Living with Long COVID has taught me valuable lessons inspired by my Siberian cat. Embracing strategic rest, finding joy in small moments, setting boundaries, and accepting quirks are essential. Each day offers opportunities for connection and reflection. Following my cat’s example, I’m learning that a slower pace can still be fulfilling.
Tag: chronic illness
Long COVID Isn’t Left or Right: When Politics Hijacks a Health Crisis
Long COVID has become politicized, leading to a fragmented response to a significant health crisis affecting millions. It's crucial to recognize that Long COVID transcends political beliefs and demands a unified, science-based approach. Addressing this issue requires bipartisan cooperation, focusing on research, care, and genuine understanding rather than ideological battles.
Long COVID: Affects More than Just the Vulnerable
Long COVID misconceptions suggest it only affects the vulnerable; however, many fit individuals, including athletes, have developed severe long-term symptoms. Research indicates that fitness does not guarantee immunity. This belief perpetuates stigma and misinformation. Awareness and support for those affected are crucial to advancing understanding and reducing judgment around long COVID.
Traveling with Long COVID: When to Use a Wheelchair
Travelling with Long COVID feels like navigating a minefield of energy crashes, pain, and the ever-present risk of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). For me, one of the hardest decisions when travelling is whether to use a wheelchair. Should I opt for the smoother, more energy-efficient path, or push through on foot with plenty of breaks? It’s … Continue reading Traveling with Long COVID: When to Use a Wheelchair
Finding Strength in the Slow: My Long COVID Journey
Long COVID has drastically altered the author's life, transforming a once seamless narrative into a series of pauses and unexpected shifts. This condition has imposed the need for patience, forcing the author to adapt to new rhythms and celebrate small victories while managing energy carefully. Despite challenges, resilience and gratitude emerge through the journey.
Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM): A paced Relationship with My Body
Living with Long COVID and Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) is characterized by unpredictable energy levels, making everyday tasks a challenge. The author details their fluctuating experience, balancing activity with the risk of exhaustion. They emphasize the importance of pacing, self-kindness, and recognizing small victories while adapting to this complex relationship with their body.
Living with Long COVID: Navigating a Forgotten Pandemic
Life feels like it’s split into two worlds these days. There’s the world of people who have “moved on” from COVID—living life as if the pandemic never happened—and then there’s ours: the world of people with long COVID, and other Chronic Illness, where every step forward feels like climbing Everest. For many of us, life … Continue reading Living with Long COVID: Navigating a Forgotten Pandemic
Understanding the Benefits of Perching Stools for Chronic Illnesses
The author shares their unexpected journey with a perching stool, initially viewed with skepticism due to its unappealing design. However, it soon becomes a vital tool during their Long COVID recovery, providing comfort and stability, particularly for those with autonomic dysfunction. The stool proves functional, despite its lack of aesthetics.
Celebrating small victories: Living with Long COVID
The author reflects on the significance of small victories while living with long COVID, such as walking for a cappuccino. They highlight the emotional complexities tied to these moments, describing shifts in the perception of success and self-care. Celebrating minor achievements is emphasized as essential for resilience and finding joy amidst challenges.
Understanding Long COVID: More Than Just Deconditioning
Long COVID is a complex condition distinct from simple deconditioning. It presents unique symptoms like brain fog, nerve pain, and post-exertional malaise (PEM), where exertion causes severe fatigue. Autonomic dysfunction further complicates recovery, making exercise challenging. Research indicates it’s not linked to laziness or lack of fitness but involves systemic issues needing careful management.
Long Covid Journey 