I have been sick every day since catching COVID-19 on December 2nd 2020, despite all my efforts and precautions, and was even briefly hospitalized. Never in my life, did I think at age 31 would I be suffering with a chronic disease that would cause such limited quality of life. For example, I suffer from: shortness of breath, constant migraines (that are so painful it is impossible for me to even think), trouble speaking, dysautonomia, blurry vision, relentless fatigue and more. My body has become my own personal prison of which I cannot escape. At my lowest I could not even walk up a flight of stairs or withstand loud noises. I still can’t be in large groups due to the over stimulation of noise.  After visiting every doctor and specialist possible, I continue to receive “clean bills of health” or am belittled to being told it is all psychological and given more prescriptions. I am constantly in pain. I spend 90% of my time resting to avoid a painful crash of symptoms. What I am suffering with is often called, “long hauler syndrome” however, post-viral fatigue has been around for decades.

Dealing with ME(myalgic encephalomyelitis)/CFS or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is what I ultimately believe will be the result of my “long hauler syndrome”.; ME/CFS is a lifelong disease which there is no treatment or cure. There is a lack of recognition in the scientific community despite being almost twice as common as MS (more than 2.5+ million Americans have ME/CFS). Every day more and more longhaulers will become disabled

ME/CFS

Long COVID

public health now

Stanford

Dysautonomia and brainstem

Now despite all of that, I have not given up hope for treatments that may help improve my quality of life. Traditional doctors are not able to help or give me recommendations. I have been forced to work with my own devices and have found some treatments which may help but are not covered by insurance. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and Stem cell infusions both have promising effects on long haulers, but I am already in medical debt and lack the funds to try either of these.

This is why I am here, to ask for support and help from my friends and family because I am dwindling, my quality of life has disabled me from working and supporting myself and what I want most is to gain back my independence and health. I miss being a scientist, being able to exercise, or even walk 10 minutes without intense brain fog and hours of struggling to breathe (followed by post-exertional malaise.) I am utterly desperate, my medical bills are racking up, my window for recovery is fading.  This post viral illness can truly happen to anyone and it’s my dream to educate those be wary of this terrible disease. If anyone is able to provide help for me to start my chapter to recovery it would mean the world to me. I still do not want to give up on my dreams.