#cw: covid 19

[highladyluck]

I am hungry and nauseous and super depressed, cannot recommend getting covid-19, wear your masks ppl

[one-time-i-dreamt]

Instead of coal, Santa gave the bad kids COVID and the next super wave of the pandemic started. He had to go on the news and reveal himself to apologize as the good kids also got crazy sick.

[pjunicornart]

Vent (cw: covid talk, general depression)

I've been looking at my recent symptoms individually, but in reality, the bigger picture is... I probably have Long Covid. I have been suffering for the past month, and now I'm scared that if this is my diagnosis, I may end up disabled. I wanna go through my symptoms, because I realize Long Covid has like... a million. So this is how it's affecting me.

Extreme Tiredness I can't even get out of bed anymore without feeling out of breath. Walking? Nope. My legs are so weak. Even if I wanna walk to the fridge to refill my water bottle I feel so out of breath. I used to be able to help out around the house for my mom, but now I feel useless because I can't do anything without feeling like I ran a mile. Showering has become such a chore that I can only do it once a week, if that! I feel like I'll pass out if I don't sit down in the shower (I will admit sitting in the shower with the water running down you feels nice, but still...).

Heart I've noticed my heart beat has increased in speed. This scares me a lot because a rapid heart rate could mean I'm not getting proper blood flow. Or... it could lead to heart disease and failure.

Lungs I can't take deep breaths anymore. If I try, my lungs have a spasm and I cough. I also can't laugh, because my lungs spasm.

Coughing Up Mucus This symptom is usually worse at night. I have really bad coughing fits and I cough up mucus. Sometimes, the mucus triggers my gag reflex and I feel like I'm gonna puke. The only remedy that I have found is sitting like I'm in a hospital bed... but it's not comfortable.

Sleeping I haven't been able to sleep properly for weeks. Sometimes it's the coughing fits that keep me up all night, other times I just can't fall asleep. During the day, I'm so tired and all I wanna do is take a nap. But my body won't let me. Even if I do get enough sleep, I'm still so tired.

Menstrual Cycle I missed my period. I still experienced the symptoms when you're about to get your period (tender breasts, heat flashes, etc.), but my actual period never happened. Nobody wants to have a period, but it's still necessary to make sure you're healthy.

I had to stop taking my anti-depressants because it made these symptoms worse, and didn't help at all! I don't think my body will allow me to take any prescription meds now, because it has such a severe reaction. I'm so angry and frustrated because I already feel like a burden, and now this happens? Am I gonna be considered disabled? Will I ever have a normal life again? Can I still pursue my dreams? I'm gonna be blunt - I want my suffering to end, by any means necessary.

Covid is not just a flu or cold. It's a serious condition which can destroy your whole body. The more you have it, the more of a chance you have at developing Long Covid. We're still very much in a pandemic. Wear a mask, be safe. I'm only 22, I should be enjoying my life. But instead, I feel like my life is leading towards being homebound, or committed to a hospital. I'm scared.

[artemis-pendragon]

Not my roommate stomping upstairs and slamming the door in annoyance after I told them I'm gonna wear a mask around them because they had a COVID exposure LMFAOOOOO literally am I insane. Like am I going insane. How are THEY annoyed at ME.

[snarp]

COVID Nostril Swab Self-Test Kits Poll

[audible-smiles]

I can't believe I've developed a cough out of nowhere again. I got COVID for the first time at the beginning of 2024 and I swear I haven't gone a month since without some sort of bullshit. A cold sore or a cough or a sore throat or all of the above. I've been sick off and on with various minor illnesses for what feels like a third of this year. Unsure what to do about this wretched development. I couldn't tolerate an N95 for daily use even back in 2021, so I'm sure I won't be able to do so now. Is there any point (from the perspective of reducing my risk of infection) in going back to the regular disposal surgical-style masks, even if no one else does?

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi Steph, how are you? I hope it's the most comfortable season in your area right now? I had covid in the summer and unfortunately I'm still getting weaker and weaker, so I was wondering if you could recommend some exercises you enjoy? Like YouTube channels or just the names of the exercises would be greatly appreciated. Sending hugs.

