything was normal, blood oxygen good and heart rate fast but rhythm normal. A&E Dr said he did not think I had C-19 and was more likely to be severe anxiety - although I'm worried that a lot of Drs are saying that and I can't see that anxiety can make you as ill as I felt during the first week. I spoke to my GP the next day and have been given beta blockers which has helped my heart rate but other than that, she's just said my tests were good and that's that- I'll start feeling better. Both Drs told me there was no need to continue to slef-isolate. But I still don't feel right and I am still really worried that this is not over and that, despite the test results, something bad is going to happen. Fortunately, I have been able to have key worker test but am not sure how the result, either way will affect me - if it's positive, I'm going to freak out and if it's negative , will I be able to trust it. I'm doubly worried as my husband starts chemotherapy today - To be completely honest I'm close to the edge and don't feel there's any help or reassurance out there
julie35925 dee89889
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Hi Dee,
I completely understand how you feel, I think I reached that black point on Friday. I am now on day 32, symptoms are a little better but I have had good days before. I too worried that something awful was going to happen, but I am sure most if that was anxiety, we are all still here and although not everyone is improving much I am sure we will slowly get there. on the radio today Dr Sarah Jarvis said there are lots of patients getting better and then relapsing, but over a period of time their good periods get longer and relapse less, it could take weeks/months, but best to take it easy. As for the test, i do feel the same, if its positive I will have a breakdown, if its negative - how reliable is it?? Think we all need to keep talking and take each day as it comes. More is being done to get antibody testing out there so hope thats soon take care
dee89889 julie35925
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Thank you, Julie - I'm so glad I found this thread and will definitely be checking in. I do think our experiences should be factored into studies too. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the antibody testing. Out of desperation I ordered one from Germany a couple of weeks ago - it was negative but, again, it was probably a dodgy one from China.
Take care and hope you keep improving xx