Covid & PMR

[Hollieby]

Both my husband and I have just had covid. Hubby has PMR, he is on day 14 day to day but the fatigue almost seems to be getting worse and he is hardly eating as he has lost his taste and sense of smell. He is on 4mg of Prednisolone and he has not changed that as he hasn’t had any PMR pain, in fact he has no pain now. I know that covid can take a lot longer to get over but wondered if anyone has suffered with similar and if there is anything I can get to help him?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If he is getting worse I think you need to get medical attention for him. Has he had his jabs?

[Chris_1236]

I had a severe case of C19 including hospitalization. Here are some observations based on my experience. Your husband's case may be very different and you should seek competent medical advice.

Fatigue was (and at times still is) a very real problem. I slept more hours than I was awake for a good 6 weeks. To this day at 8: 30 pm local time my switch turns off and fatigue and brain fog take over.

I never lost my taste/smell (my better half did). But chicken broth was a mainstay for quite some time during my sickness. Hydration is critical. I drank a sea of water.

Watch carefully for respiratory symptoms. Covid pneumonia strikes fast and hard. A blood oxygen saturation level lower than 90/91% is cause for very quick action. Mine hit 65% at one point.

The attending physician upped my Prednisone dose from 24 mg to 40 mg for the 7 worst days of my sickness. (I'm presently down to 19mg.)

I hope your husband's case will not be any worse than some strong fatigue, but please watch for pneumonia. I would urge you to have him seen. A chest CT or x-ray would go a long way towards giving you some direction.

Chris

[mgrogers99 in reply to Chris_1236]

Have him seen so someone can listen to his lungs etc. I had covid and eating was difficult at first because it takes a lot of energy. I started to drink Powerade Zero....it was easier to drink fluids than to eat solids. I was getting electrolyes too.

[Chris_1236 in reply to mgrogers99]

Interestingly enough, in my case my lungs always sounded good. My images looked horrible though. Glad to post one if anyone wants to see.

Strange and dangerous stuff in any case.

[Hollieby]

Thanks for all you comments. Yes he is doubled jabbed. He is definitely better today. The Powerade Zero drinks sound like a good idea if he does not start eating soon, but I will take all your comments on board.

[Purplecrow]

I have PMR. In October, I had shortness of breath which I attributed to chronic allergies. Finally went to e.r. To have xray for pneumonia, and was told it was Covid. No other symptoms, no fever, no taste/smell issues, etc ,...just shortness breath. Xray showed no pneumonia, nothing. But blood test showed elevated D-Dimer levels, and subsequent CT scan showed lung blood clots. Words to wise, get it checked...