Post COVID Syndrome A.K.A. Long-COVID

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Have you lost your smell or taste and not gotten it back after a few weeks? Do you think you have long COVID? Do you feel like you never truly recovered from COVID?

Find out below if you have Post COVID and what you can do about it

COVID is More than Just a Lung Infection

COVID is not just a lung infection; it effects every organ system in the body. As such, it can manifest with multiple symptoms from different organ systems. Some people can suffer from symptoms long after the acute phases of illness. Various studies suggest up to 50% of COVID survivors have ongoing symptoms. COVID Long Haulers can be survivors of the ICU, hospitalization, or even just milder outpatient cases of COVID. Corona sometimes brings out underlying problems that were not recognized pre-COVID.

Symptoms of Post Covid or Long-COVID

Symptoms in Long Haul or post COVID syndrome are not necessarily signs of organ dysfunction; in other words, it’s not a sign your organs are failing or still under acute attack. They can be due to damage from the virus, ongoing inflammatory responses or autoimmune attack. Long-COVID can occur after mild cases too, not just ICU cases. Additionally, you do not have to have laboratory or x-ray abnormalities to validate the symptoms that you’re experiencing. It may be that COVID smacked you pretty hard, and you are still in the recovery phase. COVID is hard on people; every day you’re in the hospital, it takes three days of recovery. Our understanding of long COVID is just beginning to be worked out, and there is much to learn still.

Essentially if you find something about your life that is different since COVID, it may be due to long-COVID.

What is Post COVID?

Definitions of what makes up long COVID have varied, but the World Health Organization came up with one that makes sense.

If you have a history of probable or confirmed COVID, and you are three months from the onset of your symptoms and have had symptoms for at least two months that another diagnosis can’t explain, then you have long COVID, or post COVID syndrome

Symptoms can fluctuate over time and do not need to be continuous. If you were to test for the virus, it would be negative as the acute infection has resolved, but you’re now left holding the bag, so to speak. Thanks Corona.

How Long Does it Last?

We don’t know yet because it’s too early to tell, but most people show improvement or resolution within six months to a year. Research is ongoing. Long-COVID is another great reason to prevent the infection in the first place with vaccines, since even mild cases can lead to long term symptoms as well. Children can also experience it too.

Post COVID Syndrome Treatment

Four focus areas for long COVID patients include concerns over lung status, mental health, cognitive function, and physical impairments. If you were in the hospital, the more likely it is you are to have a tough time after discharge. Chest x-rays do not predict how your lungs will feel in recovery after hospitalization. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time since hospitalization until you feel better. Reassurance that you are progressing is often helpful. Addressing areas of concern you have is called for. Often times increasing activity and excercise is all it takes.

Post COVID and Mental Health

Mental health diagnoses that preceded your illness can make your recovery much more difficult by triggering increased depression or anxiety. This contributes to an inability to function at the level you would like coming out of the hospital. The isolation patients experience while being in the hospital for SARS-CoV-2 is a tricky thing to deal with, especially if you’re an older patient.

Many patients could not get the routine health care they needed during the pandemic and then later developed COVID. The lack of progress on those underlying issues oftentimes plays a significant role in how you’re doing after COVID.

Not Everything After COVID is Post COVID

Not all symptoms after COVID are related to the virus. Shortness of breath may be due to asthma, heart failure, anemia, low thyroid, etc. Symptoms may also be related to underlying issues that you had pre-COVID such as asthma or emphysema/COPD, or related to undiagnosed conditions that were not picked up because of a lack of access to healthcare during the pandemic. For example, new onset diabetes. Or ongoing risk of of blood clots for six months after COVID.

So, I have Post COVID Syndrome, Now What?

Johns-Hopkins University Rehab department has devised practical ways you can begin to help your recovery to your old self. Gradual increases in basic functions like moving, breathing etc, take you down the path to feeling better. Everyone is in a different place with Long-COVID and each takes a unique journey. Some people need ongoing monitoring of vital signs. For that there are a lot of devices in development to help you, but one available now is a wearable vitals biopatch.

Help Your Doctor Help You

Dr. Trisha Greenhalgh at Oxford University in the UK has a helpful management tool in the British Medical Journal of interest to both doctors and patients alike.

Final Thoughts

Don’t give up. For many it’s just a matter of time until you feel better. For others a prescribed regimen of exercise is called for. A new diagnosis is sometimes discovered in an effort to explain your current seemingly ongoing symptoms. If no progress is being made, ask your doctor what else could cause your symptoms besides Long-COVID. Finally, keep in contact with family and friends who can help you on your journey and keep your spirits encouraged.

To your Good Health, Long-COVID or not,

Kevin McCurry, MD

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