NYT The Daily podcast had an episode on Long Covid on the 20th. It's about 30 minutes long.
The most surprising part for me was hearing that a lot of people end up with LC, despite their Covid case being mild, moderate or EVEN ASYMPTOMATIC.
Also, they referenced a paper where a researcher says there are over 200 possible LC symptoms.
The host referred to LC as something like a "pandemic within a pandemic" and I think that is valid. Interesting listen. Podcast is free.
That was a good episode. Also recommend The Science Hour (BBC) from Saturday where they talk about the gut and long COVID. And This Week in Virology episode #902 also covers the topic.
I had a garden-variety. "viral syndrome" (or so I thought) in Dec 2019. - I was down for 4 days. Subsequently have felt crappy for the duration of the pandemic even though, to my knowledge, I haven't had Covid. Some days I'm fine and some days I have zero energy and can barely crawl through my responsibilities. Depression from our world falling apart? LC? Something else entirely?
Still, feeling like shytte is better than feeling dead.
Well, I quit working due to Epstein Barr, which mainly meant I was just super-duper tired all the time. My Dr. felt that I had gotten it primarily due to having a very stressful job. I had a case of Covid in December 2021 that was so mild I thought it was allergies, and I only tested myself because we were getting ready to visit elderly relatives.
In the last few months I have had a recurrence of that severe tiredness. Could it "just" be depression? It could, I guess. But it varies. One day I am too tired to take the dogs for a 10 minute walk and the next day I am pretty much fine. It feels to me how it felt with EB, except that I have some days that are better. I am considering I may have LC.
I can see men being reluctant to see the Dr. It seems like more women have chronic immune system diseases. Do we do too much? idk
Sure, mild symptoms could be incidental. I have read about people who had terrible LC, who improved after getting a shot of vaccine (or booster).
Of potential interest is that women are less likely to die of covid, but more likely to have long covid. I could almost see the difference in death rates being down to male stupidity (waiting too long to go to the doctor, and more men drink and smoke than women), but the long covid rate? Is there something there biologically, or is it just men being too dumb to notice there's something wrong with us?
Thank you for sharing. this.
Depressing as hell.
I do wonder though about the range of symptoms. For the milder ones, maybe they are incidental? I am NOT a Covid-Doubter! But is causation.clearly shown? Also, do these LC symptoms respond to vaccines or other treatments?
I am trying to think positive. Vaccine developers are working on new shots to give broader coverage for variants. The anti-vaxxers are not for me to worry about, although I hate that they torture the medical system.
But, man, I was hoping that in my 60s I could just enjoy geezerhood. Damn.
OK, I'll stop whining. We're here, alive and kicking. So glad to have this group so we can.vent freely. Enjoy the beautiful spring day!!