Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

SunSeeker

(51,545 posts)
Sun May 31, 2020, 02:01 PM May 2020

Researchers warn covid-19 could cause debilitating long-term illness in some patients

The long-term illnesses that can follow viral infections can be devastating — and are devastatingly common. In 2015, the nation’s top medical advisory body, the Institute of Medicine, estimated that between 800,000 and 2.5 million U.S. residents live with the illness or illnesses awkwardly named myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). An estimated three-quarters of these cases were triggered by viral or bacterial infections.
...
In addition to emerging reports of damage to lungs, kidneys and hearts, covid-19 patients are complaining of ongoing crushing fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive problems and other symptoms that anyone with ME/CFS is very familiar with.
...
But patients who have experienced post-viral fatigue syndrome advise the newly ill to rest, rest and rest some more, as returning to normal activities can trigger relapses. If symptoms continue for six months or longer, post-viral fatigue syndrome can convert to a diagnosis of ME/CFS, which is usually lifelong and often devastating. Up to 25 percent of ME/CFS patients are housebound or bedbound for years. There are no treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
...
The personal and societal costs of ME/CFS are devastating. In 2015, the Institute of Medicine estimated a $24 billion annual U.S. burden in medical costs and lost productivity. For Beth, who was working as a product manager for a software company in San Francisco with a computer science degree from MIT, her lost earnings potential over the past decade can likely be measured in the millions of dollars. Instead of paying taxes on those lost wages, she is drawing monthly Social Security Disability Insurance. For Brian, the week before he became suddenly ill, he wrote a front-page story for The Washington Post, where he was a science writer, on a major advance in theoretical physics, the discovery of the Higgs boson. Six months later, his undiagnosed post-viral illness had gotten so bad he could not remember a four-digit number long enough to tap it into his phone.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/could-covid-19-cause-long-term-chronic-fatigue-and-illness-in-some-patients/2020/05/29/bcd5edb2-a02c-11ea-b5c9-570a91917d8d_story.html

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Researchers warn covid-19 could cause debilitating long-term illness in some patients (Original Post) SunSeeker May 2020 OP
The Grotesque Orange Pustule does not want you thinking of COVID-19 Hermit-The-Prog May 2020 #1
What's maddening is the long term damage is being erased from the statistics. SunSeeker May 2020 #2
It reminds me of "diaries" posted here ... Hermit-The-Prog May 2020 #5
Another thing to add to the list of what will need to be addressed crickets May 2020 #8
Yes to hiding this problem. I've been looking for a statistical Hortensis May 2020 #10
I think I had corona virus in late January. Cracklin Charlie May 2020 #3
If you go for an antibody test, get the one by Abbott. The rest are crap. SunSeeker May 2020 #4
Thank you. Cracklin Charlie May 2020 #12
I'm the opposite. This has just wrecked my mental health. Initech May 2020 #9
KR.. Mahalo, SunSeeker.. Cha May 2020 #6
Stay safe Cha! SunSeeker May 2020 #7
Backatcha, SunSeeker!❤ Cha May 2020 #11
Must be wonderful not being besieged with tourists! SunSeeker May 2020 #13

Hermit-The-Prog

(33,309 posts)
1. The Grotesque Orange Pustule does not want you thinking of COVID-19
Sun May 31, 2020, 02:15 PM
May 2020

You're supposed to believe it's just like the 'flu. You're supposed to be calling for the economy to "open up". You're supposed to be screaming about "Antifa" and "ominous weapons".

Thank you for posting information and not doing what the GOP wants.

SunSeeker

(51,545 posts)
2. What's maddening is the long term damage is being erased from the statistics.
Sun May 31, 2020, 03:59 PM
May 2020

As noted in the article (emphasis mine):

Too many discussions of covid-19 focus on the disease’s death rate while neglecting the risk of long-term health problems. Called morbidity, this measure of the burden of long-term disease is so important that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most read publication is “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.” To effectively plan for a post-covid future, the nation must fund long-term research on survivors and account for the morbidity associated with the novel coronavirus. Instead, there are states such as Pennsylvania categorizing every covid-19 patient in its borders still alive after 30 days as “recovered.” That oversimplification will underestimate the true human and financial costs of the U.S. epidemic. Some covid-19 patients with kidney damage will need expensive dialysis for a lifetime; some will have lung damage; others will be disabled by post-viral ME/CFS.

Hermit-The-Prog

(33,309 posts)
5. It reminds me of "diaries" posted here ...
Sun May 31, 2020, 04:04 PM
May 2020

Athletic people described their ordeal with COVID-19, which was bad enough, but the aftermath was devastating. They were no longer capable of the activities they enjoyed before.

crickets

(25,959 posts)
8. Another thing to add to the list of what will need to be addressed
Sun May 31, 2020, 04:14 PM
May 2020

once trump is gone. Joe Biden is going to be a very busy man.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
10. Yes to hiding this problem. I've been looking for a statistical
Sun May 31, 2020, 04:20 PM
May 2020

picture to start coming together to indicate how pervasive and serious chronic aftereffects may be, but crickets.

Cracklin Charlie

(12,904 posts)
3. I think I had corona virus in late January.
Sun May 31, 2020, 04:00 PM
May 2020

My appetite didn’t really come back to normal until about the time we went into lockdown, March 20th, or so. I still haven’t regained all of the weight I lost.

This time in lockdown has down wonders for my health. Rest is vital.

SunSeeker

(51,545 posts)
4. If you go for an antibody test, get the one by Abbott. The rest are crap.
Sun May 31, 2020, 04:04 PM
May 2020

It would be good to know if you had it. I'm glad you're improving.

Cracklin Charlie

(12,904 posts)
12. Thank you.
Sun May 31, 2020, 05:17 PM
May 2020

My daughter is starting to rumble about returning to work. Before shutdown, I was the babysitter for my three granddaughters. I think we all had Covid-19 starting with my preschooler in early January.

I told her today that if she wants me to come back to work in the next school year, she will have to buy me an antibody test. She agreed with me.

So, thanks for the info!

Initech

(100,054 posts)
9. I'm the opposite. This has just wrecked my mental health.
Sun May 31, 2020, 04:18 PM
May 2020

I'm someone who is so used to getting out and going to my favorite places, socializing with friends and relatives, going to shows, concerts and sporting events, traveling, and so on. Not being able to do any of this for the last 3 months has just been driving me batshit crazy.

I keep thinking eventually the virus is going to burn out and we'll be able to move again without restrictions. But it's going to be a long while before that happens.

Cha

(297,029 posts)
11. Backatcha, SunSeeker!❤
Sun May 31, 2020, 04:24 PM
May 2020

Kauai has a new bus schedule starting today. Our buses will run every hour Even on weekends and Holidays. They've always run every 2 hours on weekends and holidays.

During the Stay At Home Policy the buses were running every 2 hours all week long. Still "No Mask No Ride" policy, but,, we're looking at this as Progress.
Visitors have to be quarantined in their hotels for 2 weeks under strict rules.

VIDEO: Gov. David Ige announces 14-day quarantine for Hawaii visitors to extend past June 30

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/28/breaking-news/watch-live-2/



Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Researchers warn covid-19...