As of today I ~officially~ have long COVID (as recognized by the CDC), so I wanna take a second to explain what’s happening. To set the stage: I’m 30, I’ve been an athlete my entire life, and I used to be extremely healthy, minus some pesky seasonal allergies. My resting heart 1/
rate used to be ~67, and my blood pressure used to be 120/80. I have no underlying conditions. Right now, I can maybe walk a handful of blocks before passing out. I had a really intense week of COVID with all your classic symptoms. Then they got better, and I thought I was 2/
getting better too. A week later, I tried to go for a walk with my boyfriend, ended up passing out, and he had to carry me home. It took 45 minutes for me to be able to stand without my knees buckling. And now this is my norm. My post-COVID clinic doctor told me that in about 3/
30 percent of cases across the country, they’re seeing patients who have a hyper-functioning central nervous system, which is why long COVID folks are exhausted all the time. It’s also why we feel more pain more intensely—all of those receptors are at 100, always. For whatever 4/
reason, my CNS ramps up my HR whenever I exert myself at all. My new RHR is between 85–95. (My new blood pressure is a whole other issue.) Walking up a flight of stairs can jack my HR up to 140, easily. I’ll hopefully know more about the why when I see a cardiologist—in a 5/
month because that’s how far out they’re booked in the Twin Cities right now. I am, truly, okay, besides being very tired all the time and not being able to do anything active. I’ve got a great support network, decent health insurance, and a sweet little wheelchair I found for 6/
$20 at a thrift store. So while I appreciate well wishes, I’m not sharing for that. I’m sharing because at one point in my life I literally RAN THE MILE UP THE SWITCHBACK WALL OF THE GRAND CANYON, and now I can’t risk standing in the jetway to board a plane. If my heart can be 7/
this affected by COVID, anyone else’s can be. I know it’s been so long, and so many people’s breakthrough COVID cases are mild. But a lot of people’s aren’t. And even if it is mild, a lot of people are seeing issues—cardiac issues being a big one—weeks after they thought they 8/
recovered. Getting vaxxed and boosted is critical—but so is masking. Please make safe choices. Anyway, here’s a cute little pic of my new wheelchair life and the best–wheelchair pusher (and occasional personal carrier) I could ask for. 
Wow! Thank you all so much for your love and support. Unfortunately, since I’m supposed to be cutting out stimulus (screen time included), I can’t respond to everyone. But I’m so moved by y’all 🖤 Here’s hoping everyone struggling with long COVID finds healing.
Ah yes! As a few people have pointed out, I didn’t mention my vax status (that’s COVID brain for you). I was vaccinated twice and got the booster in January, so I was a four-month-ish breakthrough case.
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