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Assessing the impact of long term COVID-19

• "Sharing" first and most importantly with the patients themselves.
• Responses provided are anonymous so that "sharing" may also include any and all who have the intention of contributing to healing those with this illness.
• More is known at present than months ago. It is less "novel" but much about this illness is different and much remains unknown or unexplained.
• Hopefully, responses here will help to usefully fill the void that remains while encouraging compassionate care.
• Who is doing this?

Your answers will serve :

Who gets the responses ?

• First and foremost, those who gave the answers !  After completing the Questionnaire, you get to see how others answered up to that time and date.
• Anyone who has this illness and wants to know more. Answers will be presented here on this site in an easy to understand format. If you are going to respond to our questionnaire, it makes sense to only review how others answered after !  It's not a test. There are no right answers.
• Anyone who can communicate a project or protocol they are working on, and which would benefit those still suffering with COVID-19, could get the results. Results would not include any identifying information from respondents. When feeling poorly, no one needs a call or emails from a drug salesperson.

About the Questionnaire

• It attempts to be thorough, inclusive and thereby provide good and adequate information.
• So it's not 3 questions. Including our final Thank You!, it's 59 questions.
• Those where the questionnaire is managed (SurveyMonkey), suggests it takes 27 minutes. That will seem long to some. To others reasonable, given the large amount of information obtained. What else can we say?
• Well, we can say: "Have a look!" And soon, it will be translated into other languages.
• Don't expect to find hundreds of responses presented here today or tomorrow. It's formulation was in early September, put into use 12 Sept., and as of 19 October, 113 individuals with presumed "Long-term" COVID-19 had responded. (Thanks again to these for their participation!)
• Answers to the Questionnaire will be posted on this page.   <<<<<<<<
• As of October 19,  10 preliminary reports have been provided about results of testing, changes in weight, sources of emotional support, resilience, quality of life perceptions, the balance of physical and emotional symptoms, levels of limitation of physical activity, and other analyses of answers provided. Through these, a better understanding of how "long-term" COVID-19 actually presents, begins to come into focus. These are the patients telling their story. Thanks again!

Why is it on this site ?

• Because CallingCOVID.com intends to do just that. To call out to those still with active disease, but also to those who are (thankfully) better, even if it took a while. They are now experts, and their advice and experience are needed to move others towards healing.
• Those with Long-term COVID-19 or "long-haulers" will soon be a Target for the Challenge, which you can read about in many places on this site. Perhaps best starting here.

 

And thanks.

Your responses will help, and in many ways.

 

 

 

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CallingCOVID.com

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There are several possible answers to that question.

But each such answer has to express a relation to a basic overarching premise that you will find here at CallingCovid.com.

And that premise is :  that it is possble to influence or have an effect on, an entity or situation located at a distance from where one finds oneself physically in our world.

Next try to answer for yourself :  What is your fiirst reaction to that premise?

We'll try to put that idea into a perspective using several exemples to approach that 'why' question.

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The tools presented here, such as representing our world with a globe spinning around in a video, proposing a daily "appointment time" to join with others, suggests that those responsible for this blog, and its visitors, especially returning visitors, may believe that there is something to that premise. A degree of uncertainty for sure. But perhaps something to it.

If one could interview the visitors here, like asking questions of an audience after a presentation or lecture, one would likely hear a plurality of reasons for participating in the Challenge. A plurality of reactions to that premise expressed above, of action or effectiveness of an intention to influence a situation found at a distance.

You might have arrived here through the equivalent of entering the lecture hall just to come in out of the rain. Or your visit may already be more on target. You may have come to explore and discover potentially useful reactions to the premise stated above. So the reason(s) for your visit might include one of those listed below.

And to maintain focus also requires couching these answers to 'why do this?', in the setting of COVID-19. While certainly laudable, the objective of applying the premise to increasing levels of Peace in our world, is not what we’re about on this day, on this site. Another site does exist with just that objective.

So what is the « something to that premise » that would make one participate, even once or more than once, for 20 minutes in the Challenge ? Why will you participate?

Answers from the audience, if there are enough of them, might eventually begin to group themselves into certain categories. Let’s begin by identifying some of these, and as though spoken in the first person. They are numbered here for easy reference, and not by any personal preference. They might motivate you to think of your own personal reason(s).

1. « I do this because I have no doubt that the intention to heal COVID-19 in those actively ill with it, is enough to make it happen. This will happen even at a distance from where I am physically located. I’m quite sure of that. So I’m in.»

1.1. Comment : Those in this group are convinced that their thoughts, but even more, an intention arising in their very being, can do some required work at a distance. They do not devote much energy to discovering the answer(s) to how or why this can accomplish whatever it does. They arrive with much assurance and do not seek nor risk to reduce their strength in this, with questionning and doubt.

2. « I do this because it's a form of prayer. I believe strongly in the effectiveness of prayer. Prayer is and has been an essential part of my whole life. I believe that participating in prayer with others as done here gives added effectiveness. Healing those with COVID-19 at a distance is not a problem because that is how prayer can work. So I’m in. »

2.1. Comment : Those in this group are not plagued by questions like : « but to whom shall we pray ? » If one poses this or similar questions, one is simply not in this group.

3. « I do this because it helps me commit to 20 minutes a day of quiet meditation. The cause is laudable. But whether it can work at a distance or not is not why I decided to do this. For me its rejuvenating. It has the required tools : an object to focus on, a guided meditation, and a 20 minute timer. It has a start time. That let’s me tell others that I have something I must do. Twenty quiet minutes for myself, to recharge my batteries and get centered emotionally is an invitation that I accept with pleasure. I’ll be committed to this. So I’m in. »

3.1. Comment : even without an intention expressed above to heal or have any effect at a distance from oneself, providing on our site for the needs of those exploring or engaging in meditation is offered with pleasure and encouragement for that practice. We have referred elsewhere to the Challenge as an « exo-meditation. » It starts centered in oneself, and moves out into our world, hence, « -exo ». But an « endo-meditation » with the intention of moving deeply within oneself in mindfulness is equally accepted here.

4. « I do this because I’m a scientific type. On this site, feedback is offered. So there are data to help me decide if the Challenge is working or not. There exists a body of information in the field of physics that suggests that what is going on here is an expression of principles of quantum mechanics. Our atoms and their orbiting particles can in fact extend far beyond commonly accepted boundaries. This Challenge is like turnng on a light switch and letting the electrons move towards an effect. Even if that motion of particles is invisible to our eyes and other senses, the results should be measurable. I’m eager to see the results. So I’m in. »

4.1. Comment : Neurophysics and mind-driven machines is an exciting field. When its accomplishments extend to helping those with spinal cord injuries to walk again, it falls even closer to our goals here for COVID-19. Anyone who admits to a deep understanding of quantum mechanics is certainly a special person. And if different from most, still quite welcome. Any distinction between the scientific and the spiritual is of course artificial, not helpful, and unnecessary for our purposes here.

