Let’s chat Long COVID, CFS and recovery
Two years on from the first COVID-19 lockdowns, restrictions are being dropped, the community is opening up, and there is a sense that we are moving past the pandemic. For some people this has not been the case.
The term ‘Long COVID’ has entered our vocabulary: it describes the condition where people still experience symptoms 4-6 weeks post COVID-19 infection and beyond.
Long COVID is a sizeable problem
It’s estimated that 10-30% of the population infected with coronavirus may contract Long COVID. With approximately 487 million known COVID infections world-wide, these are not small numbers.
Symptoms may include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain/tightness, problems with memory/concentration, changes to taste and smell, joint and muscle pain.
Reading this you might have been thinking: ‘this sounds similar to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).’ You’re right.
Parallels with ME/CFS
Recent studies have recognised there are considerable similarities between ME/CFS and Long COVID. This may be unsurprising considering many people develop ME/CFS after a viral infection. The most common shared symptoms between these conditions are reported to be post-exertional malaise (PEM), fatigue and ‘brain fog’/cognitive dysfunction.
Despite these common symptoms, the particular symptoms for each patient varies, another hallmark of ME/CFS.
Long COVID media attention brings hope
As Long COVID gained media attention it also raised awareness around ME/CFS. For a condition that is not well understood or accepted, this added interest has been welcomed.
People with ME/CFS have often felt they are not taken seriously. The pandemic meant that for Long COVID sufferers, this condition quickly became a media headline. Fuelled by patients telling their stories on social media, driving extra attention in a world that constantly thought about COVID, it meant that their plight was quickly understood and discussed in detail. That kind of media attention and community engagement is priceless for any illness when it comes to focus on possible cures.
While it’s true that there are many unknowns when it comes to treating Long COVID, this does not mean that recovery is impossible.
The Lightning Process can help
The Lighting Process (LP) is a holistic approach to healing that has helped tens of thousands of people worldwide resolve chronic illness, including ME/CFS. It is a training program based on the science behind the mind-body connection that teaches you how to influence your nervous system to improve your health.
Commonly people with ME/CFS have tried many things to recover and been told they need to learn to ‘manage their symptoms’. That is until they come to the LP. Those who engage in this training are often surprised to learn how influential they are in their own health. Part of the LP’s success is based on the fact this approach puts the patient back in charge of their own brain and body by providing knowledge, tools and support that promote healing.
What’s exciting is that Long COVID sufferers are now realising the benefits of the LP to help them recover.
This was the case for Bianca, who completed the LP in December 2022 with Liz. You can read her success story here. There are many more like her across the world: You can read their stories here.
To learn more about how the LP can help you, click here for a free discovery call with Liz from Rewire Wellbeing.