To wonder why the fuck long covid isn’t considered a serious outcome

[Clutchingatfog]

Why is covid often only talked about in terms of hospitalisations or deaths? Even in determining whether we are eligible for vaccination, long covid isn’t factored in. Not vulnerable to covid? Are you kidding me?! Oh, you don’t factor in that vaccination reduces risk of long covid either? Got it. FFS.

Where is this fantasy land where people’s risk of LC doesn’t increase with reinfection, where people are magically spared if they are healthy, where kids don’t get it, where only people who are vaccinated/not vaccinated (depending on stance) get it, where only people who have severe cases get it, where long covid was something that used to happen earlier in the pandemic, where most people fully recover, where you are not left to rot. I want to move there!

If you have LC or now have to care for someone with LC, please tell me you understand where I’m coming from.

Yep I get it. I was a soldier on and push through it type.

Im guessing ME was called ‘yuppie flu’ because it was affecting high achieving workaholics. Just something for people to think about…

Many of the clinics in Germany are treating Long Covid alongside Post-Vac Syndrome. I got the latter, with myocarditis after MRNA and then not recovering and having a host of other issues. Not anti, but I mention this because myocarditis did also impact women and this is not often discussed.

Prof Dr Schieffer at the Marburg Clinic (university hospital, so mainstream) has published on both.

I had 2 vax injuries. Because the first wasn’t possibly caused by the vaccine. Just recovering from the second after 10 months and caught COVID. Now had LC for 2 1/2 years.

So overall I’ve been pretty much housebound for 5 years. I wish Covid had never happened.

I think there was a study which showed a strong link between poor mental health and long covid.

So sorry @ArseInTheCoOpWindow Hope you are at least getting some treatment. Worth looking at the studies from Prof Dr Puntmann.

I had Covid a few years after and was okay, but was already on steroids with all the health risks they cause.

Germany at least acknowledged and treated cardiac vax injuries in women (at least the severe cases).

I think adverse childhood experiences show a link. But not necessarily mental health issues.

But the link is through a sensitive nervous system. This is why people with allergies often have it.

'For what it’s worth I’m on HRT and if I wasn’t I would be in a far worse state than I am - purely because it helps my mood'

Yes it's definitely something to consider. Many women know very little about how peri then meno can cause significant problems such as brain fog, joint pain, sleep issues etc. Some women think once 'through' the menopause everything settles but it can carry on and even get worse once in their 50s and beyond.

Not being patronising just saying it isn't always post viral.

There’s probably a link between stress and trauma (which affect the nervous system) rather than mental health.

I know another poster on here mentioned they also had cancer (I had breast cancer years ago). I’m pretty sure my nervous system was decimated then! So there may be a link for sure that means you’re more susceptible. But that doesn’t mean you are depressed or it’s in your head and you just need to get out for a walk.

I am fully committed to the mind body connection to try and heal my nervous system. Mediation helps, as does acupuncture. I’m fully open to positive thinking. But I also know if I push through I’ll crash. And that can set me back months.

This.

Lots of trauma or big traumas really upset the nervous system. And this is what makes you more susceptible. Not mental health.

@Delatron l see a mind body therapist. She’s been really helpful. She’s been making me do somatic tracking which she swears by.

Thanks @ArseInTheCoOpWindow that sounds like something I should try. I’m pleased it’s been helpful for you.

Judging by the stories I read in here, it's a mental health thing rather than long covid. Yes there is post viral fatigue which can last a long time, but what is being described doesn't sound like that, it sounds like depression.

What have pp said that make you think that?

With respect, can you link to the research that has led you to believe this?

Because it's very much at odds with the latest research into causes of LC.

Its a physical illness. What qualifies you to say that it isn't?

What ‘stories you read in here’?

She makes me meditate all the time😫 the bully.

I have been loads better though!

Ah I’m so bad at meditating. But it is so good for us.

I’m not depressed at all. Probably should be considering I can do about half of what I used to be able to. I’ve had to give up my job largely. But mentally I’m ok.

I had post viral fatigue syndrome for 13 months, 20 years ago (I was one of those very lucky people for whom it just disappeared, although those 13 months were terrible)

i would not have accepted this at the time but looking back now i can see it was very likely caused by an extreme stress/ traumatic situation. I really relate to what you say.

in the other hand, my brother had diagnosed with CFS caused by a bout of teenage glandular fever. It took about 7 years to get a diagnosis and he still has to manage relapses carefully. His symptoms were different to mine and it I don’t suspect stress or trauma was involved. So maybe it’s not binary, but stress is certainly one explanation.

Me too. But she showed me some exercises for the vagal nerve which make it slightly less boring.

She suggested downloading an app called Insight timer which is free. It’s like Headspace. 20 mins every 90 mins😭Sometimes l play hooky.

Yoga Nidra is the most bearable. And Vagus nerve stuff. But some just talk ‘about feeling the energy within, and letting it flow like spring into summer etc’ And they make me want to barf.

There also an app called Yoga Nidra which is really good.

Thanks so much - I shall look in to all of this.

I read the book ‘The Great Nerve’ about the vagus nerve and how important it is. It blows my mind we were never taught this in science at school. Most people don’t know what it is!

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow Laughing at your resistance too. Yoga used to make me angry!

Ah like a true LC thread all in one place bingo is achieved quickly people with long covid are mostly a "lazy" type of person, it's a mental health condition, no test therefore it's made up and your all depressed!

The reality is they are still researching it but majority of research indicates a physiological condition.

For me personally I was youngish (34) active and healthy. Hit by covid and I went from hill walking with my toddler on my back to can't make 50 m without breathlessness and was like that about 5 months.

I'm 4 years in and definitely look normal but I pace every aspect of my life and have done a lot to improve baseline and reset respiratory sync. I do work full time but have reasonable adjustments in place. I do play with my children but know my energy envelope and get a warning sign of eye pain when I'm pushing that too far.

I have continous pain in my legs (thought to be nerve damage) and neuropathy in my hands. Oh and I developed POTS which I didn't have before (that one can be tested for). I am a expert at masking the daily pain and appearing normal.

I'm sorry to hear what you've been through and I'm glad you've been able to find a way through, but it doesn't qualify you to speak for other people, or for what they may or may not be capable of. Everyone is different and so are their experiences of these illnesses.

Do you really think anyone who can't get out of bed/out of the house on a given day due to ME, long covid or whatever, aren't pushing themselves and are just 'letting' it debilitate them? If so, you're not just being patronising, you're being insulting.

He just listened to his body, rested a lot (often in bed for several days at a time) paced himself, resting whenever he started to feel fatigued. Over a couple of years, he gradually improved. Then he got Covid again and suffered long Covid again. It took him another year to recover, but thankfully, he’s been okay since then (about 18 months now).

Thank you. I feel like all I do when I’m not working is rest.