5. « I have COVID-19. I know and care for others who have it also. And in spite of suggestions that this would simply not be a big deal, like a cold or a flu, it has been a big deal. And it has lasted longer than ‹ promised ›. I know personally what it means to be in the Actively ILL group. So the intention of healing this, both for myself and others, is an assurance that hope still exists. So I’m in. »

5.1. Comment : Few if any of the reasons suggested here for participating in the Challenge could be more important than this one. Illness makes one feel powerless and robs one of one’s freedom. Those with COVID-19 have learned that effect is emotional as well as physical. Participating each day in the Challenge, when strong enough to do so, may in fact become a source of additional strength and allay many anxieties as well.

6. « I don’t have COVID-19 or hope I don’t. I think I’ll probably get it. That thought and all the numbers and explanations have me well on the way to getting crazy. I get tearful at times, and don’t even know why. The effects of this anxiety and fear are now unmistakeable in my daily routine. So if I can calm myself down for 20 minutes each day, watching a globe turn and listening to a calming voice, I think that will be very helpful for me. At least I hope so. So I’m in. »

6.1. Comment : Yes. It is a straightforward reason for devoting 20 minutes each day to the Challenge. And some may also experience a few tears of release during the Challenge as you have already experienced. Calming all the noise inside one’s head. Letting one’s blood pressure and pulse rate drop just a bit. Even without a set intention to do the same for others at a distance, taking a break from the numbers and one's confinement is also part of the Challenge. No telling where that might lead.

7. « I’m a retired healthcare professional. Most days the urge to join others on the ‹ front lines › of COVID-19 is felt. Yet the risks involved keep me away. But this distance that I maintain between myself and ‹ it ›, is not without a sense of regret or perhaps even a little guilt. ‹ I should be there ›, I tell myself often. Participating each day in the Challenge gives me just that : a sense of participating. I have experienced enough special moments during my career caring for others, that I can affirm its more than just about pills and tests. I will offer my 20 minutes for those who are now on the "front lines" and have taken my place. I will continue to care for others through this Challenge. So I’m in. »

7.1. Comment : this is a motivation in support of our premise of possible action at a distance, that many who are in the caring professions, will relate to with little difficulty.

8. « In the end all that matters in a life is how well we have loved. Compassion is the driving force in this Challenge. Compassion is doing for another, what that person can no longer do alone. And yes, it is a form of love. It is a strong enough force, that it transcends all boundaries between peoples. It is not pity, and more effective than empathy. It will not be limited by distances measured in kilometers or miles. It will not be frightened away by an infectious disease. The intention to share through compassion can only be successful and effective for COVID-19. So I’m in. »

8.1. Comment : No additional comment is needed, and could add nothing.

9. « There is at present no vaccine. The treatments for COVID-19 are essentially for symptoms and not to cure this illness. There is no cure at present but time and hoping for the best if infected. The total number of cases in the world is still increasing. Total deaths from this disease increase each day. Avoiding its transmission has gotten on my nerves because I hate being confined. Many now ignore all prudent behavior. Simply stated, I’ll try anything to make this all go away. Twenty minutes is not very long. So I’ll sit each day and look at a spinning globe, and wish everyone the best while hoping for a vaccine very soon. So I’m in. »

9.1. Comment : This seems a very human reason for participating. There may not be a bad or undefendable reason for participating each day in the Challenge. For those who quickly move away while saying : « This just won’t work. Sitting 20 minutes and thinking you’re doing something else, somewhere else, is simply crazy. And I’m out. » Well those who reach this conclusion and course of action are still in our world. So we wish them Peace and good health.

9.1.1. But we must admit a slight preference for those who concluded by saying :

« So I’m in. »

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Perhaps you were able to find, among those offered above, your reason for participating in the Challenge. Perhaps a mix of several presented.

One can probably conceive of other reasons for participating in this premise of action at a distance.

Do not hesitate to share your reason with us here. And don’t forget to add : « So I’m in. »

See you at 12 :00PM noon GMT, for 20 minutes spent together. No mask required.

And as mentioned elsewhere, if that time is inconvenient, 12 jours later you can join in our 2nd shift of Challenge Warriors. 

If you have yet to read the Challenge, click here.

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CallingCOVID.com

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The Challenge is actually quite direct.

Each day at 12:00 noon (GMT) you will quietly withdraw from your activities to the extent that you can, to a comfortable and peaceful location. You will then focus on an area of the world where healing of COVID-19 is needed. This Target Area will usually be suggested on this site. But here is a dashboard of involved areas, and you can also pick an area to focus on.

You will devote 20 minutes to complete this process, perhaps setting a timer at first (there's one below), until you develop a second sense for the required duration, which with practice, you will come to feel.

You will quiet yourself and including, and especially, your mind. You will not spend this time in thought, working through your Things To Do, nor trying to send messages that you think through and formulate, and consider appropriate, like: "I'm wishing you Healing." Instead, you will simply sit quietly, and cultivate the realization that your energy of Healing and Compassion, is already being transmitted. If you like, you can focus on the sound of your breathing, while quietly saying these two words to yourself, "Healing... / COVID..." as you breathe. At times you can shift between that and visualizing the Target Area as it has been given to you, and as you see it for yourself.

You will sense this power of transmission increasing in magnitude over time, and with each session. Don't be impatient for it. You will eventually sense how quickly and completely this energy has been transmitted, and exactly to where it is most needed with strikingly specific exactness on the receiving end: Accomplished too simply to believe at first. Focus. See the Target as it should be: healed, and no longer powerless. Do it. Do not fret about what you think you should or might actually see, hear, feel, or otherwise experience, including tears. Return to your breathing, the two words, and seeing the Target.

Just realize that, yes, you are doing this. You are actually, really, doing this, and are responsible for it, and desirous and passionate for it. Do not fret over whether this is meditationn, or prayer, or anything else. Do not get lost in methodology, in knowing exactly what to do or how to do. It is the intention to do that is critical and sufficiant. Let it be nameless, or simply: "The Challenge." Each day; 20 minutes.

You may begin to encounter small events or sensations throughout your day, that are  linked to your having participated in the Challenge. Some will say these are coincidence. Others serendipity. Others will accept more easily that the Challenge works on them as well as on our Targets.

