Has anyone gotten back to normal after one complication after another?

Posted by britelite @britelite, Apr 25, 2023

I’m 78 yr old female in good health. Able to swim 2 K and walk 1 mile 3 X week.
I tested positive for COVID on Feb. 10, 2023. I just had a cough - no other symptoms. Took a course of Paxlovid. After about a week, tested negative and was able to go back to short spurts of exercise - swimming and walking. After another week, noticed severe exercise intolerance. I’d get short of breath and my pulse would slow to 48 and become irregular. Saw cardiologist and EKG was essentially normal. Wore a 24 hr. Holter monitor which showed some irregularities but doc did not feel they were significant. In the meantime, chest congestion was getting worse so my internist put me on a course of prednisone. Then my blood pressure shot up to 210/110 and I landed in the ER. I was trending toward hypertension so I was put on Amlodipine. I’ve gotten my BP under control and have days when the shortness of breath is not too bad. (I use an Albuterol inhaler which helps). Then today (3/25) I woke up really lightheaded and had what I think was an anxiety attack. I was afraid I was going to die. I’m feeling better as the day goes on but still lightheaded. It’s just one thing after another. I wonder if I’m ever going to get back to normal.
I’m retired and don’t have to worry about work but my heart goes out to the younger ones who are experiencing similar post COVID symptoms and are unable to get back to work or a semblance of a normal life. I’m grateful to be able participate in this forum and read about other’s experiences and know that I’m not alone in all this. Thank you.

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

@britelite

To car0 - Of course this is “all in your head”! We feel what we feel! After feeling crappy for days on end for months or years, who wouldn’t go crazy?! We’re all hanging onto our sanity by a thread! I got a mild case of COVID in Feb. ‘23. Since then I’ve had horrible dyspnea, hypertensive crisis, anxiety, complete heart block and needed a pacemaker. I’ve finally gotten a handle on the dyspnea and wonky heart. Now I’ve been hit with digestive issues. Loss of appetite and queasy stomach. I’m always living on the edge - wondering what I’m going to be hit with next. Less us all!

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Car0 - sorry - meant to say bless us all.

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@britelite

To car0 - Of course this is “all in your head”! We feel what we feel! After feeling crappy for days on end for months or years, who wouldn’t go crazy?! We’re all hanging onto our sanity by a thread! I got a mild case of COVID in Feb. ‘23. Since then I’ve had horrible dyspnea, hypertensive crisis, anxiety, complete heart block and needed a pacemaker. I’ve finally gotten a handle on the dyspnea and wonky heart. Now I’ve been hit with digestive issues. Loss of appetite and queasy stomach. I’m always living on the edge - wondering what I’m going to be hit with next. Less us all!

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What a nightmare. Must have been SO unexpected, too— a mild Covid infection and you thought you’d done your time… then to be nailed like this.
I had an early and severe case, so I’m not all that surprised that I got long haul… but if I were a long haul researcher ( IS there such a thing?!? Grrrr) I would be wanting YOU. Oh well. Again… I’m just dreaming.

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