Months unable to climb stairs with long COVID, now nearly back to normal on BiPAP
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 6 months
- Last post
- Nov 2020
In their words
- At worst: Severe
3 months ago I was eating in bed because I couldn’t make it down stairs.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I am feeling more like my old self.
In context ↗
Read from 11 of their posts and comments; links to the 7 this page draws on
Summary
An ER nurse who caught COVID in May 2020, they were hospitalised and spent months unable to climb stairs or come downstairs to eat. A sleep study found sleep apnoea; a BiPAP at night, which they credit with helping their lungs and sleep, became their main support. They were back on full-time 12-hour ER shifts by November and felt quicker and rested by late November, though their body still ached and their hair fell out.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- bipap · Helped a lot
The bipap has helped my lung capacity, also had horrible sleep apnea. I love it. When it’s on I feel like I did before covid.
In context ↗ - building endurance and strength · Helped
Doing ok the bipap is helping doing more around the house, which makes me ache but my body is going to get used to it.
In context ↗
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. The chart starts 2 months after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| about July 2020 | eating in bed, could not get down the stairs3 months ago I was eating in bed because I couldn’t make it down stairs.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| 26 August 2020 | sleep study found apnoea; a good day then paybackI did feel awesome yesterday over did it a bit. Tired today but not like I used to be.In context ↗ | Moderate | CPAP and sleep apnoea treatment |
| 12 September 2020 | cleared to return to work, wearing a BiPAP at nightI was cleared today to go back to work!! This started May 22, my lungs are damaged. I now wear a bipap at night.In context ↗ | Moderate | CPAP and sleep apnoea treatment |
| late September 2020 | thought they would die at work1 month ago I thought I would die at work.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 24 October 2020 | back on 12-hour ER shifts, walked 3.2 miles at workI have worked 10 twelve hour shifts. I get tired, pissed at my body for aching, my hair fell out so I wear a scrub cap every day.In context ↗ | Mild | CPAP and sleep apnoea treatment |
| 19 November 2020 | full-time ER nursing again, needing the BiPAP after shifts6 months in,back to work full time ER Nurse 12 hour shifts. My body hurtsIn context ↗ | Mild | CPAP and sleep apnoea treatment |
| 28 November 2020 | quicker thinking and moving, feels rested, can take a deep breathI am quicker thinking and moving I feel rested. I can take a deep breath like I could before covid anytime I want.In context ↗ | Near normal | CPAP and sleep apnoea treatment |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Pain & fibromyalgia
My knees and legs are killing me.
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
My biggest problem was that I had to sit up all the time to breathe after getting covid.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I was now sleeping sitting up.
In context ↗ - Hair loss
my hair fell out so I wear a scrub cap every day
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
4 months ago I couldn’t make it up a flight of stairs.
In context ↗
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