What does post-COVID fatigue feel like? I’ll tell you.
A few weeks ago after my bout with COVID, I thought I felt well enough for a ride around the neighborhood on my bike. I thought wrong. One lap around my block and I was done.
According to a recent article from Cognitive FX, post-COVID fatigue is very real. Symptoms include feeling dull and tired all the time and feeling like your battery drains way faster than it used to. Include also aches and pains in the body, headaches, sleep problems and brain fog. Check, check, check, check.
Cognitive FX says “many COVID long-haulers experience a debilitating array of symptoms, including breathlessness, muscle pain and a persistent cough.” My wife had COVID and has all of those symptoms now, weeks after she tested positive for her second round of COVID. In fact, the asthma she had as a child has returned.
My wife and I are active people. Well, we used to be. Just looking at my treadmill right now wears me out. How long will this last?
Cognitive FX says “a recent study of more than 1,200 long-haulers found that more than half the patients complained of fatigue six months after their infection, and one in five still suffered from it 12 months later.”
Also, “patients can be unwell during acute COVID-19 but then recover quickly, while others with a mild case may go on to develop fatigue for a long time afterward.”
Cognitive FX recommends a few steps sufferers can take to manage their fatigue. These steps include a strict sleep pattern, 30-minute naps after a taxing task, regular exercise, relaxation exercises such as yoga, measured breathing and a balanced diet.
It seems that COVID is here to stay. The good news is post-COVID fatigue can be managed, symptoms will fade and I can return to my outside adventures in the near future.
