THE "LONG HAUL"

By David Heaton Editor/Public Information Officer

For many, COVID-19 has left a lasting impact on health

Curtis, a local business owner, recently awoke one morning to the sound of an alarm. He peered at the clock readout, puzzled. It was thirty minutes earlier than his usual wake-up time. “Why in the world would I have changed that?” he wondered. Confused, he went back to sleep. Later that morning he found out he had missed an important meeting, although he had been aware of it the night before - enough to set his alarm to make sure he would make it on time. Such forgetfulness was unlike Curtis, who was used to managing multiple responsibilities. But memory lapses and brain fog had become a problem, along with a host of other symptoms left over from a family outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of 2020. “We got it about a week after Christmas,” recalls Curtis. “We had one party together. Then someone had a headache and soon there were other mild symptoms. We all tested positive for COVID-19.” Curtis experienced some loss of taste and smell with a slight fever and headache. After a couple weeks, when he was no longer contagious and would be considered “recovered” from the virus, he began experiencing a progression of severe symptoms. “I developed a racing pulse, fatigue, and daily headaches,” Curtis says. But the worst issue was shortness of breath. “Trying to get air

into my lungs became a problem. I worked in an emergency room for 27 years, and found myself in the same panic as patients I had seen who were struggling to breathe. When that happens, nothing seems more important than getting air. I’d have to sit down and recover after taking a flight of stairs.” Repeated visits to a doctor along with tests and scans showed nothing out of ordinary, other than high blood pressure and rapid pulse, which Curtis had never had before. “My doctor had seen other post-Covid patients before and attributed my problems to being a long hauler.” “Long hauler” is a term describing people who have survived the COVID-19 illness but continue to suffer symptoms and problems long after testing negative for the disease. These effects can last months before going away, although some long-haulers are still struggling over a year after being infected. Current estimates suggest between 10%-30% of COVID-19-positive cases experience persistent symptoms as long haulers, even if asymtpomatic, although a newer study suggests that number may be over 70% for patients who were hospitalized. There have been hundreds of long haul symptoms reported, and there is the possibility that some of these were coincidental and not related to COVID-19. However, the most common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, sleep disorders, and “brain fog.” Reports of ongoing headaches, chest pain, cough, loss of smell or taste, depression, and memory loss are also typical. Long haulers can be any age, including children, who are otherwise at low risk of COVID-19 complications. The long hauler phenomenon has gradually gained more attention in the media and healthcare professions. In Utah, a private Facebook support group called “Utah Covid-19 Long Haulers (30+ days)” emerged, which has over 3,000 members and advocates for the recognition and treatment of those who are affected. Recently, the University of Utah opened a new clinic to specifically treat long haulers and conduct research. Services there are open to residents of the Mountain West region and require a referral from a primary care provider. Appointments and additional information can be found by calling 801-2130884. Healthcare providers, in the meantime, are encouraged to continue to follow up with their long hauler patients and stay informed about new developments in diagnosis and treatment. Curtis’ doctor, already experienced with long haulers, enabled him to avoid expensive tests and admission to a hospital. His wife and business partners were able to hold things together, especially during times he would have to sleep an extra six hours to recover from putting in just two hours of work in a day. Medications helped get his blood pressure under control. He started the habit of writing notes and reminders to himself to counteract memory issues. Curtis’ health has gradually improved. The headaches finally tapered off and his sense of taste and smell has mostly returned. “I’m 90% back,” he declares. “I’m still struggling with fatigue and brain fog but my pulse is normal and I can do most daily activities. Exercise is out of the question though, it’s wiped me out every time I’ve tried it.” He’s had plenty of time to read and do some research of his own over the past few months. Curtis mentions a theory he came across that indicates some long hauler symptoms may be neurologically based. “Could it be that COVID-19 affects brain functions that control things like breathing versus physical damage to the affected parts of the body?” he wonders. “That might explain why my xrays and scans didn’t show anything unusual.” As Curtis and thousands of other long haulers continue to function as best as they can, some recover. Others are still in the process, and some are nearly disabled. Fortunately, more attention and research is providing hope that better treatment can be found, and long haulers are at least having their voices heard.

Datura wrightii Found alongside roads, ditches, and sandy washes from 1,000 to 6,000 feet in elevation.