One Year Later
We were told this was a two-week disease if you were one of the 98% of people who lived. But, for many “survivors” the first two weeks were only the beginning. They are not counted in the official tallies of “deceased” and “recovered”. They are in the grey area in the middle — for some seemingly indefinitely. Here, Covid-19 survivors provide updates on how they’re doing one year later.
Start of Illness: March 26, 2020
Profession: Life Coach
Age: 59
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
March 26, 2021 by grace marks my one-year anniversary of fighting Covid 19 and its infiltration into my total existence. What started out as a normal day ended with my life being forever changed and life as I had known it would never be the same. Over the past year I have done everything I could do to let the world know that Covid 19 was real and not a hoax. I had to change the way I was living my life because I was afraid, I would awaken the sleeping giant that has become a constant companion and left nodules on my lungs and spots on my liver with a note stating if I do not be careful it may return to pick up where it left off. This past year I have learned that my parents were truly excellent parents because of the way my siblings and I were raised. I was taught to never sell my soul under any circumstances because if I did, I could never get it back. During Covid 19 I have witness a lot of soul selling going on with people choosing what they wanted over what was needed and it cost the lives of over 500,000 people and affected the lives of millions of others. Mentally I am in a good space but physically I am still facing challenges daily because of a decrease in stamina due to Covid. I now work from home because I am not comfortable doing otherwise, I have a Life Coaching business geared towards helping Covid 19 survivors find ways to mentally recover and find some sense of dealing with life after Covid. I am now my own boss and I am doing what I cannot call work because I Love what I do. I am a mom,wife, sister, friend,Covid-19 survivor,advocate and Lifecoach. AND YET AGAIN I SMILE .
Learn more about Dr. Marjorie’s life coaching at: drmarjorieroberts.com
Start of Illness: March 17, 2020
Profession: Nurse
Age: 31
Location: New York, New York
On March 17th I felt like I had a cold. I knew COVID could be a possibility, but I thought, no way it’s too early, it can’t be?!
When I completely lost my taste and sense of smell even though the doctor at the urgent care gaslighted me, I knew. As the days went on and I declined, by Sunday 3/22 I ended up hospitalized with low oxygen saturation, double pneumonia, chostochondritis and was started on the Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) Trial. I did not consent to intubation and luckily fought through and was able to wean off oxygen on my own.
From March to June recovering from lung issues, memory fog, migraines, visual disturbances were difficult. My residual symptoms to date are all neurological. I suffer from Vestibular Hypofunction, Accommodative Insufficiency and other visual disturbances which now require me to wear glasses for and Vestibular Migraines.
I returned to work after a few months from my initial diagnosis, but as my illnesses worsened I had to go out on a medical accommodation in which I am working from home right now because it is difficult to function as a Nurse with these issues. I am currently on different medications daily to help with the migraines, dizziness, and nausea, and I am going to a special physical therapy called Ocular & Vestibular Therapy to retrain my brain and my eyes.
Diagnosis: Vestibular Hypofunction, accommodative insufficiency and other visual disturbances which now require me to wear glasses for and Vestibular Migraines
Start of Illness: March 2020
Profession: Pre-Med Student
Age:
Location: Carlsbad, California
This week last year, I was contracting COVID from work. I had no idea that a year later, I still would be battling the effects from the virus. I’ve tried numerous things to restore my body and go back into remission. I’ve tried my healing habits along with new ones, and still face the struggle. I’ve dedicated this past year to healing and while some things did improve, there’s still more to work on. It’s retaught me how to approach healing in a different way. It’s changed my perspective yet again. I’ve had to go through the same emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual battles as I did during my Lyme treatment years ago. But even so, I have grown and learned. While my heart did break from the damage COVID caused in my body, I still am here, fighting, becoming stronger each day. And while some don’t understand the depths of suffering COVID can cause to those more susceptible, I’ve learned that it’s better to spend my energy and time on healing, rather than explaining or defending. I have talked to hundreds of people online, as patients, and through random encounters, and there are so many people who are still battling the COVID effects like I am. I do feel grateful for the last year, but to be honest, I do have hard days where it takes all of my strength to put a smile on my face for the patients and people around me. To think one year ago, the virus was entering my body, getting ready to change my life forever. But from this day forward, the virus does not have any power over me or my health. I am rewiring my brain and approaching my healing differently.
