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Anyone have long term recovery?
Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 | Last Active: Mar 8, 2023 | Replies (31)Comment receiving replies
I also had COVID in November 2020, before vaccines. I seem to have plateaued in my recovery. I am nothing near the runner, marathoner, weight lifter, gardener, 'Martha Stewart' hostess, voracious reader or ER Nurse in a trauma center that I was a week before becoming ill.
I am not improving, BUT I am better at managing, planning, pacing my days and activities to stay within the limits of my tolerance. Of course, life happens and there are days that will stretch my limits and I pay for it with that horrific Post Exertional Malaise crash. If I know about an event that will exceed my limits ahead of time I can plan to do nothing the day before and the day after. I figure out travel to an event a week ahead (a true cognitive challenge), plan what to wear and bring with me 3 days ahead, shower and wash/dry/style my hair the day before and take a sleep aid the night before. I don't make plans after 2pm and limit appointments/errands to one a day. I walk slow, take the elevator, use handicap parking to avoid shortness of breath, coughing and racing heart rate. I order groceries on line and have them delivered. My meals are very simple, fast and I cook extra to have leftovers for a couple days.
Prioritizing, planning, pacing and acceptance of the 'new me' has made the biggest difference in recovery. As I said, I am not back to what I was but, with PT/OT/Speech I have learned to recognize my limits and live within them as best I can. I know I will not get everything back in my life but need to remember I am 63 and able to live alone in a two story home and take care of my own needs independently which I am grateful for; over 6 million people didn't make it through this pandemic. I am just do the best I can today.
Replies to "I also had COVID in November 2020, before vaccines. I seem to have plateaued in my..."
I also had the original covid. Two vaccines and then caught omnicron.I am 65 now I am diabetic I have been living with cfs since 1996 I had neurological problems before all this covid crap ,after the original covid I never felt well Gi problems constipation I have lost all train of thought my diabetes has gotten worse, my neurological problems have gotten worse,my taste and smell have gotten worse I get constant mucus in the back of my throat, seem to be yeasty comes and goes,can't work out much anymore.
Thank you for your hopeful words. I had Covid in Oct. 2021. Hospitalized, went home with 02 and thought: "ok I am home and I will be back to normal in a week." This is March 2023 and guess it's been 1 long week. I had been a runner and marathoner before I injured my back. I found new ways to stay fit at the YMCA, yoga, pilaties, weights, some low energy cardio classes. plus I have 2 wonderful small older dogs who love to walk. I no longer can do any of these things. I don't feel like myself and haven't since I contacted Covid. Fatigue, malaise, fog brain and other less annoying things. The fatigue and malaise are the worst for me. My PCP doesn't think there is long Covid and will not talk about it. I made appoint with another MD at the clinic and he told me the medicines I was taking were causing the fatigue.
I am in the process of changing PCP clinic. I am so grateful that I survived Covid. Many of the patients in the Covid ICU died before my discharge. I am trying to figure out how to live my life with no energy. All this time with hardly any energy. For example, I have gotten to a place in my life where I can meet a dear friend for coffee. After that I have to return home and take a very long nap. If I try to shop for groceries I have to ask my daughter for help taking groceries out of the car and into the house. I have so much fatigue and muscle ache.
Just recently I walked my dogs a block and a half. They were so excited to go out with me. Before Covid I was energetic, went to YMCA 5 days a week, gardened and worked on the grass, saw my friends. Did so many activities. Yes, I am 75 yet I look a young 60 and feel an old 90. I believe I will get better yet when? It is difficult to accept that I may never be and feel how I did before Covid. I did have the first 2 Covid vaccines before coming down with Covid. Now I am learning to try to pace mayself and accept my limits. Depression has been a problem for me since Covid. Most days I am not sure who I am anymore. I am happy for the individuals who have found hope and are moving on in their recovery. Maybe I am slowly moving on in recovery too yet cannot seem to recognize it?
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@rinadbq. I am literally tearing up as your post so closely resembles my new life. I had my vaccines and booster and post covid over year now. Your realistic yet empathetic view is what I wish every long haul patient could hear from their healthcare system. Thank you!!🌈