Scientists investigate cases of post-Covid-19 fatigue

[Northerner]

Most people experience Covid-19 as a short-term illness: once the infection has been fought off, they bounce back to health. But evidence is emerging of a significant minority – sometimes referred to as “long haulers” – who struggle with long-term symptoms for a month or longer.

Anecdotal reports have abounded of people left with fatigue, aching muscles and difficulty concentrating. Online support groups on Facebook and Slack have sprung up, already hosting thousands of members who say they have not got better.

Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Matt Hancock said it was difficult to gauge the scale of the problem. “This is a really serious problem for a minority of people who have Covid,” the health secretary said. “Some people have long-term effects that look like a post-viral fatigue syndrome.”

Scientists investigate cases of post-Covid-19 fatigue

Some sufferers report long-term symptoms such as aching muscles and difficulty concentrating

www.theguardian.com

 

[MissDaisy]

Hi

Thanks for posting this important thread.

I heard this too a long while ago as I follow Fibro & ME/CFS charities and they were highlighting PVF of significant long term issue. Too early to predict how long the virus will cause these symptoms - I know mono (glandular fever) lead to my Fibromyalgia after an initial period of PVF. Living with these illnesses and having a quality of life can be difficult especially if symptoms are severe.

Been there got the T-shirt with years in bed from physical symptoms (leading to depression) and no PVF/CFS or ME is not yuppie flu or all in people’s heads - it’s real unfortunately. Last year we lost a 21yr old Merryn Croft to severe ME.

Let’s hope this PVF doesn’t lead into ME for the ones reporting this, fingers crossed.

MissDaisy 🙂

 

[mikeyB]

ME/CFS has long been linked to virus infections, coronavirus isn’t special. It’s a complete lottery whether it occurs, but with any luck this might lead to some proper research as to why it happens in some people and not others.

If this brings CFS out of the shadows of psychological guff, then it may well be a good thing. And of course it’s real, it’s happening with coronavirus.

 

[MissDaisy]

Hi Mike 🙂

I 100% agree with you and I do wish it more healthcare professionals had listened previously, as so many experience stigma. At least they are realising that viruses are causing long term fatigue and the ATP (energy) feedback cycle is not working like healthy individuals.

Let’s hope this awfully safe situation does help the ME/CFS community - everyone wishes this didn’t happen however this may help as you say to highlight the plight of individuals suffering with this condition.

MissDaisy 🙂

 

[mikeyB]

Yes indeed. I think it was Simon Wellesy who, back in the nineties, managed to persuade the medical profession that CFS/MS was a psychological condition, though he freely admitted it usually followed a virus infection. His cognitive behaviour therapy has, I'm sure, since been abandoned. Or at least, I hope it has. It's a condition that's been underinvestigated for 40 years or more - indeed for a couple of centuries. Jane Austen wrote of ladies who spent the whole day on their chaise longue ordering around the servants. Florence Nightingale spent most of her life writing her influential books lying in bed with a 'mystery' illness. So did Marcel Proust, come to think. Everyone, of course, thought it was a lifestyle choice of the middle class.

I've got PLS, a variant of MND, so the motor neurones in my legs are giving up the ghost. I can still walk with two crutches for a few yards, but I get a symptom well known by folk who suffer from MS and other neurological rot. That's the energy cost. If I do anything that involves unusual exertion, I pay for it. The other day, I dropped a pyrex dish which shattered on the kitchen floor. After sweeping and hoovering the floor, not long before bed, I was wrecked. Went to bed at 11.30, woke up at 12.50pm the next day dying for a wee, and very wobbly.

I'll bet that sounds familiar. PLS is due to a brain dysfunction.

 

[MissDaisy]

Awww you get it as unfortunately you have a neurological condition like me. There’s still too much stigma about Fibro & ME and yes, Wessley & Sharp research said CBT & GET, however MP Carol Maughan took the debunked paper back to GOV about these treatments being harmful in many cases.

I understand how you must be feeling as living with a chronic illness 24/7 and battling for a quality of life most days is exhausting physically and mentally. I not so long ago dropped my dinner after making it and whereas others would just put something else together but I was too fatigued. Luckily family members shared their portions as I couldn’t face doing tea again!!!!!

I am so sorry you go through something similar daily too - it can be so hard without HCP being dismissive or not showing understanding.

Hope you have had a reasonable day today - I’ve just got my first ever (very cheap Yoho sport) smart watch and done 8k steps so I’ll be suffering tomorrow....eek. Doing a little more lately as fatigue improved when they found & treated Diabetes.

Oh the joys of getting a bit older huh?!?! We plod on 🙂

MissDaisy