Reply With QuoteSorry to hear that. I’ve had it once last year and tested positive for 16 days. The fatigue was horrendous. Fortunately I got back to normal but it took a few months.
Tested positive for Covid 3 weeks ago and continued to test positive for 12 days straight (with a thick red line). I think I must have been exposed to a high viral load whilst at a seated gig.
I carried on working (from home) for the first 2 weeks (because I had deadlines to meet) but I've had to take time off this week because I am just so exhausted. I probably shouldn't have pushed on through it.
The fatigue I've been feeling in the past 2 weeks has been terrible. I haven't been able to exercise at all, just the occasional walk. I was regularly running 10 miles up until I got Covid.
This is the second time I've had covid (last April I also tested positive for 12 days) and I'm fully vaccinated.
The fatigue this time has been much worse.
Have other people experienced a similar recovery process? I'm wondering how best to plan and pace myself.
I was aiming to run a half-marathon in May and I'm wondering when to start running again. Maybe some run/walks to start off?
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Last edited by Rocket Man; 24th February 2023 at 15:55.
Sorry to hear that. I’ve had it once last year and tested positive for 16 days. The fatigue was horrendous. Fortunately I got back to normal but it took a few months.
Really sorry to hear this although I was pleased to see this thread as I tested positive for the first time last weekend and have been feeling rough and lethargic all week.
The only advise I can suggest is to rest and rest and rest, as boring as that is.
To be honest, I first started with what I thought was a heavy cold over two weeks ago on holiday but we carried on as usual; I still do not know if that was Covid or not though.
Anyway, after getting back from holiday and returning to work but still not improving, I though something else is going on hence the test and sure enough…
The cough has been awful and was very persistent for about four days. This all happened after my first test as it just felt like a very heavy cold up until then.
I’m starting to feel a little better but my body aches so much from all the coughing. My arms and legs still feel slightly achey!
I’m planning on returning to work next week providing I’m negative of course.
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Ive been having really really bad fatigue this week, I put it down to fighting off a cold or something as Ive not really had any other symptoms, however I do wonder now if Ive had Covid and not realised.
Cheers..
Jase
In relation to your half, I was fine in all respects a week or so after Covid last summer, but couldn't run a step over 10k for about 4 months. Gym and racket sports were okay, just the stamina that seemed to have evaporated... Hope that is not the case for you!
Feel same re the stamina...I'm missing a gear, maybe 2, it feels like...not amused.Originally Posted by nickk
Get well.
I contracted Covid last week. First time and caused a bit of panic with my specialist nurse because of medication / treatment that I am on and having no immune system at the moment. I had instructions to contact the hospital if I test positive and I would be treated with some viral treatment. We have been careful after I had to shield for the first 20 months of the pandemic, but we knew at some point I would get it.
It has been bad but I really wasn't going to go back into hospital unless I really had to. The past few years have been horrendous and last time I (and my family) thought I was on the way out. I have about 3 years max and plan on beating that if I can... I decided against the treatment and am feeling a lot better. However, I am exhausted and have coughing fits that are quite violent and come out of nowhere. Its only been 9 days since testing. I am still positive but my partner is now testing negative. Its a really odd illness. It seems to affect people in many different ways. So long as I can get out with my dogs soon, life will be good again.
Stay well people............ and enjoy every sandwich as the great Warren Zevon once said.
Sensible advice is to forget about running until you feel better, post- viral effects can leave you weakened for a while. When running seriously in the distant past I recall similar problems following a bout of flu, it’s a mistake to try to do too much too early, it prolongs the post- viral syndrome. Get plenty if sleep, eat well, relax, forget running for a while. Stick to walking until you genuinely feel stronger and less fatigued, trying to battle it won’t work and you’ll probably end up getting running- related injuries........and that’ll really piss you off!
I agree with Paul below. As annoying as it is I wouldn't rush back to training as it may do more harm than good. I had something cold like recently that may well have been covid and had to forego the workouts until I was right. Bloody annoying when you have to break your routine but it is what it is.
I'd read that one facet of covid infection is that it can break the Randle Cycle - the body's ability to cycle NAD --> NADH and back again. There's a lot of debate on what is the root of that, but supplementing B-vitamins and perhaps specifically niacin seems to be the recommended route. That worked for me and really accelerated recovery.
Another benefit can be low-does aspirin, which helps with the pro-coagulant effects of the spike, and helps recover the blood's ability to transport oxygen properly.
