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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCOVID-19 Can Last for Several Months
The diseases long-haulers have endured relentless waves of debilitating symptomsand disbelief from doctors and friends.
Story by Ed Yong
For Vonny LeClerc, day one was March 16.
Hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson instated stringent social-distancing measures to halt the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, LeClerc, a Glasgow-based journalist, arrived home feeling shivery and flushed. Over the next few days, she developed a cough, chest pain, aching joints, and a prickling sensation on her skin. After a week of bed rest, she started improving. But on day 12, every old symptom returned, amplified and with reinforcements: She spiked an intermittent fever, lost her sense of taste and smell, and struggled to breathe.
When I spoke with LeClerc on day 66, she was still experiencing waves of symptoms. Before this, I was a fit, healthy 32-year-old, she said. Now Ive been reduced to not being able to stand up in the shower without feeling fatigued. Ive tried going to the supermarket and Im in bed for days afterwards. Its like nothing Ive ever experienced before. Despite her best efforts, LeClerc has not been able to get a test, but every doctor Ive spoken to says theres no shadow of a doubt that this has been COVID, she said. Today is day 80.
COVID-19 has existed for less than six months, and it is easy to forget how little we know about it. The standard view is that a minority of infected people, who are typically elderly or have preexisting health problems, end up in critical care, requiring oxygen or a ventilator. About 80 percent of infections, according to the World Health Organization, are mild or asymptomatic, and patients recover after two weeks, on average. Yet support groups on Slack and Facebook host thousands of people like LeClerc, who say they have been wrestling with serious COVID-19 symptoms for at least a month, if not two or three. Some call themselves long-termers or long-haulers.
I interviewed nine of them for this story, all of whom share commonalities. Most have never been admitted to an ICU or gone on a ventilator, so their cases technically count as mild. But their lives have nonetheless been flattened by relentless and rolling waves of symptoms that make it hard to concentrate, exercise, or perform simple physical tasks. Most are young. Most were previously fit and healthy. It is mild relative to dying in a hospital, but this virus has ruined my life, LeClerc said. Even reading a book is challenging and exhausting. What small joys other people are experiencing in lockdownyoga, bread bakingare beyond the realms of possibility for me.
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dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,694 posts)I wish we understood this awful disease better. Of course we will, in time.........probably, in lots of time.
My heart goes out to these previously healthy, mostly young people. In the most productive time of their lives, they can't do anything.
Karma13612
(4,554 posts)Mononucleosis or even a chronic fatigue syndrome.
I had mono when I was 25, that was 41 years ago.
To this day, sometimes I will go thru spells where I feel really weak, listless, and easily fatigued.
And I seem to catch viruses VERY easily.
Since COVID, I am the one who does the shopping. Hubby 72, stays home. After we put away the groceries, I spend the rest of that day, and the whole next day just resting. Otherwise I seem to be overly tired. Not sure if I actually did contract it mildly and am now just trying to keep it at bay.
To everyone, listen to your body. When its tired, let it rest.
Darwin2019
(217 posts)I was sick and weak for a year and it took several years to fully recover from the fatigue. And although it was 40 years ago, I still have days where I feel like I have mono.
Viruses are wicked.
Karma13612
(4,554 posts)I thought it was just me!
I have said for years, viruses will be the death of us.
And here we are........
Duppers
(28,125 posts)I came down with a debilitating case chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis in the 70's, before it had a name other than "yuppie flu." After the first major 10-month bout, major symptoms cycled for the next 30yrs. It even messed with my brain. I've never recovered the stamina I once had.
It now goes by the acronym CFS/ME which many have never heard of or have any sympathy for. Rethugians still snicker.
As I type this my left arm is aching - it's just another random symptom.
I can relate.
I never felt as if I was a hypochondriac by nature.
But I always seem to be tired or achy or in a brain fog.
It comes in cycles and seems to be precipitated by either stress, or lack of sleep or over exertion.
Been that way for years.
Thank you for sharing this. I am glad I am not alone, but I also feel badly that you are suffering. Please be gentle with yourself!
🥰🙋?♀️
WhiskeyWulf
(569 posts)About once a month at first, then it dropped down to once about every three months, and eventually stopped.
And the last time I had the flu, in the spring of 2007, it did the same thing, though not for as long -- for several months afterward, the symptoms would reappear for a day or two at a time. That one left me permanently changed. I've never felt the same since.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)for over 40 years.
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)Not surprisingly, CFS is often referred to as an immune dysfunction syndrome. It frequently appears in people who have been sick. An estimated 50% to 70% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome report that their symptoms started after they had a viral-like illness 2 or infection. 3
https://www.moleculeralabs.com/chronic-fatigue-immune-dysfunction-syndrome/
That would be a hellish price to pay on top of getting a terrible virus.
Duppers
(28,125 posts)I just posted above before reading your post. Thanks for enlightening folks here.
I had an intense case of CFS in the '70s that kept cycling, as I call it. Low grade fevers, horrible night sweats, extreme fatigue. My symptoms increased after my son was born in 1987, so I went to see Dr. Paul Cheney, an expert in the field. He told me to stop nursing as it was adding too much stress to my already beleaguered body. But I couldn't due to the fact I was simply too weak to get up & fix my son enough bottles. I could, however, lie in bed and nurse and so, I did.
Dr. Cheney was one of the physicians at Incline Village, Nevada who treated a number of patients who shared symptoms following a serious outbreak of flu in the '70s.
These patients all suffered from an infection similar to a herpes-type virus that produces mononucleosis.
What set the Incline Village patients apart from others, however, was the fact that they did not appear to get better after they recovered from the initial infection. In fact, they continued to have bone-weary fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood swings, lymphadenopathy, and intolerance to exercise. This series of symptoms was not characteristic of normal recovery from flu. As a consequence, Dr. Cheney coined the term chronic fatigue syndrome to describe this condition. An ensuing report described similarities between this condition and myalgia encephalitis, or ME, as it was called in England.*
..
Research ensued, along with heightened interest that was further fueled by a number of veterans returning from the Gulf War Campaign with a similar constellation of fatigue, and CFS- and FM-related symptoms called Desert Storm Syndrome.
...
CFS symptoms can fluctuate, vary in intensity and appear either suddenly or gradually. Many patients complain of brain fog. This is described as slow thinking, difficulty focusing, and forgetfulness."
* When living in England, I was grateful for number of people who knew what
myalgia encephalitis was and sympathize with me. One lady offered to do my grocery shopping!
If anyone ever again wants to tell me, as my stepfather did yrs ago, that this illness is just psychosomatic, I will bite them.
I truly hope post-CoVid patients do not have to go through years of symptoms as I have. There seems to be no cure for a messed up immune system.
Karma13612
(4,554 posts)And watch for trends.
Nitram
(22,869 posts)month of the illness.
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)I still have terrible back pain 8 weeks after pneumonia now. My pulse ox was good most of the time, but I did go to the er again at week 4 with rapid heart rate and worse pain etc. they gave me fluid. I am finally getting an mri soon to see of it is an injury maybe from coughing. I am pretty much debilitated from the pain still. I cant do too much. I spend a lot of time on heating pad. Pk, lidocaine patches etc. it is a nightmare. My neutrophils wbc were still low at hospital bw.
Low grade fever went on for weeks at night, but I think it is finally gone now. I think I may also have a reactivation of Epstein barr. I am getting more bw at doc next week hopefully. I am still on more inahlers.