What is long COVID?

Months after getting a positive test, some people with COVID-19 are still suffering symptoms as wide-ranging as irregular heartbeats, chest pain, diarrhoea, shortness of breath and headaches.

Experts say much more research is needed into long COVID. We speak to three young people still struggling with its devastating effects.

[bazms]

Long covid is leaving healthy people disabled for months. The general public need to focus on this much more. Imagine not being able to get out of bed for six months or not being able to take a breath for months. People need to avoid catching this virus. The people getting long covid are often athletes cyclists gym goers. So people who label it as anxiety related need to get their heads checked.

[vidateksolutions]

I am a super fit person and I have been totally shutdown. I fell ill in march, I have been sick for over 7 months, feeling constantly lethargic, brain fog, heart palpitations, struggling to recover. As soon as I feel a little better and start being active my body shuts me down with all these symptoms. No one seems to help, the doctors seem to just around in circles not having a clue what to do.

[henrybaillie-hamilton]

Had covid in April last year. Had to go in to hospital 4 times, 1) breathing issues 2) blood poisoning 3) damage to liver with a large tumor 4) sever urinary infection. 5) think my heart 💖 has been damaged. 6) can get very tired and anxious at same time. 7) my cough has been persistent over the last year. 8) my eye site is effected, I try to remain mentally strong. Please please no more hospital for me.

[jayengland]

Currently in my 4th week of covid and I'm 26 and fit and healthy and I must say this is killing me. The loss of appetite, brain fog and non existent sleep pattern. And already struggling with mental health I've had some lows but this has really took its toll I've never ever felt so miserable and depressed in my life. I've felt helpless and so irritable. I feel sorry for the the more vulnerable and older people. Be careful people x

[amydurant]

I’m sure I’ll get trolled and attacked for telling my story but long covid has completely taken my life away. I’m 31, no previous conditions and was regularly running before I got Covid in march. Now I’m stuck staring at the four walls in my room every day. I can’t leave the house because I get too dizzy after a few seconds walking and I have to lie flat. I can’t work because I’m an editor and my brain issues and confusion are stopping me from reading. I can’t cook for myself, some days I can’t manage to shower. I can’t hold a conversation or see friends because I’m too tired. I’m starting to think I won’t ever get my life back.

[rubbercable]

My friend recovered in Feb. It took him till July to admit to me he's suffering 'brain fog' and an inability to focus.
He's a technical instructor, so it would impact his career.

[peachesmcgee]

18 year M.E.(aka chronic fatigue syndrome) sufferer here. they're not going mad and it isn't anxiety. it's time to get proper treatment for them and for us M.E. sufferers (and those with similar illnesses). We've been left to suffer for too long.

[EfrainRiveraJunior]

11 months later, and I'm still struggling with things smelling and tasting either sour, burnt, or rotten.

With smell therapy, changing my diet, and trying to stay positive, I've seen improvements.

Some people think that the loss of smell is a joke. I feel in a dangerous depression at one point.

[lydiep]

I am utterly perplexed and well as angered as to why it’s taken a pandemic for medical staff to recognise that ME/CFS is a genuine medical condition. People with ME/CFS have been silenced, ignored and dismissed. All of these things have lead to a lack of funding for the condition and thus a lack of understanding.

The new research for me/CFS is promising yet beyond infuriating. The funding

just hasn’t been there for medical staff to fully grasp and understand ME/CFS. Patients gave therefore been denied help and been miss understood by medical staff for years and years.

I hope that the pandemic funding will have a more positive outcome for those with l ME/CFS and a greater understanding from medical staff and others. I’m hoping this pandemic will allow medical staff to have more education about ME/CFS.

[kathynicklas]

Is anyone thinking chronic fatigue syndrome? Sure seems like it could be. It usually comes on after an illness, specifically certain viruses.

[RobertAA]

Had long Covid for 16 months after confirmed COVID-19 infection.
I suffered all of the stated issues people talk about and more for over a year.
Felt like I had developed Multiple Sclerosis at its worst and I was scared to death.
Some people won’t want to hear this, but I had every test the hospital could run, checked for autoimmune issues, MRI scans looking for spinal and brain lesions etc etc.
Then I had my first Astra Zeneca jab and within 2 days every symptom completely disappeared….
I still have no answer why, and neither does my Doctor. 2nd jab a few months later and no issues…. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[arthurkemp]

Could it be a reaction to the Covid vaccine it would be interesting to know how many people had the vaccine before they caught Covid

[reecemcqueen]

I had covid back in last December and now almost 11 months on am still not right, I keep having breathing issues, heart beating issues, I keep breaking out in a nasty rash and of recent I have been having a blank memory at times when am really good with it. It's obviously that Corona virus is something much more than a 2 week thing.

[margaretdownie]

I have just found out that I have long Covid ( today 23 March) am 52. I caught Covid 19 in March, I had COPD, Cardiomyopathy and other health issues. Since march my health issues have been exasperated greatly. I have been very very tired, one of my lungs has stopped working properly, I have scaring on both my lungs. I can't do the simplest things. I have been on antibiotics and steroids on and off since march. I am devastated to finding this out, I was never tested for covid19 because there wasn't any testing back then, was told just to self isolate ( had all the symptoms except loss of taste and smell ) this virus is serious, and people need to start believing it is.. I am lucky to be alive I know that but having long Covid is hard 😔😥

[TheWtfnonamez]

Nobody wants to talk about the long term effects of this disease because its a potential avalanche of healthcare issues.
Personally Ive done everything to avoid Covid because the chance of suffering long term health effects is 100 times greater than dying.
The chances of dying is pretty grim... the chances of getting some kind of health damage is pretty reasonable, the chance of catching it again in 3 months time is pretty depressing

[richardwaring]

As usual the medical profession buries its head. I have had long covid I have had post viral fatigue after glandular fever, aged 30. The only difference is that your average GP does not take post viral fatigue as a serious illness.

[scotlandlover]

It sounds like what fibromyalgia sufferers have 24/7

[furonwarrior]

Also, nobody is talking about side effects from Moderna vaccine because it’s taboo. I have chronic hives from the vaccine and now I’m scared that the virus will only amplify my current symptoms.

[rosariopresti]

Had cov19 last December, it's now mid November still not right, sleep, lack of energy is the most frustrating thing.

[mcewanschampion]

It’s real.. I’ve had this since March! I’m wrecked.