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Sep 30

Its Not in My Head: They Survived the Coronavirus, but They Never Got Well – The New York Times

Long Term Weight Loss Comments Off on Its Not in My Head: They Survived the Coronavirus, but They Never Got Well – The New York Times

They caught the coronavirus months ago and survived it, but they are still stuck at home, gasping for breath. They are no longer contagious, but some feel so ill that they can barely walk around the block, and others grow dizzy trying to cook dinner. Month after month, they rush to the hospital with new symptoms, pleading with doctors for answers.

As the coronavirus has spread through the United States over seven months, infecting at least seven million people, some subset of them are now suffering from serious, debilitating and mysterious effects of Covid-19 that last far longer than a few days or weeks.

The patients wrestling with an array of alarming symptoms many months after first getting ill they have come to call themselves long-haulers are believed to number in the thousands. Their circumstances, still little understood by the medical community, may play a significant role in shaping the countrys ability to recover from the pandemic.

By some estimates, as many as one in three Covid-19 patients will develop symptoms that linger. The symptoms can span a wide range piercing chest pain, deep exhaustion, a racing heart. Those affected include young and otherwise healthy people. One theory is that an overzealous immune system plays a role.

Some are unable to work. Many may need long-term medical care.

Still, many say their biggest challenge is getting other people simply to believe them.

There is just a lot of misunderstanding, said Marissa Oliver, 36, who, long after she experienced classic virus symptoms, dragged herself to an urgent care clinic in New York because she was still struggling to breathe. The medical professionals advice? Go home and have a glass of wine.

I started sobbing in the lobby, Ms. Oliver said, adding that she was misdiagnosed as having anxiety. Ive never been this sick in my life.

In interviews, four people struggling with lingering conditions long after they had the coronavirus described their experiences. Their words have been edited and condensed for clarity.

199 days Since Symptoms began

Karla Monterroso, 39, of Los Angeles, leads an organization that advocates for the representation of Black and Latinx people in tech, but she has not been able to work full time since March. She could not get tested until about a month after she first fell ill, and only recently tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.

Before this, I was a weight lifter, kayaker, hiker, white-water rafter. I cant do anything right now, physically, without harming myself. Its like someone cut your battery pack in half and doubled the charging time. I have to prep myself mentally for a shower.

The first few months, I didnt believe myself. Is this in my head? When I got the antibody test a few weeks ago saying I had a positive antibody test, I sobbed for like an hour. I was like, it is written on paper that this is what happened to me. Before then, youre sitting there constantly questioning your own body, and no one in the medical community believes you.

There has been no public health campaign about this. I have relatives that believe if you have hot water and lemon, this will cure Covid. I have relatives that believe that I am sick because I work too much.

I could have just as easily been exposed to this thing and not have had symptoms and be fine today. There is no control over this. It is all Russian roulette, and you can minimize your times up at bat, but you cant zero them out. That is a very uncomfortable truth.

189 days SINCE SYMPTOMS BEGAN

Candace Taylor, 38, was working in the billing and collections department of an Atlanta hospital when she tested positive for the virus in March. She described long-term coronavirus symptoms and a worsening of a previous chronic pain condition.

Ive had chest pain every day since March. Ive developed internal shaking. I get the dizzy spells. Ive developed tachycardia. Tiny blood clots. Ear popping. Ive lost my voice. There are days I go without talking. I kept asking, when is this going to stop? I couldnt lay flat. I had to sleep in a recliner for over two and a half months. At one point, I was thinking about a will. I was thinking I wasnt going to make it.

I have not been able to work. My job consists of speaking eight to 12 hours. With me being hoarse, I cant even talk 15 minutes.

I have not gotten paid from my employer since May. My disability was denied. Its like this disbelief. They dont believe me and thousands of us Covid long-haulers that have these symptoms.

76 Days SINCE SYMPTOMS BEGAN

Tony Pinero, 57, owned a ride-share business in Las Vegas before testing positive for the virus in July.

They say you dont have Covid anymore, you are Covid-free, but that is not true. Now I have post-Covid, and post-Covid seems like its worse. I still have the headaches. I still feel dizzy. The thing that worries me the most is me being winded all the time. Its hard for me to walk up the stairs.

This has been such a detriment to my business that my business is virtually closed. I cant drive.

My doctor is saying, Hey, Tony, its just in your head. No its not. Its not in my head. I dont want to sit here and not be able to breathe. I dont want to sit here and stay and do nothing. I want to go to work. I have to pay my car payments. Ive got to pay my credit cards. Ive got to pay my bills. Why would I want to sit at home?

188 DAYs SINCE SYMPTOMS BEGAN

Manuella Fehertoi, a bank worker in Middletown, N.J, tested positive for the virus in March. At 61, she had a history of asthma, and was hospitalized for seven days. Since then, she has been on oxygen at home and unable to work.

Its depressing. I am still as sick as I was back then. I still have spikes of my fever. I still have spikes of chest pain or difficulty breathing. There are days I can barely come out of bed. I had a minor stroke at the end of May. Still, today, the upper right side of my face is numb.

Dont get me started on my hair loss. I try not to look in the mirror too much because it is just devastating. I used to color my hair and get all makeup going. I look like I have aged 20 years. There is no shame, but its not me.

When people are for so long feeling this bad, constantly in pain, constantly in such anxiety of the unknown, they turn to the doctor, and the doctors dont know either. That starts to bring you down, that starts to be part of your life. Its like one big cocktail to make you anxious, frustrated, depressed. I just want to get back to being me. Lively, funny. I loved my job. I loved the people I worked with. Doing things with my children. Going to the beach, swimming, playing tennis. I cant do anything. I cant even walk around my backyard.

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Its Not in My Head: They Survived the Coronavirus, but They Never Got Well - The New York Times

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