Sorry to hear this. You aren’t positive again by chance ?
Sounds like you may need to write the next season off, take an extended break, and let the body sort itself out

I haven't tested yet. I've just started to feel bad this afternoon. Yea, looks like I might have to write next season off. Am meant to be doing Taupo 70.3 in December due to it being cancelled cos of Covid in March. My diabetes has generally been okay though thankfully.

On using RHR as a reference point: My typical RHR is 40-44 bpm. I'm on day 4 following a positive test, and after several days of a slightly elevated RHR (46-50bpm), things had started to settle back to normal in the past 24 hours. Then, this morning my HR shot to 120 bpm walking to the kitchen and 30 minutes later I started feeling a bit light-headed and found my HR floating around 31-34 bpm. It didn't last for too long, but it was enough of a wake-up call to know things are still off and I'm not returning to exercise just because the five-day isolation window has ended. Oof.

Day 29 post +ve. Not been posting as much as I've been travelling and flat out with work. But I've managed daily 40mins of walks and then today a 1hour at about 60%ftp without too much stress. RHR settled down, exercise HR is also about where I'd expect accounting for waning fitness. Cough pretty much gone and no massive ill effects from a 'few wines' at a dinner mid-week.

I took a hugely conservative/lazy? approach to recovery, in part because of pre-existing muscular-skeletal injuries, in part because work has been completely batshit crazy. But also because of the stories from coach and physio that made me think conservative was the best way for me with no imminent races. There was absolutely nothing to be gained but lots to be lost by pushing.

My dizzy spells almost completely gone, only occasional losses of words (that brain fog, was the think that freaked me out the most, having to do a form of charades in a work meeting when i couldn't 'find' the word I wanted to use).

So I'm just sharing here as a close out/catchup for those on similar or later timelines.

I thought I would follow up as well. I responded to you post because honestly I could have wrote it myself. I am 10 weeks out and my heart rate is now about where I would expect it to be given the loss of fitness. Alcohol has a bigger effect than previous. Just one beer sees an increase in rhr. We will see long term if that stabilizes. Have done a few good training rides but haven’t pushed myself on a run yet to see. Feel positive about the future but am taking it slow. No races for me this year. This definitely isn’t a cold!!!

Took me a couple weeks to get back to normal. Ease into it and trust your body

First attempted run today. Well plan was a walk with some running in it. So 15mins walk then 3x 1km with 5min rest. No specific pace in mind but ended up at what would normally be a relatively comfortable 5:00/km pace. Didn't feel too bad, but HR was 183 average for the run intervals and 192 max for each of the last 2. I am 47 so this wasn't ideal.

But on the positives, that was this morning straight after 90mins of swim squad, and this afternoon I'm feeling fine. So that's a bonus. I think it's rebuild from here.

First I've heard about a minor symptoms early on followed by fatigue later, but I seem to be experiencing it. If you have any more info or resources I'd be very interested to hear about/read them.

I tested positive on May 13th. I'd gone on a 10 mile trail run earlier in the day and only got tested after my wife and one of my daughters tested positive. I wouldn't have tested or known otherwise, I wasn't experiencing any symptoms (2x vax and boosted). I kept right on training just fine and had a couple weeks of very solid workouts: some long, some short, some intense, some easy - heart rate and RPE all normal.

Then somewhere around 3-4 weeks after testing positive I started feeling increasing fatigue and bit of a cough. I kept workouts easy for a few days until last Sunday when I was so tired I threw in the towel and rested all day. Saw the doctor Monday, got blood work (all came back negative; not mono, not Lyme, not anemic, etc.) and had a chest X-ray (all clear). He put me on an antibiotic that has helped with the cough but I'm still just really, really tired. My Dr thinks I might have come down with something else while my system was still working through COVID but I've been wondering more and more if it's actually the COVID itself.

I was too tired to do anything at all Sunday-Friday and have tried easing back into things yesterday and today with very slow jogging and easy trainer riding. They seemed to go ok but I'm still just really, abnormally tired. I've never been this knocked down by an infection before, and reading through this thread has me worried. I'm signed up for a sprint next Sunday, oly two weeks after that, then a half and a Sept full. They're my first races since 2019 and I'm starting to wonder if I'll be lining up for any of them.