Start of Illness: March 12, 2020
Profession: Artist
Age: 46
Location: Brooklyn, New York
I started feeling sick March 12, 2020 and was extremely sick for 2 weeks solid. I went back to hospital in July with severe stomach pains which turned out to be a pulmonary embolism in my lung. The X-ray showed that I had Covid lungs -- fluid and thickening of the bronchial lining. This shocked me greatly. I developed anemia and had every test under the sun for severe stomach pains. My entire body was inflamed and no one really knew why. My taste and smell returned in August. Then, in September I started smelling phantom cigarette smoke 24/7. That finally left me in November. I experienced symptoms up until December of 2020. I am back to work full time. Mentally and physically I feel much much better. I’m definitely not the same as I was before I got sick. I still have sore joints that come and go and often wonder if I have arthritis. I’d say I’m back to 90%. It’s been a LOOOOONG road. Covid changed my life for the better. I know that sounds crazy. I am way more aware and present in my daily life of how I am feeling. I am way more grateful for my health and for feeling good! This year, I am looking forward to EVERYTHING!!! Spring, Summer, friends, food, movies, connecting! Just everything!!!!!
Diagnoses: anemia
Start of Illness: March 25, 2020
Profession: Manager at a medical adult daycare center
Age: 37
Location: East Orange, New Jersey
March 26 was my one year anniversary of being admitted in the hospital. I still have brain fog like I’m forgetful. And, I still have nightmares at times of me about to be put on the ventilator. Mentally I feel good but at times I get depressed and unmotivated more than before. I’m about 60% normal. I was already dealing with mild depression but I think Covid made me more depressed which I’m currently in therapy for. I did return to work full time but we are not open to the public yet. Covid has definitely scarred me. I really don’t feel the same. I am thankful to be alive but there are times when I feel like a part of me died. Even being vaccinated. I’ve learned to treat life and all experiences as a precious gift because you’ll never know when a time come when you’ll say “remember when?” I think my whole perspective on life has changed. I’m thankful to be alive. But believe or not I believe covid help me see the world as it is instead of what I wanted it to be. A lot of true colors of those closest to me were revealed. I see my flaws and things I took for granted. Covid help me see the truth in everything. Through it all I’m thankful but I'm just not the same happy go lucky guy I was.
Start of Illness: March 13, 2020
Profession: Digital medical Database Analyst
Age: 47
Location: Fall River, Massachusetts
On March 3, 2020 my son went to the ER with a mystery illness that lasted for 4 weeks. March 5th my wife became extremely sick. I first felt sick on March 7th. I got better for a few days then crashed on March 13. My son and wife slowly recovered over the next 4 weeks. I did not. My illness lasted months. I thought I'd gotten better by August but in September it came back.
I'm what's known as a Long Hauler. Someone who survived COVID only to go on to have symptoms for months after the initial infection. The infectious disease specialist I am seeing says we long haulers are suffering from a very common post viral experience that has been ignored and overlooked until now. The two biggest things I learned from him are that the process of getting better will take years (I may relapse several more times), and that if I feel like no one is listening or believes me to take comfort that no one was listening to HIM about the effects of post viral syndrome and he is a Doctor. Now with the sheer numbers of long haulers recovering from COVID, the medical community is forced to acknowledge, research and treat it as a real disease.
I have been fortunate. I am almost 100% back to pre-COVID normal. I work from home so I missed very little work during even the worst of my illness, and it seems I have been spared any long term damage. I've learned to never take good health for granted. It can be taken away in an instant and completely at random. I've learned that a virus can alter how the entire body functions, sometimes in bizarre ways. Little things l never knew could be taken away like yawning or feeling my muscles relax when I lay down have finally come back after being gone for almost a year. I can't even talk about the experience with most folks unless they've been through it. I have yet to face the mental and emotional trauma. I can't face that until I know my family is relatively safe.