Hey Nonny *HUGS*

Yes, we're finally entering the best part of autumn, where the weather is beautiful sweater weather during the day and the evenings are cool. It won't last long, sadly, because we get early wet winters so it will get really cold all the time and just... rain until December, ugh.

Ugh, I feel you about feeling weak after Covid. It took me awhile to get back to my "normal", which is going back to the gym daily and waking up at decent times and sleeping through the night. Took awhile for that.

Oh gosh, okay regarding the fitness thing, I'm trying hard to think back to a couple years ago; I had to get a nutritionist because I had a health scare (I fainted while sitting down and doing nothing) and he wanted me to get back into a routine. Let me tell you, it's SO hard, but his words of encouragement helped SO MUCH MORE than any of those """"fitness influencers"""" and personal trainers (ie. professional torturers lol) ever did because he NEVER expected more than I was comfortable with. He always said "YOU have to want to change, I'm just here to help you on that path".

Currently, I go to the gym pretty much every day for at least an hour and mostly weight lifting. It took nearly a year and a half to get back to that level of fitness for me. Pre-Covid I was doing even more to the point of obsession. Both my nutritionist and my therapist help me with coping mechanisms to ensure that that doesn't happen again. When I was first getting back into exercising, we focussed on the one exercise I LOVED doing: walking. He always said "10 minutes of walking a day is better than not doing it at all." It always started small, and walking was the thing that got me back to exercising. And, little by little 10 became 20 became 30 became an hour, and then going back to the gym was less daunting. My work has a gym which my brain deemed as "safe" in my post-covid anxiety, so I started going back via my work gym. Again, I have previous fitness experience so I started off on machines and then back into my old routines with free weights.

But yeah, definitely some walking or even just some stretching or yoga moves (my nutritionist actually tried to get me to start working out by stretching and meditating, but I don't really like doing either of those). My nutritionist, while he did want me to work towards a healthier lifestyle, never EVER pushed me to do more than I was ready for. So this is my advice to you, Lovely: what kind of exercise do you LIKE doing? Walking? Push ups? Squats? There are simple exercises that people use for physio, seniors, and limited mobility individuals. Getting up and sitting down, wall presses, light lunges, even stretches are great for working towards a more active lifestyle. Heck, even "doing weights" by lifting a full water bottle is an exercise! Mine was walking. Perhaps yours is leg lifts or shoulder rolls. Even just a little activity is GOOD!! This article here is a good place to start if you're limited mobility, and here's a good article for beginners.

Also, search on YouTube for "Workouts for Beginners"; there's quite a few workouts there, hopefully without too many ad-breaks to ruin the flow of the workouts. My favourite workouts, though are Les Mills Body Combat and Body Pump, which are both more advanced once you're into a rhythm. I used to do the classes at GoodLife before Covid, and now my CURRENT routine incorporates moves I learned in both of those (I'm still skittish about being in group settings so I kind of just do them on my own). I'm very proud of myself for how far I've come in a year and a half, when I genuinely thought I would never do it again. I could barely walk because of foot and joint pains, I was always dizzy and I was very lethargic all the time. Changing my diet helped a lot too; my nutritionist recommended a lot more protein to keep me fuller longer, and 3 meals a day with small snacks. Never have a deficit!! He doesn't believe in dieting, just "eating right". AND he doesn't make me weigh myself which helped me overcome my disordered eating triggers. He's a great nutritionist.

It can be done Nonny! Just start small, and stick to a schedule. For me I find it easier to do it during the week during my lunch break at work makes it feel like it's NOT eating into my free time, and on weekends and days off I go first thing in the morning to the gym because it's quieter. So, a routine helps for sure! I think you can do it too!!!!

Let me know if I can help you out with tips that have helped me that I haven't listed here. And, if anyone has something to help Nonny get back into a routine that has maybe helped y'all after Covid, please do offer your support! <3

ALSO as an aside, Nonny, it's recommended you start SMALL after Covid to allow your body to properly heal, so DON'T PUSH YOURSELF nor feel bad if you're slow. Every Body is different! <3

Good luck Nonny!!!

