'Long-Haulers' Are Not Confined To COVID-19

American Council on Science and Health ^ | 12/09/20 | Chuck Dinerstein, MD, MBA

[Pining_4_TX]

Being discharged from the hospital after illness or surgery is only the beginning of recovery. As with many infrequently-spoken moments in healthcare, COVID-19 has revealed the long road to recovery for "long-haulers," those whose symptoms linger for months. As a new study reports, this isn’t a new finding specific to the virus. (Of course, any experienced physician might have told you that already.)

Here is a general rule of thumb: every day of bed rest is worth three or more days of recovery. And you can modify those days if the patient is elderly, and more so when he/she is frail. Hospitalization for those in that group can result in new disabilities that often become permanent.

[Does so]

You're directed to a menu, and to select the correct story. (Not that I understood what was written...)

:-/

[TheWriterTX]

I am a long hauler. Serious COVID scarring on my lungs. Went from clear lungs in January to COVID in February, hospitalized again in March, to COPD by April, and finally emphysema by August.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. Need fewer and fewer meds to make it through the day. Energy level finally picking back up. The number of days per month where I struggle is down to less than 5.

Compared to September, when I told my job to find my replacement, it is a big step forward. I’m still at my job and they have had no luck finding someone with my skill set, so thankfully I am still employed.

[metmom]

I’m glad to hear you are healing.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I live in a university town with thousands of Chinese students. My wife works in the graduate economics department and the students are almost exclusively Chinese.

She and I and half my co-workers and friends came down with something we ironically called “the plague” last January. It hit like a freight train and took months to clear out our lungs, but we recovered with no long-term effects.

I believe the key to getting over it is to stay as far away from doctors as you can get.

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

So, the same exact thing happens with the flu.

[TexasGator]

“She and I and half my co-workers and friends came down with something we ironically called “the plague” last January. It hit like a freight train and took months to clear out our lungs, but we recovered with no long-term effects.”

I went on a cruise a year ago out of L. A. January was the worst. Lungs didn’t feel normal till September.

[consult]

Yep. Well known that any illness can cause prolonged symptoms after recovery.

Media coverage makes this “long COVID” sound like something new and unique.

All lot of other things don’t make sense that there is scientific evidence to support that we should question.

We continue to possibly be infectious after getting an immunization .... such that one needs to keep wearing a mask.

That proof of immunity (antibodies) or recent infection (PCR test 2 weeks ago) doesn’t count for anything, with claims that immunity might only last a few months. There are only a hanful of people worldwide that have been proven to have gotten a second COVID strain.

Suddenly cloth masks can filter out viruses, like a chain fence filters out water.

[Vendome]

In most years I am the doctors office or hospital with the flu and having trouble breathing.

The toll on my body lasts months

Last year I decided “enough “ and got the flu shot. Wasn’t sick once.

This year took the flu shot and still not sick as I usually am by this time

[Vendome]

Zactly

[griswold3]

Same situation for me in 2011 with H1N1

[Pining_4_TX]

Glad to hear you are well. My family gets the flu shot every year. Yes, they don’t provide complete protection, but they help. Colds and flu always go right to my lungs.

[Vendome]

Praise to God

So done with being sick every year.

Friend had told me to get Flu Shot for years and I was against it for a variety of reasons.

Now, I just want to live and not lose 2-3 months of activity and production.

[Pining_4_TX]

Just heard that a long-time friend of mine is going to be admitted to the hospital. She has pneumonia and blood clots in her lungs from COVID. She just lost her mom a few months ago and has been depressed. I’m doing a lot of praying!