My Personal Experience as a Doctor: The Various Late Lung Complications of COVID-19

Composite scan showing lungs affected by Coronavirus. CREDIT: SPL

I am a UK doctor who has been unwell for 3 weeks with suspected moderate COVID-19.

A few days ago I was getting more short of breath, I had pleuritic chest pain (pain on breathing) and my Oxygen saturations dropped a little. I was seen by a primary care doctor and diagnosed with bacterial superinfection/pneumonia after listening to my chest. This is a well known complication of COVID-19 and guidance for managing it is here, I am currently taking Co-Amoxiclav (Augmentin) and Clarithromycin, although there are many other combinations of antibiotics available.

Today I am feeling a lot better with energy improving. I still have some chest pain on breathing but it isn’t too bad. The cough and night time problems are still there, and I am sleeping prone to help drainage and aeration.

The difference between sleeping supine and sleeping prone. CREDIT: Wikimedia Commons