there are some guides circulating on what to do if you are infected with COVID. many of them are helpful, but few address the possibility of #LongCovid. So, I figured I'd share some tips for the acute phase of a COVID infection that account for potential long-term symptoms
1) test early, test often: accessing testing can be hard af (especially during a surge + holidays, and especially if you're sick and struggling to drive and navigate bureaucracy). As tempting as it may be to say ok I'm symptomatic, I'm just gonna stay home, no need to test...
a positive COVID test result serves as a COVID diagnosis for many clinicians, and will likely make it MUCH easier to access care for long-term symptoms should you develop them. patients w/o initial tests have experienced more gaslighting from clinicians⬇️ businessinsider.com/long-covid-pat…
2) don't push yourself: Even mild cases can lead to #LongCovid, and pushing past fatigue + exercising too much, too early, can exacerbate health issues. If you feel like resting, rest! @MEActNet has more resources on rest + pacing for post-viral illness theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
3) track your symptoms: if your symptoms persist for over a month / you develop #LongCovid it's likely you'll witness your symptoms change over time. It's helpful to have a log of what you've experienced so you can accurately convey your symptom trajectory to care providers...
When I was sick, I texted myself every day w/ updates on my symptoms. Other patients prefer apps or google spreadsheets. That being said, it is not always easy to keep track of these things while sick – consider identifying a caregiving team of friends + family who can help.
4) mindset: remember that while you can take steps to try to improve long-term outcomes from COVID infections, there is no way to *guarantee* a swift recovery from a Covid-19 infection. You are not doing anything wrong, nor are you to blame, if you develop #LongCovid.
finally, please note that all of these suggestions are limited in a world where testing access is difficult, healthcare systems are flawed, and necessary workplace protections aren't in place. many don't have the privilege to spend time seeking out testing, or resting.
and if you do develop #LongCovid, know that there is a big online community providing emotional support, guidance + validation. @itsbodypolitic has a pinned thread w/ support groups + orgs around the world, and more resources can be found here: wearebodypolitic.com/resources
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