[leafdlc]

i got covid for the first time early last month and it was minor, I thought. the second I tested positive I contacted my doctor and got paxlovid prescribed to me. I picked it up the same day and started taking the twice daily medication that night.

yes, paxlovid can help reduce/minimize long covid symptoms so I thought I would be fine. but to this day I still am only in the begining steps of recovering from the brainfog, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and trouble paying attention for longer periods of time.

it's horrible. it sucks shit. I am constantly missing my exits and turns when I drive, even WITH a navigator on my phone. I stop talking in the middle of sentences bc I forget what I was even talking about in the first place.

the way covid affected my brain makes me feel like I got another concussion, but without the pain or the dizziness or the nausea or any of the typical physical concussion symptoms that come with one.

I constantly see people in all groups all ages not masking over here. or coughing into the open air and sneezing without covering their nose and mouth with their elbow. didn't we learn this in preschool. what's your problem??? if you can do anything to stop or prevent someone else's suffering then why wouldn't you???

[trek-tracks]

Well…after three years, it finally got me. Thankful it was after the performances of the show I wrote/starred in and one of the two concerts I was performing in, but I’m going to miss two review openings and this weekend’s concert performance, and I feel super lousy. My kingdom for a hypospray…

[khizuo]

thinking about how my dad became more abusive to me when I began taking stronger COVID protections. thinking about how abuse often serves as a means of enforcing ableist normativity on its victims. thinking about how widespread COVID minimization plays into the abuse culture we live in.

[one-time-i-dreamt]

My COVID face mask converted to a parachute and I could fly through the sky with it.

[highladyluck]

Spouse and I have covid 😭 we had a good run, this is the first time. I am grumpy and congested and feverish but am fine so far. I will continue to be horrible at answering DMs! This concludes my press conference

[pjunicornart]

Plus Many Other Things

Vent art of how I feel but I used Lewis as an outlet because of course I did. If you've seen my recent update post, then you'll know that I've recently been "diagnosed" with post-Covid symptoms. I put diagnosed in quotes because unfortunately not much is known about anything having to do with Covid's lasting effects, so it's not an official diagnosis yet, but it kinda is. Same can be said for considering it a chronic illness/disability.

Anyway, I haven't been feelin' so hot for the past couple of months. I haven't gotten any sufficient sleep, my energy levels have been zero, my appetite just kinda shows up whenever, and I have to get used to a lot of experimental treatments because nobody knows fuck all about post-Covid shit. So. Many. Appointments. Oh, did I mention that I'm not in a position to get the proper house care I need due to a variety of factors? So everyday I'm supposed to give 100% when all I can muster is 25% (on a decent day).

Art and everything may slow down for a bit. Hopefully I'll get to a period where I can be more productive, but right now I just wanna rest.

No text version

[panicismydefaultstate]

It truly baffles and angers me at how ignorant people want to remain about covid. I get it, I wish I could live in a world where this virus isn’t deadly or disabling but the truth of the matter is that it is. We know that with each covid infection you will get sicker- symptoms or no. We know that it weakens your blood vessels and can cause people who are high risk or perfectly healthy alike to have heart attacks. We know it can cause tachycardia, chronic fatigue, lower lung capacity, all of it. We know all this, and people still just want to forget about it. And the people who do just forget about it or ignore it, and in doing so act like it just doesn’t exist, are so incredibly selfish. They want to live in their world they’ve made up in their heads where it isn’t a problem while making it worse for everyone by not adhering to any covid measures and little it run rampent.

The world is on fire and some of us are screaming out to help us put it out while others think it’s unfair we are ruining their piece of mind.

[sapphicscholar]

Covid and Flu Vaccine PSA

For anyone who might benefit from this advice, as a heads up, the CDC has released guidelines (available as a PDF here) that link patient weight and appropriate needle length for intramuscular vaccines. They suggest that using a longer 1.5 inch/38 mm needle for Covid and flu shots is medical best practice for many. The CDC uses weight-based metrics on their chart (>200lbs or 260 lbs for estrogen- or testosterone-based fat distribution, respectively), but really, it’s most important to consider your own body fat distribution. This big thing is ensuring that the vaccine can reach your deltoid muscle for the greatest efficacy and uptake, rather than only making it to subcutaneous fat!

Even if you’ve already gotten vaccinated/boosted this year, it might be worth hanging onto the PDF for the future - having clear guidelines that come directly from the CDC might help to cut through some of the bullshit too many people face when dealing with the medical establishment.