Discussion
Ladders said:
I think I had COVID back in Feb.
Didn't think it was at the time as everywhere was saying it wasn't in the UK until March, but then later in the year reports that it may have been about from last Christmas make me think it was. I also travelled by train through Oxford and back, so a Uni town!, just the day before.
Started with 'Flu' like symptoms, sore throat, massively tired, really aching muscles, indigestion, bad headache for a day or two (although I tend to have them anyway), loss of taste and smell, and wife tells me I was coughing as well.
Lasted around a week, although I felt knackered for a few weeks after, like riding my bike, which I do regulary.
So anyway, reason I am posting is wondering if anyone had experienced the same as me afterwards. Since I've been ill, I keep getting what feels like 'sprained' muscles, but which lasts for a month or two. For example I did some digging and was throwing soil, and my chest muscles felt 'sprained' for almost a couple of months. Then had it in my neck after sleeping. Then another location in my back. And now, about 8 months later, twisted my arm back working on my car, and its still feeling strained 2 months later!
I'd also had some weird chest pains and palpitations, which my overactive mind had worried had been heart problems, but a check with the doctor luckily found to have nothing wrong with me.
After some fairly lengthy investigations with scans and mri's my wife was told she has long covid. Didn't think it was at the time as everywhere was saying it wasn't in the UK until March, but then later in the year reports that it may have been about from last Christmas make me think it was. I also travelled by train through Oxford and back, so a Uni town!, just the day before.
Started with 'Flu' like symptoms, sore throat, massively tired, really aching muscles, indigestion, bad headache for a day or two (although I tend to have them anyway), loss of taste and smell, and wife tells me I was coughing as well.
Lasted around a week, although I felt knackered for a few weeks after, like riding my bike, which I do regulary.
So anyway, reason I am posting is wondering if anyone had experienced the same as me afterwards. Since I've been ill, I keep getting what feels like 'sprained' muscles, but which lasts for a month or two. For example I did some digging and was throwing soil, and my chest muscles felt 'sprained' for almost a couple of months. Then had it in my neck after sleeping. Then another location in my back. And now, about 8 months later, twisted my arm back working on my car, and its still feeling strained 2 months later!
I'd also had some weird chest pains and palpitations, which my overactive mind had worried had been heart problems, but a check with the doctor luckily found to have nothing wrong with me.
She has a damaged left lung and damage to her heart which we have been told is unlikely to heal.
She still gets huge heart palpitations where for no reason her BPM can go as high as 200BPM.
She tried going for a jog today and within 300 yrds BOOM 190BPM.
We have no idea how all this will end up.....
biggbn said:
Had covid in October, still sitting with a horrible burnt smell in nose, some days worse than others, do not taste some things like I used to, and can have ridiculous sweats for little reason. I can go to the gym and train fine then the next day eat a meal and have to change my t shirt because of the sweats!! Still get days where I feel foggy and struggle to remember simple words. Weird after effects I have never previously had!!
Brain fog and breathlessness both seem to form part of the long covid symptoms as does the taste issues. I’m sure it’ll be many more years before they understand why these symptoms have occurred.
Prof Prolapse said:
Personally I'd be wary of public forums and anecdotes from Joe Public as a reference for the symptoms of long covid.
I'm a bit concerned that there's often a real reluctance of the public to consider the effect of the psychological aspects of the lockdown on their health and it's making it hard to isolate the cause of illness is indeed long covid; job loss, loss of purpose, bereavement, being in a confined space, even dealing with kids 24/7, and the resultant pressures on a body, seems to be overlooked in favour of some mystery illness. Anyone can suffer from mental health issues, and they're not always overt.
Same goes for the usual standard, "viral fatigue", which we all accept is a real occurrence, but seems to need a special classification when it comes to COVID-19.
Don't get me wrong however, I'm not a denier at all, there's clearly direct damage done here in some instances, and the described above is clearly terrifying, I really do hope she shows some improvement.
I just think in the mean time, a lot of people will, understably, equate any symptoms to "long Covid" but the reality is likely to be a combination of long covid and several other factors caused by living in such strange times.
If that makes sense...
Yes it does and many tks on the well wishes.I'm a bit concerned that there's often a real reluctance of the public to consider the effect of the psychological aspects of the lockdown on their health and it's making it hard to isolate the cause of illness is indeed long covid; job loss, loss of purpose, bereavement, being in a confined space, even dealing with kids 24/7, and the resultant pressures on a body, seems to be overlooked in favour of some mystery illness. Anyone can suffer from mental health issues, and they're not always overt.
Same goes for the usual standard, "viral fatigue", which we all accept is a real occurrence, but seems to need a special classification when it comes to COVID-19.
Don't get me wrong however, I'm not a denier at all, there's clearly direct damage done here in some instances, and the described above is clearly terrifying, I really do hope she shows some improvement.
I just think in the mean time, a lot of people will, understably, equate any symptoms to "long Covid" but the reality is likely to be a combination of long covid and several other factors caused by living in such strange times.
If that makes sense...
Quite alarming being told that the damage is unlikely to ever reverse and of course not knowing the long term, if any, effects.
Will try to keep the thread updated with any changes if and when they occur
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Many tks for checking.My wife had the full works with Scans, MRI's and ECG so most bases covered i'd say.
Interesting he got the same steer on 'monitoring' and no meds.
One thing we maybe need to keep an eye on is cholesterol although we know prior to Covid she was all that in that regard.
Once again tks for help
biggbn said:
Agreed, I said as much to my Mrs and daughter just the other day. They had it same time as me and we were saying how likely it is that any given day we just feel a bit crap, we will all likely think...covid! , which is unlikely to be the case!! The smell, taste and naseua thing is bloody wearing now but we had it easy, certainly compared to the op mrs. I wish her a speedy and safe recovery.
