Long Covid sigh...

I got covid the day after Christmas, felt just sick but I could do whatever I wanted while being confined to my house. Fast forward two weeks, covid free! A day later, unwell again... It's been almost 4 months and I have been more unwell. I am bed bound due to the severe SOB and chest pain. I have PPPD (which I know is tms, have been working on it for a year or so) and the dizziness had gotten worse. I have a lot of general body pain, a stuffy nose, irritated throat, non-productive cough, choking sensations with SOB, worsening anxiety and some vision problems. I never had asthma but I seem to be having asthma attacks and use inhalers. It's been pretty scary and isolating. I don't know if it's long covid or not due to the lung problems. Is it a stretch to call it TMS?

Feeling dreadful,
waruwarui

 

Here's a link to the PPD Association website about the link between long covid and TMS (which the association terms PPD, but it's all the same thing.) https://ppdassociation.org/long-covid (Long Covid — Psychophysiologic Disorders Association)
The website has an excellent questionaire that can help you determine if you think you may have TMS.

 

Hi @waruwarui,

What a terrible feeling! I have been on this same downward spiral. Once you get stuck in bed, you start to lose muscle and then it’s even harder to get around. I had COVID in Dec. and coughed for 2 months. After that, I could barely get around without a walker. I believe I have TMS and probably also some weak glute muscles. Your symptoms all sound like TMS. Once you get afraid, things only get worse. The fear feeds all of it. A number of years ago I had asthma for the one and only time in my life. It was during a stressful period. It went away and never came back. You are in the right place. Hunker down and study up. Take the classes and fight back. We can follow where others have gone and get out of this.

 

One of the first TMS-style recovery accounts from long covid came from Dr. Paul Garner. I believe it was posted here on this forum, and I recommend to look for more postings here on the subject:

https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/25/paul-garner-on-his-recovery-from-long-covid/ (Paul Garner: on his recovery from long covid - The BMJ)

My lay person's thoughts on the subject: covid does tend to affect nervous system and cause chronic fatigue, which could be explained by a big shock to the system it creates. But then your mindbody goes into the overprotective mode and gets stuck in it, similar to what happens with other viral infections like Epstein-Barr. The only way out is to convince your mind that you are already safe and it doesn't need to send you signals of emergency, which those symptoms often are.

 

Wow! Thanks

 

Yes! I listened to this story and it was great.

 

Oof.... I feel you on the leg muscles, my calves burn just from walking to the bathroom! Thank you for the advice

 

I saw the video format of his story! He really gave me hope since a lot of doctors don't know or don't have first hand experience with this.