Do not make yourself suffer if you miss a day, or the correct start time. There are two "shifts" or times to participate in the Challenge: at noon and midnight (Greenwich Mean Time, GMT). Simply come back to it the next time it begins to join with others in such a squadron: COVID Warriors. Healing COVID.

Sense also that you are doing this with others like you, at the same time, in increasing numbers, and that you are adding to this enormous, real, irresistable energy to Heal COVID in our world. To support and protect those who are on "the front lines" at the bedsides.

While awaiting cures, and vaccines, and return of liberty and control of our lives after confinement, we are healing COVID. You are healing COVID.

And that is all.

That is The Challenge.

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To join in the Challenge, one needs to :

• set aside our daily activities for 20 minutes
• take a moment to become more focused and calm
• center our attention on a single thing
• know when to begin
• know when 20 minutes has elapsed
• know when to end.

Click this link for our assortment of 20 minute timers. Included is a video that will help you accomplish all of the above steps of the process in a single click.

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Translations:

The Challenge in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Hindi

The Challenge takes place each day, beginning at 12:00PM (noon), Greenwich Mean Time, and lasts 20 minutes.

Where I am located, the current time (GMT or UTC +1) is 1 hour earllier :

so I begin The Challenge at 13:00h on my clock, seen below. 

Below is the current time in Greenwich ...

When it reads "12:00:00" (or "00:00:00) the Challenge has begun!

"OK. But what time is that for me?"

Here is a page to answer that question for everyone in our world !

Time remaining ...

If you have elected to do the Challenge as a member of the Second Squadron of Challenge Warriors,

that's just great! Click here for your special countdown timer.

Don't be late !!

Here is an explanation of how to set things up to maintain focus and time 20 minutes.

Switch to the video and participate.

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Question 42 of our questionnaire addresses that. Here's how the question was phrased:

And the point of reference was at the time of taking the questionnaire. At that point, most respondents had been ill about 6.5 months. Possible answers were:

Level of activity of course depends on how sick one is. One can readily imagine a person with a cold, moving through his day, blowing his nose and complaining about how he feels. (While spreading around his cold). But with an activity level perhaps not too abnormal. That's just an example.

Already presented elsewhere, here is a reminder about illness severity, the responses to Question 28:

A bit hard to read, but 79% (of 100 respondents as of 7 October) placed this as a moderate illness, "very sick, many symptoms, lasted longer than anticipated." So no, not a cold.

But how much did this physically limit those affected?

Here, in the column at right, are the answers obtained:

As frequently happens, some questionnaires (2 in this case) were omitted because of too many inconsistencies in dates or ommissions of information (like gender, DOB, etc). So 100 responses became, n = 98. The column with percentages at right is based on the total of 100 nevertheless. The distribution of responses from highest to lowest seems pretty "normal" which has a specific meaning for subsequent statistical analysis. 

These results permit calculation of a mean or average value, which looked like this on this date.

On the left below, the mean and standard deviation (amount of variability around that mean value).

As one can see, by translating that into a percentage of the highest score possible (5) we learn that this illness in its "long-term" variant, cuts usual physical activity essentially in half.

"... how physically limited do you find yourself?" was being asked: and the answer is clear. 

Some people are usually more physically active than others of course. And does this illness affect differently what we can identify as subgroups of this larger group of 98 on this day?

What about effects of age? What about gender differences? How about habits one had before becoming ill, such as smoking or taking nutritional supplements?  What about one's size: Underweight? Overweight? Obese? We'll look at some of these next.

But first a caveat. To find very subtle differences between two such subgroups, say women and men, and effects of this illness on activity levels, a more robust number of respondents than n=98 may be necessary. That's a plug for getting the questionnaire into more hands of those with this illness. And the word of caution serves to remind that subtle differences may get exactly reversed when "n" has increased substantially.

That said, statistical control of these results is possible already, and where clear differences are already discovered to be significant, those may persist with larger numbers as well. And the results already suggest some quite interesting possibilities, as seen further below.

First, some less proounced differences.

What about gender?

90.82% of respondents are female, so 9.18% male. What levels of activity compared with "usual"?

Female: 52.1%  Male: 51.1% One guesses at "no difference." Once can compare means ...

Female: 2.604±1.138, n = 91 with Male: 2.556±0.831, n = 9. The answer takes the form of a probability that this slight increase in activity level among women, is different than that for the 9 men respondents. p=0.9023, and that means that 90 times out of 100, that 1% apparent difference just isn't real.

Conclusion: men and women are equally impacted in activity levels by this illness. 

What about age?

Those respondents <= to age 49 years, (n=47) have an activity level result of 51.1%

Thos older than 49 years (n=53) "score" 52.8% of usual activity level. Answer? Nope. A value of p=0.6906 informs that this slight difference is probably imaginary 69 times out of 100 times that you would gather the data.

Yes, one finds subgroups of age that seem more or less affected. The differences are too small to be important on this date. But with another 5000 respondents, who knows?

Conclusion: those of all ages are equally impacted in activity levels by this illness. Of course, as presented above, this is a moderate illness for most. If only those critically ill had answered, age might become a quite important determinant of activity level. Here, those data are absent.

What about weight? Does a person's size, reflected in the Body Mass Index, make a difference in activity levels when compared with usual activity?

92 of the 98 with useful answers provided Height, Weight Before, and Weight on the day they responded. Once different units had been converted to metric, that looked like this:

Weight changes and perhaps related to a direct effect of the virus on adipocytes (fat cells) have been covered before in another article. In fact two articles. We see here that 45.7% of those who responded, gained weight. But what about a possible effect of body size and changes in size, on activity levels?

Here are those who serve in some sense as controls: no change in weight while sick.

Lots of other numbers on this image, but concentrate on point 1 below: "Weight unchanged from before." and point 2: 62.5% of normal activity level. So that's better (a bit closer to normal) than the average we saw at the top of this page (51.2%). 

Those who lost weight while ill:  48.8% of usual activity level.

Is this a different result than for those who's weight did not change?

The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in these activity levels.

Answer is:  p = 0.0197, so this hypothesis of "no difference" is not sustained. About 2 chances in 100 tries that we'd come up with a different conclusion.

Conclusion: Weight loss during this illness is accompanied by a significant reduction in activity level, when compared with those who's weight remained unchanged during the illness.

Those who gained weight while ill: 47.8% of usual activity level.

Is this a different result than for those who's weight did not change?

The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in these activity levels.

Answer is:  p = 0.0321, so this hypothesis of "no difference" is not sustained. About 3 chances in 100 tries that we'd come up with a different conclusion.

