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Covid for 4 weeks & still bed ridden. Anyone else had prolonged severe illness without hospitalization

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Res35
Res35

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

5383 Replies

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  • richard53574
    richard53574 Res35

    Edited

    Hi hoping today is a better day for everybody Had a long talk with my cardiologist yesterday and it seem he is only imterested in severe conditions I had blood work done last friday which came back with a high red cell count so he wants me on xeralto as a thinner Only thinner I used before was baby aspirin.This disease is smart it never went near my lungs but targeted my weakest point which was my heart. It almost knew i had afib .The other symptom I shouldve mentioned was EXTREME malaise.The most unwell feeling i ever had in my life .Let me describe myself.I basically weigh the same as i did in high school.6foot 3 inches 200 pounds very active and no real health issues.I think my otherwise good health is the thing thats doing the fighting.please post how you and everybody is doing I am waiting for some great news.

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 richard53574

      Posted

      Hi

      It must have been reassuring talking to cardiologist. It is truly an awful disease as you can literally feel it moving through your body and as you say seems to hit the weakest point. I think we are all finding the duration of the illness hard to handle and the anxiety that brings. I am lucky too that I am a fit swimmer but have found it such a battle to keep going at times. I am feeling ok today but yesterday was rubbish - felt breathing wasn't great and random pains in chest/lungs and therefore anxious all day. I have just done 20 mins of yoga/breathing and that does seem to be me in a more positive head space which is helping. Hope your day goes well.

  • richard53574
    richard53574 Res35

    Edited

    Hang in there Lulu we are pulling for you .Supplements that help areElderberry syrup or capsules,fresh juice with carrot celery beet lots of fresh ginger and fresh tumeric vitamin D,C zinc magnesium,and fish oil anything good for the heart is good for the lungs also cbd oil really works for me handling my anxiety I dont know about the laws in the UK pertaining to cbd also cayenne pepper supplements are a natural blood thinner if you can stand the heat

  • marie2466
    marie2466 Res35

    Edited

    Hi everyone, I'm now into week 7 of this horrible illness, I have a home test coming tomorrow as I'm a carer, I have been off work for 7 weeks and like others had a few "good days" but Monday and today I have felt so exhausted I have slept mainly. Now I have a huge cyst behind my ear, which I think is from anxiety. I'm hoping the test shows neg, but then I want to know why I'm still feeling so lethargic and ill. I still have cough and horrible taste in my mouth, not sure if connected with covid. I have only been diagnosed with suspected covid by my dr and 111. I will keep everyone updated when results are through.

    Keep fighting this illness everyone. X

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 marie2466

      Edited

      Hi Marie

      I am coming up for 5 weeks still have cough but different to before am now able to cough up phlegm (sorry for too much info) but feel need to know facts from each other! This seems to help as it clears chest. I also had awful metallic taste and a yellow/green furry tongue - eugh! Both are improving. The anxiety and being so run down by the length of this illness is a real problem and as you say cyst seems to be a symptom of that. I am now rating how I feel each day as only way to see if there is any improvement over the week. I've also literally being doing nothing as find day after Ive done a bit more I crash again. Really wish you better keep positive (I know how hard that is) and rest - it is the only way.

    • mariom
      mariom Lulu2020

      Edited

      Seconded on all fronts! I should just click the "like" button 😃

    • joanne82424
      joanne82424 marie2466

      Edited

      good luck with your test Marie

      Sending positive thoughts to everyone 😃

      keep warm, keep resting and drinking(not wine!)

      Things will get better

  • mariom
    mariom Res35

    Edited

    For a change, I'm going to say goodnight and i hope you all rest well. Don't worry, be vigilant, stay hydrated and enjoy the first morning breaths if you can.

  • maciej12002
    maciej12002 Res35

    Edited

    Hello Everyone,

    I hope that you are all getting better.

    Thanks to a negative test result I was able to see my GP for the first time since this nightmare started five weeks ago.

    He said that I had a viral infection and now this phlegm is just my body healing process and it is natural, bit no infections any more.

