Thread by @nolimitjuni0r

759 days ago was my 1st covid infection and I haven't been the same since. Here's my story. /1 #LongCovidAwarenessDay #LongCovid

No, I was not vaccinated. My course of illness was very mild, with nothing more than a few sniffles for about 4-5 days. My symptoms went away then came back 100x worse, and never left. I was a previously healthy student-athlete with 0 pre-existing conditions. /2

I was on the varsity T&F and Cross country teams. I was in better shape than 90% of America, having to run anywhere from 5-10 miles a day. Not to mention being in the gym strength training. I didn't have the best diet but it wasn't the worst either. /3

I was a student working my ass off to get myself into a good college and pursue my degree in cyber security, which I am currently in the process of doing, even though its been detrimental to my health./4

I was one of those people who thought being young meant being invincible. That couldn't be any farther from the truth. I'm 21 years old and I've lost a year and a half of my life in unimaginable HELL. /5

#LongCovid isn't just being a "little tired" or being overdramatic. Let me show you. /6

Here is a list of things I can't do since I got sick.

-Watch Tv
-Leave the house
-Play video games
-Can't concentrate for more than an hour
- Can't cook
-Showering is incredibly draining
- Can't keep up with relationships (I've lost almost all my friends) /7

-Can't play with my dog
- Can't work
-Cant exercise (Losing muscle by the day)

The list goes on and on. My days are spent laying in bed doing whatever I can to distract myself, so I won't go insane. This is no way to live. I have 0 history of anxiety or depression. /8

Not trying to be a jerk, but my life was far better than most peoples. I was happy and had good people around me. I was never the type of person to complain about anything. /9

One of the hardest things about being sick is having to see the emotional roller coaster your parents go through knowing they can't help. Having to see me suffer and get gaslit by doctors is traumatizing. They miss the vibrant son they used to have. /10

I want the pandemic to be over as much as the next guy, but I can't say that when I and millions of others are disabled because of this "cold". I'm not asking for attention or money; all I want is my life back. I think I deserve a fair shot at life. Is that too much to ask? /11

On #LongCovidAwarenessDay we have to remember there is NO TREATMENT for this condition. If you are one of the unlucky millions your life will never be the same. We need FUNDING. We need RESEARCH. We need TREATMENT. We need URGENCY. We need SUPPORT. We need more ADVOCATES. /12

This is not new. Post-viral illness has been ignored and abused by governments and medical institutions for DECADES. So many lives have been lost to neglect. Post-viral illness, KILLS don't let anyone tell you otherwise. This is a severe condition. /13

The people in power need to answer for their past mistakes and help us. I'm sick of the abuse. You don't need t have #longcovid to be an advocate. All we ask if you fight alongside us to help prevent anyone else from having to suffer like we did. /end #CovidIsntOver