How does an infection develop into long COVID? | DW News

Scientists in the UK are trying to piece together the puzzle surrounding long-COVID - trying to find out why people suffer from the effects of COVID months or even years after they had it.
The COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared a global health crisis three years ago by the World Health Organization.
This week, the WHO said that the pandemic is not yet over. Nevertheless, many countries around the world are returning to some sort of normality. Measures such as wearing masks in public have been scrapped.
But life is far from normal for the millions of people who continue to suffer from the effects of their COVID infections months or even years after they had it. They have what’s called long COVID. One family in the UK showed us how it's has changed their lives.

Follow DW on social media:
#covid19 #longcovid #pandemic

[samhouston]

It’s been almost two years for me. Prev healthy 32 year old guy. Absolutely awful, debilitating fatigue and I’m no better at all and actually worse. We are getting NO HELP!!!!

[emmajones]

The covid deniers are constantly hammering on about the low death rate.
But the huge numbers of long covid victims, many of them relatively young and of working age, is a much greater problem in the long run.

[nathaliyacortez]

Had a fairly mild case of covid (badish flu with loss of taste and smell with a terrible headache). Lasted about 2, 5 weeks. Never got really better after. Was visiting fldoctors but all state NHS doctors in the UK had no answer (GP and A&E as I felt I am having a heart attack several times as well) - was told it is all in my head once, that I am just tired as I have a child and that I have long covid but that there is no treatment apart from drinking more water. Went to a private cardiologist who suspected light pericarditis and wanted to refer me for a chest MRI but again the GP put a stop to it. After weeks of bed rest and nothing getting no better I traveled to EU where I got diagnosed with blood clots in my lungs (embolism). I am now on treatment and all is getting better. But so anxious for all the other people not getting diagnosed.
Symptoms was: farigue, heart pain, no oxygen, falling blood pressure, low blood oxygen, headache, irritability, dreams of doom, pressure on chest.

[funbarsolaris]

Post viral syndromes can destroy your life, people really shouldn't underestimate the risk. Many of those who got post viral syndrome after the 2003 SARS ourbreak were never able to work again. Hopefully real research starts ramping up or were gonna end up with a catastrophe

[STP.]

I get covid in March 2022 and have a terrible time behind me. I am male, 38 years old, don't smoke, did sport before, was vaccinated 3 times before, had no any known diseases or risks...2 weeks after getting covid my lung function was only 48%, for months I barely could stand for 1 minute before ringing for air, getting cramps all over and strong pain in my legs. For weeks I needed a chair for can shower and brush my teeth, and I was not able to walk up the steps for to reach my sleeping room in the first floor. I had to lay down and close my eyes 90% of the days and nights for to avoid strong headaches and asthma attacks (never had asthma in my life). I couldn't speak full sentences anymore and forgot basic words like gable and spoon and names of my co workers. I wasn't able to follow YouTube videos for more than maybe 10 seconds. Playing a video game or watching a movie was impossible because I couldn't follow any conversation, and if I tried I get horribly headaches. When holding a gaming controller I get cramps in my fingers after minutes or had no power to even hold it in my hand after a while. I experienced several infections in my nose, my mouth and in my testicle end of last year.
From December 2022 my condition get rapidly better by itself, and now in February 2023 it seems to be finished and I'm planning to come back to work soon.
The whole story brought me and my family into serious financial trouble already, but I'm glad to be able to just survive it and to come back to a normal life soon.

[bbybeatboxx]

"People will forgive you for being wrong, but they will never forgive you for being right, especially when events prove you right while proving them wrong" -Thomas Sowell

[nelsonv]

My family of 3, comprised of (2) 68 year olds and one 47, all caught Covid Alpha in January of '21 about 7 weeks before they were permitting over 65's to get the vaccine. I was 68. By the end of February they were both gone, the other 68 year old from a deep coma, and our 47 year old from a Covid related heart attack.
My regular Covid lasted 6 weeks of 24/7 stuck in the chair, a slight easing of symptoms and switched to the long Covid with all sorts of very strange symptoms, ranging from swollen body parts, extreme dizziness, and continued extreme fatigue. I saw a number of doctors who were all totally mystified by my symptoms and told me to rest completely. The extreme fatigue lasted for months of being chair bound till Christmas.
By February '22, I started back at the gym/aquatic center every day and slowly worked back to fairly decent treadmill sessions and am now recovered, fully asymptomatic, though my stamina is less than it was Precovid.
All those people who are still suffering deserve all the help they can get, and I sure feel for them! As a 70 year old guy, I am very lucky to still be alive, and be able to do my workout too. The combination of good luck and determination to hit the gym every day is how I credit my recovery. Rest assured I miss the ones I lost. One day at a time.

