Confused about Covid-19 symptom progression

Posted by mkqq @mkqq, Apr 17, 2020

Hi all,

So I had a fever almost 7 weeks ago now. The fever itself lasted 2-3 days. Initially I had green/yellow phlegm but later I started coughing up white phlegm. The white phlegm lasted 3-4 weeks and it was only a week ago it stopped.

During these few weeks I've been very fatigued. I can manage my daily activities no problem but would be breathing quite heavily with any light exercise. This has improved in the last 2 weeks or so, I've going out for some bike rides and doing some exercises at home.

I do suspect that I had a mild form of pneumonia or bronchitis. Whether it's Covid-19 pneumonia or flu-related pneumonia I don't know. My GP is not taking me very seriously as he says you need to have a fever with pneumonia.

But from what I see based on the Covid-19 symptoms, the fever/cough comes first and goes. The shortness of breath comes after that. Is this correct? Or does the fever last as long as the pneumonia?

Or in non-Covid-19 related cases, if the pneumonia last for 3 weeks can the fever also last for 3 weeks?

Just would like to know what I've possibly had or still have. Currently I still don't have more than 20% of the energy I used to have.

Many thanks

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

@mkqq's very frustrating to me if I've not felt well, or have been pretty ill like you have been not to know the cause.- This is the sad thing about COVID-19 unless you have a test, and it's reliable than you won't know. You could have had the flu, pneumonia, bronchitis or COVID-19. I suggest not paying attention to when symptoms have cropped up, each person is different. It's rare but you can have pneumonia without a temperature. It sounds like you are doing very well. Biking uses up a lot of energy so your fatigue seems better too. What are your main concerns?

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@merpreb

@mkqq's very frustrating to me if I've not felt well, or have been pretty ill like you have been not to know the cause.- This is the sad thing about COVID-19 unless you have a test, and it's reliable than you won't know. You could have had the flu, pneumonia, bronchitis or COVID-19. I suggest not paying attention to when symptoms have cropped up, each person is different. It's rare but you can have pneumonia without a temperature. It sounds like you are doing very well. Biking uses up a lot of energy so your fatigue seems better too. What are your main concerns?

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I guess just anxious to get back to my normal energetic self. 7 weeks is a long time to be taken out of action and not sure how much longer this will continue.

I was never so sick that couldn't get out of bed, but still having low energy is rather frustrating.

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@mkqq, Mayo Clinic created a self-assessment test especially for situations like yours - for people who suspect they might have COVID-19, who are confused by the symptoms and wonder if they should be tested.

The article on the Mayo Clinc News Network explains
Do you need to be tested for COVID-19? Self-assess first https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/do-you-need-to-be-tested-for-covid-19-self-assess-first/

Here's the link to the self-assessment tool
- COVID-19 Self Assessment https://www.mayoclinic.org/covid-19-self-assessment-tool

Watch: Dr. Sandhya Pruthi discusses COVID-19 self- assessment tool.
https://youtu.be/HDfQvOK6jHM

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Hi - I’m new to the forum and have been sick with a C-19 like illness for 9 weeks. I am a mere shadow of my former self due to a host of persistent symptoms including crushing fatigue. I too feel gaslited by my Dr - because initially they refused to test me & then after a month of active symptoms had a negative.

I don’t have any answers for you - but just want to share that you are not alone! I’m part of the body politic forum where there are hundreds of us suffering fatigue. The UK has some great resources on healing from C-19 and post viral fatigue. The big thing I’ve learned is to NEVER push through any sense of fatigue. (I used to be an athlete so this is very hard for me.). Good luck and hang in there!

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@mkqq

Hello all,

Quick question... For those of you who had a "wet" cough with Covid-19, what colour was your phlegm?

I've been unwell for 10+ with "suspected" Covid-19. The fever was gone a long time ago (only lasted for 3 days), and then I had some green/yellow phlegm followed by a few weeks of white phlegm.

I hardly see any reports of Covid-19 producing green/wet phlegm so I'm having some doubts of if it was indeed the Corona. Especially since a dry cough is more common than a wet cough with Covid-19.

So anyone care to share the colour of their phlegm? Haha random question I know.....

