Thread by @DavidLat

THREAD. Here are a few thoughts on what it means to "recover" from COVID-19 -- in addition to my @latimes op-ed from earlier this month, which is all about what we mean by "recovery."

lat.ms/2ZSHWgf

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

My main points:

1. Recovery from COVID often takes much longer than many expect.

2. Recovery is very different for different people.

3. Surviving COVID isn't necessarily a "happily ever after" ending.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

We often think of COVID outcomes as binary: survival = good, death = bad.

We focus a lot on COVID death figures -- as well we should, since 150K deaths is terrible.

But the death total doesn't tell the whole story.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

There are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Americans who have survived COVID, but whose lives will not be the same.

That damage to the quality of life of so many people must be taken into account as well.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

Gregg Garfield, 54, spent 64 days in the hospital, 31 on a ventilator. He's lucky to be alive.

But he lost most of his fingers to COVID complications. His hands will never be the same.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

bit.ly/30UhOCc

Survivors of COVID have reported dangerous blood clotting and strokes; heart, kidney, and liver problems; muscle aches; debilitating fatigue; and cognitive and psychological difficulties.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

We're constantly learning about new long-term damage from COVID. Just this week, for example, studies revealed how the virus damages heart tissue.

nbcnews.to/3gejVaf

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

Even starting to "recover" from COVID often takes much longer than many people realize or expect. See this (great) thread by @ahandvanish, which you should read in its entirety.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus #longcovid

https://twitter.com/ahandvanish/status/1287525539859910657

I'll highlight three of her tweets. Here is one about the many "long-haulers" with COVID aka #LongCovid, calculating that there could be almost 1.5 million of us.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus #recovery

https://twitter.com/ahandvanish/status/1287525545488658434

Here's one about how in a certain sense COVID survivors are "lucky," in that our struggles are getting lots of attention -- not the case for many others with long-term illness before us.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

https://twitter.com/ahandvanish/status/1287541188611002368

And here are some helpful resources and support groups for #LongCovid sufferers.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

https://twitter.com/ahandvanish/status/1287864890615427072

Do I consider myself a #LongCovid sufferer? That's a tough question, much like the "are you recovered yet" question I wrote about earlier this month.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

lat.ms/2ZSHWgf

Going back to @ahandvanish's earlier tweet about the @CDC research, I certainly wasn't back to baseline 14-21 days after testing positive.

cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/6…

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus

I had a terrible cough and shortness of breath that lasted for almost three months (March through May), as well as a hoarse voice (thanks to the ventilator) for about that long. That's certainly #LongCovid.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus #recovery

But on the other hand, I'm lucky enough that these symptoms DID go away -- not the case for many. In medical terms, I feel fairly "recovered," and I continue to feel better each week.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus #recovery

I'm slowly regaining my lung capacity and cardiovascular fitness. I can't run for miles like I used to -- but at least I can walk for miles, which wasn't the case when I first came home from the hospital.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus #recovery

Lately I've been trying to do after-work walk/jog sessions (sometimes including wind sprints). I consider myself fortunate in that I can do this (without wheezing), even if I'm a far cry from my former self.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus #recovery

Will I return to my former self, my so-called "baseline"?

I don't know. Maybe I will, or maybe I won't.

That uncertainty -- and anxiety -- is a big part of what surviving Covid is all about.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #COVID #coronavirus #recovery

But to end (at least for now) on a positive note:

1. I'm so happy and grateful to be alive.

2. I'm so thankful to everyone who cared for and supported me when I was sick.

3. I'm so lucky to be recovering as well as I am.

#COVID19 #COVIDー19 #coronavirus