Conclusion: Weight gain during this illness is accompanied by a significant reduction in activity level, when compared with those who's weight remained unchanged during the illness.

Let's quickly pass over other possibilities related to weight or more accurately, Body Mass, and possible effects on level of activity when compared with usual levels before illness.

Again, where the differences are subtle, as more respondents add to replies, the conclusion may in fact become reversed, even if usually more certain. Preliminary results are presented here at a point in time. Many will be close to the mean value for limitation of physical activity by this illness. Others, may be a bit more remarkable.

What about other components of health status, that might have some link to how well physical activity levels are maintained?

What about smoking?

In the UK, 14.7% of the population smokes. That figure in the United Sates is 13.7% (2019 figures).

In our sample of 100 respondents on October 7, 46 have a smoking history. That is of course 46%.

So what might one think about the potential effect of a history of smoking on physical activity levels when one is now ill with "long-term" COVID-19?  Is there any effect at all?

Here are the results from this sample. On this day, with 100 respondents each number, 'n' , is also the percentage:

It looks like, if one is a non-smoker, one should quickly take up the habit in support of improved physical activity levels !

Let's put some to the test. Using their means and standard deviations:

   Non-smokers: 2.389±1.145, n=54

   All Smokers :   2.848±1.021, n=46

The test is Student's t-test, unpaired, two-tailed.

The null hypothesis is that their is no difference in physical activity levels of these subgroups of "long-term" COVID-19 patients.

   Result: t = 2.0991  df = 98   standard error of difference = 0.219  p = 0.0384

Conclusion: the null hypothesis of no difference is rejected. Smokers with this illness maintain a level of physical activity that is closer to their baseline, and superior to non-smokers.

For Moderate Smokers, also essentially true. 2.917±1.077, n=24, p=0.0595

For Heavy Smokers, less true, 2.714±0.933, n=21, p=0.2505, so not a significant difference.

Women, Never Smoked:    2.375±1.148, n=48

Women, +ve Smoking Hx: 2.780±1.024, n=41

Null hypothesis: no difference in mean level of limitation of physical activity, based on smoking or not in these female respondents presenting with "long-term" COVID-19.

Result: t = 1.7428  df = 87   standard error of difference = 0.232  p = 0.0849 (close but no cigar).

9 chances in 100 tries that there is no difference. Some would still bet on their being a difference.

As more respond, the conclusion may change.

Men, Never Smoked: 2.200±0.980, n=5

Men, Men, Smokers: 3.000±0.001, n=4

Results for these very small subgroups, p=0.1515

Positive Health Habits

In presenting observed effects of body size and smoking on physical activity levels of respondents, one introduces a related topic: doing what one can to maintain one's health. Maintaining a normal weight. Not smoking, or quitting. 

What else might one choose to do in support of one's health?

And do such choices specifically impact how well physical activity is preserved when, unfortunately, one is ill with "long-term" COVID-19?

We'll look first at respondents who took any form of Nutritional Supplement.

And subsequently: Vitamin-D is again "in the News." This time for protecting against and perhaps for treating respiratory problems of COVID-19. How were respondent Serum Vit-D levels before becoming sick? How much Vitamin-D were they taking before? We'll look at that as well. All of this couched in terms of effects on effectiveness of reducing physical limitations during this illness.

Of course, results of pursuing such information might be expected to be quite different in a population of respondents who are competitive athletes, and a group presenting chronic health problems.

So how "healthy" was our group of 100 respondents before they became ill?

Question 31 of the questionnaire provides that answer:

So the majority (46%) presented through their choice, a status typical for age. Athletes, only 6%. Twenty-three percent selected "perfect health," and 20% with 1 important health problem before catching COVID-19.

Nutritional Supplements

Did respondents take these, and what was the impact on Physical Activity Limitations on the day they responded to the questionnaire?

Here below, lots of numbers. So stay focused on those two in the middle  with the arrows ...

Those who took No Nutritional Supplements, 42 respondents, had an average physical activity level at 58.6% of their usual level on the day they took the questionnaire.

How about those who responded that they took some form of nutritional supplement? That might be one multivitamin each day, or some added protein, or some Vitamin-D of varying doses, or several vitamins and supplements each day. For this response, all are equated with taking a nutritional supplement.

Again, for the question at hand, focus on the arrows in the middle.

Those who took ANY Nutritional Supplements, 51 respondents, had an average physical activity level at 47.1% of their usual level on the day they took the questionnaire.

"Oh No! More people take nutritional supplements than don't, and they did worse!"

If that is the hypothesis, is it true? 

Or is it actually that no difference exists in mean physical activity limitation level of these two groups?

Answer is:  The two-tailed P value equals 0.0129 The idea of no difference is rejected.

Conclusion: Those (42) presenting with "long-term" COVID-19 who reported taking No Nutritional Supplements at all, maintained a higher level of their usual physical activity, than those (51) who took Any Supplement. Possibility that this conclusion is wrong? 13 chances in 1000 trials.

Vitamin - D Supplements

Since we are still hearing that Vitamin-D may play a protective role against respiratory complications of COVID-19, might taking that supplement routinely before getting sick, also impact on Physical Activity Levels? 

Here below, no one  took supplemental Vitamin-D.

And here below, respondents took Vit-D, but less than 1000 IU per day:

And finally, respondents taking between 1000 and 5000 IU Vitamin-D each day: 

Results:

1. Those (58) taking no Vitamin-D seemed to better maintain physical activity than those (12) taking low doses of less than 1000 IU per day. The two-tailed P value equals 0.0704. Almost a significant difference at the usual p<0.05 level. So probably already suggesting something that will become more apparent with more respondents who take small doses of the vitamin. 
2. For those taking larger (1000 to 5000 or more IU of Vit-D per day), compared with those taking none, the two-tailed P value equals 0.4686. This means that no difference was found in the physical activity levels of these two groups, no Vit-D vs. higher dose Vit-D. 
3. Comparing level of limitation of physical activity of the low dose (12) vs. higher dose Vit-D (16):  The two-tailed P value equals 0.2923. So 29 chances out of 100 that any apparent difference arose by chance.

This is not saying that taking supplemental Vitamin-D serves no purpose. But as related to level of physical activity limitation due to "long-term" COVID-19, no beneficial effect was discovered so far in these preliminary results. 

How about measured blood levels of Vit-D?  They may be a better gauge of how much Vitamin-D is getting into the body. Of those responding, how many had serum Vitamin-D levels that were below normal, and how many at or above normal?  And to keep focus for this article, were there significant differences in levels of limitation of physical activity associated with these blood levels of this specific supplement?

