COVID-19 Fallout: In it for a long time

COVID-19 Long haul carrier Deb Eleniak is not waiting for the vaccine. Instead, she is worried and waiting for help to free her from her painful and protracted symptoms.

“I’m not vaccinated. I’d like to fix this first,” said a 52-year-old woman in the Chipman region, one of the thousands of Canadians suffering from a mysterious condition. It was.

Studies show that one in three people infected with COVID-19 can develop debilitating fatigue and pain, or problems related to heart, lungs, and cognitive function, according to a CBC report. I am. These statistics could represent up to 200,000 “long-haul carriers” at this point in the pandemic. According to another report from the Journal of the American Medical Association, about 10% of COVID-19 patients will be long-haul carriers.

Eleniac, who felt the full power of the virus last July, has experienced severe pain, malaise, and brain fog ever since.Her plight Great West Media Story Last September.

She said there was still no improvement after more than six months.

“It’s about the same. It’s been going on for so long that it’s a kind of acceptance of’this is where I am’,” says Eleniac, who is still taking at least four extra-strength Tylenol tablets daily. I did. “The sharp pain is still there-sometimes they stop me on my truck.”

Although some long-haul carriers have been reported to be relieved after vaccination, Eleniac, who is taking Lupus hydroxychloroquine, said, “Sufficient about the effects of the vaccine on people with autoimmune diseases. There is no information. ”

To get the answer, Eleniac recently signed up for a clinic at the University of Alberta (one of three in Alberta) to study the post-COVID-19 symptoms of long-haul carriers.

Meanwhile, she continues to work as a forensic pathologist at Edmonton’s Medical Examiner’s Office. Eleniac returned to part-time work in early October and is now working in a modified environment five days a week.

According to Eleniac, who lives with her husband Terry on a dairy farm 77km east of Edmonton, it’s a pain, but returning to work and productivity boosted her mental health. “I have to work because I am sending my daughter to college.”

Even with the close family ties that her first grandson was born last fall, Eleniac admits that she cannot avoid emotionally distressing moments away from home.

“I think this world has changed, but it’s not a good thing,” Eleniac said, adding that he’s heard too many insensitive comments from people who have noticed prolonged symptoms of COVID-19.

“They will hear me speaking in my jarring voice and say,’What does it mean you’ve been like that since July?’

Eleniac also found support from the Facebook group of COVID-19 long-haul carriers (covidlonghaulcanada.com) and said, “It’s calming to know that someone else feels the same as me.”

The· Facebook group of long-distance carriers Founder Susie Golding, who was infected with COVID-19 a year ago and has been unable to work since then, is dissatisfied with the lack of government response.

“Everyone is on their own because long-haul carriers are uncountable. They haven’t even named this (condition),” Golding said.

“This is an urgent situation. It’s a tsunami of people and we’re running against time,” she said.

To improve dialogue between long-haul carriers and the states, Goulding has created Facebook branches in Alberta and Quebec, British Columbia, each with its own standards. The Atlantic Canada chapter is also tentative.

COVID Long Haulers Support Group Canada will be submitted to Congress in early April, recognizing long-distance COVID-19 as a condition and asking the federal government to provide financial support to those who are unable to work due to it. Helped to lead the two petitions. ..