I can see DippyDame started a similar thread recently which was closed. To avoid that please could we avoid talking about the covid vaccine?
I had my 4th booster (amd flu jab, if its relevant) on 14th October and got covid for the first time on 28th October.
I tested positive for 8 days. So really I'm only a week covid free but I feel like I'm back to my unmedicated state. My metal health was in tatters last weekend and while it's improved and I'm trying not to catastrophise I'm worried it might turn into long covid.
Does anyone know of any papers or anything on the issue yet?
Perhaps I'm just feeling more hypo because I've been unwell and need to just ride it out?
i would say it's far too soon to be worrying about that possibility . even 'otherwise' healthy people would not be considered to have long covid until .. erm, i dunno .. 3 months after covid ? .. probably more like 6 months .
And if we already have a thyroid condition . then we are not 'otherwise' healthy and it's reasonable to expect that covid might knock us more than others, and might take longer to recover from fully .
We also know from studies that covid itself ( and the vaccine) is capable of messing with people's thyroid hormone levels , at least temporarily .. both in people who didn't previously have a thyroid diagnosis .. and also in those who do and were previously stable on a dose of levo .
So allow your body time to settle down again .. accept that it is a possibility you may find you need a dose change or two to get back on track .. but don't panic ,, be kind to yourself and don't overdo it for a few months .. give yourself an old fashioned 'convalescence' .
I just looked it up on the NHS site. If you still have symptoms after 4 weeks post Covid infection then is the time to consider seeing your GP for assessment. Most people fully recover within 12 weeks. So you have a way to go yet. Long Covid goes on beyond those times. Even my fit neighbour took around a month to feel fully well again and he didn't have a particularly bad infection.
Totally agree. There's a similar post from raglansleeve recently. The popularity of this topic at the moment makes me wonder if Covid is on the increase again. I managed to go two and a half years before catching it recently which was very annoying.
There was certainly a big spike in Gloucestershire over the last couple of months but I think it'll all kick off again when the temperatures drop... T shirt weather here this weekend which was lovely and depressing in equal measures 😳
I was a told it has to be 12 weeks + of symptoms after infection for it to be classed as long covid. By then I was diagnosed as sub clinical, shortly followed by auto immune after antibodies. Although now, with the benefit of hindsight I know I’ve had Hashimoto’s since my teens. I read that research is showing links between virus infections and worsening thyroid symptoms, even with EBV etc.
It definitely took me 3 weeks to recover to any normality in energy levels. Although I’d argue I’m still not quite right, but multiple factors at play.
Rest, rest and rest, pace yourself as I realised I was doing too much on good days and putting myself further back.
Thank you, Regen. I needed to hear that! It's been such a struggle and to feel like I'd slipped back to my unmedicated days was quite traumatic, actually.
I'm grateful to for the context re how long it's taken you, and others, to get better. X
Bless you, I remember it well, the negative spirals of thoughts etc. I forgot the connection actually, but I also had 12 weeks of CBT about the same time. This really gave me strategies for approaching my reactions to life’s bumps in the road, and some tools to assess why I react the way I do. To observe and think ‘on’ my feelings (was a bit numb and withdrawn) Saved me from clinical anxiety and depression. Give yourself a massive hug from me 🦋💚🦋
I have been struggling with OCD again and it's probably about time to get a diagnosis. Although the diagnosis only opens the door for CBT which I can access without it.
I'm afraid I'm the other way and ruminate on everything. It's exhausting.
Thank you for the support and kindness. Sorely needed this morning. ❤
my local NHS Heathy Minds team had an online triage of mental health questions. I did that and it triggered a triage call. I blubbed through that call sharing all my angers, traumas, weird behaviours, ruminating is so deibilitating I hear you, she was lovely and gave me hope that some was ‘human mind curiosity’ and other was ‘resolvable with help’. I waited 12 weeks and then had an hour a week in a zoom type platform with homework. It was referred to as fast track. Very structured, chance to talk through some root causes, traumas from childhood and teens, then joined the dots on behaviours. I’m definitely a stronger version of myself and a bit nicer to be around since. See what you can get locally, nothing to lose. Hugs 💚🦋💚
I had Covid at the beginning of July and while I mostly recovered by week 3, I found that if I did anything more than pottering around the house, I felt really tired and under the weather the next day. In fact, it’s only been in the last few weeks that I’ve been able to bounce back a bit quicker.