I've never been this knocked down by an infection before, and reading through this thread has me worried///

As you should be. Sounds like you trained while the Covid was doing battle with your immune system, and the covid eventually won. This happens with a lot of viruses, you think and feel you are ok, then keep training, your body kills almost all of the buggers, but the strongest survive and they are the ones that then multiply and ravage you. It is why people like me who did what you did, suffered immensely by doing so, are warning everyone that feeling ok is not being ok...


As my parents and probably yours said too, better safe than sorry. You are back in the battle, only now you can feel it, are losing, and each workout gives the other side more ammunition in which to beat you with...

It's all over this thread and others on ST and TR. Just easy to ignore when wish casting a good outcome :) I had very mild symptoms, thought I did the right thing staying inactive for 10 days, and then gradual return, but 2-3 weeks into that got knocked out for 8 weeks with fatigue, but more worryingly all kinds of heart issues. Just finally rounding back into "almost normal" 3 months post infection. I do have friends that bounced back in 2 weeks, so it's no sure thing, but if I could do it again I would have been a lot more cautious.

Don't worry about those upcoming races any. Write them off now, rest, focus on restoring your health. Right now, any amount of training you do is only going to harm you and reduce your chances of full recovery and/or delay any recovery you might make. Generally, most doctors are clueless when it comes to dealing with post-viral chronic illness and long covid, but the awareness is slowly increasing given the vast numbers of covid long haulers that are now out there. Not a knock on them, but it seems to be something that isn't much of a focus of training in western medicine. So, the most likely treatment you might get would be directed at addressing specific symptoms. It's unlikely any doc (primary care or specialist) is going to guide you through all aspects of shifting your body back into some sort of balance. Some people find that functional medicine is better geared towards dealing with this sort of situation, so that's an avenue you might want to investigate. Long covid clinics have sprung up in many places, but the quality of care there varies significantly and isn't necessarily all that helpful from the accounts I've read. Best thing you can do is begin educating yourselves in long covid groups on FB.

It's probably a positive that the tests which were run came back normal (a very common finding for long haulers), but that's of little consolation when you can clearly sense that you are fairly ill. It just means that the right tests aren't available to reveal the underlying illness. When you're done with that antibiotic, focus on healing your gut, specifically leaky gut. There's some pretty good evidence coming in that fermented foods with probiotic benefits are quite helpful in establishing digestive health, which will impact inflammation elsewhere in your body and probably affects your immune health.

Clean up your diet, cut out processed sugar, reduce simple carbs and processed foods in general. Strive for healthful eating as best you can, looking at cutting possible sources of inflammation in your food depending on your sensitivity to them (gluten, dairy, etc.). Intermittent fasting and occasional longer water fasts to trigger autophagy are helpful for some and might improve your fatigue and other symptoms. General advice for the fatigue from the ME-CFS camp is to stay within your (currently diminished) energy envelope and implement the concept of pacing, which is to do small amounts of some activity you may need to accomplish, which might be as small as say taking a shower, and then resting to recover some, before doing anything else. Everything take some energy, even watching television. Thinking actually requires a fair bit of energy, which can make even a desk job very draining or even impossible for those with chronic fatigue. You've begun to discover the challenge of exercise, which can induce PEM, or post-exertional malaise. You may see some symptoms kick up quickly after exercise, or the malaise may be delayed by up to a day or two. Do too much cumulative exercise, and you can knock yourself into a deep and long-lasting malaise. Been there, done that. Spent six months sleeping 12 hours a night plus naps during the day after I went through a period where I felt I was recovering at 7-8 months in and was slowly increasing a very modest return to some exercise. So now I only walk.

Some people make good strides in their recovery at different points and are able to return to training. Others have improved but not enough to train. Some people are hit really hard and are bed bound for very long periods. Be good to your body, let it heal. Good luck.

What you wrote here is "exactly" what I have been saying, although many of it pieced out to other like threads. Thanks you for taking the time to spell out the real trial of long term virus infections. You were very succinct, and hit on just about everything one can do to combat it. Unfortunately the best weapon is just time, and how little you can force yourself to do in that time. From my earlier bouts with EBV, the intermittent fasting was a new weapon, one which I use daily now even when healthy..

Everyone here who clicks on and is interested in this topic, take a few minutes and read what Route 66 wrote, this is about as good of advice as you are going to get on the subject, including most doctors that you will seek out to for that magic bullet.


