LONG COVID Have you gotten Covid? Are you still feeling run-down, have trouble concentrating, or still can’t catch your breath? As more people have gotten sick, more people are having symptoms that don’t seem to go away, or start impacting other aspects of their health. People have been calling it Long Covid and some folks have been sick since their first Covid infection 2 years ago while others have been struggling for weeks even though they aren’t testing positive and they don’t know why. Anywhere between 15% and 30% of people who are infected with Covid go on to have Long Covid symptoms, with symptoms manifesting alongside or right after their initial infection or months later.
Some of the more common symptoms are fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath but... Covid affects multiple organs, not just your lungs but your heart, brain, stomach, pancreas and can cause systemic (body-wide) health problems. After having Covid initially, people have reported stomach issues, joint pain, and problems with their eyesight, things not commonly associated with Covid or present during the initial infection. While things like a smoker’s cough, or regularly getting high can mask some of these lingering symptoms, it’s important to be aware of what’s going on with your body and if you’re feeling more run down or foggy than usual.
Even when every precaution is taken, it is not a moral failing to become sick. There’s a long history of moralizing disease including illnesses such as AIDS or Mpox that is propped up by disinformation and targeting certain minority groups. We can take precautions as best we can but without larger societal changes in Covid safety, such as widespread masking, testing, and proper indoor air filtration, we are at an increased risk of Covid whenever we are sharing air. This is why it’s also important to avoid sharing drug use materials, not just syringes but pipes, straws, keys or anything else where you could transmit an infection.
There is a myth being spread that the Covid vaccine is causing these post-viral symptoms. While we are still learning about Covid and how it affects our bodies, many studies have been performed regarding the safety and usefulness of the vaccine. While there have been adverse reactions in some people, as with any medication, overall catching Covid is much more damaging to your body and the lingering impact of the Covid virus such as heart damage and neurological damage outweigh the potential risks of the vaccine. People who use drugs often face a lot of stigma. Being vaccinated can mean the difference between not getting sick, or just having to rest at home, versus needing to go to the doctor or hospital.
You’re Not Alone. It can be confusing, painful and lonely to be sick but the media and government officials are saying that Covid is “over”. You can find support online with groups like https://www.wearebodypolitic.com/covid-19 providing a safe space for people with Long Covid and lingering symptoms to talk and share information with each other. For more information visit nextdisitro.org/Covid-19
LONG COVID “I’m Young I Don’t Need to Worry!” You can more easily catch Covid and Long Covid if you are a smoker, have diabetes, or have a weakened immune system, among other pre-existing conditions. Not just old people or sick people are catching Covid, plus this winter experts believe we will see a surge in people getting the flu and other respiratory diseases.
I Wear a Mask, What Else Can I Do? Keeping your immune system strong means getting enough sleep, proper nutrition, and keeping yourself healthy so that your body can fight off an infection when it needs to. That’s not always possible, but doing what you can is better than doing nothing. Just these things alone will not protect you from Covid, you also need to be up-to-date on your vaccines. You can go to vaccines.gov to find a place near you for free Covid vaccinations and boosters. If you’re using drugs, keeping up on healthy habits can offset some of the physical toll regular drug use may take on your body.
I Got Covid, Now What? If you are feeling sick, it is important to Stop, Rest, and Pace. Ignoring all your body’s signals and pushing yourself harder will make your recovery time longer and can increase the chance you will experience Long Covid or lingering symptoms. Check out these helpful tips for recovering from Covid: So You Got Covid
RESOURCES CDC Long Covid Survey Covid causes heart damage in many people, including those who were relatively healthy before Covid and people who didn’t get very sick when they initially had Covid. These long term effects are still being studied but it’s clear that Covid causes damage to many different organs. If you are experiencing symptoms you can be part of a research project conducted by the The National Institutes of Health (NIH) to understand how people recover from a COVID-19 infection and why some people do not fully recover and develop long COVID or post-COVID conditions.
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RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19 (nature.com) The supply of COVID antivirals is increasing, but many patients aren’t using them