Results:

1. Serum Vit-D reported as below normal (n=10), and at or above normal (n=5). Those below normal maintained an average of 56% of activity while those at normal and above averaged 40%. The two-tailed P value equals 0.0966.  By conventional criteria, this difference is considered to be not quite statistically significant. But with these small group sizes no conclusion should be drawn at this point. Why would a higher Vitamin-D blood level be detrimental to physical activity?! Doesn't fit with what is already well established in the medical literature about this substance.

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A final comparison may reveal some intriguing aspects of this illness that emerge from these preliminary results of our questionnaire.

Some respondents provided no date when they were diagnosed with COVID-19.

Some respondents have had no positive tests confirming COVID-19.

Other respondents provided a date when told that they "had COVID-19" and at least one positive test. Many had several positive tests.

So how do these groups compare in level of limitation in Physical Activity?

First, those with a date of diagnosis (Dx) and at least 1 positive test for COVID-19.

They are at an average of 49.2% of usual physical activity.

Again, on the image below, we are focusing on the two central points with arrows:

And below, those who provided no Date of Diagnosis and not a single positive test (including physical exam alone) : average Physical Actvity level - 58.2% of normal.  

Staying focused on Physical Activity Level, the null hypothesis says that there is no difference in this level for these two subgroups of our 100 respondents. 

Dx date & +'ve test:         2.462±1.028, n = 52.

No Dx date or +'ve test:  2.909±1.124, n = 22.

  t = 1.6629  df = 72  The two-tailed P value equals 0.1007. Or, 10 chances out of 100 that there is no difference. Probably on to something. Are those with No Date of Diagnosis, and No Positive Test, and who seem to be doing better physically after the same duration of illness, ... just making it all up? Probably not. But this may be defining a subgroup or variant of the COVID-19 illness. Or perhaps, they have a completely different illness? Fungal disease, such as Aspergillosis comes to mind.

If one compares average number of symptoms reported Before, Early in illness, During the illness and on the day of the Questionnaire, here are the values for those WITH a Date of Diagnosis and Test Pos. : 

90.38% female, 9.62% male, age 49.38±10.56 years, ill 24.6 weeks.

And for those WITHOUT a Dx Date and no positive test :

81.82% female, 18.18% male, age 48.76±12.62 years, ill on average, 27.9 weeks.

Simply put, those with no Dx Date nor a Pos. Test report fewer symptoms throughout the course of this illness, and even Before the illness began. 

BEFORE:          The two-tailed P value equals 0.1697

EARLY:              The two-tailed P value equals 0.1709

DURING:           The two-tailed P value equals 0.1273

CURRENTLY:    The two-tailed P value equals 0.0270**

Organ Systems Involved :   The two-tailed P value equals 0.0052***

Results: reported symptom count before, early in the illness,  and throughout the illness, though seemingly higher in the group with Dx Date and Pos. Test(s) were not statistically different from the other group who provided no Date of Dx nor any positive test results.

But at the time the questionnaire was completed, the number of symptoms was now different and higher in the group with Dx Date and Pos. Test(s). Only 3 chances in 100 that this apparent difference was not real. 

The apparent difference in the reported count for Organ Systems involved (on average, 6.98 vs 4.95) is even more significant. Five chances in 1000 that this apparent difference arose by chance or error.

----------

CONCLUSIONS :

1. 1. "Long-term" COVID-19 patients have a significantly limited level of physical activity when compared with pre-illness levels. Essentially, cut in half.
   2. To obtain these results, nothing was objectively measured here, other than the respondent's subjective opinion. Of course, if someone reported taking a dose of 5000 IU of Vitamin D, it was accepted as an objectively true and accurate response. Being objective and accurate about one's activity level may be a bit more difficult. We did not measure hand grip strength or number of pushups at 4 different times.
   3. This level is at approximately 50% of where they were before becoming ill. That requires time and resilience to adapt to. On a scale of 0 to 5 for resilience, these 100 respondents averaged 3.521±1.216. This was between the two responses of: "Don't know yet. Scared and stuck on many days. Always hopeful. Not resilient yet." (value 2)  and "I usually bounce back, but this was a blow. I do feel I'm slowly recovering some resilience." (value 3). Resilience was explored in Question 56, and has been addressed in a separate article. 
   4. Certain factors in place before developing the "long-term" COVID-19 illness are also determinant of this limitation of activity level.
      1. those who were underweight, and
      2. those who were Class III obese have more problems with physical activity limitations
      3. smokers may have less physical activity limitations than non-smokers. Not intuitive, but probably true. Prompts a search for explanation(s).
   5. Taking supplements (before becoming ill with COVID-19), either in a general form like "multi-vitamins" or specifically, Vitamine-D, did not contribute to maintaining a higher level of Physical Activity while still ill with "long-term" COVID-19, when compared with normal Physical Activity levels for each respondent before becoming ill.
   6. The subset of respondents (22, or 22% at this time) who provided no Date of Diagnosis of COVID-19, and no positive tests to support this diagnosis is interesting. They have fewer symptoms than the paired group with positive diagnostic results. This is only supported statistically at the time when they responded to the questionnaire. Yet, they have many symptoms as well. At the time of taking the questionnaire, they clearly have fewer symptoms. And the number of organ systems involved is certainly less. As demonstrated, the limitation of Physical Activity is less in this group lacking the usual diagnostic information. Explanation? None that is clear. Are they less ill than the group supplying diagnostic information? Probably. A higher percentage of males, though still mostly female as in the other group. They are also further along in the duration of the illness when they responded. Are they just closer to "being better"? Does this explain fewer symptoms? Not for those times identified as Before, Early, and During. Are they a variant of this "long-term" COVID-19? Possibly.

Closing thoughts:

Frequently, the respiratory and less commonly the cardiovascular systems are involved with COVID-19. 

A pulse oximeter on a finger is a commonly presented image.

Smokers are inflicting upon themselves, a chronic level of hypoxemia, and from that, tissue hypoxia.

Their tissues become more adept at extracting oxygen from hemoglobin, and living in a somewhat desaturated condition. 

In those with pre-existing obesity, meeting tissue oxygen demands is also a chronic problem. It is challenged by routine physical activity each day when climbing stairs for example.

So in fact, these two subgroups presented here represent a state of chronic relative tissue hypoxia.

It is somewhat akin to living at higher altitudes. Initially challenging but eventually leading to physiologic changes to avoid having hypoxemia (reduced O2 levels in the blood) become tissue hypoxia (reduced levels of O2 at a cellular level).

