5 ms·

Got COVID around Christmas. I don't know which variant. It went as a regular flu for 3-4 days, then 2 days feeling better and thinking I am recovering. 6-th day

by kavalg 5y ago

Got COVID around Christmas. I don't know which variant. It went as a regular flu for 3-4 days, then 2 days feeling better and thinking I am recovering. 6-th day getting fever again, lots of sweating, heart rate up to 90 from 65, feeling bad for 3-5 days. Apart from aspirin and vitamins I started taking Cefuroxime for 5 days (not sure if the latter was 100% necessary, some doctors prescribe it, some not). At day 9 got another examination. Chest x-ray and cardiogram normal, body temperature still high (38C / 100F), heart rate still high, blood pressure normal. Starting to feel much better around day 14, but still not feeling recovered and heart rate was around 80. At day 20 most symptoms were gone, but still got a bit higher heart rate than usual, and some residual coughing, esp when doing some light to moderate physical activity. Now that more than a month has passed since initial symptoms, I still feel that my heart and blood circulation is not back to normal and I am a bit afraid to exercise. I only do some walks on a moderately steep trail and some stretching. I don't know if this counts as a long covid, but definitely it feels a lot different than a regular flu. It looks like most of the damage is first done to your blood circulation system and then that harms some other organs. I hope that circulation system will fully recover, but I don't know how much time it would take. Other people told me that it took them 2-3 months to feel back to normal.