Start of Illness: March 22, 2020
Profession: Teacher
Age: 38
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Time stopped and restarted on March 22, 2020 when I first started experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. One year later, I am not the same woman. My goals and dreams are so different. My body is not the same. And my mind is not as sharp. I still have occipital neuralgia with neck, back, and spinal pain; visual disturbances and floaters; muscle and joint pain; brain fog; memory loss; migraines; insomnia; malaise; fatigue; and now I am cognitively impaired. I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, occipital neuralgia, and migraines. I’m so glad that God ignored my plans and pleas to die. If I had committed suicide or died because of Covid, I would not be here to advocate for other black women and people who still need education, research, and treatment for Long Covid. I’ve also learned that my teaching career is NOT over; it’s just happening on a larger scale. I am educating not only black people but I have the opportunity to educate white people, doctors, and researchers about the importance of including black patients and stakeholders in Long Covid advocacy. I am so much stronger than I’ve ever been in my entire life although my body still struggles. My voice has power and my background in urban education is still as impactful in Long Covid research. Black people will know about Long Covid and its impact on our communities — and I started the conversation.
Start of Illness: March 20, 2020
Profession: Emergency Room Nurse
Age:
Location: Cherry Hill, New Jersey
I tested positive for COVID a year ago. It started with a headache and sinus pressure. Coincidentally, I had a video appointment with my Primary and she started me on antibiotics for a presumed sinus infection. When I woke with a fever then next day, I knew it was COVID. I never had headaches, and hadn't had a fever since I was 6 years old.
The same day my test result came back, I received a call that I had a work exposure (I am a nurse). I was ok for about 3 weeks. Then everything went downhill. I was really sick, mostly with chest pains, difficulty breathing, terrible headaches and dizziness. I thought I was dying several times. It was so scary! I am not a hysterical person, but I think I was having panic attacks on top of all of the other symptoms.
Somehow, all testing was normal except I was slightly dehydrated. I was so lucky! But now, looking back, it had to be more than luck. I was an ER nurse for 12 years, and had a very strong immune system. Everyone around me would get sick, and I would be fine. I was also very active and ate fairly healthy. I really wonder if I would have been more sick if I did not have all of that going for me.
Currently, I am still out of work with headaches, fatigue, and pain that just moves around randomly. I have been taking vitamins, supplements, histamine blockers, and allergy meds all along. I started an anti inflammatory diet almost three months ago. Shortly after that, I started gabapentin. I am doing pool therapy, walking every day and trying to increase my stamina. I finally feel a difference; like the former me is so ready to come out. But I know I have to be patient and not overdo it. I do not want to back slide.
Through all of this, I have learned that I have have such a strong support system. My immediate family is more important than anything. And EVERYONE has their own stuff going on. Being kind is so simple. A simple word or gesture goes a long way!
Start of Illness: May 19, 2020
Profession: Support Service Coordinator
Age: 47
Location: Crofton, Maryland
My coworkers noticed I looked sick May 19th, but I felt like it was allergies. May 24th I had a strange migraine, took a nap and woke up with 102.7 fever and an elephant on my chest and haven't felt truly healthy since then. May 27th I was hospitalized with sars-cov2-and bilateral pneumonia, given EUA Remdesivir and convalescent plasma. And discharged from the hospital June 10th, I was rehospitalized Aug 21-23 for Covid like symptoms, monitor for clotting issues, and hypoxia. February 7th I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia/acute bronchitis. Since the summer, I have struggled with hypoxia, malabsorption of nutrients, constant, acute migraines, inflammatory pain, dyspnea, chronic debilitating fatigue, tremors, vision problems, viral conjunctivitis, lymph node swelling, brain fog, short term memory issues. I can post my symptoms on Instagram to help me remember. I seem to have almost a covid relapse every 3 months where I am really really unwell, and the last three months I have been experiencing new symptoms like Covid tongue and dizziness.
I am working full time, because I have to; however at my place of employment I am able to take off or leave early if I am too sick or can not function because of flair ups.
