THE LONG, DARK SPECTER OF COVID-19

Don’t underestimate the effects of COVID-19. It can impact the rest of your life.

COVID’s over—right?

We’ve all got our vaxes and are moving on, returning to our “normal” lives…

Right?

Sure, people are still getting COVID, but it’s nothing like it was. Just a bad cold or the flu…

Right?

Sorry, but WRONG!

You should have heard the term, Long COVID, by now. Long COVID is when the acute stage of COVID is over but symptoms remain or return. These symptoms vary greatly from person to person, but they can continue for weeks, months, or forever.

Forever!

Alone

At this very moment, Long COVID is impacting lives, turning normally efficient, energetic people into a near-invalids. Dizziness, fatigue, confusion, anxiety and depression, and pain are only a few of the issues, but symptoms can manifest as anything from headaches to itchy feet to intolerance of light and noises. If you don’t think that can throw you off your game, think again.

I was diagnosed with Long COVID a bit over a year ago when the doctors and tests couldn’t find anything to account for my malaise. That, and the way some of the symptoms manifested themselves, marked it as Long COVID. There is no definitive test as yet. In fact, little is yet known. This is something new to the medical profession, and they are learning along with us.

Unfortunately, there are many, both in and out of the medical field, who don’t believe in Long COVID. Employees balk, expecting us to push through the same workload as we managed before. Friends and family doubt us. Hell, sometimes I doubt myself. I’m faking. I’m lazy. I’m crazy. I’m old. Like PMS and fibromyalgia, it’s all in my head.

Right?

Confused

Long COVID is real.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Don’t let them belittle, invalidate, or gaslight you. It’s their ignorance they are revealing by such actions, not yours!

So now is not the time to drop our vigilance. (There may never be a time.) Wear a mask if you’re somewhere crowded. Keep your distance from others.  If you’re sick, stay home. If you think it’s COVID, get tested. If it is COVID, get meds and take care of yourself. Stay informed. Accept the fact there will never be an “old” normal. Live the best life you can, because you never know when things might change.

Broken

A FEW STATS FROM THE CDC:

Nearly one in five American adults who have had COVID-19 still have “Long COVID.”People who had only a mild case of COVID-19 can get Long COVID.Vaccinated people who contract COVID-19 can get Long COVID.People who had COVID-19 a long time before can suddenly present with Long COVID.

LONG COVID SYMPTOMS:

This list is long and getting longer. Most sufferers don’t have all the symptoms, but they may have a great many in varying degrees. I’ve put an “X” beside the ones I have.

General symptoms can include fatigue, fever, pain, post exertional malaise, and cognitive disfunction.

A Closer Look:

Breathing (respiratory symptoms)

Breathlessness – Xcough

Heart and circulation (cardiovascular symptoms)

chest tightness – Xchest pain – Xheartbeats that can become noticeable (palpitations) – Xpostural tachycardia syndrome* (PoTS) – X

Brain (neurological symptoms)

brain fog, loss of concentration, memory issues (cognitive impairment) – Xheadachebroken sleep – Xpins and needles, and numbness (peripheral neuropathy symptoms) – Xdizziness – Xsudden confusion (delirium) particularly in older peopledifficulties moving around (mobility impairment)difficulties with or changes to your sight (visual disturbance) – XLight & Sound Sensitivity – X

Digestive system (gastrointestinal symptoms)

abdominal pain – Xfeeling sick (nausea)diarrheaweight loss and reduced appetite

Joints and muscles (musculoskeletal symptoms)

muscle and joint pain – X

Mental health (psychological symptoms)

symptoms of depression for example low mood, poor sleep, lack of concentration and feeling helpless – Xsymptoms of anxiety for example feeling on edge, excessive worry and difficulties sleeping – Xsymptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, especially in people with more severe coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms that needed intensive care in hospital

Ear, nose and throat symptoms

loss of taste and/or smellringing in the ears (tinnitus)earachesore throatdizziness – X

Skin (dermatological symptoms)

skin rasheshair loss – X

* Postural tachycardia syndrome* (PoTS): an abnormal increase in heart rate that happens after standing up. Symptoms include lightheadedness, palpitations, and fatigue.

Most of this list is taken from NHS Inform. NHS inform is Scotland’s national health information service, where they are doing a lot of study on Long COVID.