Many tks. I just checked back to when i first listed this thread ( October 2020) and how long she'd already been having the issues with Long Covid ( May 2020) and that nothing in her well being has changed.
So 9 months on and no progress in shaking this off or any form of natural repair and yet you get these absolute morons that say Covid doesnt exist.
Between us we have drawn the conclusion that her current situation is how things will remain at best.
V8covin said:
I shouldn't be surprised,many people have very superficial interests,never watch the news,the only topics of conversation being the latest episodes of Love Island and the like
Must be . My wife still suffers from long COVID .
Her heart rate still reaches almost 200 BPM so she is going back to see the private cardiologist although previously he said the damage to her heart and left lung was done and there was nothing they could do.
Makes me wonder if he is just cashing in on a follow up appointment as I don’t know what else he can offer her.
Problem with long COVID is there is no history to know how to deal with it .
Anyway, onwards and upwards
anonymous said:
[redacted]
A year on we are booking another private cardiologist for my wife as her heart issues havnt resolved themselves. The first private cardiologist after all the scans etc confirmed the damage to her heart and left lung but offered no medication only “ come back and see me in 6 months if there is no change” so we need a 2nd opinion.
I think most medical experts can confirm what’s happening but they don’t know how to deal with it
Craig W said:
I've also been struggling with exactly what the op mentions.
I'm 32, bit of asthma but otherwise healthy. I used to cycle 150 miles a week, hadn't cycled for about a year prior to contracting Covid but was still fairly fit. Got Covid March 2020, since then I get out of breath walking up hill with the dog, or up a long flight of stairs. Heart Palpitations come and go and the fatigue is pretty debilitating some days.
Doctors are pretty impossible to get anywhere with, but I've pushed pretty hard recently and fortunately I'm going into the lung centre to see a consultant in January so will see what comes of it.
Long Covid is a demoralising diagnosis, as no one knows what factors may help recovery or what the long term prognosis is.
Sorry to hear this . I'm 32, bit of asthma but otherwise healthy. I used to cycle 150 miles a week, hadn't cycled for about a year prior to contracting Covid but was still fairly fit. Got Covid March 2020, since then I get out of breath walking up hill with the dog, or up a long flight of stairs. Heart Palpitations come and go and the fatigue is pretty debilitating some days.
Doctors are pretty impossible to get anywhere with, but I've pushed pretty hard recently and fortunately I'm going into the lung centre to see a consultant in January so will see what comes of it.
Long Covid is a demoralising diagnosis, as no one knows what factors may help recovery or what the long term prognosis is.
As the OP I thought I’d report back.
As mentioned, the wife has heart and lung damage which they can do nothing about . The damage is done.
The cardiologist said he’s seen various other patients with the same issues caused from Covid.
Her palpitations continue as does her brain fog and fatigue and along this journey we’ve noticed a few other ‘ odds and ends’.
You are right in saying the doctors have no answers.
We’ve been pretty much told nothing is likely to change . All we can hope for is some natural healing in the fullness of time.
We feel we’ve been going around in circles for over 18 months now which has had quite an impact on our lives as a family .
Sorry ive no more to add to shed any light on this for you but it does seem that many cases vary so this hopefully will resolve itself for you .
Do keep us posted and good luck in January.
cashmax said:
Lots of mention of being diagnosed with "permanent damage to heart" but what are these cardiologists seeing? To diagnose that there must be physical or electrical damage to muscle/vessel/valve. What are they reporting & how are they seeing it - MRI, ultrasound, ecg??
We have seen two private cardiologist & been confirmed as Leaky valve enlarged left ventricle and lung scarring. She had full MRI , ECG & scans on both occasions.
numtumfutunch said:
This almost certainly isnt the best place for proper medical advice as the post immediately above this one demonstrates, but.......
As far as long Covid goes my understanding is that it can trash small blood vessels around the body
One of my cycling club had Covid in April last year
Previously she was a complete monster on a bike but now struggles to hold pace on steady group rides and also has developed Raynaulds so her fingers go white and painful in the cold. Markedly so, in fact this is more of a disability to her than a modest amount of shortness of breath
Best of luck to you and the wife OP
Cheers
Tks for the well wishes . As far as long Covid goes my understanding is that it can trash small blood vessels around the body
One of my cycling club had Covid in April last year
Previously she was a complete monster on a bike but now struggles to hold pace on steady group rides and also has developed Raynaulds so her fingers go white and painful in the cold. Markedly so, in fact this is more of a disability to her than a modest amount of shortness of breath
Best of luck to you and the wife OP
Cheers
Her symptoms are not limited to the heart damage . She now also has lung scarring . She gets breathless , fatigue is a huge thing ( you may have seen the snooker player at the weekend that nodded off who had Covid) . She struggles to drive any distance without eating sweets to keep herself awake . Her heart beats are very irregular & she gets bouts of dizziness.
All the above she never had prior to Covid.
Hopefully we’ll get this sorted in time .
She is having another heart monitor fitted next week which she’s had before so we’ll see if the situation is starting to stabilise.
Tks again and will update the thread in due course
LosingGrip said:
Is there anything to help with Long COVID? I got it in late February this year and have had a shortness of breath since. Running is a nightmare. Sense of smell has still not come back (it wasn't brilliant to start with) and unless its really strong I don't smell it (think a body left over summer and then found strong). I'm also hacking up all sorts after I run.
It’s still very early days relatively for any real understanding and work arounds. My wife has long Covid ( confirmed) with heart and lung damage and some days she’s ok then totally out of the blue she gets raging palpitations, shortness of breath and various other symptoms.
There is no cure as such and no doubt the research continues
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