That’s the physical stuff. Mentally, I’m not doing so great at the moment. I do go through spells of being quite low but this has been longer and deeper than I’ve experienced in quite a while.
I don’t think this is long Covid, I think it’s just Covid. A friend of mine who got Covid at the same time as me (and is much fitter and healthier) has one of those watches that keep track of his vitals. The other day he showed me how although things are steadily improving, he’s still not quite back to being where he was pre-Covid. Found that fascinating. He says he hadn’t noticed that he was still under par and if it hadn’t been for the watch he might not even have spotted it.
Hang in there. It’s still really early days. Don’t panic x
Thank you. I've found this hugely comforting. I'm so glad I posted. ❤Life is already hard enough at the moment and the idea of long covid was terrifying.
I am also feeling very low at the moment. Last weekend was awful, worst in a very very long time. Mercifully it's been better this week. I'm sorry to hear you're also feeling low.
I’ll admit, I worried about it too. xx I’m not exactly a specimen of physical health—I weigh far too much and I’m not especially fit, so thought it was more than possible I’d struggle to recover. Happily it’s been ok (eventually). Talking to others, my experience isn’t at all uncommon—we’ve nearly all said similar things about reduced stamina etc.
I’m so sorry it got you in the thoughts and feelings too. I think though that’s very common too after being poorly. There’s a reason why the storybooks of my childhood (lots of Enid Blyton, LOL) talk about going away to the seaside or the countryside to convalesce. I think it was understood much better back then that it’s normal not to bounce back straightaway. I think about all the times pre-Covid where I struggled into work with the most awful colds because it was somehow seen as skiving if you didn’t—no wonder it used to take so long to shake off the symptoms and feel halfway normal again!
So, be gentle to yourself. Do some feel-good things. Find a nice film to watch, snuggle up in a blanket, maybe open that tin of goodies you half thought of saving for Christmas—or buy one… You’re worth the self-care!
hello you’re still early days but a couple of ideas if it continues beyond another month.
apparently aspirin doesn’t do the job of sorting out small clots post covid. If you’re still symptomatic I think specialist advice is needed. Yale university has a long covid study you can enrol in that has surveys, you can upload medical records and get support.
do you know how they can test for those clots? As my mother now in A and E and has long covid? She was given CT scan last night to look for lung clots and is clear. But is 3rd trip their in a few months.
sorry I don’t. I saw a thread on twitter from a specialist in this area and i can’t find it. Unfortunately there are so many quacks and crackpots in this area you have to be careful about the advice you’re given. I’ll keep looking and will share here if I find.
thanks for this link to the Yale study…an interesting listen. I have had Long Covid for over two years and could do with a ‘cure’, but looks like we will have to wait rather a time for this!
I’ve posted this link above just in case you don’t see I’m posting here for you. Hope you find a way to beat your long covid. twitter.com/drclairetaylor/...
Thanks Janeroar. After 2 years of Long Covid, I DIY identified POTS 6 weeks ago, and had sent a week’s BP/HR data, to my GP to confirm it…just got another raise of doses to one of the new 5 BP drugs! If nothing can be seen on X-ray or echocardiogram, or aided by breathing support clinic, then that is all you get.
I've seen quite a few people say that their thyroid levels have been severely upset by Covid (and the vaccine), and can take up to 6 months to level back out again. A number of those became over-medicated and had to reduce their meds for a while. Possibly worth getting tested to see what your levels look like (hypo and hyper symptoms can be similar). This paper is quite interesting too and says that a selenium deficiency could be the problem. It's probably worth supplementing if you don't already.
Thanks Jellybean! This was really helpful. I stopped supplementing months ago, accidentally, and haven't got back into it so I do need to start again but that did include selenium.
Unfortunately I had to change meds a week ago. Consultant changed my prescription and I was running low on the old script so that's been thrown in the mix too! I will test again after Christmas.
just to add to the thoughtful comments, that the clocks have changed and there is less light in the day, something that affects me every year, but I always forget until it happens!
