COVID recovery timeline among athletes

[kgreene10]

If it’s an acceptable use of the forum, I would like to hear from fellow cyclists about the timeline experienced in recovering from COVID.

I’m vaccinated and boosted but got COVID (unknown strain, but odds are it’s Omicron) four weeks ago. It initially seemed like a moderate cold that was improving until day 7 when the respiratory issues began. Since then, I have what others have aptly described as a tight band across my chest as if from bronchitis. I went from riding 3.5 hours hard to becoming exhausted after walking a very slow half mile. Basic therapies from my GP haven’t helped yet.

I’m only interested in hearing about your experiences and not interested in hearsay, theory (conspiratorial or otherwise), or any other issues related to the pandemic. Nor am I asking for medical diagnosis or advice. I just want to know how long it took you to recover, especially if your symptoms sound like mine. Thanks.

[saf-t]

You many want to sign up for this epidemiologist's blog (which you can do for free)- she just started a series on long covid that's pretty interesting.

https://substack.com/profile/27227002-katelyn-jetelina

[Gummee]

I can't help much cause I kept riding and running thru my bout with the stuff.

Mild cold and itchy nose was all I had

YRM*V

M

*will

[tuscanyswe]

Originally Posted by kgreene10

If it’s an acceptable use of the forum, I would like to hear from fellow cyclists about the timeline experienced in recovering from COVID.

I’m vaccinated and boosted but got COVID (unknown strain, but odds are it’s Omicron) four weeks ago. It initially seemed like a moderate cold that was improving until day 7 when the respiratory issues began. Since then, I have what others have aptly described as a tight band across my chest as if from bronchitis. I went from riding 3.5 hours hard to becoming exhausted after walking a very slow half mile. Basic therapies from my GP haven’t helped yet.

I’m only interested in hearing about your experiences and not interested in hearsay, theory (conspiratorial or otherwise), or any other issues related to the pandemic. Nor am I asking for medical diagnosis or advice. I just want to know how long it took you to recover, especially if your symptoms sound like mine. Thanks.

Not sure i qualify as an athlete, guess ones self image will vary but im very active tho i rarely do really intense training these days. I got covid before vaccinations. I was out for 8 weeks or so but was quite a lot better after 2-3 weeks or similar then went for a bike ride at leasure speed and then i got worse again for a week or 2. I was very drained during all of it but the last 2-3 weeks i was able to at least roll around on my bike but i could not work (messenger) as i dident have the energy to do so. I also had a tight band across my chest but dont remember at what times and for how long.

At the worst point i took breaks walking up my 2 stairs to the flat not really normal for someone who rides a bike 7 hours a day. After a week back at work l could not distinguish a difference versus pre-covid.

[teleguy57]

I've dodged the bullet so knock on wood. Here's a search for threads on the TrainerRoad forum discussing COVID recovery etc.

[trener1]

I got covid right at the end of December.
While I never felt REALLY sick, I decided not to ride so that my body could use all of its energy on recovering.
I took about 2.5 weeks completely off any activity, then went skiing for a few days and felt more or less ok.
Then got back on the bike a couple of days after that, so about 3 weeks off the bike.
For the first week or so back on the bike I went VERY easy.
Just rolled along with the D pacer on Zwift.

[mstateglfr]

I got it back in Nov '20 when that first big wave hit pre-vaccinations.

It was relatively mild- I was tired for a few days, didnt feel the best, and couldnt smell anything.
During this time was when 'longhaulers' became a big talking point so I sat quarantining in my basement and watched interviews of people in incredible shape being unable to even walk a city block.

I did a Zwift ride 3 days after I tested negative. I was slower, it was shortlived.

[cxsf]

Despite being very careful, got covid three weeks ago. Was in bed for three days and then persistent cough, tight chest and general fatigue for two weeks, with no real exercise. Felt well enough to do a short ride this past Saturday and was pretty wiped out on Sunday. But finally feeling pretty good today (Tuesday). Occasional cough, but much improved. Hang in there!

[PQJ]

Hi, my name is PQ. And I got COVID.

Infected around 12/23. Initially seemed like a cold. 6 hours of mild fever on day 2. Lethargic but no other symptoms until around day 10.

Did not notice any drop in athletic performance when activity resumed (probably at around day 7). Deliberately took it a little easier, tho. Noticed my heart rate was slightly elevated. Also, I'm asthmatic, and found myself reaching for the albuterol inhaler quite a bit more frequently than pre-COVID.

Use of inhaler dropped to normal and I'd say I was fully recovered about 4 weeks after infection.

[dolface]

I got Covid almost two weeks ago (I'm vaxxed and boosted). Sickest I've ever been; 4 days of what felt like a worsening cold, then 5 days flat on my back w/ the worst sore throat/cough/fever I've ever had and debilitating fatigue. Couldn't eat for 2.5 days.

Started feeling better on day 10, negative test on day 12 (today is day 13). Still have a cough and am fatigued by the end of the day.

Going to try riding tomorrow but won't push it even though my vitals (resting HR, HRV, pulse ox, respiratory rate) are all back in normal range.


Edit: Also have weird taste issues (coffee tastes awful for example) but that seems to be improving as well.

[Duende]

I caught a severe case of Covid over a year and a half ago. Ever since then it's been an uphill battle, where I think I'm finally back... only to have another setback.

The latest being jaw infection stemming from Covid doing a number on my gums... Five bone graphs later... I'm soon to get an implant to replace what was an excellent tooth.

Besides that... the usual stuff... memory fog... way better than it was. Headaches much better now... etc... etc... (still can't smell worth a darn, or taste many things)

The biggest drag is how hard it's been to rebuild muscle mass. Injured my rotator cuff recently lifting something that I thought I should be able to have done with ease.

Anyways.... I've stopped complaining to friends about it. Nothing anyone can do about it... including doctors.

My friends brother-n-law who was a fitness trainer had to give up his business.. the headaches and physical issues were just too much.

My brother (who was on a vent for 9 weeks) is now back to skiing and riding... but only at 40% of what he was. No more black diamonds for him. He has to drag along an oxygen machine when he exercises. He lost a tooth as well... he also lost hearing in one ear.

So counting my blessings.

[Turkle]

I had COVID in January. Even though vaxxed and boosted, still laid me out for two weeks. I would call mine a "moderate" case.

It took me a solid 5-6 weeks to get my endurance back up. I feel like I'm pretty much back to normal now, doing 40 mile rides again, but I lost a lot of fitness over the winter due to the damned virus, so we'll see if I can regain the form I had last year.

[jkbrwn]

I had it in Dec 2020 and was fine in about four days. I had very, very, VERY mild symptoms. I was a little bit dehydrated and that was it. I was testing once a week at that time and had I not been tested, I wouldn't have known I had it. Feel very fortunate that I've had no other side effects and have not had it since AFAIK.

[Ralph]

As you suggesting athletes recover faster, or just curious how people who exercise a lot get back into their routine after covid. If they can. And it seems to be a different answer for most. Tough disease.

[NHAero]

Are any of you folks who have had the virus after vaxxed/boosted over 65? The folks I know personally are either a good bit younger than I am (25-45 range) or two people >90, who both succumbed to the disease despite vax. So I'm wondering how the disease and recovery differs for those of us who are, say, 65-75 years old.