I am 72 years old. I originally developed Covid 19 in Belize while on a missions trip in December 2019. Of course Covid was not yet a recognized illness, so I was diagnosed with pneumonia in the left lobe of my lungs. Symptoms were a horrific productive cough, fatigue that lingered. Fast forward to June 2019, I contracted Covid 19 a second time. It attacked my body in areas I’d had injuries, or prior weak areas. The first symptom was pain in my ankle where I’d had surgery to repair a broken tibia and fibulla in 2003. Next symptom was loss of urinary control, walking to the bathroom feeling no sense of urgency, it would be like someone turned the faucet on and it wasn’t me. I’d been treated for a UTI two weeks prior to Covid. I had extreme low back pain, which was an area I’d seen a chiropractor for in the past occasionally.
Post Covid the cough lingered a few weeks. But, 3 weeks later I developed lymphedema, starting with swollen feet, leading to swollen calves, eventually hitting my knees which affected mobility. I was referred to our local lymphedema clinic in 7/22. After treatment I now wear knee high compression stockings daily, and use a compression pump with thigh high boots each night after dinner. I did 5 months of PT once I got the swelling under control to strengthen my knees and improve my range of motion in my arms. I gained 60 pounds in 6 months post Covid in 2022, which I haven’t been able to get off, despite eating gluten free and my usual go to Weight Watchers.