One might consider these both as a form of training for the oxygen-related deficits seen in COVID-19.

As odd as that sounds, those who never smoked are not chronically on the borderline of tissue hypoxia. Those who were not carrying around excess weight, had no reason to make physiologic adjustments to assure adequate oxygen delivery. Then the oxygen delivery problems associated with this viral illness came into play. And without "prior training." More effects that lean towards limitation of physical activity.

Those at the extreme ends of underweight or overweight, have a marked limitation of physical activity imposed by this illness.

Nutritional supplements seemed to have contributed little or nothing to maintaining physical activity capabilities. In fact, the opposite, a negative effect on physical activity was suggested. This is a perfect opportunity to draw no conclusions until more responses are obtained. 

Clearly, presenting an average of 50% of usual physical activity for the overall group of 100 respondents at this point in the review, is thought provoking. At first pass, normal physical activity levels depend on intact cardiovascular and respiratory systems, functioning in concert. But the end-organs of all that oxygen and nutrient delivery are the muscles, brain, and other tissues and organs working in a synergy that we referred to or group as "physical activity." 

If 50% of these patients had "a serious heart problem," by now, that would be known. Yes, some present a myocarditis (heart cell inflammation) but most of these are severely or critically ill. Or on the Pathologist's table. So rather than being so targetted, even if one adds back the lungs, a much more global effect on the body as a whole is suggested. Pathologists have already provided many findings distributed throughout the body's organs and tissues that are consistent with this finding in our 100 respondents on this date. And their huge number of symptoms early and during this illness, are again consistent with path and clinical findings. Fortunately, and as they responded, they are suffering an illness of moderate severity. (Not very convenient to take a questionnaire when being mechanically ventilated).

"Healthcare," with its ever-creasing tendency towards hyper-specialization, is not often prepared to do anything with such a symptom list but dismiss it. Or one step less ineffective, to focus in on only one or two items from the list. That can quickly lead to trouble, and on both sides of the exam table.  

Targetting each area of organ (or tissue) involvement with specific diagnostic tests to prove presence or absence, and specific therapies aimed at curing or at least improving abnormal findings, sounds like a daunting task and certainly is!

So one must not forget in this less than perfectly clear clinical setting, that with time and basic support, the body tends toward healing itself. Unless a body has strayed so far, through illness or habits, from Walter B. Cannon's "homeostasis" or middle of the road, it usually finds its way back.

Anyone suffering with this illness should find much hope in that. 

<<<<<<< Questionnaire answers - start here

        (this is where several previous "Lessons" are posted). 

This was Lesson 8: How much does "Long-term" COVID-19 impact one's usual activity level?

<<<<<<<  Introduction to the Questionnaire

<<<<<<<<<  Take the Questionnaire

<<<<<<<<<<<  Home page

But how much of each?

Overall, for 95 kind individuals who responded, the results look like this...

Let's look first at how the question was asked.

Q43 : "There is no illness of the body, that is without emotional, mental, spiritual components. And if one has a reason to become depressed or anxious, our body reacts. It is a unified system. Some days, some parts are more broken than others and that varies from one day to the next. How would you describe the balance of those components in you today?  Where are you focused ?"

Possible answers offered:

• • • • • • 100% physical & 0% emotional
          •   80% physical & 20% emotional
          •   50% physical & 50% emotional
          •   20% physical & 80% emotional
          •     0% physical & 100% emotional
          •         Don't know. Can't tell.
•  
•  
•  

95 people answered so far. 

Typical of all questionnaires, a few just didn't understand, are internally inconsistent (like with impossible dates [this illness probably did not start before the respondent was born] ), or whatever. In this case, they (2) get thrown out, leaving 93. So for this question, their answers were excluded. One had responded "80:20" and the other, "50:50." Below, these have been subtracted.

Here's how these 93 replied:

• • • • • • 11 (11.83%) chose "Didn't know. Can't tell.
          • No one chose "0% physical & 100% emotional" - 0 (0%)
          •  1  (1.08%) chose "20% physical & 80% emotional"
          • 27 (29.0%) chose "50% physical & 50% emotional"
          • 43 (46.2%) chose "80% physical & 20% emotional"
          • 11 (11.8%) chose "100% physical &   0% emotional"

So the majority elected to respond that "Long-term" COVID-19 is an illness where what is "broken" (to use the term as presented in the question) is "80% physical & 20% emotional."

But the next most frequent response (50:50) was often selected as well.

So we need a mean value to summarize with. An average value to represent what those with "Long-term" COVID-19 are living with. And have been living with for about 26 weeks. And here it is.

So to walk you through these results (if needed) : We are here commenting on the responses of individuals who present with "Long-term" COVID-19. This result is not earth-shattering news.

But it gives one, at least I hope so, a meaningful starting point that can be thought of as probably representative.

It should help reduce (or even challenge), "hunches" that we might have about this physical:emotional balance point.

1. 1. 1. 1. Reponses so far had been obtained by the 22nd day of the questionnaires use.
         2. 90% are women. Average age: 47.5 yrs. Then have been ill 6.4 months on average.
         3. On average, they feel that what is "broken" due to this illness that most (data not shown here) are still living with ... is 72% physical, and 28% emotional. That's what they think.
         4. The variability in the actual responses, as presented above, before this graphic, generates a standard deviation here of 18.1%. Not into statistics? Don't worry about it. It just means that not everyone chose the same response. We knew that. It's utility will reappear when comparing subgroups. For instance, gender differences. For instance, smokers and non-smokers.
         5. That "Ratio Physical to Emotional" value above on the left, is also useful for summarizing these results. For each emotional symptom present, on average there are 2.6 physical symptoms. Were there many of both? Yes. A huge (that's not an exaggeration) number of physical symptoms selected in that question (presented elsewhere), and at various times. As I write this, these 93 respondents had the following number of physical symptoms at the times indicated below. And yes, that is a huge number to be experiencing. Even if all are not severe. Imagine, 17 different things bothering you physically throughout your day. And these respondnets were still kind and courageous enough to get it together for 30 minutes and answer the questionnaire! Thank you! :  

So what about that 27.8% of "broken" things being "emotional or psychologic."

The responses today look like this.

These are the psychologic findings that respondents have been  experiencing, and living with, captured in a different question of this questionnaire and copied below:

Though the image is blurry, one can make out that only 3 (3.13%) respondents replied "None of the above" to this question. 

That leaves us with 19 different psychologic symptoms!  And among these: Anxiety, fear, depression/ sadness, tearfullness, feeling like an outcast, frustration/ impatience. It has gone on long enough, and at a level of importance, that now slowed thoughts, difficulty concentrating, and others, make even simple things too complicated. 

