“It’s not in my head”: They survived Covid-19, but they never worked

Candice Taylor has been unable to work since being infected with the coronavirus in March in Roswell, Georgia on September 25, 2020. There are 7 million known cases of coronavirus nationwide, and more people are suffering from persistent symptoms. on. (Linsey Weather Spoon / New York Times)

They caught the coronavirus a few months ago and survived, but were still stuck at home and out of breath. They are no longer contagious, but some feel so sick that they can barely walk around the block, while others are dizzy trying to make a supper. Every month, they rush to the hospital with new symptoms and ask their doctor for an answer.

As the coronavirus spread throughout the United States over a seven-month period and infected at least 7 million people, some subsets suffered from the severe and debilitating mysterious effects of COVID-19 that lasted much longer than days or weeks. I’m suffering.

Months after their first illness, this group of patients struggling with a series of alarming symptoms has come to call themselves “long-distance carriers,” but thousands. It is believed to go up to. Their situation, which is still poorly understood by the medical community, can play an important role in shaping the country’s ability to recover from a pandemic.

According to some estimates, one in three patients with COVID-19 develops prolonged symptoms. Symptoms can be widespread — stinging chest pain, deep malaise, and heartbeat. Affected are young and healthy people. One theory is that the excessive immune system plays a role.

Some can’t work. Many people may need long-term medical care.

Still, many say that their biggest challenge is to get others to believe in them.

“There are many misconceptions,” says Marissa Oliver, 36, who dragged herself into an emergency treatment clinic in New York because she was still struggling to breathe long after she experienced classic viral symptoms. I did. Medical expert advice? Let’s go home and have a glass of wine.

“I started sobbing in the lobby,” Oliver said, adding that he was misdiagnosed as having anxiety. “I have never been so ill in my life.”

In an interview, four people who suffered from a prolonged condition long after being infected with the coronavirus described their experiences. Their words have been edited and summarized for clarity.

Symptoms 199 days from Vegas

“I was a weight lifter, kayak, hiker, torrent rafting. I can’t do anything right now.”

Karla Monteroso, 39, from Los Angeles, leads an organization advocating for representing blacks and Latins in the tech industry, but has been unable to work full-time since March. She couldn’t be tested until about a month after she first got sick, and only recently has she tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.

Before this, I was doing weight lifters, kayaking, hikers and torrent rafting. I can’t do anything physically without hurting myself now. It’s like someone cut your battery pack in half and doubled the charging time. I have to be mentally prepared for the shower.

In the first few months I didn’t believe in myself. Is this in my head? A few weeks ago, when I got an antibody test saying that it was positive, I sobbed for about an hour. It was like a piece of paper saying that this happened to me. Before that, no one in the medical world believes in you because you are always questioning your body.

There was no public health campaign on this. Some relatives believe that COVID can be cured with hot water and lemon. I have a relative who thinks he is ill because he has too much work to do.

I was easily exposed to this, had no symptoms, and may have been fine today. You have no control over this. It’s all Russian roulette, and while you can minimize the time at bat, you can’t eliminate them. That is a very unpleasant truth.

Symptoms 189 days from Vegas

“At one point I was thinking about a will. I didn’t think I was going to get it done.”

Candice Taylor, 38, worked in the billing and recovery department of a hospital in Atlanta when she tested positive for the virus in March. She described the long-term coronavirus symptoms and the exacerbation of her previous chronic pain condition.

My chest hurts every day from March. I have developed an internal shake. To feel dizzy. I developed tachycardia. A small blood clot. I can hear. I can’t make a voice. There are days when I go without talking. I kept asking, when does this stop? I couldn’t lie flat. I had to sleep in a reclining chair for more than two and a half months. At one point I was thinking about a will. I thought I wasn’t going to get it done.

I couldn’t work. My job is to talk for 8 to 12 hours. I can’t speak for 15 minutes because I can’t speak.

I haven’t been paid by my employer since May. My obstacle was denied. It’s like this distrust. They do not believe that I and thousands of us COVID long-haul carriers who have these symptoms.

76 days from symptom Vegan

“It’s not in my head.”

Tony Pinero, 57, owned a ride-sharing business in Las Vegas before a positive virus test in July.

They say you don’t have a COVID anymore, you’re COVID free, but that’s not true. Now I have a post COVID, and the post COVID seems it’s worse. I still have a headache. I’m still dizzy. My biggest concern is that I’m always involved. It’s difficult to climb the stairs.

This is very detrimental to my business and my business is virtually closed. I can’t drive.

My doctor says, “Hey, Tony, it’s in your head.” No, it’s different. It’s not in my head. I hate sitting here and not being able to breathe. I don’t want to sit here and stay and do anything. I want to go to work. I have to pay for the car. I have to pay my credit card. I have to pay the invoice. Why do i want to sit at home?

Symptoms 188 days from Vegas

“It’s like one big cocktail to make you anxious, frustrated, and depressed.”

Manuella Fehertoi, a bank clerk in Middletown, NJ, tested positive for the virus in March. He had a history of asthma at the age of 61 and was hospitalized for 7 days. Since then, she has been oxygenating at home and has been unable to work.

It seems to be depressing. I’m still as sick as I was back then. I’m still feverish. I still have chest pain and dyspnea spikes. There are days when I can barely get out of bed. I had a mild stroke at the end of May. Still, today, the upper right corner of my face is numb.

Do not start hair loss. Mirrors are devastating, so I try not to look in them too much. I used to color my hair and make everything up. I seem to be 20 years old. No shame, but not me.

When people have long felt so bad, constantly in pain, and constantly worried about the unknown, they rely on doctors, and they don’t even know. It begins to disappoint you and it begins to become part of your life. It’s like a big cocktail to make you anxious, frustrated and depressed. I just want to go back to me. Lively and interesting. I loved my job. I loved the people I worked with. Do things with my kids. Go to the beach, swim, play tennis. I can’t do anything. You can’t even walk around the backyard.

© 2019 New York Times News Service