SnowboardAg said:

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Day 8 here - woke up really congested (nose) and didn't have any more mucinex last night. Still have a stuffy nose, but I'm downing water. O2 level is slightly dropped from previous days (gotten readings at 95-96), but it's on my radar and I'm watching carefully. My mind is messing with me more than anything, so I started walking circles in the backyard to get my mind off of things. That really helped and will continue to try some exercises to keep my mind off things. Want this damn thing over with.

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It is crazy how bad the mental aspect is, I think. I thought it was bad before, just wondering if the random sneeze was a symptom. But now, on day 3/4, very mild symptoms and don't really even feel that bad but reading all the worst case stuff....waiting for possible worsening, and with nothing to do....bleck.

Day 10 and second day of no symptoms. Joining the family.

Day 10 - Woke up feeling the best I have since the beginning. Still congestion, but I got a good nights sleep. O2 levels have remained high, but I felt my breathing become more difficult. Did some of the Houston Methodist breathing exercises and that helped clear some of the lungs. I'm adding that in every 1-2 hours, just so I can keep my airway clean / open. I have maybe 1-2 days of this left, but I don't want to be complacent. Getting up and moving around, as well as sleeping on your stomach are key to helping the lungs.

Day 10 since my positive test; 9 since first minor symptoms.

I've felt great since yesterday. Energy is back.

I was really fortunate and had only minor symptoms. Main issues were fatigue and brain fog -- I wasn't able to focus or concentrate; didn't even watch TV shows other than the A&M/Tennessee game. Other than that I just had a minor sore throat and a few headaches.

I'm 50 and overweight. But I have been taking Dr. Rev's recommended supplements since the Spring. I also took Ivermectin as prescribed by my doctor after my positive test. While I don't know scientifically whether the supplements or Ivermectin made a difference, I'm glad I had a proactive doctor. It felt so much better to be doing something to fight the disease instead of just waiting around to see if I was going to get sick and die.

Hardest part was really psychological. The first week after diagnosis I was really anxious--worrying about what was going to develop. I'm also stir crazy. I went into isolation in our guest house on December 12 (when I found out I had been exposed). It's been 16 days in isolation and I'm ready to hug my wife and kids on Wednesday morning (my doctor told me to stay quarantined until then).

I'll keep praying for everyone else.

I really do appreciate those who have shared their experiences, especially the doctors, on this forum. It helped to read them over the last couple of weeks.

Good day from Houston Methodist. After contracting the Covid-19 virus, it may become difficult or impossible to take normal-sized breaths.

Your chest and ribs are already sore.
You CANNOT stop coughing.
You get EXHAUSTED just from trying to breathe or complete normal activities.
What is happening?

As your immune system fights the Covid-19 virus, inflammation (swelling) of your lung tissue and airways can make it difficult to breathe in, out, or both.

Why?

The fluid and mucus take up space in the lungs and become an obstacle when trying to breathe in and out. Frequent coughing is exhausting, especially if mucus is not being expelled as a result.

Here is an example: Have you ever had a blister?

Fluid builds up under a blister to protect the skin from friction & irritation.
In the very same way, fluid and mucus builds up inside your lungs from the irritation of the Covid-19 virus.
The lungs do not like the mucus, and it triggers the cough reflex.
Breathing is supported by a special group of muscles located between your ribs and across your chest, back, and abdomen. When you cannot take a normal sized breath, these muscles do not provide good chest or lung expansion.

Over time, your breaths become smaller and smaller. This causes you to breathe faster to keep up with the body's increasing oxygen demand. If this pattern continues, the lower portions of your lungs can become collapsed and unable to conduct gas exchange. This consolidation is called atelectasis and must be reversed as soon as possible to avoid severe lung problems.

What does this all mean?

While you are healing from Covid-19, it is important to keep your respiratory muscles in shape by engaging in breathing exercises to avoid future problems with lung expansion, like atelectasis. For patients that have respiratory symptoms from Covid-19: Body positioning, pursed lip breathing techniques, abdominal targeted breathing, and directed coughing are essential tools to relieving dyspnea (shortness of breath) during recovery.