These people are beginning to suffer from shell shock! Not only would they benefit from a big hug! ... they need professional help to address these outcries for help. It's just that simple. If it's not that simple, it should be.

Are they getting help? And from where?

Questions 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 help to answer that. On this date of 4 October:

Just concentrate on the highlighted percentages ...

• • • • Family - is the primary source of emotional support. While that is understandable, and even commendable and reassuting, I hope that some of those families include members who are professionally capable of dealing with the large list presented above of the "broken" emotional pieces.
      • The people that the "healthcare system" teaches are there for such emergencies: one's healthcare providers or a separate therapist. These fo not garner many points for effectiveness in addressing the challenge (15.8 & 6.9% of the scores awarded). 78% skippped the "therapist" question. As you read this, if you are thinking: "But who's going to pay for that?" it means the system is broken. Go find yourself a shaman.
      • So instead, these respondents turn to online groups and communication. Healing by electrons. Not knocking that at all. But it has moved into position 2 after Family. What has happened to "healthcare"? And how can we fix that?
      • And personal strengths and habits have now also outpaced "healthcare" for fixing what is broken. One can only hope that personal resilience (a question covered elsewhere) remains strong. Some have more than others as discovered at the above link.

Gender differences?

Here are the women ...

Since they are in the majority for this illness, the results are almost identical to the overall results.

How about the men?

Results : 

• • • • Do men with "Long-term" COVID-19 illness seem to find more emotional parts that are "broken," than the women?
      • For each emotional issue, there are 2.2 physcal ones. And for women that was 2.64 physical problems for each emotional finding.
      • CONCLUSION: the emotional components of this illness are more present in men than women. That would be good to anticipate if one gets this illness, and one is male.
      • Surprised?
      • Why are you surprised?
      • But, ... are these apparent differences, "statistically significant?" - an important question. (Even if it's response and the question itself, bore you to tears). We don't want to be spreading around our hypothesis that men and women have a different balance of physical : emotional response to this illness, Not unless it's very likely to be true. Let's see...

Need help!?

• • • • • The above teaches that there is no significant difference in these mean values based on gender alone.
        • Our hypothesis that there actually is a difference, has 55 chances out of 100 of being wrong.
        • What might we do if its actually true, and there is a difference, but we can't find it?
          • Get more respondents. Only 9 male respondents when this was written (a few more since) isn't much. Maybe we need at least 100. There, you can help by spreading around a link to the questionnaire for those you know with "Long-term" COVID-19.
          • More importantly. How nice to have a tool that can tell us when our impressions, based on results right under our nose(s), are dead wrong. Or even sometimes, right.
          • Or even better, when they teach us something we hadn't seen at all, or hadn't even imagined. Then it's worth the effort. Then, as said one day in Arkansas: "Even a blind hog finds an acorn, every now and then." 

Sometimes questionnaire responses generate results that are certainly real, but for which an answer is not immediately apparent. Sometimes information from another question in our survey, can be used to better understand. To shed light as well as heat. Here's an example:

Smoking

Here are responses to Question 12, about smoking history of respondents. This particular respondent has a smoking history of 21 to 40 pack-years.

51% are Non-Smokers.  46% smoked in the past or still do.

In the UK, 14.7% of the population smokes. USA 13.7% of the population smokes, as seen above.

So there already a question is forming. There are more smokers in this sample of the population that presents with "Long-term" COVID-19, than in the population.  

As a past Professor of Neuroanatomy used to say: "Why? ... We do not know."

Next

Do Non-smokers and those with a Smoking History experience a different balance of Physical and Emotional "brokenness"? 

First, the Non-Smokers:

Next, the Smokers

Interpretation : 

• • • Those who do not smoke, have a different balance of Physical and Emotional symptoms than do smokers. Non-smokers have on average 75% Physical Symptoms and 25% Emotional. Smokers, 68.5% Physical and 31.5% Emotional. Some would say: "Pretty close." As more responses come in, we'll see how this result changes. 
    • But perhaps we already have enough responses to hint at an answer. To be robust enough to tolerate a statistical onslaught. 
    • And if their is a difference an appropriate answer may still be:  "Why? We do not know ..."
    • Is this suggested difference in mean % Physical values real? Here comes the test ...

The difference generates a p value of about 0.07. That means there are about 7 chances in 100 that the apparent difference discovered in Smokers compared with Non-Smokers in the mean %Physical to % Emotional Balance is not real and arose by chance. Since 7 out of 100 is not much chance, I'd bet on our hypothesis that Smokers and Non-Smokers live this illness slightly differently. 

To see if this holds, a few more responses would help to confirm that this subtle difference is real.

Why would this be? What has smoking done to change this rapport? "Why? ... we do not know."

So what's the point?

• • • That all those suffering with this illness are not perfectly alike.
    • That personal habits acquired before becoming infected are today playing a role in recovery.
    • Notice that no difference was seen in duration of illness, delay of diagnosis, nor in number of days from start of illness to when starting to feel better.
    • That methods exist for finding and confirming actual differences in what, at first glance, looks like a uniform population of "Long-term" COVID-19 sufferers. When looked at a little more carefully, one finds different sub-groups. These add to our understanding of this illness. Even in illness, we are each individuals. 

CONCLUSIONS

For both women and men with this illness, 

• • • Physical symptoms can be identified as present
    • Emotional symptoms can be identified as present
    • Besides gender, other personal habits impact on how Physical and Emotional components of this illness are perceived. (Smoking or not).
    • While there is a balance between the two that varies from one person to the next, on average for what this specific illness effects or "breaks" is 72% physical and 28% emotional. Is this different than the response to any other serious illness? But trying to convince oneself that it's all one or the other, is wrong we have seen, and probably won't work. Might delay healing.
    • The number of defects or deficits distancing respondents from a desired state of unified health, are usually very numerous for these particular patients (i.e., many physical symptoms reported). Perhaps unusual from what happens most offen in Medicine. (Think of appendicitis, a heart attack, a breast cancer, pulmonary embolism, a broken femur, an itchy rash). This is a multi-system disease. (Reminiscent of a car accident victim who has sustained a multi-trauma set of injuries).
    • While some will suggest that a treatment for the physical components of this illness is lacking (several still experimental under clinical study have suggested effectiveness, and vaccines a promise for the future), that is not true for the host of psychologic symptoms that are manifesting each day in these responses. 
    • And yet, use of available therapies in that domain at a professional level are not being frequently sought, preferring to relie on other sources scored higher as potentally effective for emotional support.
    • Most individuals having symptoms of a broken leg (not actually studied here), would not hesitate to seek aide from a source beyond family and friends, to get that painful problem fixed. A whole constellation of painful emotional symptoms were uncovered through this questionnaire. And yet, the hesitation for moving promptly towards professional help is all too evident in the responses. Identifying why is a very essential next step. 
    • Is effective care in the setting of this exact 72:28 balance of physical and emotional symptoms on this day, being obtained from "healthcare"? If not, what's missing? There are just too many broken souls out there to keep wearing blinders like my horse used to do. Come on my fellow physicians: take off those blinders and see your patient. Perhaps for the first time.

