We might be a few weeks into lockdown, but most of us still don’t know much about what it’s actually like to have coronavirus symptoms. And yet, some estimates say that up to 214 million Americans could eventually fall ill. That means many of us will end up needing to care for ourselves at home eventually.
Phony cures and fake studies circulate the internet, ranging from categorically incorrect advice that if you can hold your breath for 10 seconds you don’t have COVID-19 to unapproved and fake coronavirus cures flooding social media and e-commerce marketplaces. That’s a problem. At the the height of a pandemic like this, it’s important to have the most accurate information about symptoms. That’s the only way to know how to take care of yourself.
We’ve talked (remotely) to five recovered COVID-19 patients about what helped alleviate their symptoms. We also consulted Sanya Delgado, a Registered Nurse Case Manager at Wake Forest Baptist Health, to confirm the safety of all proposed measures.
Below are some of these recovered patient’s best advice for getting some relief should you fall ill with the coronavirus.
Coronavirus symptoms: the bottom line
If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, such as a dry cough, intense fatigue, fever, or difficulty breathing, call a medical professional immediately. Our RN case manager says that the when and how of getting testing and seeking care varies by location, as different areas have different resources available.
As of now, there is no proven cure or treatment for the coronavirus. It is crucial both that a medical professional be aware of your symptoms and that you defer to professional advice whenever possible.
Monitoring your coronavirus symptoms
The first 1-2 days of coronavirus symptoms are generally very mild, according to all the patients we talked to. They first experienced a loss of taste and smell or a very light cough. But their symptoms changed quickly overnight.
Sara Sayed first noticed a single swollen lymph node. That didn’t strike Sayed as too much of a red flag since she’d just spent a day traveling. But two days later, she said she woke up feeling like she’d been “hit by a truck.” She suddenly felt severe muscle pain and dizzying fatigue.
Coronavirus symptoms can change dramatically from day to day. The progression can include shortness of breath, a cough that moves from periodic and dry to constant and productive, fevers over 103° F, searing headaches, and a lack of appetite. It’s crucial that patients provide doctors with day-to-day information so medical professionals can give the most precise care.
Because many hospitals are at or near capacity, your doctor might ask that you report your symptoms to them over the phone. For this, patients need thermometers, which vary in availability by location. An oximeter can also help you determine whether your lungs are absorbing enough much-needed oxygen, and an incentive spirometer can help you test your lung capacity.
Recovery basics: Healthy food, lots of water, and rest
We know by now that the coronavirus does not behave exactly like the seasonal flu. Should you fall ill, you will likely experience some unfamiliar symptoms like a loss of taste and smell. Many of the patients we spoke to also felt intense, surface-level skin sensitivity and head and body aches. While these symptoms may seem unusual, the same standard rules for treatment apply. Get lots of rest, drink lots of water, and try your best to eat well.
“If you’re healthy and reading this now, stock up on things that are easy to make and eat,” says Todd Sherry. While Sherry was recovering from COVID-19, intense fatigue made it difficult to even stand by a stove to cook for himself.
You can prepare for that possibility by stocking up on easy-to-cook nutritious foods. Think: canned soups, frozen meals, or even premade smoothies and diet supplement drinks. You might find that you get dehydrated easily from nausea and a suppressed appetite. Having electrolyte packets or gatorade on hand will help you stave off complications.
Joshua Holden said that while he was struggling to get through coronavirus, a friend in his apartment building left hot meals outside his door three times a day. That isn’t an accessible solution for everyone, but it’s a good idea for those of us who live alone to find a coronavirus ‘buddy,’ who is willing to fetch necessities in a socially-distanced fashion. The buddy can also remind you to keep track of your symptoms if you forget.
Over-the-counter medications and vitamins
Nurse Sanya Delgado at Wake Forest said coronavirus patients should monitor all the medications they take and pay special attention to the active ingredients.
