Post-Coronavirus fatigue or something worse?

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Six weeks ago on March 24 I developed symptoms of Covid-19, namely raised temperature (but not fever), dry cough, upset stomach and intense fatigue. As there was no possibility of a test, I have no certainty but as a key worker out and about in the community I am pretty certain it was the Coronavirus.

I still do not feel normal. I typically feel tired, although my daily walk and other physical activity do not seem to lead to real exhaustion. I find that work-related Zoom Conferences often provoke an episode of stomach upset and nausea. I sometimes feel mildly 'fluey' , with a minimal but discernible sore throat. My muscles are twitching rather than aching (although this has been diminishing in recent days). I generally sleep through the night and my appetite is only a little diminished. But I'm not getting that morning burst of energy and am sleepy for much of the day.

When the pandemic began, the advice was that people with mild symptoms were better after 14 days. So I wonder whether this is still the recovery period nearly two months on, whether it might be Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome or the beginning of something more long-term like CFS. Should I be trying to see my GP at this stage (if he will see me) or just keep going?

Thanks for reading this!

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3 Replies

  • Edited

    I would try to see your doctor. I had to go in and see mine. I started running a fever on April 8th. Coughing came next and I was still sick and still fighting the fever around the 22nd of April. I was tested for flu and Covid-19 and both came back negative so then I was directed to telemed that suggested that I had a sinus infection. I had already took a Z-pack at this point and was still having issues with fever. A week passed after I finished the Z-pack and I was still running a fever so I made an appointment to go in and see my doctor. She tested me for strep, flu, and Covid-19. The strep and flu came back negative. I haven't heard on the Covid-19 but tomorrow will be a week so it's probably negative. She drew blood because she didn't have a clue what was wrong with me. I've been fever free for about a week but still tired and getting my strength back.

  • Edited

    This sounds like me.

    Fever 9 weeks ago, lasted 3 days. Then green/yellow phlegm for a few days, then white phlegm for a few weeks.

    Ongoing fatigue. Not so bad that I can't move, but certainly very low on energy. I've been managing to do some exercise including bike rides (some longer 25km ones), walks, and even going into work around 3 days a week.

    I am experiencing the same thing for the past few weeks where if I exert energy I get a mild sore throat, or a slight runny nose, sometimes a sneeze or two. Not sure the runny nose is an induced allergy or related to the virus.

    Worst of all I have a lot of trouble sleeping. 2 days after the fever ended I could not sleep at all for some nights, then with the help of melatonin and valerian I manage a few hours of interrupted sleep a night. At least you don't have trouble sleeping.

    These are symptoms of post viral fatigue and I'm panicking that it may turn into something long term.

    However I did a blood test last week and there is a slimmer of hope. They found I was extremely low on Vitamin D. I guess the result of living in Europe for 1.5 years having previously lived in Australia.

    Being deficient on Vitamin D can also cause the above symptoms, also it can impact your immune system.

    I'm really hoping once my Vitamin D level rises I can feel like myself again!

  • Edited

    i have very similar issues to you. 8 weeks down the line and i still have a cough, irritated chest and a general feeling if being unwell.

    In the last few days i have discovered a whole community of people online with covid symptoms that have lasted for weeks and weeks. Often met with scepticism from doctors. I thought i was losing my marbles and i've been prescribed two different types of anxiety meds only to work out that i am actually still ill!

    i think its post viral now and like you i was too early to get tested.

    i have an inhaler now for the cough and take antihistamines but to be honest the symptoms seem to come and go at random regardless of what i do or what meds i take.

    i would still contact your gp. in the last few days a professor of infectious diseases at liverpool university has written about his experiences in the BMJ so you might get a sympathetic hearing if your GP has seen it. His name is Paul Garner,

    Best of Luck.

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