    For last 4 days I changed my routine and now I do an inhalation using a nebuliser, saline solution 0.9 2/3 x a day It helps a lot with thickening this glue like thing from my lungs. Please note that this is not a medical advice as i'm nota a GP . Nebulisers are very popular in my country but for some reason UK doctors are against them, because they cannot be used of one has asthma. Well if you have asthma you know that you have asthma and you have to be careful with your lungs anyway.

    I also use humidifier at home almost all the time.

    Doctor mentioned that it will take weeks to fully recover and not to worry just keep going.

    So far my condition improved a lot, heartbeat and oxygen levels.

    I hate marathons, I wish this was more like sprint run 😉

  • marie2466
    marie2466 Res35

    Edited

    Hi all, test has arrived and has to be done between 9pm and 7am, should get results in next 3 days. Decided to try and clean bathroom this morning, BIG Mistake, not even half way wiping side of bath to end up so breathless had to sit on floor. Luckily I carry my inhalers everywhere as was there for half hour trying to catch my breath. Hope everyone is still OK (ish).

    • dee89889
      dee89889 marie2466

      Edited

      I hope the test gives you a reassuring result. Take it easy and hope things improve very soon.

  • richard53574
    richard53574 Res35

    Edited

    hello everyone When the greatest minds in the world finally come to a few conclusions about this virus I hope they concentrate on why this disease can stop and start at will.Its the most confounding thing about it along with the duration.My cardio doc doubled my toporol dose because now i have the worst afib spells that ive ever experienced.Shortness of breath and dizzyness.please keep the posts coming they are a great comfort to all who are struggling.take care and its another day in the right direction

  • michael68152
    michael68152 Res35

    Edited

    Hello All,

    I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd drop in.

    First off, some comforting news on breathlessness: I spoke to the GP who confirmed that a lot of people are suffering a "continued inflammatory response" (of the lungs). So in his opinion I am no longer a viral case but instead dealing with the fallout of the virus - inflamed lungs. That being said I was told to look out for a raised temperature and pain when breathing. I was also advised to continue moving about where possible.

    This is day 25 for me and I continue to have my ups and downs in terms of breathlessness. No temperature, no major cough and no phlegm - I'm 26 and generally pretty healthy, so this could be working in my favour suppressing the other symptoms. Having said this, last night I felt quite nauseous and experienced some stomach pain, which was new, although it soon passed.

    I guess we've all got to keep our heads up on this long road to recovery!

    Hope you're all well.

    Best,

    Michael

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 michael68152

      Edited

      Michael, that is reassuring as I do feel like my lungs are inflamed. Went for a very short walk this morning and now when I inhale I feel a burning sensation in back of throat and lungs but have had this so long have sort of got used to it and it varies throughout the day depending on what I have done - I have realised rest and just small amounts of exercise when able are the way forward. Have not had a temperature the whole time . When I was at my sickest I felt as if I had nuclear waste or paint stripper in my lungs so it is hardly surprising it takes a long time to heal. I have also had bouts of nausea and woke a couple of nights ago feeling terrible sick but then by morning it had gone.

      I have felt for the last ten days that something has changed and that maybe this is the fallout - I just felt different maybe not actually so unwell in myself but still with symptoms. I suppose if you have "normal" flu you don't just wake up one morning better it is a recovery period with some days better than others and this is probably a more extreme version of that.

      Hope everyone is able to stay positive and hopefully reading each other's stories helps bring the anxiety levels down knowing you are not on this awful journey alone.

    • dee89889
      dee89889 michael68152

      Edited

      Thank you for posting this Michael - I've just received a negative test but still feeling horrible. I'm on day 29 and although not technically breathless, I have some difficulty breathing due to what feels like stuck phlegm - if I shift it, the sensation goes. Throughout my experience I did not experience a temperature or a typical cough and this sensation appeared a couple of weeks ago, although a subsequent chest x-ray was normal. My main symptoms were gastrointestinal and racing heart rate . I've had a couple of good days on and off but haven't felt great this past couple of days - I will speak to my GP tomorrow and will mention your post - if this is part of the recovery process then it's easier to deal with as opposed to the fear that this is going to turn nasty at any point. I'd also feel more relaxed if people in our situations were monitored more regularly. Take care

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