Thank you. I had wondered if this was affecting my mood too; there seem to be so few daylight hours now. 😔 I think there have been a few things that all came together at once and its difficult to tell which caused what!
The fatigue is the biggest worry; managed a short walk locally yesterday but spent all day on the sofa barely moving. I can barely stand up I feel so weak.
I had few bad Covid symptoms bar a very runny nose and sneezing. However I felt quite tired for a good 2-3 months after. Because I was still adjusting my T3 dose and had had a mini stroke a year before I didn’t know which was the cause. It did pass though and I’d say it’s too early to assess. The NHS site talks of signs of long Covid which are identifiers.
I do feel so reassured by everyone telling me how long their recovery took. My husband has just carried on like nothing happened! I was starting to spiral on it.
I'm sorry to hear of your mini stroke. I hope you're recovered from it now.
NHS gives longer that 12 weeks after infection. There are two papers I’ll link to specifically about hypothyroidism and COVID-19 it does seem to have significance but only statistically speaking.
Sorry, I can offer no published research, but maybe it will ease your worries a bit when I tell you that it took me at least 6 weeks after covid to be back to my normal state (emphasis on "my normal"). I would not worry about long covid just yet. It will most likely not help you to get better. My suggestion is to just be good to yourself, listen to what your body needs and provide it. I had to take it slow, eat well and go for nature walks for fresh air. All the best. ❤️
I've been trying very hard to listen to my body. Barely able to stand at the moment from weakness and fatigue. Took a gentle walk yesterday but barely moved from the sofa after that. Poor kids were stuck in front if the TV and my husband was running round after us all!
Struggling to eat because my stomach feels inflammed; very full and bloated with zero appetite. I'm only able to eat half the portions I would usually do do that's not helping matters.
Hopefully I'll start to see some improvements soon.
Oh dear, that sounds terrible! I guess, not eating when your body says it's not hungry, is not a very good option. Don't listen to your body In that case to heck with healthy eating for now. Just eat what you can get down, I suppose. Otherwise, it sounds like you are really doing the best you can. I sincerely hope that your health improves soon. I can also totally understand that you would be quite concerned about long covid. Let's just hope that will not happen. Give it some time.
I had a positive result from a Covid test after feeling breathless. The following day I could hardly breathe and my daughter ( a NHS Mental Health Nurse) called out an ambulance. I was put on oxygen straight away. I should mention that I am 76 years old have COPD and Asbestosis and had TB as a child of 12 which involved being in a Sanatorium for some 6 months.
I was treated with Antivirals and antibiotics along with oxygen. After 3 weeks weaned off the oxygen and discharged after 3 weeks and 4 days. When I got home or rather at another my daughter's home (another nurse but a Paediatric Nurse). It was when I got home that I saw that my blood sugars were all over the place with more than a few years (I am an insulin dependent Type 2 Diabetic od some 34 years). I reported this to my diabetic Nurse who referred me up to the Hospital Diabetic Team and they changed my medication including a Libre 2 Sensor. Back in control although it is thought this diabetic storm was part of the Long Covid effect.
After attending a Pulmonary Rehab course because of the deuteriation in my breathing. very instructive and helped with exercise, but I was still breathless and have had to hire someone to do some of my housework, fortunately I have qualified for Attendance Allowance
All this and I found I was referred to a Long Covid clinic and now getting a whole series of test but the latest one a High Definitions CT Scan showed I had lost a significant portion of my lung capacity and so my long Covid journey continues.
Sorry, but your question asked when does Covid become Long Covid and when does it become a Thyroid issue. First part - apparently Long Covid can start after a month or at least you should consult your GP the if symptoms persist. Second part I can't help, I am hypothyroid, but I am not aware of any problems and the hospital gave me my Levo regularly.
As an update for prosperity; I am now three weeks post a negative covid test and finally shaking it off.
I am still exceptionally low on energy and stamina but my mental health has recovered and my appetite came back this weekend.
Thank you to everyone who helped prop me up through the worst of it. ❤
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You’re worth the self-care!
In that case to heck with healthy eating for now. Just eat what you can get down, I suppose. Otherwise, it sounds like you are really doing the best you can. I sincerely hope that your health improves soon. I can also totally understand that you would be quite concerned about long covid. Let's just hope that will not happen. Give it some time. 
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