Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 18, 2020 21:55:40 GMT
Thanks Jeremy. Much appreciated.
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jkb89
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Post by jkb89 on Apr 19, 2020 15:26:00 GMT
Hi Ian,
Hope you're keeping well. Scary times indeed.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 22, 2020 18:15:36 GMT
Well, it turns out I may have covid 19!
I have been continually contacting the doctor with what I felt must be side effects from pills. The crunch came when I went out for a walk a couple of days ago and nearly passed out. Pains under my collar bone, short of breath, difficulty breathing. Luckly, I was able to grab on to something before falling so I went down slowly. Unable to see.
Anyway, I contacted the doctor who phoned me back later. He was puzzled how the pills were causing the effects I have and ao he asked me to list everything I’ve been getting and he finally said that I sound like I have Covid.
I asked him whether that was possible for two months and he said that it was and that there were other symptoms that hadn’t been published and in fact, I was describing them.
Although I have AF, my heart scan wasn’t too bad thank goodness. It is an inherited thing I have and have most likely had it all my life so they are puzzled why it suddenly got worse as far as my symptoms went. Could have been covid all along.
So, you might have covid and not actually know.
What I get ....
Tiredness to the point of ‘out of it’. Mild dizziness sometimes and at other times perfectly normal. Sometimes short, severe dizziness that causes fainting. Not being able to walk far without being breathless. Pains in the chest and under the collar bone. Hint of a sore throat. (At the moment. That could get worse) Sometimes, breathing feels laboured. Clicks in my throat with breathing. Falling asleep in the day with severe fatigue. High blood pressure spats, where your body is trying to contend with it. (Mine shot to over 200)
It never occurred to me that I could have the virus at all, but the doctor thinks it’s likely so it just shows how dangerous this thing is. It could be passed around while you feel absolutely fine.
Some people have no effects, others get slight effects, while others end up in hospital with severe effects. It just seems so random.
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solderdude
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measureutternutter
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Post by solderdude on Apr 22, 2020 21:34:51 GMT
The misses takes care of some Covid patients. All of them share one trait. Lack of taste when eating. Do you experience any of this too ?
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 23, 2020 8:31:35 GMT
I’m not sure Frans. I have a bad sense of smell and never really had great taste facilities tbh.
Personally, I think the doctor was just taking wild guesses.
The MRI heart scan came back pretty good. They saw the thickening at the apex which isn’t that bad and in fact, the heart is working OK in spite of it. They think the AF has been there all of my life and I haven’t been aware of it. They saw the irregular heartbeat. When I think back, there have been episodes when I was younger when I felt faint. I often put it down to stage fright which I did suffer from on anything big. I also used to get dizzy spells sometimes when hiking. So it has probably always been there and I ignored it. My Mum had an odd heart beat as well.
So I’m guessing that while I was out walking, I may have set off an AF episode. That makes me feel weird because I can actually feel fluttering in my chest and a sort of light headedness, but not normally as bad as virtually blacking out.
With blood pressure pills, my doctors almost seem to go into denial. They continually tell me that they wouldn’t cause things and then when I look them up, I find things that tally with what I get.
So when I told him yesterday that I thought they were knocking me for six, he just asked me to rattle off what I was getting and then said that it sounded like covid. When I said... ‘What, for two months?’ He said that there were loads of symptoms that don’t get reported. Some get no symptoms but they carry it.
The worst two things are chest pains with breathing and the coughing. When I cough, it resonates like a bark and comes from deep down. The weird thing is that my lungs are clear on xrays. Been in hospital three times now and the lungs have always shown clear. So I have no idea where this cough is coming from other than the pills. (That has shown up on the internet as a side effect) I have pretty strong lungs being an ex oboist and maybe that helps me keep breathing normally. The dizzy spells can be quite spectacular but I’ve had nothing like the one I had when I was out for a walk. I actually went down holding onto a post to slow it down!
I don’t think that covid would attack me one day and not the next though tbh. They just don’t like to hear about side effects from tablets, I think.
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Post by Mr Trev on Apr 23, 2020 16:34:33 GMT
Jeez, they're not even going to test you? Here in Alberta, anybody with so much as a a sniffle gets a covid test now. I'd think with you having symptoms that long you'd probably be negative, but I'm not a doctor.
My dad was almost poisoned to death, twice, by the pills he was taking for his irregular heartbeat. Doctors completely dismissed the idea it was the pills causing anything - even though bad side-effects are widely documented. It wasn't until the second time he ended up in hospital that they did a biopsy and realised that he'd die if he kept taking them.
One blood pressure pill my Dad was taking had severe cough as a side-effect. I can't remember the name however.
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Post by ronzo56 on Apr 23, 2020 20:00:09 GMT
There was some reporting today by CNN, that doctors are seeing the symptoms you are having in people over 60. Your doctor may be spot on.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 24, 2020 15:05:01 GMT
Yes Ron. My doctor had seen it in some journal from the USA.
He did say that they don’t know a great deal about it, but it was hitting people in different ways. Some have it and don’t even know. He was more concerned that I don’t stop the pills because he told me that my pressure could then go high quickly, causing a stroke. Then I don’t know if he’s denying side effects (as Mr Trev describes above) to keep me taking them or whether it is actually some form of covid.
It won’t go away either. For some reason, my breathing becomes more difficult at the end of the day. In the mornings, I feel OK. Just get progressively more tired.
The fainting was really alarming because I went right out of it and had no control whatsoever. Unable to see when I went down too. So now, I’m not going out on my own. Too risky.
