Hello
I am having for the last week severe breathlessness, dizziness, tiredness but due to my oxygen not being below 93 all the time, it seems there is no support at all.
I never had a positive LFT but my GP suspects long COVID.
I am worried about:
I wonder if there are specialists that can help both with the diagnosis and the treatment. The local hospital has a post-COVID clinic who my GP need to refer me to but I am under the impression the GP does not really bother or does not know or does not want to waste NHS money or something.
- incorrect diagnosis (due to the negative tests)
- not getting relief which is really huge suffering
- not getting support to prevent further damage and speed up recovery
Is there any proper holistic service and how can I get referred there? I really do not understand this kind of behaviour of the GP, if someone suffers they do not do anything simply because they are not expected to die soon? Is the NHS such a mess that they limit spending and resources that aggressively? Thankfully I have a private insurance from my employer but NHS is supposed to be the first point of contact.
Thanks!
He / she would have to be using a oximeter the same as I do to get his SPo2 readings like mine below.How are you testing your oxygen levels?
He / she would have to be using a oximeter the same as I do to get his SPo2 readings like mine below.
Or one of those "smart" watch thingies.Hi,
I would hope so.. As opposed to something like a feature on a phone?
I wonder if there are specialists that can help both with the diagnosis and the treatment.
If it’s anything like the Long Covid clinic I was referred to, they won’t accept a referral without you having undergone a huge array of tests first to rule out any other cause for your symptoms. My initial referral was rejected despite the number of tests I’d already had and my GP was asked to do yet more before they would see me.The local hospital has a post-COVID clinic who my GP need to refer me to
The short answer is no!Is there any proper holistic service and how can I get referred there?
The main one I did not like was the blood gas analysis, they has trouble finding the artery in my wrists. They did get a sample though..I’ve never had so much blood taken! I really would push for tests so you can be properly diagnosed.
May I ask when did you have your initial covid infection?Hello
I am having for the last week severe breathlessness, dizziness, tiredness but due to my oxygen not being below 93 all the time, it seems there is no support at all.
I never had a positive LFT but my GP suspects long COVID.
I am worried about:
I wonder if there are specialists that can help both with the diagnosis and the treatment. The local hospital has a post-COVID clinic who my GP need to refer me to but I am under the impression the GP does not really bother or does not know or does not want to waste NHS money or something.
- incorrect diagnosis (due to the negative tests)
- not getting relief which is really huge suffering
- not getting support to prevent further damage and speed up recovery
Is there any proper holistic service and how can I get referred there? I really do not understand this kind of behaviour of the GP, if someone suffers they do not do anything simply because they are not expected to die soon? Is the NHS such a mess that they limit spending and resources that aggressively? Thankfully I have a private insurance from my employer but NHS is supposed to be the first point of contact.
Thanks!
Hello @Rabdos
I have Long Covid so thought I’d try answering your questions by sharing some of my experiences.
Long Covid diagnosis is one of elimination i.e. ruling out any other easily identifiable cause for the symptoms being shown. It sounds as though your GP hasn’t even begun the process. The obvious starting point would be a basic full blood panel as well as checking out your lungs. What are your heart rate and blood pressure doing? I’d also ask for those to be checked at the same time.
I was fortunate that my GP ordered a raft of tests, including various x-rays and scans. At least part of the reason was because she found some abnormalities on my torso and wanted to rule out cancer, but she also checked lungs and so on. I’ve never had so much blood taken! I really would push for tests so you can be properly diagnosed.
If it’s anything like the Long Covid clinic I was referred to, they won’t accept a referral without you having undergone a huge array of tests first to rule out any other cause for your symptoms. My initial referral was rejected despite the number of tests I’d already had and my GP was asked to do yet more before they would see me.
Once you are referred the quality of the clinics is dubious. They’re also hamstrung by the current NHS/NICE guidelines which means that the latest developments in treatment/diagnosis are not being utilised by the NHS. Many, myself included, are following/have followed protocols available online and self-medicating. To be clear, I’m not advocating that, just explaining what I’ve learnt.
Ironically a number of doctors are prescribing very differently in their private practices.
As you have private insurance it might be worth you looking into seeing a doctor specialising in Long Covid privately. I have had one appointment at a private Long Covid clinic, which was well worth the money. However that clinic does not accept insurance, all patients are self-funding.
The short answer is no!
No action needed. To be honest I almost wanted them to find something small and treatable that would explain all the symptoms and that the treatment would remove, but pleased to be given the all clear.Was aware You had gotten long covid, but the worry of the rest of it, compounding what is already an awful position for you...dreadful stuff .
Hopefully no action needed regarding that side of things I pray.
Initially curtailed, then much shorter. Still much shorter but many, especially those with Long Covid would be happy to walk the distances I manage, which helps keep things in perspective.I guess those long canal walks are much shortened of late, if not even curtailed entirely
Thanks! And you - I’ve seen mention of your accident and without knowing the details it sounds horrendous. Take care of yourself.Best wishes things progress quickly back to a more 'normal' level of health for you
No action needed. To be honest I almost wanted them to find something small and treatable that would explain all the symptoms and that the treatment would remove, but pleased to be given the all clear.
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