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If youƵve suffered one, two or more bouts with COVID-19 in the past five years and now find yourself plagued by headaches, strange itching, upset tummy and/or extreme fatigue, you may be a victim of whatƵs called Ƶlong COVID.Ƶ
Basically, the virus that knocked you down, maybe even put you in the hospital, has decided to hang around. You felt like you Ƶgot through itƵ and came out OK Ƶon the other side.Ƶ But maybe not.
A client-author friend of mine in Ohio has been experiencing some of these symptoms and has self diagnosed herself with long COVID. ThatƵs because getting an official diagnosis can be tough.
The symptoms that may be ailing you are also common to other conditions that are not rooted in the COVID virus. And there is no test to take to prove that you have long COVID, the way there are tests to show that youƵve been hit with a fresh infection of the original disease.
A very well-researched and cogent cover story in the AARP Bulletin (September 2024) asserts that there are more than 200 symptoms associated with long COVID. Here are a few more:
If diagnosis is problematic, what about treatment? According to the AARP piece, written by Nicole Pajer, you may have to go Ƶsymptom for symptom.Ƶ There apparently is not any one medication that can tone down all the symptoms of long COVID at once.
ItƵs still an excellent idea to see your regular physician or a stop-in treatment center for relevant prescriptions. Otherwise you will be limited to over-the-counter meds that your local pharmacist may recommend.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising, massage therapy, meditation and conventional pain reducers such as ibuprofin and Tylenol may provide some relief, as may natural sleep remedies such as Gaba.
Everyone should be aware that COVID-19 is again sweeping the U.S. Each new infection of this virus will exacerbate long COVID if indeed you have that. And if you donƵt, a new infection will multiply the chances that you may soon join the ranks of long COVID sufferers.
I myself have had COVID-19 twice, neither onslaught resulting in a trip to the hospital. I had had three vaccine injections before my first time with COVID and had had a fourth before I came down with the virus again.
The only symptom I can identify that corresponds to long COVID has been unexplained outbreaks of itching (beyond my usual kinds). I havenƵt had the heaaches, indigestion or sleep disorders, but I do have plenty of aches from arthritis and also neuropathy pain. Hard to tell if these have been aggravated by long COVID or not.
IƵll be running all this by my doctor soon just to get her take and advice. IƵm also watching my diet better, exercising more and drinking more water. Hope my readers will take a cue.
A current CDC report lists West Virginia as registering the highest incidence of long COVID among all 50 states.
The report said 10.6% of Mountain State adults were estimated to be experiencing long COVID.
Data for the survey were tabulated from 2022 cases, based on self-reporting of a representative sampling of the population who reported long COVID symptoms lasting three or more months.
The CDC continues to encourage all Americans to get vaccinated to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.
COVID booster shots are now available widely in the Tri-State area at pharmacies and stop-in clinics, usually free of charge.
John Patrick Grace formerly covered health care for The Greensboro (N.C.) News and Record. He currently is a book editor and instructor of The Life Writing Class. He lives in eastern Cabell County.
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