Patients may feel that their breathing is controlled if they restrict their movements and remain in bed or seated.

THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

Being stationary may delay your recovery and even cause future health issues!

The goal of Covid-19 respiratory therapy is to get you back to your daily routine without shortness of breath. Restricting movement alone will not make this goal possible.

While your amazing immune system is currently warring like a gladiator against the Covid-19 virus army, your cardiopulmonary system is working overtime to keep your organ systems functioning.

Imagine, if you will, a truck revving up the engine to speed away from a dangerous situation. Just as that truck will burn more fuel as it increases speed, your body will consume and require more oxygen to sustain you as it works to fight the Covid-19 virus.

Because your oxygen needs are increased, you may immediately feel lightheaded or short of breath upon standing or moving. You may have been given oxygen to use at home. Don't panic.

Consider the following:

You are much less mobile at this moment than before you had Covid-19 symptoms.
Your symptoms are causing you to take smaller breaths to avoid coughing or pain.
Your need for oxygen may be increased because your immune system is busy fighting the virus. This alone may temporarily increase your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate.
Understand that you may become short of breath as you begin these exercises. This is a scary thought, but by strengthening your respiratory muscles, you will begin to counteract this problem. Do not let your fear of being winded temporarily stop the goal of improving your breathing for the long term!

Food for thought: In physical therapy, muscles around the injured area are strengthened and stretched with a series of progressive exercises. This process takes the stress off the injury and allows for added support while the area heals.

In respiratory therapy, we strengthen the muscle groups around the chest, back, and abdomen with targeted exercises to support the work of breathing. This effort conditions the muscles to work more efficiently, allowing better air movement to the lungs.

Stronger respiratory muscles = reduced work of breathing

Ready to go to work? Here are some exercises you should engage in!

Body Positioning for Breathing Exercises

Body positioning is vital to achieving optimal results from your breathing exercises. You may choose the best one for you upon starting the exercises.

Seated: A tall, seated position in a chair or bed with your feet placed flat on the floor (Do not lean on the back of the chair!)
Standing: A standing position with your shoulders back and feet apart (no slouching)
Positioned in bed at a 45-degree angle with your legs extended forward
Supine: Lying flat on your back with your legs extended forward
Prone: Lying flat on your chest and abdomen face down with your legs extended.
IMPORTANT! Prone position can be useful for patients that have difficulty with low oxygen levels because it allows gravity to promote better blood flow to the lungs and better gas exchange.
NOTE: This is not recommended for patients that have untreated hypertension, nausea, reflux, artificial airways, or IV access ports, tubes, or lines on the chest/abdomen! Doing this can lead to an emergency situation.
Pursed Lip Breathing (Type 1)

Pursed lip breathing is a technique used to increase your ability to exhale more completely. Pursed lip is taught to patients for management of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) issues but is also used to manage Covid-19 dyspnea.

Step 1: Inhale slowly through your nose with your mouth closed.
Step 2: Pucker your lips (tighten them as if you are going to whistle).
Step 3: Breathe out (exhale) slowly through your mouth with pursed lips and keep exhaling until most of the breath is gone.
Continue the pursed lip breathing for about 1 to 2 minutes at a time.
Note: Inhaling takes a much shorter time than exhaling. Be patient with the process, because you are retraining your brain!

Pursed Lip Breathing (Type 2: Pulsating Exhalation)

Pursed lip breathing is a technique used to increase your ability to exhale more completely. Pulsating exhalation is a breathing exercise like Lamaze, used for pregnancy during labor and delivery to prevent hyperventilation (breathing too fast). It is also used to manage Covid-19 dyspnea.

Step 1: Inhale slowly through your nose with your mouth closed.
Step 2: Pucker your lips (tighten them as if you are going to whistle).
Step 3: Breathe out (exhale) slowly through your mouth with pursed lips
Step 4: Pulsate your breath as you exhale (chug like a train), as many times as you need until the breath is gone.
Continue the pursed lip breathing for about 1 to 2 minutes at a time.
Abdominal Targeted Breathing with Arm Butterflies

Primary goal: Provide chest, rib cage, and lung expansion by engaging large muscle groups to promote better lung volumes and prevent lower lobe consolidation (atelectasis).

