Long Covid: what is it and what help is available?
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Long Covid has been somewhat confounding to medical experts, and there are still many unknowns about root causes, how prevalent it is, the most effective treatments, and exactly how long it might last. The list of symptoms associated with the condition is extensive, but a recent study of nearly 4,000
people with long Covid symptoms found the most frequently reported were: Who tends to get long Covid?
Whether someone develops long Covid or not doesn’t seem to be linked to how ill they were with the virus initially – less than 10% in the study were actually hospitalised with Covid-19 at any point. Some were asymptomatic. Many didn’t even get a positive test result, as testing wasn’t widely available to the public early on in the pandemic. Long Covid affects a broad range of ages (including children) and many patients were previously fit and healthy. It seems to affect women more than men.
Talking to your GP
If you or a loved one is suffering from symptoms you think might be long Covid, speak to your GP. There are now official clinical guidelines in the UK for managing the long-term effects of COVID-19, which means it should be easier to get a diagnosis and a management plan for your symptoms. However, these are still being worked on as more is discovered about the condition, and they’re new – so not all doctors will be up to speed yet. In this case, it’s ok to share information like NICE guidelines (evidencebased guidance for diagnosing and managing conditions) and research that’s been done into Long Covid. Your GP may do some tests including a blood test, heart rate and blood pressure measurement, or a chest x-ray. They may then make a referral to one or more specialists if there are complications with specific conditions, or to a multidisciplinary long Covid clinic if this is available. Keeping a symptom diary can be key, as this will help with tracking how different symptoms come and go or get worse or better. Try and identify the main symptoms causing you problems, and start with these. If you’re not getting anywhere, don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion.
Support groups
Many people suffering with long Covid have found online support groups helpful, both for learning more about the condition and sharing experiences with others. These groups were vital in campaigning for the recognition that long Covid is now getting. The ‘Long Covid Support‘ group on Facebook – for people suffering with the condition and their relatives or friends – is one example of a wide community through which people have been able to share advice, and be informed of, or get involved in, research into long Covid.
Specialist referrals
People with long Covid are often referred to one or more specialists for further investigation and treatment of different symptoms. This may be to respiratory, cardiology, and neurology treatment, as well as rehabilitationfocused services, such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and clinical psychology. For long
Covid patients, the level of admin involved in juggling multiple appointments and specialists can be exhausting. Going for multiple tests and attending appointments often triggers fatigue and relapse of symptoms, creating a vicious cycle. Ways to help mitigate this could include:
Keeping a symptom diary
Asking for help with collating records of appointments, hospital letters, medication history and test results
If your GP surgery has a patient app, it may be possible to keep track of some information here
Request wheelchair assistance at the hospital prior to the appointment, to avoid having to walk around a lot when you get there.
Healthcare professionals – be it the GP, a specialist, or a rehabilitation service – should work with long Covid patients to figure out a plan for monitoring their condition. This should help to bring multiple facets of treatment under one plan for care.