Don't worry about those upcoming races any. Write them off now, rest, focus on restoring your health. Right now, any amount of training you do is only going to harm you and reduce your chances of full recovery and/or delay any recovery you might make. Generally, most doctors are clueless when it comes to dealing with post-viral chronic illness and long covid, but the awareness is slowly increasing given the vast numbers of covid long haulers that are now out there. Not a knock on them, but it seems to be something that isn't much of a focus of training in western medicine. So, the most likely treatment you might get would be directed at addressing specific symptoms. It's unlikely any doc (primary care or specialist) is going to guide you through all aspects of shifting your body back into some sort of balance. Some people find that functional medicine is better geared towards dealing with this sort of situation, so that's an avenue you might want to investigate. Long covid clinics have sprung up in many places, but the quality of care there varies significantly and isn't necessarily all that helpful from the accounts I've read. Best thing you can do is begin educating yourselves in long covid groups on FB.

It's probably a positive that the tests which were run came back normal (a very common finding for long haulers), but that's of little consolation when you can clearly sense that you are fairly ill. It just means that the right tests aren't available to reveal the underlying illness. When you're done with that antibiotic, focus on healing your gut, specifically leaky gut. There's some pretty good evidence coming in that fermented foods with probiotic benefits are quite helpful in establishing digestive health, which will impact inflammation elsewhere in your body and probably affects your immune health.

Clean up your diet, cut out processed sugar, reduce simple carbs and processed foods in general. Strive for healthful eating as best you can, looking at cutting possible sources of inflammation in your food depending on your sensitivity to them (gluten, dairy, etc.). Intermittent fasting and occasional longer water fasts to trigger autophagy are helpful for some and might improve your fatigue and other symptoms. General advice for the fatigue from the ME-CFS camp is to stay within your (currently diminished) energy envelope and implement the concept of pacing, which is to do small amounts of some activity you may need to accomplish, which might be as small as say taking a shower, and then resting to recover some, before doing anything else. Everything take some energy, even watching television. Thinking actually requires a fair bit of energy, which can make even a desk job very draining or even impossible for those with chronic fatigue. You've begun to discover the challenge of exercise, which can induce PEM, or post-exertional malaise. You may see some symptoms kick up quickly after exercise, or the malaise may be delayed by up to a day or two. Do too much cumulative exercise, and you can knock yourself into a deep and long-lasting malaise. Been there, done that. Spent six months sleeping 12 hours a night plus naps during the day after I went through a period where I felt I was recovering at 7-8 months in and was slowly increasing a very modest return to some exercise. So now I only walk.

Some people make good strides in their recovery at different points and are able to return to training. Others have improved but not enough to train. Some people are hit really hard and are bed bound for very long periods. Be good to your body, let it heal. Good luc

One of the better videos I've seen to date which ties in some of the latest research and really gives a good overview of the virus, it's long-term impacts and some treatments and approaches for diagnosis. Highly recommended for any here suffering long-term impacts or who are still early on recovering from the acute phase -- to grasp the impacts you might be experiencing throughout different parts your body (lungs, heart, brain, etc.).

Can you expound on the heart issues

I thought in the interest of providing info I will give an update.

I am on day 11 of an omicron infection. The first 7 days I was stuck in an isolation hotel, on the third day they let my GF bring me food so I only ate prison food for 2 days.

I feel fine from a mental acuity standpoint. I am no longer sleepy like I was the first week. My RHR is still 10-15% higher than normal. I have some very slight nasal congestion, very slight morning cough. I never had chest congestion.

I just walked to work (in Hong Kong, down the escalator if you are familiar) so essentially a 15 minute walk all downhill. I was going to go to the gym and walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes but I don’t think I can manage it until the afternoon.

I am really surprised (although I shouldn’t be after having read this thread) - I am still feeling off after 11 days. When people say Covid is just the flu or a cold they are full of crap.

The absolute suck is that I am going to Whistler for 6 weeks on Thursday (at 14 days since infection) with my son and GF - it will be his first holiday since covid began 3 years ago. We were going to SBR every day and get ready for race season for me and swimming and cross country season for him. It will kill me if I can’t train.

I’m looking at my watch and my average calories for last week is 2549 - a 5 year low.