Secondary goal: Strengthen respiratory muscles to reverse dyspnea at rest and during exertion.

This exercise should be performed while lying on your back (supine) with your arms extended out to your sides (like a letter t) and the palms of your hands flat. Note: Do not perform this exercise if you are nauseated or cannot lie supine without difficulty.

Step 1: Inhale (breathe in) through your nose for 8 seconds and allow your diaphragm to expand. Your abdomen should be visibly expanded.
Step 2: As you inhale, raise your arms in a "C" shape until your hands touch at the fingertips.
Step 3: Hold the breath for 3 seconds and slowly purse your lips as you exhale (breathe out) through your mouth until all the air is gone. (This step may take longer than you anticipate!)
Step 4: As you exhale, lower your arms back to your sides until they are extended out to your sides like a "t". Your upper chest should be pushed upward upon completion.
Repeat this exercise 5 to 10 times every 2 hours while you are awake.
Note: You may have involuntary coughing occur during this exercise, but attempt to continue if possible.

If the arm butterflies are too difficult, complete only the abdominal breathing portion of the exercise with your arms extended out by your sides. You can always add the arm butterflies after you gain more strength.

Directed Huff Coughing

Although coughing is probably the last thing you wish to do, you need to have the ability to do it for effective mucus and secretion removal from your lungs and airways. Otherwise, the mucus will remain in your chest and continue to irritate the airways; or worse, become infected.

Huff coughing is a technique taught to patients with COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, and other pulmonary issues that require extra effort to remove secretions. It is also useful for Covid-19 patients that have difficulty coughing.

Best body position: Seated: A tall, seated position in a chair or bed with your feet placed flat on the floor.

Step 1: Place a pillow on your lap and hold it loosely with your forearms.
Step 2: Inhale slowly through your nose and mouth.
Step 3: Lean forward and breath out (exhale) quickly while making a "Huff" sound in your throat.
Step 4: Clutch the pillow to your chest and abdomen to support your respiratory muscles.
Repeat steps 1 to 4 until you can cough up any secretions that might be in your airways.
Note: Please call your physician immediately if you cough up blood during this exercise.

Regards,
Houston Methodist

Day 11 Here - O2 levels are good, coughing is more wet today than dry yesterday. Anyone with any congestion should stay on Mucinex DM. I've been on the mucinex longer than my wife, but she didn't show the congestion challenges I did. I am also drinking the heck out of hot water, honey, and lemon drinks. Strongly encourage that too.

I'll check back in for hopefully a final note in 1-2 days. I'm praying for everyone that goes through this! Hang in there and you're not alone. Wouldn't wish this on anyone - it's incredible how the symptoms are more severe depending on the person. Definitely a volatile virus.

I Just met with my Pulmonologist.

Chest X-Ray is effectively unchanged from the one I took in the hospital.
Significant ground glass coverage in both lungs top to bottom.
(I think that's how he phrased it)

He called it "Post Covid Syndrome" which is something I'll spend the day researching.
Basically said there's nothing I can do and that recovery is a 3 to 6 month prospect.
If I'm only experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue then I'm still better off than most.

The worst thing is there's nothing to do to really to help.
Breathing exercises won't help the lungs at this stage, just improve the supporting systems.
Steroids aren't recommended and probably won't help.

Any way, just a quick update. Sounds like I'm on the same path as ea1060 and others.
Have to admit I'm a bit discouraged.
Sounds like I'll have to put off the Boston Marathon for another year

Thanks
FTR

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but the CDC guidelines are not a straight 10 days. In symptomatic cases it is 10 days after symptom onset as long as there is no fever, no need for fever reducing drugs, and improving symptoms. If someone still has fever then, under the guidelines, she should continue to quarantine.