Always seem to wake up anxious and early after serious covid and hospital stay

[natswright]

As someone recently out of hospital, after serious covid, I do seem to get my anxiety for no apparent reason at the start of the day. I have a raised heart rate. Anyone else find this Long covid is very odd!

Think I'm still on hospital time!

[Katinka46]

Welcome to this forum. It is a wonderful group, very well-informed, supportive. I hope we can help with your problems. I have not had Covid but I am very interested in your lung damage problems. Perhaps I could private message you from this site?I hope you feel well supported by your medical team.

Kate xxx

[natswright in reply to Katinka46]

Sadly here in the UK there is very little support for long covid. I hope to speak with my doctor on Monday. Feel free to message me.

[Katinka46]

P.S. I am sorry that I missed your first post here.

[natswright in reply to Katinka46]

Hey, no worries. This site has been a big help so far. Managing a change from a fit and healthy active person, to what I am now has been trumatic. no wonder im anxious!

[knitter]

I wake early and often anxious too, but I have done so for a long time .I think part of it is because my breathing pattern changes at night, breathe deeper …..mouth breathing too .

Try a few extra pillows, and when you wake sit up and try and gain control of your breath…..gentle gentle nose breaths as relaxed as you can . Small sips of water.

Try listening to relaxing music and if you can practice a bit of meditation.

The NHS has advice on managing Long Covid ….lots of tips on breathlessness and anxiety on a click on link on their site. One idea was to cool wipe your face …..a small hand held fan was recommended for managing breathlessness before, but not for Covid .

Take care and good luck with your appointment .

[natswright in reply to knitter]

Thanks, nose breathing can be tricky as at night especially i'm getting congested. There is a little dried blood/mucus, may be from blood thinners or being on oxygen for a month. but this mucus makes breathing harder.

[Tykelady in reply to natswright]

I too have a problem with night oxygen. To put it as daintily as possible I wake with a crusted nose and dried blood but as to sleeping I have very little trouble. I have to say that some mornings my oxygen cannula and i have parted company during the night though,

[Badbessie]

I think part of the problem is that you adjust to the hospital routine and waking up early is part of that. From my reading and communication with members of my family who have had long covid tachycardia (fast pulse above 100) can be all part and parcel of long covid. My brother a paramedic who caught covid in May 2020 said he could be sitting there and for no reason his pulse would shoot up like he had been jogging. However this gradually went away over a period of months. As your GP referred you to a covid clinic. It may help. Sadly much needs to be done in regards to long covid such as research into why it happens etc. My brother said that it was almost like post viral syndrome with the fatigue etc.

[natswright in reply to Badbessie]

Yes, this is exactly what I have been diagnosed with. My Heart rate can shoot up for no reason, making me feel awful too! Weak all over. I hope it improves soon.

[Badbessie in reply to natswright]

I always try to be honest it took my brother 4 months or so to recover. He said at times it was two steps forward one step back but he did recover.

[natswright in reply to Badbessie]

Thats a long time, but if there are times in that 4 months when he felt genuinely better over time, that gives me hope. Although I was just out of hospital, I was technically over the worst of the infection by oct 1st, so im almost 4 weeks into recovery.

[Alberta56]

I'm sorry for your morning problems and hope they will start to ease. I don't know anything about long covid, but it is quite galling enough trying to recover from a bad chest infection. You begin to wonder if you will ever be the same again and get just a little impatient. ( 😡😡) You have to take it easy, which isn't at all easy, especially if you were an energetic sort of person before the illness. Best wishes- hope the light at the end of the tunnel appears soon. xxx

[CDPO16]

Hi there, I regularly wake with anxiety linked to chronic lung disease. It's a horrible feeling. My nose is often blocked too. For me distraction helps a lot, catching up with the forum, watching or listening to something of interest on the TV or radio for instance. Unfortunately so little is known about long covid yet but hopefully things will gradually improve for you. Best wishes.

[natswright in reply to CDPO16]

Thanks! I do feel like a walking experiment! When I can walk that is!

[alunrob in reply to CDPO16]

Hello cdpo16,I know the feeling! I go to bed very late for several reasons.1.I tend to feel better as the day progresses.2.I wake after just 4 hours of sleep.I wake with much anxiety.I try to meditate it away and then have sometimes another 2 or 3 hours of light sleep. 3.Disraction is a huge solution.Tv.Newspapers.Computer.Anxiety about our condition is such a huge problem.All the best to you from Alun.

[CDPO16 in reply to alunrob]

It's a difficult thing to manage but you seem to be doing quite well. I wake up after 2 or 3 hours too but have a TV in my bedroom programmed to things of some interest throughout the night. When I wake up I focus on whatever is on TV at that time and usually manage to doze off again. My best wishes to you too, Carole.

[knitter]

A little consolation for me as I wake so early ….the sunrise this morning was amazing …..red sky .

[Hidden]

Hi yes covid in 2020 never had anxiety before but since then oh my goodness all i can say is after 18 months am starting to control it rather than the other way round using deep breathing exercises and pushing myself through the I think I'm going to drop dead scenario easier said than done but try to just sit there and calm down and yes very palpitations on waking up which also are calming down now long covid very strange

[Delamere]

Hi l am just home after a second spell in hospital in less than a month due to unresolved chest infection You are not alone in struggling with the mornings. I now find them extremely challenging. Ci have found it helps to set myself a routine and stick to it even on good days.. I cross off each little task no matter how small and see it as a victory one step closer to being the best l can .Wishing you luck

[Hellodolly]

Hi thereI am a psychologist and I have worked with quite a few people with long Covid.

No one knows yet what is more physiological ( neuroinflammation etc, overactivity in the HPA axis) and what is more psychological (you have been through a trauma).

It is likely to be both aspects of the above. The body goes into fight or flight when it is under threat, and hypoxia is a threat. Do lots of long, slow breathing to calm the body down ( in for 6 out for 7/8) whenever you remember. Try to meditate to calm body and mind ( headspace app or insight timer ) and rest, rest, rest. A nutritionist or book on nutrition (Trudy Scott - the anti anxiety food solution) might be helpful. Magnesium and B6 help with anxiety but it’s worth checking with a professional. The micro biome may need help if you have had antibiotics.

You have been through a massive ordeal. The body and brain are in shock and are finding their way!

Good luck 🌺😊😊😊

[Izb1]

Sorry to hear you are having these problems Natswright. I haven't had covid but can sympathise with the after effects. I think after any serious infection it takes time for your body to get better, especially trauma to your lungs. So go easy on yourself and rest as much as possible, you will get better but it will take time x

[natswright]

Wow, this morning I had hardly any anxiety! Hope it stays that way!

[Alberta56]

Great- let's hope it stays that way. 😃😃🤞🤞✌