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Any tips to help recovery for a COVID Long-Hauler?
Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 | Last Active: Dec 26, 2022 | Replies (115)Comment receiving replies
I had COVID 19 Pneumonia for 6 days at home before I called 911 and was hospitalized for 7 days. This was aug 2. I am struggling with shortness of breath on exertion, stroke level hypertension filled by hypotension, then a headache everyday. My legs give out, I have such exhaustion and fatigue, insomnia, depression. And I am on meds for prior health issues such as Stroke, Ankylosing Spondylitis, osteoporosis, and I think since I had Covid, my body doesn’t react the same to the meds I have been on that used to work. I feel like now they aren’t working at all. So tired of being without energy, or the physical ability to even push my self. I was very active prior to COVID and now I am good for two hrs a day max. Ugh.......
Replies to "I had COVID 19 Pneumonia for 6 days at home before I called 911 and was..."
Hello @kcartier and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry to hear of your lingering COVID-19 symptoms after your hospitalization. I think it would be reasonable to consult with your doctor and/or pharmacist to see if they feel that any medications may need review. Have you reached out to see if that is possible?
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This one bear repeating - go to https://www.survivorcorps.com/ and find a long-haul rehab clinic or program in your area.
As to your fatigue, many of us with chronic conditions battle it - sometimes for days, sometimes for much longer. In 2017 -2019, I had a disabling case of pseudomonas plus MAC (mycobacteria aviums) infection in my already challenged lungs. It took nearly 2 years of multi-antibiotic "cocktails" to beat it into submission, and more lung damage occurred. At the beginning, a shower and breakfast were all I could manage without a rest. Over time I progressed, little by little, until I could generally do 2 hours of activity at a time. Now, nearly 4 years later, I can do perhaps 4 hours of fairly rigorous physical activity in a day, interrupted by short sit-down breaks. But by 4pm, my active day is DONE most days. To reach this point, I had to reach out to a pain doc, lung doc, ortho, my primary, and a miraculous PT. I learned when to push and when to back off.
This appears to be the model followed by the rehab program for Covid survivors - I'm sure it won't be easy, but probably worthit to get your life back.
Good luck to you on this journey - stay in touch with us at Connect, we'll encourage you along the way!
Sue