Chronic fatigue/ long covid and fitness journey.

[Esra82]

hi! Just asking if anyone who has had long covid with fatigue being the main symptom has started their journey back to health again?

I was a casual runner before and regret pounding away on the treadmill whilst struggling to breathe when I had covid.

My lungs have been damaged but I need to try at least.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello and welcome.

Gosh, there are so many of us left reeling from Covid and the left-overs. We are all so very different but I am sure there will be others who feel as you do,

When did you have Covid? I can empathise after having Covid before Christmas, but my post viral fatigue, although dire for a full week, did gradually start to abate. I am building back very slowly. I last ran on 30th November, and only resumed with a first very very slow jogette after 7 weeks... just a very very short slow and steady, run. It was not the easiest, but it was one of the best.

You say yourself that you regret trying to run whilst you had Covid and that is the key really. Waiting until the body is ready. Listening to our body is all very well and it is our best guide, but how do we know when the time is right to try.

I have always listened to my body, but after Covid I felt a bit out of my depth, The fatigue was like nothing I had ever experienced ... for me, I found the advice here on this site, excellent...breaking down a return into exercise at all the relevant stages.

yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/i-...

Take a peek and maybe you will find it helpful? There are some very , very useful sections of advice there. However you do manage to start it does definitely have to be slow and steady'

Please too, if you are thinking at some point of making the C25K programme part of your return, do read this really helpful advice. It is essential, advice, in order to keep you safe and injury free.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Do please, let is know how you fare? I am sure a lot of folk will be really interested to see how you go on

[Esra82 in reply to Oldfloss]

thank you for the links. I will be having a look.

So I got Covid at the end of 2020. But the fatigue I’ve experienced has been extreme. It’s only now all this time later I feel that I will be able to manage.

I’ve started working out last week and have started once again needing power naps to get through the day around work.

I’m just going to listen to my body and although I hate sleeping during the day as I feel it’s a waste of time, if I am going to get any sort of fitness back then I will need to push myself and just deal with the mild exhausation

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate in reply to Esra82]

Hi Esra, I had COVID a year ago, when I was partway through couch to 5k. I had it quite mildly but was tired for weeks after. I tried to resume running but all my old injuries complained like crazy and I realised I had to leave it longer. When I felt ok again, I started out on Active 10 with daily brisk walks, and a longer slower walk once a week, plus regular Pilates classes. I finally started couch to 5k in January, 11 months after my covid infection. I repeated the early weeks, and now I'm progressing through the program normally (week 7).I'm a little worried at your plan to push through the tiredness. My daughter has chronic fatigue syndrome, which is very similar in its effects to long covid. Pushing through always results in a crash for her. I understand that you have to carry on somehow, but just please be very careful. Don't be tempted if one day you feel great and think you can carry on for longer. Don't do it! Find a base level of daily activity that's safe for you, and only very gradually increase it. And the very best of luck to you, you've had it tough.

[Esra82]

so I got covid approx 2 years 5 months ago! And I’ve had it 3 times in total.

This is the first real attempt I’m making at proper exercise. Before this I was going for 30 minute walks and having no signs of fatigue

The fatigue is back sadly quite intensely I’m napping every day and have bouts of feeling exhausted and energetic within the same day.

I’m only working out very 2-3 days as this is all I can manage and regardless of the fatigue I plan to continue the trade off is spending less time on other activities, like dare I say it being less present with my children as I’m so exhausted I need to sleep for a hour. Or meeting up

With friends socialising as I don’t know when and how intensely I am going to be effected one day to the next. I do feel the intensity of the fatigue reaches its peak on day 2-3.

I need to get fit and loose weight. It is healing my mental health so I will just do what I physically can and deal with the horrible consequences day to day.