nicoburns 5y ago
> Now that more than a month has passed since initial symptoms, I still feel that my heart and blood circulation is not back to normal and I am a bit afraid to exercise. I only do some walks on a moderately steep trail and some stretching. > Other people told me that it took them 2-3 months to feel back to normal. If you're lucky. I have similar symptoms, and I'm 18 months in and still not back to normal (I have improved, but intense exercise seems to cause a regression). > It looks like most of the damage is first done to your blood circulation system and then that harms some other organs. It seems to vary between people and infections, but that's certainly one of the ways it can go. EDIT: Not sure why this is being downvoted?
- johnchristopher 5y ago
  > EDIT: Not sure why this is being downvoted? There's a strong vibe of long covid denial on HN and some people are quick to point to a study that stated long covid is mostly a psychological issue.
  - edmcnulty101 5y ago
    I don't think it's taken seriously from a scientific perspective. There's not too many papers on it compared to Covid as a whole.
pqs 5y ago
Were you vaccinated? I'm 40, I got Covid-19 in Christmas, I got the second shot of Pfizer last July. I did not have a fever, I was just very tired for a few days. Then cough came. One month later I still feel something in my chest, I cough a little when I talk, and I collapse on Friday morning, instead of Friday evening, after a week of work (so I have a little less energy than before). I'm doing push-ups, pull-ups and one leg squats as before. No problem there.
- kavalg 5y ago
  Yes, I had the single dose Jansen vaccine in May. I also had some residual coughing when exercising or talking emotionally (positive emotions, not shouting). Same thing with strength as with you. No problem with push and pull ups, squats or jumping. It is just that my heart rate goes up faster than usual. E.g. I had to carry a 50 lbs box upstairs and after the second floor I already felt my heart beating. Wouldn't have been an issue before, even if running upstairs with 50 lbs.
  - pqs 5y ago
    It is Friday morning and I'm dead tired. Before Covid-19 I was dead tired on Friday afternoon. :'(
bengale 5y ago
Different virus, but after a rough infection it took almost three years for my intermittent tachycardia to stop and to have the ability to exercise like I used to again. Weirdly it seemed to be the first shot of covid vaccine that put a final stop to it for me, that or a crazy coincidence.
pjerem 5y ago
> Now that more than a month has passed since initial symptoms, I still feel that my heart and blood circulation is not back to normal and I am a bit afraid to exercise. I only do some walks on a moderately steep trail and some stretching. Not denying that it could be long COVID but those are also the exact symptoms of chronic anxiety, which your COVID infection could have created or aggravated. You should check a doctor because chronic anxiety can be a real long term issue and it's possible to heal completely if treated seriously and rapidly. A lot of people are developing anxiety symptoms due to the epidemic crisis. I think it's worth checking.
- nicoburns 5y ago
  Is this possible even if you don't actually feel anxious? There's lots of evidence that covid attacks the heart. I don't think heart symptoms should be written off as anxiety.
  - Kye 5y ago
    Anxiety can be hard to tell from normal once you've had it long enough.
  - idontwantthis 5y ago
    Anxiety feels just feels like whatever you think your imagined problem feels like. Anxiety could feel like this, or it could be real heart problems. Should get evaluated for both.
  - mattzito 5y ago
    FWIW, not Covid related, but I had shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue- dealt with it for a while, eventually went to a Dr. Full battery of heart and lung tests, turns out heart and lungs are almost flawless for my age and general health. At Dr’s recommendation, see a psychiatrist, dr gives me some anti-anxiety medication to try, and I feel better almost immediately. Spend a few months working on behavioral response to stress, breathing exercises, etc., then go off the medicine. Total game changer. The mind and human body are funny things.
whizzter 5y ago
Any idea if it's possible that you got a secondary infection? Iirc two of the most effective prevention of death in clinical settings around here before vaccines and this new type of meds has been the introduction of antibiotics soon after admittance (for older patients) since it prevented bacterial pneumonias to occur opportunistically (many older early Covid victims died of this even if Covid was the initial infection). The second one was to put anti-clotting agents early on after admittance to prevent secondary issues due to clots.
- kavalg 5y ago
  If by secondary you mean bacterial infection around days 6, then that was one of the hypotheses and the reason for getting antibiotics (I have only taken antibiotics several times in the last 25 years). I also took a mild anti clotting agent (aspirin) as recommended by my doctor. Also I am 45 years old, so even though I am in a good physical shape (non obese, working out on a regular basis, not taking any medication apart from vitamins and herbs) and don't exactly qualify as young :).
  - whizzter 5y ago
    Ah right that was the Cefuroxime, seems like you had a prudent doctor. Glad the main part is over and hopefully the residual parts will fade soon enough.
edmcnulty101 5y ago
pjerem 1 hour ago | root | parent | prev | next [–] > Now that more than a month has passed since initial symptoms, I still feel that my heart and blood circulation is not back to normal and I am a bit afraid to exercise. I only do some walks on a moderately steep trail and some stretching. If you have vaccine you increase the risk of cardiovascular issues. Then if you get Covid you have risk of cv issues from Covid as well.
Terry_Roll 5y ago
[flagged]

by kavalg 5y ago

nicoburns 5y ago

> Now that more than a month has passed since initial symptoms, I still feel that my heart and blood circulation is not back to normal and I am a bit afraid to exercise. I only do some walks on a moderately steep trail and some stretching. > Other people told me that it took them 2-3 months to feel back to normal. If you're lucky. I have similar symptoms, and I'm 18 months in and still not back to normal (I have improved, but intense exercise seems to cause a regression). > It looks like most of the damage is first done to your blood circulation system and then that harms some other organs. It seems to vary between people and infections, but that's certainly one of the ways it can go. EDIT: Not sure why this is being downvoted?

johnchristopher 5y ago
> EDIT: Not sure why this is being downvoted? There's a strong vibe of long covid denial on HN and some people are quick to point to a study that stated long covid is mostly a psychological issue.
- edmcnulty101 5y ago
  I don't think it's taken seriously from a scientific perspective. There's not too many papers on it compared to Covid as a whole.

pqs 5y ago

Were you vaccinated? I'm 40, I got Covid-19 in Christmas, I got the second shot of Pfizer last July. I did not have a fever, I was just very tired for a few days. Then cough came. One month later I still feel something in my chest, I cough a little when I talk, and I collapse on Friday morning, instead of Friday evening, after a week of work (so I have a little less energy than before). I'm doing push-ups, pull-ups and one leg squats as before. No problem there.