“Certain medications, like acetaminophen, you only want to take a certain amount of daily because it can result in issues with your liver,” Delgado said. It’s especially important to remember this advice if you find yourself taking multiple over-the-counter medications that contain the same main ingredient.
Non-steroidal Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen are rumored to aggravate symptoms of the coronavirus. Still, multiple patients we spoke to took ibuprofen and did not notice any worsening symptoms. The FDA has not yet determined any verifiable risk to taking such medications. But given the availability of other fever-reducing medications, Delgado said it’s probably wise to avoid them.
Patients we spoke to had varying degrees of success with medication, though some found relief with Nyquil, Dayquil, Theraflu or Tylenol for fever and body pain. (It is a bad idea to mix these medications, though.)
Benadryl can be used for sleeping and Mucinex helps patients get a more productive cough. Medication might work well for one person and not for another. Delgado also says a lack of hydration will certainly make any over-the-counter medicine less effective.
Multivitamins are also a good idea, especially since a lack of taste and smell might make it difficult to consume a perfectly balanced diet. Like with other illnesses, taking zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C may be helpful.
Soothing the airways
Many patients found relief in hot beverages like non-caffeinated tea or water with honey. That’s mainly because these hot drinks lubricate the throat. Steam can have a similar effect, as it dislodges mucus and makes coughs more productive.
Take advantage of steam’s power by sitting in the bathroom and running a hot shower. Or, hold your face over a hot bowl of water and put a towel over your head. Proceed with caution when steaming, however. Some coronavirus patients said steam made them feel dizzy and feverish or it made them cough painfully.
When he had coronavirus, Phil Limanni also experienced particularly severe sinus symptoms. Limanni said his doctor recommended an over-the-counter nasal irrigation system.
Breathing exercises
COVID-19 is perhaps best known for the effect it has on the lungs. It’s already made many of us anxiously check our breath. Before you’re sick with coronavirus, it’s could be a good idea to take a few deep breaths and check in with your normal lung capacity. If you do develop coronavirus symptoms, a doctor could ask you to take a deep breath.
“If your shoulders go up when you breathe you’re doing it wrong,” said patient Mitchell Fain. Fain had a a mild case and cautiously took deep breaths every 20 minutes to monitor his symptoms.
In more severe cases, deep breathing won’t help. For patients with bad cases of COVID-19, breathing deeply can send the virus from the apices down into lower lobes. Patients with pneumonia won’t be able to breathe deeply at all.
So while it’s probably a good idea to have some awareness of your lung capacity, it’s most important to alert your doctor if you experience severe shortness of breath or pain while breathing.
Mental Health
Coronavirus symptoms are difficult enough to handle physically, but they also take an emotional and psychological toll. Joshua Holden reminded us that the lack of taste could be depressing. When he had coronavirus, Joshua couldn’t even seek enjoyment in comfort foods.
“It was so disheartening to feel sick and to feel so alone and so uncomfortable, and I recognized that there are moments when we turn to food for comfort,” said Holden about his experience. “I became very depressed from my lack of taste.”
To overcome this feeling, Holden said he surrendered “to the idea that ‘I’m not going to be productive today, I’m not going to get things done today, I might not even feel good today — but I’m just going to focus on getting better.’”
Mitchell Fain also said focusing on his health by monitoring symptoms and eating well helped him obtain some sense of control and stability.
It’s vitally important to accept help if you develop symptoms. It’s worth it just to fight off feelings of isolation. And while (depending on the severity of coughing) it might be hard to talk on the phone, even short text exchanges with friends can help. Sherry, Fain, and Holden all shared their statuses to Facebook, and highlighted that the comments, texts, and calls they got in response helped raise their spirits.
“I am a person who is freakishly blessed with a real army of friends,” Fain said.
Ultimately, there is no cure for COVID-19. However, we can be prepared to take care of ourselves as best we can should we contract the virus by following these patients’ advice.
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