Presented again below are quotations from the respondents. These are their responses to the question which is phrased as follows in the questionnaire:

"Time now to listen to you directly. To hear your new found expertise with COVID-19.

If you could offer a few words of advice to those from whom you sought care during this illness, what would you say?"

Here is what some wrote ...

(75 responded, 21 skipped this opportunity to write any thoughts, as of Oct. 4, 2020).

Where would the following thoughts have come from?

I have to assume, from what they experienced and were made to feel in their exchanges with "the System."

These have not been subselected for effect. Some convey a positive response to exchanges with "healthcare." Most do not.

--------

"Listen and don’t dismiss."

"This is not just anxiety, its not all in our head, we are suffering, hundreds of thousands of us who never got better. Do your jobs and help us instead of accusing us of being crazy hypochondriacs!"

"Listen, try to understand and show empathy. If you are not an expert, refer to someone who may be! It's ok not to have the answers but don't be dismissive."

"Believe me, be sympathetic, refer me to specialists."

"Keep researching, keep looking for answer and be honest and transparent where you don't know. I wouldn't be seeking your help if I wasn't suffering."

"LISTEN to your patient, and BELIEVE them."

"Try to understand what the illness is like for me."

"I have very few words. I lost all faith in providers after this experience. The total lack of care, compassion, and guidance of the doctors was traumatic in itself."

"See us face to face and perform tests to find out what is going on in our body rather than playing guessing games."

"Medical profession need to be up to speed with long Covid."

"Please take time to read the newest studies, research, and articles written by those struggling. We don’t expect you to have the answers but we do expect you to listen, believe, educate yourself and advocate for us."

"Thank you to those who believed me - particularly my close family and my doctor, and therapists I have sought help from."

"... just listen, were not mad!"

"Listen more. Seek answers, it's what we who suffer need in order to improve. We won't all "get better in time", some have physical ailments as a result of the virus."

"Be patient." 

"Don't put everything down to anxiety."

"Listen to the patient. You may have concerns for their breathing but other symptoms are also worrying for us. Those other symptoms may also point in a direction you hadn’t considered especially if tests come in normal."

"Listen to your patient as they know how they feel. Support the patient even if there isn't any treatment."

"Admit you dont know but continue to learn."

"Be open-no preconceived boxes for symptoms and treatments."

"Please believe your patients, and let them know you believe them, - show empathy even if you don’t understand how one virus can cause such a toll or wide range of symptoms."

"Remember it could be you."

"Listen, empathy,  believe us."

"You didn’t know enough. I don’t blame you for that. But you didn’t try hard enough to learn from emerging sources. I blame you for that. You were overworked. I don’t blame you for that. You didn’t make sure I was checked on and you left my loved ones to support me on their own. I blame you for that. You made light of my suffering.  That hurt. I will never trust the NHS again.  I will do everything I can to never have to talk to healthcare professionals for the rest of my life."

"...slow down and LISTEN and look."

"Listen to us. Do more."

"Believe, listen, offer tests to exclude other issues, reassure even if all tests show nothing, that this is real. Advise to rest and convalesce."

"Listen, believe, Learn, care, respect and keep in touch even if you cannot do much."

" keep up the good work "

"Keep listening to the patients. We will be the ones giving you answers for a better research and care."

"Empathy goes a long way, especially if it is phone consultation. It would have been helpful if doctors had checked in on me, rather than me doing it once a month when my sick note ran out. It was hard to speak to 12+ doctors over the past 5 months, a consistent doctor/small group of doctors if more practicable would have been better."

"Listen to your patients, give them at least the allotted time, read the research and leave no stone unturned. Remember your clinical judgement rather than putting so much weight on lab tests and assess new symptoms as you would without Covid."

"Be open minded and keep looking for answers."

"You needed to listen and be much more supportive and understanding."

"Listen to symptoms, focus on clinical experience and use the two to find creative care solutions."

"I am very very lucky to have access to excellent medical care, doctors who are researching this virus to better help their patients and I know how rare this is!"

"Should have looked up my medical history/listened /believed me in the beginning."

"... algorithms are useless. You are medically trained for what? To look at a screen and find out about a disease that is too new for systems and bureaucracy. The answers lie with your patients and educating yourselves. Ignore the 'machine and do what you first got into the profession for. Helping people."

"It would have been helpful if you had not just listened, but actually heard when I was saying. To not be so insensitive and judgemental; blaming all my symptoms on being overweight and my mental health. To please try and treat me holistically and not just separating out symptoms. To actually do some reading and a bit of research about long covid and to see that I am not making this up. I wish you had made me feel validated instead of being left sad and frustrated."

"Don't treat us as imagining we are ill, help us."

"I know not any one has answers yet but TRY SOMETHING."

"I mostly have had positive experiences."

"Don't be dismissive of concerns of those who consult you. This includes taking complaints of particular ailments seriously even if they are not present at the time of the consultation."

"Don’t be afraid to say “we don’t know” - that is a sign of intelligence to me.  Express you believe what I’m telling you directly to me.  I can tell you do, but that affirmation is soothing. Instruct ALL staff to wear masks correctly ALL the time.  Most do, but I did encounter a few who wore it below their nose.  Please REQUIRE AND ENFORCE requirement on wearing masks.  If someone won’t don’t see them.  Online support groups are not for everyone, but offer that information to your patients.  My PCP puts an update about local Covid stats, what they mean, trends, and updates on clinical studies."

"Be able to say you don't know  share resources / talk  to other doctors and give your patients that benefit of the doubt no one knows what this thing is quite yet..   Keep your politics out of my health care!"

----------------

As you read through the above, certain responses for advice to healthcare providers may have caught your attention more than others. You may even have found a favorite.

Mine is: "Remember it could be you."

And that, because it's quite true.

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This has been Lesson 7: It's Physical, It's Emotional. It's Both.

Here is a link back to the previous lessons emerging from these preliminary results.

An Introduction to the Questionnaire.

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