Long covid - guardian article

[Coffeeinsunshine]

This is one of the best articles I've read for an insight on what long covid can do to your life.

www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/05/i-could-bench-press-100kg-now-i-cant-walk-lucys-life-with-long-covid

It’s strange, I’ve never heard of anyone with long Covid in the country I live (SE Asia)

Really poignant, particularly the bit about the woman talking about her past self as I and current self as you.

We have a small social circle and I know 2 adults and 1 teenager who are still suffering the after effects of long COVID

I have a friend whose son can barely get out of bed most days three years on from having Covid - it’s absolutely debilitating, but needs to be talked about and highlighted more.

Covid is pretty much over for the majority of us, but it feels that long Covid sufferers are almost being forgotten about now the pandemic is over.

@UnaOfStormhold - so much of it was relatable, but that bit got me too. I hadn't realised how much I do that. The snakes and ladders bit was a good analogy too.

Yes it does need highlighting more. I think it was something like a third of people (I'm UK) with long covid got it from an infection within the last year. Long covid is treated like an inconvenient truth I guess.

I certainly had this for 7 or 8 months- in my case it affected my nervous system- chronic pins and needles in feet, internal buzzing/tremor sensation , trouble with light or noise , a bit of vertigo - and headaches. It has eventually all calmed down with the help of low dose beta blockers, masses of water and vitamins , light stretching and calm deep breathing- but left me with a bit of arthritis in my neck- that could be coincidental though as I'm 62- I do still tire easily and my brain isn't quite as sharp -only bonus was the amount of tests I had - was like a good MOT and picked up my pre diabetes, slightly low Vit D and cholesterol too high. I've lost several stones with a few more to go too. Went gluten free and I think that helped - my turning point was spraying b12 under tongue- my active b12 levels showed as totally fine- but the minute I used the B12 spray the pins and needles improved radically, as did the headaches.

Is it talked about much in your country @Quanon?

I just read that article. My lungs have never been the same although I can still do some workouts and walk the dog so I count myself as very lucky.

Not at all. I’ve only ever heard about it through UK friends and mumsnet.

Having read that article, and having previously discussed with some uk friends, I do wonder if it is a psychological or a physical issue. Perhaps vitamin D or dietary related? Strains of vaccine?

As someone who has lived with ‘long covid without the covid’ all my adult life, I find that really interesting. Do you have people with chronic fatigue and M.E in your country? I wonder why we have those conditions here and it’s not worldwide. It’s interesting to me how some cultures/countries are prone to certain conditions and not others.

I find my condition is improved with dietary changes so you could be on to something there.

@Quanon what are the rates of autoimmune disorders in your country? With the friends we know with long Covid there do appear to be history of autoimmune disorders in their families, so I have wondered whether that can be a link. With one of the families we know one member has long Covid and another close family member now has similar issues after contracting a different virus

Which country is that? All the SE Asia countries with a huge amount of cases would probably appreciate the help with their research. Or are you just spreading misinformation? Unusual for someone with a user name like yours... 😉

@Crikeyalmighty glad a lot of your symptoms have improved.

@Quanon what in the article made you think this particular illness might be psychological? Or did you mean people not talking about it in your country might be for psychological reasons (apologies if misunderstood).

You have to wonder, how much of this was covid and how much was the vaccine. (Wondering as someone who was vaccine injured. )

@Quanon

From reading the lancet it seems that sone countries don't record it , india and China were both mentioned , but when researchers went there they found it certainly did exist

Which must make it even worse if you have it there as no one would take you seriously

@mycatisanarcissist

The rates of long covid in vaccinated people are less than half the rate of none vaccinated

I had hoped it would be much lower but there you go

Just like when chronic fatigue first became well known in the UK - they called M.E ‘Yuppie Flu’ - it was at best derided like that and at worst denied it existed.

Why would you presume someone with documented physical issues has a psychological problem?

@ASighMadeOfStone - yep- I certainly didn't have psychological issues - hadn't actually seen a doctor for 21 years apart from smear tests- the physical symptoms and subsequent tests though certainly played a blinder in giving me massive anxiety for a long while - but it was the physical stuff causing the anxiety - not the other way around-

I have one friend with long covid who needs regular blood transfusions, and another who has been left with a heart muscle issue - nothing "psychological" about these symptoms.

How many cases of long covid happen in people who are unvacinated?