[Bobthebuilder]

We know what causes it for many. Either spike protein damage, immune system overload, autoimmunity was triggered via molecular mimicry.

There are substacks that have explored all of this.

[Boo-pvhn]

EVERYONE who’s disabled physically and mentally feel abandoned. Welcome to life in 2023

[sooz]

Covid put me in hospital and rehabilitation for 32 days in June and July 2021. I still have no sense of smell or taste and I have several other issues that cause me a lot of grief. I would say it's ruined my life but it has just made it so much less fulfilling and happy. Now I constantly have fear of being reinfected..

[zmzmzmr]

I'm 21 years old and I am completely disabled. It came out of nowhere it seemed and my main symptom is orthostatic hypotension (and also just hypotension in general) but also chronic fatigue and about a thousand other symptoms. Doctors cannot figure out what's wrong. I have to wonder if it's related to when I got COVID. It's been two years.

[The_Wolf]

I remembered having this in 2022 after recovering from my covid symptoms. After like 2 months later, my body started to feel heavy and weak on the inside. I felt like I couldn't do much physically such as running, weightlifting and stretching. But it worsened by contracting brain fog, rapid heart beating and anxieties. That all caused certain effects such as lack of sleep, unable to pull facial muscles, difficulty in concentration and loss of taste. It felt like I could lose my mind and go insane all throughout without any warning, thus the effects kicking in roughly between a week after it settles a little. But fortunately, it lasted for a year and now I feel 100% as I was before contracting the virus. Like they said earlier, there's no cure to relieve long covid yet, but I'd recommend just try to hold out with it for a year and it'll go away. It really was a challenge surviving long covid symptoms, I just hope it doesn't affect me once more.

[metal.gendalf]

Obligatory - consult your doctor first.

I get b complex vitamins and sometimes b1 and b12 especially.
And anti-inflammatory - I take turmeric powder.
Probiotics.

Plus no added sugar low calory diet. Micro exercises. Breathing exercises.
Lots of rest. Lots of breaks during the day. Good sleep regime.

Also contrast showers - I feel that they help improve blood and lymph circulation. Helped me greatly. Though you need to ease into it slowly.

Feel better little by little. Back to about 70% of how I was before.

It's been 9 month already.
Honestly at times I was loosing hope.
I'm 30 but now I think I know how it feels to be old. Terrible, frustrating and exhausting.

Hope this helps someone on a journey to recovery.
Take care you all and stay safe.

[AnnettesHuskies]

I had long Covid. COVID attacked my adrenal glands at the top of my kidneys and COVID gave me an autoimmune disease called Addisons Disease. I now have to spend the rest of my life on chronic medications so I don’t go into adrenal crisis. The long covid has been bad I never went to the hospital but got covid quite badly and have suffered since then I got Covid in December 2020

[allTheRobs]

2.5 years with physical and cognitive problems that have stopped my career and all my hobbies--I was only 32, now 35. Has destroyed my life!

[Duje]

Here in Germany, the health insurance covers the costs if the symptoms are declared as long covid. Otherwise, if declared (diagnosed) due to Covid vaccine, then you get the bill.

[thorinoakenshield]

When will vaccine adverse reactions be acknowledged?

[nevsart]

I’ve had Long Covid since January 2020, no body understands, I’ve lost family and friends, I have to keep telling people I’m severely ill (bedridden 80% of the time) people mostly see me the 20%…………. If I hear another person say “why don’t you just………….” I’ll go crazy but I haven’t got the energy. It’s a living nightmare!

[deekircher]

I had long Covid and had body aches and fatigue for six months and missed a lot of work and had to defer my studies

[daviddean]

I wonder if all those people suffering from long Covid, have had the jab. This is the question that should be answered. ????