Post-Covid lung issues - what to expect?

[Treetop33]

Hi all,

I had Covid in mid November and have been sick ever since, particularly (and perhaps only) breathlessness and fatigue. I was first diagnosed with asthma, but the meds only seemed to stave off a worse episode of breathlessness. So I went back to the docs and insisted on being seen, as I was getting worse. I've had blood tests (nothing out of the ordinary for me - I already have lupus - except just above normal mean cell haemoglobin level). ECG borderline (normal rhythm but low voltage QRS. The GP doesn't seem concerned. I've not had the chest XRay back yet.

Occasionally I get into a massive panic when I read about what can happen post-Covid (which also doesn't help the breathlessness!). Has anyone else experienced this, and knows what help I should be asking for?

EDIT: I also get this horrible feeling when I eat, of not being able to breathe. And I don't eat that much. Trying to keep my digestive system movin so it doesn't cause any pressure.

I feel really down and hopeless about it. I'd just scraped together some sort of remission for lupus, and here I am now even worse.

Thanks!

[Bevvy]

A member of this group - natswright wrote eloquently about her struggles post Covid with lung issues so it would be worth looking her up. You will be able to view her journey. Also other members have written about this situation, so worth doing a general search in this group. But natswright experience stands out to me.

[Treetop33 in reply to Bevvy]

Thanks. I was looking for her posts but the search function isn't sensitive enough. Any ideas on how to find?

[Treetop33 in reply to Bevvy]

Forget what I just said. I found her.

[JPC2]

Hi

I had covid in October 22 and was hospitalised with double pneumonia. Since then I’ve been breathless and recovery is slow however it does seem to different for everyone and as Bevvy said have a read of natswright posts, she has made a remarkable recovery. I would wait until you’ve had your X-ray results if you still have some infection you will feel breathless. Hope you feel better soon and make a quick recovery.

[Treetop33 in reply to JPC2]

Thank you. I do hope you make some progress with yours. Yes, hoping the X-ray will find something to work on.

[Alberta56]

I had Covid just before Christmas and expected to be over it by now. I had Covid in 2020 and its aftereffects were more or less gone in a fortnight. This strain seems much harder to shake off. I still feel fatigued a lot of the time, exhausted in fact. The cold weather does not help. Going outdoors leaves me very out of breath. i think all we can do is go with it, try not to do too much and take a little very gentle exercise when we feel up to it. I would like a little gentle walk- huh!😒😒 Best wishes and hope your recovery starts soon. xxx

[Treetop33 in reply to Alberta56]

Yes it is horrible. I also had Covid in March 2020 and was very sub par for two months, and was left with hayfever (!). This is much worse, and I've been vaccinated so many times. I think it's the new variant JN.1 though obviously we can't test these days so much like at the beginning, we have to guess. I hope you can slowly recover too xx

[Treetop33]

natswright I've just read your journey and am so pleased to see that you have largely recovered. Can you offer any short advice for me (and my partner who has the same thing) in terms of what to ask the docs for, what worked the best and what to watch out for?

As someone with lupus, I'm well aware of some of the things that hit you hard early on, like the physical impact of anxiety on a worn out body and the need for pacing, but having a lung issue is new to me, as my lupus is a joint/muscle thing not internal organ-related.

Hope you can help!

[Izb1 in reply to Treetop33]

It may be worth sending this as a private message as she may not read the daily posts x

[Dorris59]

Vit D is an immune modulator and helps autoimmune diseases. Try raising your nitric oxide levels through diet. Get more plants, including herbs and spices in your diet. You can make soups and smoothies as an easy way to increase veg and fruit. They say about 30 plants a week. Also try to raise your nitric oxide levels through nasal breathing and humming is particularly good. It’s very good in raising oxygen levels. I can’t put the link on here but do some research on it

[Treetop33 in reply to Dorris59]

Thank you. I do have a mainly non-processed, plant based diet anyway...I like the idea of singing. I'll look up singing exercises once I get the lung X-ray back.

[Dorris59 in reply to Treetop33]

Humming. Not singing and good luck

[Dorris59 in reply to Treetop33]

Potential Immune Protective Effects of Nitric Oxide and Humming- look this up