New findings offer more answers on long Covid

Northwestern University Medicine has released new findings that may help medical professionals better understand the biological causes of long Covid-19 symptoms. NBC News' Dr. Akshay Syal reports on the data and his conversations with medical researchers.

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[BrazilianGirlChannel]

Great to know someone is finally looking deeply into this. I had Covid in 2020. It's 2023 I'm still not well. I have lung damage from Covid, body aches, joint pain, headaches and brain fog. Both my husband and son had Covid and they were well within 3 days. I almost died and I'm still not fully recovered. Hope we will get some answers in my life-time and hope no one has to suffer like this. I just want want to feel normal again. I have days i'm doing better and days like today that my head is about to explode and I can hardly move my neck. Praying for this research to find something to help others like me that cannot get better from Covid.

[angelinimartini]

I got Covid once a year since 2020 except for this year. I was a person that graduated early from high school at the top of her class, graduated with an award from my department in university and have been overall a curious person that could articulate things well and in the moment. I noticed I started to stutter, have occasional trembling, have trouble learning, have problems recalling, and I cannot form thoughts as quickly as I used to. I got with my boyfriend right before I got Covid the first time and sometimes when I talk to him not I just notice how different I am. How I can’t remember his stories, the people he speaks of, the things he likes… I feel like I’ve become a complete airhead when I was never like this. I had to study things and I had difficulty learning before all this but not at this level. I have to watch things multiple times to understand and I just want to cry because I wonder what on earth has happened to me.

[foughtthelaw]

This lady is seriously my new hero. She describes how these things feel so well, and she’s such a strong advocate.

[dancemaniac]

I really hope they keep up the research to improve the lives of those suffering from long Covid.

[Find-Your-Bliss-]

I never got Covid, but my friend was diagnosed with Covid, and she was never the same.
Her ability to think, remember, learn and make decisions was impaired.
It was unbelievable how much it changed her cognitive functions.

[chestypants]

I have Long Covid since July 2021. The list of symptoms is vast, including all of the types of headaches, breathlessness, palpitations, fatigue, brain fog, tinnitus, blood pressure spikes etc etc.
A lady in my job has asthma that is the result of a Covid infection last year
And another older lady in my job had Covid last week and said it was far worse than the time she had it last year. It's still going around. Avoid it if you can. Treat it like it is HIV or Ebola or any other terrible virus.

[acslater]

One of my best friends caught Covid multiple times over the pandemic. He’s 37 in great shape (a personal trainer) with no previous history of cognitive issues but partially lost his sense of taste/smell and now has trouble remembering names.

1.1 million died and half the country can’t even acknowledge its existence.

[MommaD]

I have had COVID 3 times now ( Jan 21, Aug 22 and July 23). 1st time was the worst. In July 23 I couldn't get rid of this bad headache and my sinus was jacked up, so I went to Urgent Care, the on-call doctor said I think you may have COVID! I tested positive. It took me a whole week to 10 days to recover. It felt more that a bad bad cold but major fatigue. If I loaded the washer, I had to lay down afterwards. I seriously think i still have long COVID symptoms. I do have asthma that has been controlled before COVID. Now I have inhaler in every room and at work. I kept telling my doctor, i had all these issues, to be only told it will go away with exercise, healthy foods and proper rest. Yeah right!!! Finally saw a different doctor, who listened. I keep saying I have no energy, always feel almost fatigud, brain fog, can't remember names or things, losing focus at the task at hand, serious hair loss ( hasn't fully come back), lost my taste and smell in Jan 21, i did regain that. However, some food don't smell or taste the same, or after a short walk I have to catch my breath. So the Doctor ordered blood work to find out my Vitamin D was low. Taking Vitamin D has helped my fatigue and lack of energy but everything else stayed the same. I could go on and on. I try to remain positive that I am still here and able to still do things for myself.

[kaistockman]

It’s like ME/CFS mostly women get that also. Hopefully long covid treatments can help people with ME/CFS too. Some people have had that for decades.

[meowmiaumiauw]

Given how things are going, most people in the US and Canada will ignore this until it personally impacts them, at which point everyone else will ignore them. We're probably going to pretend problems like this don't exist unless it hits a point where it means the vast majority of people are too disabled to work.

[JVanProduction]

Yes, thank you. Word association! I have had long Covid for almost two years now. Losing your train of thought or ability for word recall is frustrating. Also, brain fog or difficulty remembering/memory.

[alohaarianna]

Thinking of words is still so difficult for me and I am 2 years in. While I am happy some findings are being made, hopefully more doctors can get educated on Long Covid so those effected can be helped and not belittled.

[northernpikes]

I've had long covid for 3 years. Severe fatigue and brain fog. Seems to be gradually getting worse.

[Gina-dnxm]

I'm Glad they are bringing out the facts! Research and more research are needed.
I have chronic lyme and ME/CFS. My lyme test was positive, but the symptoms were there for two years before testing.

[sfdwsmb]

I had COVID and I swear my joints have not been the same. I also had psychosis after having COVID. It was hellish. I don’t know if it was caused by COVID but I think so.

[AlbAy]

I have been suffering for the last 18 months and have to say that A LOT of Healthcare providers don't even know what long covid is, not even the term.

[spencerdobkin]

I'm a covid long hauler for 18 months. I have a post viral POTS diagnosis, nerve pins and needles pain at time issues, exercise intolerance, tinnitus and cognitive still not the same.

[EricaGamet]

This is why I'm still masking in crowded indoor spaces. I am back to doing things and hanging out with friends, but we do a lot outside or we are masked. I've had other health issues this year and I don't need one more thing to deal with. I'm sure at some point I will get covid, but it's not going to be because I just decided, "Well, everyone will get it eventually." Hopefully there will be more treatment options for long covid if/when I get it.

[Lmendez]

We literally feel like we are reinfected constantly for the last three years

[stevenpeterson]

Since having covid, does anyone have sleep flutters at night just as you're about to fall asleep? Like where your heart races and wakes you up.