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@mkqq We’re you ever diagnosed with Covid19? Have you spoken to your physician about the wet cough and greenish phlegm? Since the phlegm has turned whitish, it’s probably OK. Just be sure to drink lots of water, continue to self-isolate, and notify your doctor if you feel worse

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Hello all,

Quick question... For those of you who had a "wet" cough with Covid-19, what colour was your phlegm?

I've been unwell for 10+ with "suspected" Covid-19. The fever was gone a long time ago (only lasted for 3 days), and then I had some green/yellow phlegm followed by a few weeks of white phlegm.

I hardly see any reports of Covid-19 producing green/wet phlegm so I'm having some doubts of if it was indeed the Corona. Especially since a dry cough is more common than a wet cough with Covid-19.

So anyone care to share the colour of their phlegm? Haha random question I know.....

REPLY
@mkqq

Hello all,

Quick question... For those of you who had a "wet" cough with Covid-19, what colour was your phlegm?

I've been unwell for 10+ with "suspected" Covid-19. The fever was gone a long time ago (only lasted for 3 days), and then I had some green/yellow phlegm followed by a few weeks of white phlegm.

I hardly see any reports of Covid-19 producing green/wet phlegm so I'm having some doubts of if it was indeed the Corona. Especially since a dry cough is more common than a wet cough with Covid-19.

So anyone care to share the colour of their phlegm? Haha random question I know.....

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@mkqq, I moved your message about wet cough and phlegm to the discussion you previously started about symptoms possibly related to COVID-19 and their progression.

MKQQ, I join @becsbuddy in asking if you've had a chance to talk with your doctor about the symptoms you're experiencing and ruling out COVID or confirming it. Are you able to talk to your doctor? How is your fatigue?

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@colleenyoung

@mkqq, I moved your message about wet cough and phlegm to the discussion you previously started about symptoms possibly related to COVID-19 and their progression.

MKQQ, I join @becsbuddy in asking if you've had a chance to talk with your doctor about the symptoms you're experiencing and ruling out COVID or confirming it. Are you able to talk to your doctor? How is your fatigue?

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Doctor is not much help these days, they don't know much more about this virus than we do. It's been almost 3 months for me. The fatigue is still there, and also not sleeping well. These few weeks I'm getting some mild cold symptoms, running nose, sneezing etc...

Did a blood last week and actually found out I'm very deficient on Vitamin D. I started taking supplements so I really hope this will solve the problem. Apparently being deficient on Vitamin D causes all sorts of problems including fatigue, insomnia, and weak/erratic immune system.

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Hello all, I had Covid-19 back in the middle of March and was very sick and recovered. All of a sudden 3 weeks ago I started having chest pains that will not go away. It started from the middle of my chest and radiated to the left side of my chest and even down my left arm. I have seen my primary physician and also a Cardiologist and Gastroenterologist and they think it could still be the after effects of the virus. I have done a bunch of tests and blood work and they all say everything is normal. I'm going on Monday to have an echocardiogram and stress test done to make sure it isn't heart related. Has anyone else had similar symptoms or other symptoms post Covid-19 10 or 12 weeks later?

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@clark782

Hello all, I had Covid-19 back in the middle of March and was very sick and recovered. All of a sudden 3 weeks ago I started having chest pains that will not go away. It started from the middle of my chest and radiated to the left side of my chest and even down my left arm. I have seen my primary physician and also a Cardiologist and Gastroenterologist and they think it could still be the after effects of the virus. I have done a bunch of tests and blood work and they all say everything is normal. I'm going on Monday to have an echocardiogram and stress test done to make sure it isn't heart related. Has anyone else had similar symptoms or other symptoms post Covid-19 10 or 12 weeks later?

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@clark782 Chest pain isn’t fun, is it. Especially when it follows Covid19. Have any of the doctors mentioned stress or panic attacks? I ask because I had the same symptoms after I became ill. It was explained to me that I’d had a traumatic event but that my heart was ok. Several trips to the ER and a stress test, etc showed that it wasn’t my heart. The cardiologist said that the trachea can have spasms that feel like a heart attack, but aren’t. I’ve learned just sit down and do some deep breathing whenever it happens. So far, I’ve been ok for over a year. Why not ask the doctors if the pain could possibly be stress or a panic attack? I hope for the best for you

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