![]() “I use a peak flow meter and I’ve looked up my reading on a chart and I have the lung capacity of an 85 year old with asthma. While most of these symptoms have now gone away, she feels she has half the lung capacity she used to have. ![]() Over the next couple of weeks the fatigue worsened, she had dizziness and blacked out and she experienced excruciating back muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, changes in taste and smell, the soles of her feet went black and rashes would appear and disappear within the same day. Her illness started with a fever and a “slight cough” and exhaustion. She has suffered a wide range of symptoms. She fell ill 10 weeks ago and is still struggling with fatigue and breathing problems. Karen Ashton is a musician from Brentford, Greater London. Uncertainty over recovery time is ‘the worst thing’ Musician Karen Ashton says she feels she has half the lung capacity she used to have (Photo: Paul Dubbelmanm) Patients are reporting feeling they’re getting little help from their GPs, while GPs feel in the dark due to a lack of guidance from the authorities. There are fears many people struggling with post-viral effects are therefore not getting the right diagnosis and support, particularly as they are unlikely to be so ill they need hospitalisation. It’s argued there is evidence that the official NHS description – cough, fever, loss of taste/smell – is too narrow. ![]() A further 26 went back, only to stop again when symptoms returned. Out of 151 who fell ill in March, 68 are still unable to work, reports The Guardian. ![]() There are nearly 4,000 members of UK Facebook groups with titles specifically mentioning ‘long-term’ or ‘long haul’, and many in general groups for survivors sharing stories of persisting symptoms.Ī small online survey of medical professionals found two thirds were suffering ongoing effects. Plus experts have warned due to unreported cases the true number of cases is likely to be higher. The new findings from the symptom study – which just over 3.8m people have contributed to – is the first real indication of how many people are being affected by longer lasting Covid-19 effects.Īround 3.17m people have recovered from the disease globally, meaning, based on these initial findings, more than 317,000 could be suffering after effects. Many not getting support Some of these patients have never been diagnosed with Covid because of the lack of availability of testing. Now experts at King’s College London, which designed the app, say people with mild cases of the disease are more likely to have a variety of symptoms that come and go over a more extended period. We already knew the typical pattern patients who end up needing hospital treatment experience is onset of anosmia, fever and a cough in the first two days followed by respiratory problems after around a week. Strangely, it’s also identified a different pattern in how the illness develops between people are seriously ill and those who are suffering what’s being called the ‘long tail’ form. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that this isn’t the case for everyone infected with coronavirus.” The research found that lingering effects include fatigue, headaches, coughs, anosmia (loss of smell), sore throats, delirium, and chest pain. The website post warned: “It’s commonly believed that Covid-19 is a short-term illness and most health sources suggest that people will recover within two weeks or so. Why scientists say it may be time for a ‘nuanced’ approach to the 2m rule.Boris Johnson makes bid to ‘save summer’ with further relaxations on pubs, cafes and restaurants.What is the R rate? Latest UK coronavirus figures explained, and what the number for each region means.Millions in North West urged to stay at home by mayors as lockdown eases.Fresh wave of infections will happen ‘very quickly’ if lockdown lifted too rapidly.Now researchers from the Covid Symptom Study app have announced their data reveals one in ten are sick for three weeks or more, and some may suffer for months. Readers have since got in touch to say they too have been suffering. Last month, the i published a story about people struggling to shake off Covid-19, who were experiencing crushing fatigue, breathlessness and brain fog longer than expected – in some cases leaving them bed-bound or unable to work full time more than two months after infection.
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