kavalg 5y ago
Yes, I had the single dose Jansen vaccine in May. I also had some residual coughing when exercising or talking emotionally (positive emotions, not shouting). Same thing with strength as with you. No problem with push and pull ups, squats or jumping. It is just that my heart rate goes up faster than usual. E.g. I had to carry a 50 lbs box upstairs and after the second floor I already felt my heart beating. Wouldn't have been an issue before, even if running upstairs with 50 lbs.
- pqs 5y ago
  It is Friday morning and I'm dead tired. Before Covid-19 I was dead tired on Friday afternoon. :'(

bengale 5y ago

Different virus, but after a rough infection it took almost three years for my intermittent tachycardia to stop and to have the ability to exercise like I used to again. Weirdly it seemed to be the first shot of covid vaccine that put a final stop to it for me, that or a crazy coincidence.

pjerem 5y ago

> Now that more than a month has passed since initial symptoms, I still feel that my heart and blood circulation is not back to normal and I am a bit afraid to exercise. I only do some walks on a moderately steep trail and some stretching. Not denying that it could be long COVID but those are also the exact symptoms of chronic anxiety, which your COVID infection could have created or aggravated. You should check a doctor because chronic anxiety can be a real long term issue and it's possible to heal completely if treated seriously and rapidly. A lot of people are developing anxiety symptoms due to the epidemic crisis. I think it's worth checking.

nicoburns 5y ago
Is this possible even if you don't actually feel anxious? There's lots of evidence that covid attacks the heart. I don't think heart symptoms should be written off as anxiety.
- Kye 5y ago
  Anxiety can be hard to tell from normal once you've had it long enough.
- idontwantthis 5y ago
  Anxiety feels just feels like whatever you think your imagined problem feels like. Anxiety could feel like this, or it could be real heart problems. Should get evaluated for both.
- mattzito 5y ago
  FWIW, not Covid related, but I had shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue- dealt with it for a while, eventually went to a Dr. Full battery of heart and lung tests, turns out heart and lungs are almost flawless for my age and general health. At Dr’s recommendation, see a psychiatrist, dr gives me some anti-anxiety medication to try, and I feel better almost immediately. Spend a few months working on behavioral response to stress, breathing exercises, etc., then go off the medicine. Total game changer. The mind and human body are funny things.

whizzter 5y ago

Any idea if it's possible that you got a secondary infection? Iirc two of the most effective prevention of death in clinical settings around here before vaccines and this new type of meds has been the introduction of antibiotics soon after admittance (for older patients) since it prevented bacterial pneumonias to occur opportunistically (many older early Covid victims died of this even if Covid was the initial infection). The second one was to put anti-clotting agents early on after admittance to prevent secondary issues due to clots.

kavalg 5y ago
If by secondary you mean bacterial infection around days 6, then that was one of the hypotheses and the reason for getting antibiotics (I have only taken antibiotics several times in the last 25 years). I also took a mild anti clotting agent (aspirin) as recommended by my doctor. Also I am 45 years old, so even though I am in a good physical shape (non obese, working out on a regular basis, not taking any medication apart from vitamins and herbs) and don't exactly qualify as young :).
- whizzter 5y ago
  Ah right that was the Cefuroxime, seems like you had a prudent doctor. Glad the main part is over and hopefully the residual parts will fade soon enough.

edmcnulty101 5y ago

pjerem 1 hour ago | root | parent | prev | next [–] > Now that more than a month has passed since initial symptoms, I still feel that my heart and blood circulation is not back to normal and I am a bit afraid to exercise. I only do some walks on a moderately steep trail and some stretching. If you have vaccine you increase the risk of cardiovascular issues. Then if you get Covid you have risk of cv issues from Covid as well.

Terry_Roll 5y ago

[flagged]