I am just learning to navigate your website, so I will reply to you.
I was in the hospital for 10 days in Jan 2020, 7 in the ICU following abdominal surgery for intestinal obstruction caused by adhesions. I was under general anesthesia for 3 1/2 hours because laparoscopic surgery was unsuccessful and belly opening was necessary. I had the full-blow ICU syndrome with confusion, agitation. and hallucinations. All disappeared as soon as I returned home.
Now, however, 20 months later I am still bothered by weakness, loss of stamina, breathlessness and impaired balance. My sleep cycle is confused, and I never awaken feeling refreshed despite 8-10 hours in bed. My memory is single track. At no time did I have any symptoms suggesting Covid infection. My symptoms are typical for PICUS. Other causes have been competingly investigated.
I am a retired Internist 91 years of age. I know that I have common age-related problems, but I cannot account for all of my lingering symptoms by that alone. I feel too bad.
In the recent past, I have tried regular PT and thought I was improving until I hit a wall and regressed. I keep my mind active, but my physical activity level is low because I am most comfortable when inactive.
When I came home post hospitalization 18 months ago, I resumed my role as primary care-giver for my wife who was under Hospice care. She died last Jan.
A few years ago this would have been unbelievable but now is not. All our 3 children and 2 grandchildren have illnesses that are clearly autoimmune in origin. My wife had pericarditis and myocarditis of undetermined origin in 2001 and died of cardiac cachexia. I had serum sickness as a kid albeit secondary to an injection of horse serum.
I anguish over what the virus and its treatment might do to our children. I'm discouraged for myself. Although all receive good medical care, no one seems interested in a link between autoimmune disease, side effects of vaccination( a daughter developed pemphigus several weeks after the second Pfizer dose), and the connection between long-haul Covid infection and PICUS.
If my history is helpful to others I will be pleased. Is it unrealistic at this point in time to expect more?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Charles