Might be worth a try, but either way wish you a good recovery, and would very much echo to be cautious about getting back to training. Doing so when perhaps not ready could be more of a setback.
Thanks all for the helpful replies and advice.
I'll try taking Vitamins B and D to improve recovery.
I've got a bit of my energy back this weekend thankfully.
I'm going to pace myself though as advised - I need to walk before I can run again!
There is still a lot of nasty stuff about.
Regards your half, if you were regularly doing 10 miles the distance is in your average legs, it’s just playing with your engine now when it feels right but a mile at a time, jeffing.
I have the Cambridge half this weekend and have been rough the past two weeks but not as fatigued as you by the sounds. I’m going to run it (not race it) pacing Mrs P who is roughly 22minutes off my pace. My first goal was to make the start line the next is enjoying it.
Hope you start to return soon but slowly slowly and rest between is key.
Good luck
Pitch
Glad to hear you are doing better! I have never had Covid so I feel very lucky, especially at age 75 and with lung diseases. I believe one reason for my good luck is that I have so far had the standard two doses of Pfizer, plus five boosters. Due to my conditions, I have placed myself on a four-month schedule for boosters. I had read that the effectiveness wanes as you approach the recommended six months. Another benefit of my accelerated booster schedule is that I am always up-to-date on the latest vaccine formulations.
I have never had any type of reaction or side effects from any of my seven Pfizer vaccinations. Further, the accelerated schedule I adopted in 2021 has had no ill effects (other than the horns growing out of my forehead).
Got the covids. Felt carp last night, tested today. Not looking forward to this, already coughing.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
I caught it for the first time back in around November, and I didn't even get that ill from it so far as I could tell.. didn't feel worse than any other cold I'd had but like you I tested positive for quite a long time.. probably a similar duration. I think I experienced long COVID afterwards and it's really taken until now for it to settle down.. I was really suffering badly from muscular fatigue.. like walking up and down the hill where I live was excruciatingly tiring (and I'm not particularly old at 42, or overweight) and physically hurt my legs. As I say it seems to have subsided now but took a long time.
I've no advice to give other than, I suppose, reassure that when you're experiencing isn't uncommon, but also may take a while to clear fully! Hope you feel better soon!
Hope you perch up quickly.
Long Haul Covid
Caught it in April 2020 and November 2020.
Both times the only symptoms were just fatigue and gastro none of the bad ones, but ...
Still have the fatigue and brain fog.
In local medical organization NYU Langone Long Covid study.
Imaging showed no coating of internal organs that some get so that is good.
Have to do a sleep test next.
I can sleep 12-18 hours a day without getting up to go to bathroom or take a drink of water.
I have slept more in the past three years than in past thirty years combined.
It is ridiculously bizarre.
Good luck with your condition.
Reading this thread I feel very fortunate. I've only had Covid once, in July '22. I came home from the office at 15:30 on a Friday feeling absolutely fine and began WFH; by 17:30 I was in bed. I felt mildly rough over the weekend and didn't work on the Monday but by that afternoon I felt fine. So, for me 3-days of mild flu-like symptoms. I didn't test negative until day 15. I am also fully vaccinated.
Following the long-Covid ordeal suffered by Dianna Cowern (Physics Girl), I've read up a little more on it and hopefully some relief/cure can be found for all those suffering.
I had a cold in January/Feb. Symptoms lasted for a full 4 weeks. COVID was v mild by comparison; other than the loss of taste and smell for 2 months.
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It’s a weird illness for sure. I’m fully vaccinated with all the boosters, as I have a vulnerable son, but I’ve recently had Covid for the third time! The first time knocked me for six, 2 weeks in bed and another 2 or 3 feeling exhausted. The second time I was almost symptom free, and most recently it was all over in a couple of days. However, on all 3 occasions I was testing positive for 15/16 days. Thick line appearing instantly on the test. My son gets regularly tested in his care setting which is how the whole family found we had it the second time. I suspect a lot of people have had it more times than they realise, 15 days testing positive when you feel 100% fit and well, when previously you’d been in bed for over 2 weeks with the same thing seemed peculiar! And on no occasion did I ever lose my sense of taste or smell, in fact that symptom didn’t appear with anyone in the family. I hope the OP feels better soon, I gave it time and felt fine after a few weeks taking it easy
Last edited by RobDad; 4th March 2023 at 10:11.
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