Interview: Living with long COVID

March marks five years since world health officials designated COVID-19 as a global pandemic. At its peak, the CDC said the virus killed nearly 26,000 Americans in one week. Many of us contracted COVID-19 at some point but likely felt better after a few days or weeks.

But for millions of Americans, that's not the case. Some have felt the effects of the disease for years, with no relief in sight. Marta Berglund speaks with Rachel Beale, who has suffered from long COVID since 2021 and is hoping for answers and a cure.

[gwilkins]

The push crash cycle of post exertional malaise

[leilamoon]

Yes many people are still suffering and no one welling to help these people that include me 4 years now

[JackRT]

I'm into my eleventh month of long Covid and my symptoms are up and down and all over the place. What's really annoying is when people ask me when I'm going to get better.

[Loumow]

My husband and I regularly hiked 10 miles in the mountains, walked 150 miles of the Portugal Camino and were always active. Then he got Covid, and didn’t recover. Instead, he developed profound fatigue and shortness of breath with the least amount of exertion. He had to stop walking. It took 2 years before he was able to take walks again. He remains fatigued and has never recovered. He also developed anxiety with activities which he never had before. He got no help or interest from his doctor which may be partially because he was 71. It has affected our lives in so many ways!!

[DraganAlves]

I've had Long Covid for over 20 months. It has turned my life upside-down as I've been unable to work full-time and deal with cognitive issues, breathing problems, pain, and isolation. It's embarrassing how slow medicine -- outside of a handful of researchers -- has been to acknowledge ME/CFS and Long Covid and get to work on it.

[Fiawordweaver]

16 million plus me 3.5 years long covid.

[decafmocha]

Hi Rachel. I tried to leave you some helpful information but due to the corruption my comments were immediately removed.

[decafmocha]

Hi Rachel. I have information about long covid that may help you. Please contact me. Thanks. Don