Amy Watson has had a chronic fever for 344 days.
Almost a year after being diagnosed with COVID-19, the Portland, Oregon, professor still suffers from continuous symptoms.
In addition to the fever, Watson told Insider that she still suffers from chronic fatigue, ‘brain fog’, severe migraines, gastrointestinal problems and severe bodily pain.
The 47-year-old woman, who had no health problems before getting the virus, also developed tachycardia and says that every time she gets into the shower, her heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute.
“It is really challenging. I don’t want people to know from experience what it is like, ”Watson told Insider.
Watson is among a growing group of long-standing victims of COVID, or so-called ‘long-haulers’, whose bodies have been weakened by a virus about which little is known.
But now, post-recovery clinics serviced specifically for long-haulers are opening up across the country and are offering people like Watson much-needed hope.
Post-COVID clinics offer a “centralized” way to gain access to long distance care for
According to a CDC study published in the summer, about 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 will experience symptoms that last longer than the normal two weeks.
The symptoms, which can range from a continuous cough to scarred lungs, affect not only people who have had to be hospitalized with COVID-19, but also those with milder cases.
The post-COVID call centers aim to bring together a team of specialists from a wide range of specialties to address all the broad issues facing long trucks, based on the latest knowledge of the disease.
One of the first of these clinics was Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. It has served 1,500 people since the inauguration in May.
Dr. Ruwanthi Titao, a cardiologist who works at the clinic, told Insider: “The aim of the center was to fill this void of patients who seek care, who are feeling frustrated, worried and concerned about not being able to access good care at the clinic. community.
“And this was a cool, centralized way of giving them access to care, documenting their symptoms so that we can start recognizing patterns in terms of the disease, and then refer them to the appropriate specialist for appropriate therapy,” she added.
Patients usually have an hour-long intake visit to review their medical history before examining their current coronavirus-induced symptoms.
“From that point on, the post COVID office will make the appropriate referrals. This would be, for example, for cardiology, neurology, rehabilitation medicine or psychiatry, ”said Dr. Titano.
But treating people with multiple symptoms – and often severe ones – is a challenge for a disease that still lacks long-term research.
Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn, the medical director of the Covid Activity Rehabilitation Program at the Mayo Clinic (CARP) in Rochester, Minnesota, told Insider that his center is taking a “slow and steady” approach based on treatments used before the pandemic of coronavirus.
“You know, this is not the first coronavirus outbreak. We had SARS and MERS, for example, and we already have some research from that time that definitely shows that there was a post-viral syndrome similar to this one, too.” he said.
“What we emphasize with our patients is to help them adapt and develop what is called a ‘Paste’ therapy program, where they slowly, with practical help, engage in rehabilitation,” continued Dr. Vanichkachorn.
“It’s all about slow activity and consistent with small gains.”
The therapy usually incorporates simple measures, such as encouraging patients to increase their fluid and salt intake or giving them compression stockings to aid blood flow.
“And then, if we really need it, we can also use drugs to help with the symptoms, whether to increase blood pressure, if necessary, or to help with things like increased heart rate,” added Dr. Vanichkachorn.
Dr. Titano of Mount Sinai confirmed that her recovery clinic was taking a similar approach.
“We are healers and healers, we want to have a clear diagnosis and we want to fix that. But when there are outbreaks of symptoms, or when there are relapses or setbacks, of course, we take this very seriously,” Dr. Titano said.
But, while Dr. Titano admits that “it has been a very arduous and slow improvement process”, she remains hopeful.
Mental health is also a problem
Clinics, such as Mount Sinai, are also giving patients access to social workers or therapists to deal with their trauma.
Many long-distance travelers, especially those who have been hospitalized, have experienced depression or, in some cases, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This is the case with Heather-Elizabeth Brown, a 36-year-old corporate trainer from Detroit, Michigan, who had to be put on a respirator in April, after coronavirus-induced pneumonia made her lungs fail.
Brown, who was in a coma for 31 days, said his experience was “traumatic”.
Shortly after doctors told him that a respirator would be the only way to save his life, Brown had to have a “FaceTime family reunion” to make his decision. Her mother had to answer the call from the hospital parking lot.
“I remember writing my will on a napkin and putting it on one of my boots and making sure to tell the nurses where I was, just in case,” said Brown. “I just didn’t know at the time if I was going to make it out alive.”
Heather-Elizabeth Brown in the hospital. (Heather-Elizabeth Brown)
“I have a very strong faith. Trust in God. But it’s one of those things that you don’t know. It was just a big question mark, ”she added.
Brown is currently undergoing therapy along with a number of different treatments.
“I’m lucky that a lot of my care is under a health care system. So at least all my records are in one place,” said Brown.
“But for people who may have other challenges or different access barriers, having a center that also provides mental health assistance is a phenomenal idea. It’s like a one-stop shop, ”she added.
Long-haulers feel forgotten
Professor Watson said that finding treatment for all of her conditions has been frustrating and she often feels rejected by health professionals.
The United States is still struggling with tens of thousands of acute cases of COVID-19 a day and many states are now turning their focus to administering the vaccines as soon as possible. This usually means that the long-haulers are set aside.
“When we go to our appointments, doctors tell us that they don’t think our symptoms are severe enough and tell us that they are not going to waste time with us. And that is quite disconcerting as a patient,” continued Watson.
That was part of the reason why Watson started one of Facebook’s largest long distance support groups.
For Watson, having a program specifically adapted for long-haul trucks would be “life changing”.
“I personally would love to go to one, but unfortunately there are none in my area at the moment. But that is definitely something I am advocating,” she said.
“People just need to understand that we are getting a little impatient. We would like to improve and return to our lives and we hope that we do not have a significant portion of the population disabled by this disease ”, he added.
This article was originally published by Business Insider.
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