The MRI scan wasn’t bad which had him thinking corona. While that is great news, I don’t like the thought of having this blasted virus. Or maybe, just another virus. No one seems to know and I can’t see anyone in any case.
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Post by ronzo56 on Apr 24, 2020 18:19:17 GMT
Too bad you can’t get tested. Hopefully your immune system is clearing it out. Unfortunately with viruses it can take time, especially with a novel one. We’ve been home since March 7th. I’ve only been out twice. Both times to the pharmacy drive thru. We have had everything delivered. From what the experts are saying we are in this for the long haul. A good friend of mine thinks he had it back in January. Thinks he got it from his sister who had just returned from China. She was very ill. He felt like he had a bad flu. Neither one was able to get a test as they didn’t have one yet.
Sending my best wishes to you.
Ron
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 24, 2020 20:51:19 GMT
Just keeping my head down, Ron.
Cheers
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Apr 25, 2020 17:37:47 GMT
i was told, when i had my arrhythmia that it could indeed cause a cough. they said it was due to a build up of fluid in the lungs. i never really experienced it , but i know others that have. its great that your mri result was good.
i had a strange "virus" type thing 2 moths ago, i felt rough for only 3 days but on the 3rd night i woke up absolutely drenched in sweat. never had this before in my life. could it have been covid? i guess i will never know.
it would be so nice if, once you have had it you are immune, but i see the latest from WHO is that there is "no evidence to support" this.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 26, 2020 10:32:01 GMT
I doubt that I have covid Simon. I think the doctor just made a wild guess on the phone. He did say that there are a load of symptoms not reported though. Youmay well have had it!
The cough is still here and my lungs feel weird. The xrays that I have had have shown clear lungs though, so I don’t get it. I’m waiting to see if it gets really bad and maybe then, the doctors might spot what it is.
I cut the lawn yesterday and boy, did that knock me for six for the rest of the day. Pain under my collarbone and hard to breathe. Then later, heart racing. AF episode I think. I just kept still and did deep breathing. Pulse only went between 120 and 130 this time. It has reached 150.
I’ve kind of got used to detecting it now and it seems that exertion sets it off.
Only 4 months to see a specialist!!!
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Crispy
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Madrigal music is playing - Voices can faintly be heard, "Please leave this patient undisturbed."
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Post by Crispy on Apr 26, 2020 14:43:03 GMT
I cut the lawn yesterday and boy, did that knock me for six for the rest of the day. Pain under my collarbone and hard to breathe. Then later, heart racing. AF episode I think. I just kept still and did deep breathing. Pulse only went between 120 and 130 this time. It has reached 150. Time you had a total rest mate, stop doing daft jobs like cutting the lawn. I'm sure Helen or Lucy can do that.
I have just had a day of doing nothing apart from walking around to my friends house and having a couple of beers with him. You can't lock everybody down for forever?
I thought I would take my blood pressure to see how it compared with yours. 140 over 68 and 76 pulse, not bad for a 64 year old? Pulse a bit high because of the beer but nowhere near yours at 130. Normally my pulse is somewhere around 50/60.
Watch this video at your own risk it may may make your pulse go even higher
One of my favourite tracks performed by one of my favourite bands - Still of the night by halestorm
Get well soon Ian.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Apr 26, 2020 19:08:42 GMT
I doubt that I have covid Simon. I think the doctor just made a wild guess on the phone. He did say that there are a load of symptoms not reported though. Youmay well have had it! The cough is still here and my lungs feel weird. The xrays that I have had have shown clear lungs though, so I don’t get it. I’m waiting to see if it gets really bad and maybe then, the doctors might spot what it is. I cut the lawn yesterday and boy, did that knock me for six for the rest of the day. Pain under my collarbone and hard to breathe. Then later, heart racing. AF episode I think. I just kept still and did deep breathing. Pulse only went between 120 and 130 this time. It has reached 150. I’ve kind of got used to detecting it now and it seems that exertion sets it off. Only 4 months to see a specialist!!! 4 months!!!!! that must be because of this virus? otherwise that is appalling! not sure if fluid build up in the lungs would show on an xray! btw, others may know. i was due to have a ct scan on my abdomen recently, but it has now been postponed until further notice, which is fair enough under the circumstances. the trouble i was having appears to have gone, so not too concerned. have they given you things to try and slow the arrhythmia when it starts, like blowing into a large syringe or paper bag?? the syringe worked on occasion for me. stress is a major trigger too, so you can end up in a catch 22 situation, if not careful. i know i did. i also wonder if this time of year, mild hay-fever could be a trigger, it would not surprise me. it may also help to keep a daily diary of your activities and bouts of arrhythmia, as this could help identify triggers. include food and drink! i'm probably teaching you to suck eggs? keep us posted mate
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 27, 2020 6:49:05 GMT
With my oressure, Chris, it goes from one extreme to the other. Sometimes I hit 125/70 and at other times well over 200/90. Pulse can drop to 49 when dead still and hit 159 during an AF episode. Normally around 70. It’s not regular though .... a bit like an old Morris Minor firing all over the place.
EDIT: Just had another episode and hit 168! No reason other than I got up and walked into the garden.
The 4 months is normal Simon! Originally, it was six and we’re now two months down the line. They’re not overly concerned about my heart or even the AF. When I told the doctor I was out of it on a walk, he said absolutely nothing!
I’ve tried blowing, breathing, pushing.... the AF just has a life of its own. I think exercise sets it off.
The breathing is still weird. Not painful, but I am aware that something is weird in the top of my lungs when I breathe in. Like I have a chest infection. I feel much better early in the morning. It’s worse in the evening.
I just have to bude my time.
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