Covid exhaustion

[Feeling_Runderful]

Hi everyone,

Feeling a little sorry for myself. Had covid a few weeks back and I am just exhausted. All recovered in terms of the symptoms etc. I am just so exhausted I can’t focus let alone run. I don’t know whether I am just being lazy and I should just try or what to do!

Has anyone else had covid and had lasting exhaustion? Did you run through it? If not has anyone had it and how long did it take you to run again?

Thanks

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Just ease up.. and rest up. We are not medically qualified, so are unable to advise.

But...your body is telling you to rest...we know so little still about Covid and how it affects folk differently. What is one person's experience will not be the same as yours.

Just take some time, rest well, eat and hydrate well and see how you feel after a week or so.

There are helplines for advice or ring your GP if you feel things aren't improving.

Please, don't try to run through this..

The runs will wait until you feel stronger. They are patient, and you need to try to be patient too.

Please keep us posted? X

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

This NHS article may help yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/yo...

As Oldfloss says, listen to your body and just ease into what is comfortable to do. Don't push it. You still need more recovery time.

Take care.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

You say your symptoms have gone but exhaustion *is* a symptom. Do not let the temporary depression which is so often an after effect of a nasty viral illness trick you into the self-hatred of forcing yourself.

Remember there is a difference between the value of 'getting out for some fresh air' (which might be just sitting outside), 'keeping moving' which might be a stroll round the block or being driven out somewhere for a short walk to a viewpoint, or some gentle stretches (all of which sound within your grasp at the moment) and then assessing how you feel the next day, and putting yourself into a rigid rehabilitation programme (whether self or externally imposed) or getting yourself into a boom and bust cycle.

Think of this time as an investment in your future life and ability to run.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Well said...you make so much sense x

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss .

[Feeling_Runderful Graduate]

Thanks everyone! Certainly not looking for medical advise! Just thought there must be runners on here who have had it so was more curious as to how long it took until they felt they could run again x

[BaddieThePirate Graduate in reply to Feeling_Runderful]

I haven’t had Covid (to my knowledge) but I get exhaustion, due to AS. There’s no way I could run when I hit that brick wall. Hope you recover soon, but in the meantime, as GoogleMe said, exhaustion IS a symptom.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Feeling_Runderful]

We are all so, so different...best to get advice from a GP.

[Feeling_Runderful Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Again, not looking for medical advise at all and no need to bother the busy doctors at the moment. It was literally a general curiosity of those that have had it and how long it took to get back to running! Not that I was going to then go running if they said 2 days etc. Was more of getting a feel. I think people have misunderstood x

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Feeling_Runderful]

30 years...Also, family friend (top flight athlete) died of myocarditis training after flu.

More helpfully and less scarily perhaps, during the years I have been able to run gently, I have had a proper flu and I did not run at all for a month in that time and my perception has been I've never been quite as fast (not that I was ever remotely fast) although I am not sure the stats really bear that out. I should also point out that I continue to find sustained brisk walking more difficult and with worse after effects than running (on kinder surfaces that is) which I find a looser movement altogether despite the higher heart rate and higher impact for bone health.

Knowing yourself is very important - if you are the kind of person who will not be able to resist pushing it, if you are the kind of person who will be tipped into the slough of despond by a 'bad' run, then wait that bit longer.

[Feeling_Runderful Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

I am not a fast runner. Don’t really care how fast I am. It just keeps my mental health stable ☺️

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Feeling_Runderful]

It's a dreary phase of convalescence to be sure!

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate]

Hello Feeling_Runderful, in the latest issue of Private Eye (issue 1555) Dr. Hammond writes about post exertional malaise (PEM) after covid. He says if you are getting this, you can find good advice from Action for ME, the ME Association, and the British Association for CFS/ME

It might be worth looking this up and seeing if it applies to you before deciding how to proceed.

Take care.

[nowster Graduate in reply to DylanTheRabbit]

(Post Viral) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is definitely a thing, and it's a swine to shake off.

I got hit by the after-effects of glandular fever in my early twenties, back when such things were even less well understood.

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate in reply to nowster]

I'm lucky I don't have first hand experience of this 🤞🏼. I guess it's going to be much better understood in the next couple of years. Many people are suffering, unfortunately.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Not had covid but had a real bad dose of proper flu some years back. For someone who's never sick it knocked me out for three weeks and took at least twice as long to feel "normal"

[nowster Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I had proper flu in November 2008. It knocked me flat for a month. I only ventured forth when I'd eaten through the contents of the fridge and freezer.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to nowster]

My neighbour had to come feed me. Bless her. I just left my door unlocked 🙈🤣