I will use all the weapons you guys have described, low alcohol, no packaged foods, less simple carbs etc and plenty of rest. Will report back in a week or two

Elevated RHR, arrhythmia, palpitations, wildly elevated HR under light exercise, chest discomfort.

Thanks

My symptoms now include weird dreams.

! example was where I was in a bike race but instead of being on a bike I was on one of those swivel type computer/office chairs which could power itself. The chair was able to go at 85 kph on the flat, but felt a bit out of control, particularly when I hit some loose gravel. Thankfully I didn't swivel around at the same time.

Assume this is symptomatic of me missing exercise and feeling like I am just stuck having to sit around...

I have started to do some very light strength work with thera bands for back and rotator cuff, body weight squats, calf raises and crunches. Only physical symptom I have on a day to day basis is just feeling like I have a bit of a slightly runny nose and that prickly feeling in my throat and a little post nasal drip. Almost like hayfever? (which I do get...)

Have also noticed a slight pain/discomfort in my lower left jaw from time to time.

Hit some probiotics too!

I don't know anything about that can you make a recommendation or some reading material.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQAL5x0A7tM

Update: So it's taken me about 10 weeks for my heart function to return to normal.
Recap: 43 yo male, 2x vaxxed + boosted, acute phase relatively mild (2 days of painful cough/extreme fatigue) but tested glowing red positive for 10 days. After testing negative, early attempts at short/easy exercise resulted in chest pains and heart palpitations (afterwards, not during). Gave myself an extra week off and tried again, same result. Went to doc, doc was unconcerned and said there's no reason I shouldn't resume my regular physical activity, which unfortunately was exactly what I wanted to hear, but we ordered blood tests and an ECG. Attempts to resume activity resulted in symptoms so I stopped and waited for my test results. Results came back, doc says no concerns, so have at it. I try and symptoms return. Ordered more tests (Holter monitor and heart ultrasound). Tests come back, doc says no concerns, so have at it. At this point I'm glad the echo revealed no damage/scarring, but it's frustrating that no one can explain what's happening. It's looking like this is just one of those lingering COVID things, and people can complain about pains/palpitations for extended periods following the infection. So I gave myself 3 weeks off all activity in order to hopefully have things reset. Have been back at it (zone 2) for a few days now and no symptoms, so I'm optimistic.

My key takeaways:
- Give yourself more time that you think to recover - if I could do it again I'd wait 7-10 after testing negative to resume activity (I waited a week after my symptoms started improving, but I had only test negative the day before).
- There's so much that's still unknown about this virus and its effects, and unfortunately many doctors don't know very much about it
- The virus can impact your body in ways that can't be detected on tests, which compounds the problems with the previous point

Good luck everyone.

An update for my situation.

I arrived in Whistler on day 14. On day 11 I still felt like I couldn’t take a breath and was really worried.

On day 12 I woke up and felt better, no coughing at all. Yesterday I walked around all day and did a light bike ride. No issues. I am very relieved.

Today we will be doing a short ride around town maybe 30k relaxed and maybe a light swim at lunchtime.

My resting HR is still about ten percent too high but I’m sure that’s affected by Jet Lag somewhat.

One thing to note was I did ride my mountain bike home from the bike shop and that has a decent hill and my heart rate didnt seem out of the ordinary - I take that as a good sign.

I guess the point I was trying to make was that I felt dreadful and was sure I was out for a month but then felt better

Replying to you as the last one in the thread. Tested positive this morning.

Vaxxed / boosted once. 36. Brought my mother in law to the airport on Monday, turns out she was symptomatic but didn't really put two and two together until after she flew home. She tested positive yesterday. Started feeling a scratchy throat yesterday. Chalked it up to allergies and wanted to sleep it off.

Couldn't get going this morning. Still really just the throat, but noticed my HR was 20 BPM higher than normal at rest. Figured I'd be safe, took a test, and came up positive.

Symptoms: headache, fatigue, feeling feverish (no fever), sore/itchy throat, minor breathlessness, high HR, slight dry cough. Walling myself off in one part of the house and trying to lay low.

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I'd go with a minimum of 14 days downtime. I mean on your back.

I am day 21 now and almost fully recovered. Started light workouts at day 14.

The only thing different is my resting heart rate according to my Oura is 10-15 percent higher than normal

Still keeping my form no tougher than negative 25 on TP

Good luck!