Thread by @hevehuve1

Here comes my #longcovid journey. Going back home from cabin holiday March 20th, my sister was driving and started complaining weird pain behind her eyes. She also sneezed slightly. We assumed that it was just due to car air conditioning and her allergies. 1/

Sunday 22nd eating breakfast I suddenly got so tired that I had to go back to sleep. This is when I knew something was seriously wrong. I slept almost the whole day. My sister called me the next day and was feeling unwell. I wasn’t well either. 2/

I had muscle pains, headache and loss of appetite. It didn’t feel like normal flu or a cold. It just felt odd. I called 116 117 and tried to get COVID-19 test but was denied because didn’t have “the usual symptoms”. By this time I was 100 percent certain I had it. 3/

My sister called 116 117 the next day and was lucky enough to receive the test (we had identical symptoms at this point). We waited for the results quarantined at out homes. She got her results on 26th – positive for COVID-19. 4/

I got a phone call from our local infectious disease nurse few minutes after my sister had received her test results. Nurse asked me to come for a test right away (it was 11pm). Next day my results came in, indicating I was also infected with COVID-19. 5/

Quarantine continued. By the end of the first week shortness of breath, chest pressure and lung burning started. On top of that I had almost constant headache, chills, on/off severe diaherrea, palpitations, fatigue, feeling that my spine was inflamed, loss of taste and smell. 6/

My boyfriend also got sick and had quite severe symptoms for 10 days (high fever, extreme chills, shortness of breath, dry cough, severe loss of appetite, diaherrea, complete loss of taste and smell). After 10 days he was over it and has been gradually back to full fitness. 7/

My sister started to improve by the end of second week, kept having some residual stuff for few weeks, but made a full recovery after about a month and a half. My symptoms kept going. By the end of third week they started somewhat improve and I assumed I got through it. 8/

After 4,5 weeks, everything came back with full force. Also new symptoms were introduced: severe tachychardia, numbness/tingling in extremities, insomnia, severe nausea 24/7, complete loss of appetite and vertigo. I had to go to ER. I was seriously dehydrated. 9/

At ER I received another COVID-test. When I found out it was positive I collapsed in tears. Back then there were no stories of long haulers. No one new if prolonged viral shedding was common and would it make a difference on my prognosis. I felt so lonely and scared. 10/

I got some IV fluids, anti-nausea meds and painkillers and was sent home just to return few days later. This time I had elevated D-dimer and abnormal ECG, which made them suspect I had PE. I needed to wait for CT-scan until the next day and was put on blood thinners. 11/

My HR was 130 laying doing and BP 130/100. Highly unusual for me. I felt horrible both mentally and physically. I couldn’t sleep at the hospital. My CT-scan was clear and was told to expect symptoms to resolve with a few weeks. 12/

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. I have been sick for more than half a year and counting. No one knows why and doesn’t even seem to have much interest to find out. 13/

I lived highly active life, had a healthy diet and had no pre-existing medical conditions. #COVIDー19 has left me unable to exercise, return to work or some days even reliably perform simple activities of daily living. I feel like I am not living, just existing. 14/

My story is not unique. There are thousands of others like me. We need to put more effort recognizing, understanding and treating this condition ASAP. Not next month, not next year, #CountLongCovid NOW. 15/