What helps post COVID shortness of breath?

Are you asking about hydroxychloroquine? It was touted in early days of Covid, but later evaluations found it not routinely effective. If you are,wondering about post-Covid symptoms that are lingering, you need to consult your primary care provider, and if you have multiple symptoms that have lingered for more than 3 months, maybe a Long Covid clinic.
How long ago did you have Covid, and have you seen your doctor?

Thanks for your quick reply: Covid on: May 19-May 31, after the J&J Vaccine on 4/1. I have my routine appointment with my PCP this week. KC

Glad you are seeing the doctor. Let me know how it goes!
Sue

I am new to this discussion. I contracted a serious case of COVID + pneumonia in August 2020. I was not hospitalized but went to the ER three times. I continue to have pretty major bouts of breathlessness, dizziness, brain fog, weak legs, etc. I have been seen by 2 Pulmonologists and a Cardiologist plus, my PCP. No answers. I have done Pulmonary Rehab, do my own yoga and try stationary bike. I am as active as I can be without causing an episode. Any comments?
Thank you.

My stepmother suffered from a different condition, fibrosis of the lungs & she found taking up playing the harmonica helpful. I would think this shouldn’t set anyone back too much to give it a try.

I got Covid back in August 2021 I have been without pain since. I had back problems prior to Covid so I am on Oxycodone 5 mg. I have a pain doctor, but she only gives me the same amount of pain killers I had with my back issues. I got 45 pills for a month with a max of two per day. I feel like I'm going insane. No sleep for days, body pain all the time. The Oxycodone seems inconsistent from one pill to the next, same bottle. I went online and found a lot of other people complaining as to the way the drug had not been the same.
These complaints went back to 2014. People who had taken the drug for over 15 - 20 years saying it did not have the same effect any longer. These people were taking 20 -30 mgs every 6 hrs, all said they didn't last that long even. I've missed Christmas Day with my Family, my son's birthday, and New Years due to pain. The opiates are so controlled due to over abuse that it's like having to groval to get them. I don't have any idea what to do. If opiates aren't available that work what else is available to people in extreme pain? I can't get into the post Covid clinic at the U of M in St. Paul until March 9th. My therapist made me promise to go to the ER the next time I have not slept for days, in pain and mind going crazy. I have Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Sjogrens, Raynaud's, on and on. It's not like I haven't had to live with pain for years, but this is like pain scale 8-12 almost daily. If anyone has any idea of a better way to deal with all of this I'm all ears. I also have myofacial pain, syndrome as well like I said my list just goes on. I am a 58 year old woman living in my mother's home. She's in her 70's and can do 10 times more than I. I have several doctors but I feel alone in this. It's like I tell them what I'm feeling and their like throwing up their arms, and acting like they have no idea what they are supposed to do. They all waited for what my Rheumatologist to decide what to do. He said he had serval others patients with the same problems, and he looked at me with this sad face. He didn't know what to tell me. I contacted my insurance company to see if they knew what people like me suffering after Covid where doing. She told me about the post Covid clinic at the U. I searched online with that label and found a few places in MN. I contacted the U of M because they were closest, but then found out they were doing video visits. I found out about Mayo's program as well online. If I had known back then it would be done by video, I would have chosen Mayo first. This site is the only thing keeping me out of the suicidal ideation feelings. Not sure how long in this kind of pain though it will last. My phycologist and psychiatrist are concerned for me, but they can't do anything because they don't deal with physical pain. I hadn't seen them in years, but I had to start again because of this mess. I'm tired of crying which only makes things worse as I also suffer from migraines. I'm sorry for rattling on, I woke up in a lot of pain and hard to breathe, crying and needed a way to calm down. Thanks for listening!

My comment above said I haven't been in pain since, typo should have said I haven't been without pain since.

I have had issues with the breathing part as well, but mine seems to stem from my back and chest feeling like they are being smashed together. I know it's not a heart issue like people want to assume. I had a TIA when I was 36 years old, so I have been to the ER several times and that is always what they check out first. My counselors don't quite understand the whole ER thing. They think you just go in and tell them what you want for a drug to sleep, and that they'll allow me to stay overnight.

I relate to the back and chest thing, in that the pressure and soreness foe me is (also) on both sides, essentially opposite of each other. In the process of interviewing new PCP as mine has retired. My gauge is how much attention they pay to these symptoms as my primary concern. The 1st interview the dc simply ignored them and focused on the process to enroll me as a new patient. I realize that concern and being able to help are not the same thing; but figure I need to select someone who at least acknowledges what my primary concern is.

Welcome, Lucy. Good for you for being as active as can, but also learning and understanding your limits. Did pulmonary rehab help? What does an "episode" look or feel like for you?