Last August, 22-year-old Devin Kadis from Colorado tested positive for COVID-19. What began as a common quarantine quickly spiraled into a prolonged struggle for recovery.
\"I definitely was very sick. I was bedridden, I had all the symptoms pretty much besides a fever actually,\" Devin recalls. Her initial improvement was short-lived as she began experiencing severe 'body crashes.'
\"I couldn’t move. My friends had to pick me up physically off the ground and put me in bed, and I couldn’t even speak. I was slurring all my words,\" she describes. Alongside these debilitating episodes, Devin grappled with the loss of smell, occasional breathing difficulties, and persistent brain fog throughout the fall.
Feeling isolated and unsure, she sought help at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, one of over three dozen U.S. medical facilities addressing long-hauler syndrome. \"I think it’s being recognized as a much bigger problem as people are starting to recover from COVID,\" Devin explains.
Dr. Natasha Altman, a cardiologist at the clinic, works with a team of specialists to understand and treat the varied symptoms of long-hauler syndrome. \"Long-hauler syndrome is a bizarre, often debilitating by-product of COVID-19. It’s marked by strange, wildly different symptoms. Doctors don't know what causes it,\" she says.
Through comprehensive tests, including treadmill stress tests to check for heart-related issues, Dr. Altman and her team aim to uncover the underlying causes of patients' prolonged symptoms. The non-profit FAIR Health reports that nearly a quarter of those who contracted COVID-19 experience at least one new medical condition a month after infection, even among those who initially had mild or no symptoms.
UCHealth doctors have found that a combination of recumbent exercise, ample hydration, and time can aid recovery, though each patient's path to health is unique. \"I would definitely say one size doesn't fit all,\" Dr. Altman notes.
Despite some skepticism in the medical community, Devin has found reassurance and support. \"I would never want this to happen to anyone else, because it's been tough,\" she shares. A month after her initial visit, Devin reports significant improvement, highlighting the positive impact of specialized care in overcoming long-hauler challenges.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
