'There was one GP who just thought it was all anxiety.'
People struggling with long-term symptoms of COVID-19 ― dubbed long COVID ― have spoken about the challenges they’ve faced since contracting the coronavirus earlier in the year., published in the British Journal of General Practice Open .
None of those who took part in the interviews had been admitted to hospital during their initial suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection ― and half hadn’t been tested for COVID-19, as testing wasn’t widely available at the time. Of those who were tested, only one had a positive result.
Participants described how the persistent problems they’ve had changed them, often using the phrase “compared with how I used to be.” One man, 60, said of his neurological symptoms: “I wasn’t just fogged, I was confused. I had a very difficult encounter as a result of just being confused about things and that took a long time to resolve. I love words and I enjoy the business of communicating, and I felt that part of my life was lost.
All participants emphasized the importance of finding the right doctor or GP: someone who would listen to and believe them, taking their concerns seriously. “I could still feel this weight on my chest. And then after about 14, 15 days I woke up one morning and it wasn’t there,” she said. “I thought, ‘Oh I’m done.’ It was such a relief, I can remember the feeling, you know thinking, ‘Oh, you know I’ve managed to get through it’.
A 34-year-old female patient said: “Initially it was very encouraging that I wasn’t on my own, and I wasn’t making it all up and I didn’t feel like I was the only one, but the more it’s gone on, it’s scary, so I try to avoid it now, it affects my mental health, and I don’t feel like I resonate any more with some of the stuff.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
5 Very Simple Things That Could Drastically Stop Coronavirus Spikes, According to Dr. FauciThe coronavirus situation should be getting better, not worse.
Read more »
Dodgers did 2 things Wednesday no team has ever done in MLB historyThe Dodgers won the game, 15-3, but it's what they did in the first inning, and through three innings, that could be untouchable for such a timeless game.
Read more »
In pears, a lesson on loving things exactly as they areAlways in the shadow of the more assertive apple, pears shine on their own in this simple salad made of Gruyere, walnuts and sprouts drizzled with a tangy buttermilk dressing.
Read more »