@curiousr regarding long haulers, it is my opinion that they are nothing new. I am basically a long hauler from a bad case of mono that led to ME/CFS. I am thankful that there is attention being focused on those who never recover fully from viruses or other stressors. Not only as someone who has dealt with this, but as an RN I know that conventional medicine is not educated about this and even worse, they treat these patients poorly.

To help educate and bring light to this complicated and misunderstood disease, I had an article published in a few professional nursing journals about ME/CFS. It was timely due to Covid and long-haulers. Here is a link. https://journals.lww.com/nursingmanagement/Fulltext/2020/10000/Chronic_fatigue_syndrome.4.aspx

Feel free to share with your healthcare provider. (I am not sure how long it will be available online for free, but you can print it.)

Basically, CFS is triggered by a stressor. That stressor can be a virus, environmental stressors, emotional stressors such as divorce, surgery, and the list goes on. It is as if the brain senses a threat but never goes back to a normal calm state. It continues to function in stress mode. When this happens, it affects our immune system, digestive system, our neurological system, and the way our body makes energy.

Imagine a school. Teachers are teaching. Children are learning. The cafeteria workers are making lunch. The nurse is tending to those that are ill. Then, The fire alarm sounds! Everyone leaves the building. everything stops. The firemen come and take care of the small oven fire in the kitchen. Everyone is allowed back in the building and things get back to normal.
However, if for some reason they do not get the all clear signal, no one goes back to their duties. Teachers aren’t teaching. Students aren’t learning. Lunch is not being made. According to the research I have done, this is what happens leads to many of the mysterious illnesses such as CFS, chronic Lyme, recurrent EBV, and multiple chemical sensitivities.

Those are my thoughts on long haulers. Nothing new. But definitely more attention, research dollars, and compassion for its victims are desperately needed.

Know that you are not alone. You are doing the right thing by reaching out. May you find the insight you need so you can get your life back. Believe that you will get well. Keep searching. Don’t give up. I wish you all the best on your healing journey!

Here are 2 things that were pivotal in my recovery.
1. Dr Rodger Murphree (yourfibrodoctor.com)
2. DNRS (retrainingthebrain.com)

Marianne Bush