I've been reporting on COVID-19 since the coronavirus pandemic started, and I thought I knew what an infection would be like for a young, otherwise healthy person like me. Though they may not always amount to the debilitating cases of long COVID-19 that can leave people bedridden or unable to perform daily functions, it's very common to take weeks to fully recover - a condition I've been thinking of as "medium COVID." These are just a few COVID-19 symptoms that can linger after an initial coronavirus infection. The inability to smell milk that has gone bad. Allow others to help with day-to-day tasks so you can save energy for the activities you enjoy.Nina Feldman, a reporter for member station WHYY in Philadelphia, had COVID-19 symptoms that persisted into what she calls "medium COVID." Often people only prioritise things that seem necessary as they return to daily life, but it’s important to have a balance. Try to avoid returning to work too soon and without the adjustments that you need to manage fatigue. You may also need a fit note from your GP. A phased return works best which is planned with your manager and, if you have one, your occupational health department. You may need longer off work than initially anticipated. So, go slow and steady with activities and avoid pushing through fatigue. Occupational therapists working with people with long-term fatigue may only increase activity levels every couple of weeks. People often increase activity levels too quickly, which can set them back. Try to do them only for set times with regular rest in between. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, check out the tips and advice from NHS Every Mind Matters.Ĭontinue to limit everyday ‘thinking’ activities, such as emails, planning shopping, making decisions, as these all use energy. If this isn’t possible, create a realistic one to follow for now and gradually adjust back to your normal routine. Slowly resume your routine for sleeping, eating and daily activities. Routine helps your body to stabilise itself. Stop and do nothing, calm your mind, and try breathing or guided relaxation techniques. Your body still needs rest to continue healing, so take short breaks throughout the day, even if you don’t think you need to. Be mindful that you may feel more tired the next day. Slowly try a small amount of light activity that is manageable (probably less than you think) with regular rests. If you still feel fatigued after self-isolation but overall, you’re improving, keep being gentle with yourself. Your body still needs to focus on fighting the infection. Unless you feel fully recovered after self-isolation, you shouldn’t work. You may feel pressure to resume your usual activities quickly, but don’t rush.ĭo some low energy activities that you enjoy, such as reading or watching TV, for short periods with regular rests. Its impact afterwards doesn’t always reflect the severity of the virus and you don’t have to have been hospitalised to experience fatigue. Try to do only a small number of these activities each day, including basic activities of daily living, such as washing and dressing.ĬOVID-19 affects people differently, so give yourself time to recover. This will keep your body mobile and help with circulation.īoth physical and cognitive (thinking) activities use energy. Get up and move around slowly and gently a few times each day. Being ill with a temperature can make you dehydrated so make sure you drink fluid when you’re thirsty and enough so that you pass urine with normal frequency and volume. Try to keep your normal routine for eating and drinking. Make sure you follow healthy sleep habits: ensure your room is as dark as possible, have a bedtime routine, and avoid caffeine, eating late and using electrical items before bed. You may find that you need to sleep more. If a strategy doesn’t work for you, try another one until you find one that does. Sensory relaxation tools such as fragrances, blankets, and relaxing music can also help. Relaxation, breathing and meditation can all support quality rest – the NHS Apps Library has free tools you can try. Keep television, phones and social media to a minimum. You need to rest both your body and mind. Rest is very important for your body as it fights off infection. If you deteriorate, seek immediate medical help following government guidelines. Remember, this includes isolating from your family/ household wherever possible, even if they have symptoms or are also self-isolating.
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