I have been on supplemental oxygen since October. I’m taking multiple supplements: multi vitamin, D3, zinc, magnesium, vitamin C, N.A.C, probiotics, B12 injections, and biotin/folate because I had hair loss starting at about month five. I have nebulizer treatments, inhalers, anxiety meds. I use an incentive spirometer and a respiratory tool to help exercise my lungs. I also try to juice and keep sugar to a minimum because of Inflammation. I was on prednisone for nearly 4 months and if anyone knows steroids... it was not fun.
The past 9 months have been an emotional journey. I can't even find the words to describe it. I have learned who is in my corner, and I have learned a lot about my strength to go on. Have there been dark moments? Abso-fucking-lutely. But today I am at peace with being alive and being able to help others through surviving this virus.
Diagnosis: hypoxia, dyspnea, Chronic acute Migraines, Interstitial lung disease, Atelectasis, lung scarring
Start of Illness: March 2020
Profession: Patient Care Associate at a City Hospital
Age: 41
Location: Bronx, New York
A year ago I had COVID. I had a false negative but went to NYU and it was confirmed that I had a mild case of COVID, only this mild case completely left me relentlessly fighting for my life. I had a fever, no taste or smell, the worst headache ever, passed out at home in front of my kids, taken to bx care, and found out I had pneumonia but the seizures were induced by the fevers, but little did I know that COVID and MS were fighting for the title in my weak body, and the seizures were from the MS attacking my brain. I had two COVID-induced MS relapses, and kept getting hit back to back to back with health issues. My GI system was totally affected, and the last thing that Covid blessed me with was a TIA 2 days before Christmas.
A year later I still have COVID residual, I am considered a COVID long hauler and suffer from COVID relapses. I have severe fatigue, brain fog, cognitive issues, worse than MS. COVID makes MS look like a walk in the ballpark. MS is stable, COVID is dormant. Yet, I am humbly and abundantly grateful to be alive today, with a different mindset, a different view of life, and different visions. I thank GOD every single day for never leaving my side, especially when I was going through darkness. The light is shining now, and I love it.
Start of Illness: March 2020
Profession: Nurse
Age: 50
Location: Clark, New Jersey
I contracted COVID 19 in March 2020 and tested positive on April 3rd. During the infection, I quarantined. The respiratory symptoms I experienced were dry hacking cough and for over 36 hours, I felt as if I was breathing in fire. I started experiencing shortness of breath my first day back to work on April 15th and the shortness of breath hasn’t improved. I have had repeated chest X-rays, CT chest, stress test and Pulmonary Function test- ALL essentially normal. Pulmonologist prescribed a Methocholine Challenge Pulmonary test; however, most hospitals were not scheduling this test due to the higher risk of COVID exposure. It took me months to find a hospital performing this test and get insurance approval to go out of network. On March 2, 2021, I had the Methocholine Challenge test! During the test, my oxygen saturation dropped below 80%. It hurt to breath and I couldn’t even talk. I failed this test and was diagnosed with asthma. The Pulmonologist consulted with the HMH Post COVID Center and I was prescribed the following inhalers: Spiriva and Alvesco. I feel somewhat relieved to finally get a diagnosis for my persistent shortness of breath and a treatment plan! It has taken almost 1 year to get a diagnosis!!!
Diagnosis: asthma
Start of Illness: March 10, 2020
Profession: Federal Manager, Spiritual Medium, cat mom, and wife
Age: 32
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Call it a #CovidVersary or #TraumaVersary, the @wearebodypolitic community is calling it #1year1virus and that’s exactly what March 10, 2021 is for me. It’s my 365th day of daily #covid_19 symptoms and it’ll be a reminder to me, for the rest of my life, of a day that changed me in ways that I may never be able to fully articulate.
While the public longs for their prior normals, temporarily put on hold as a result of the pandemic (although some so selfishly refused *and still refuse* to honor what’s best for all of humanity), they forget about those who are grieving loved ones lost to Covid, and ignorantly forgetting about the millions like me who not only had to put their prior normals on hold, but may never get their prior normals back as a result of the organ damage and long-term complications of being a Covid survivor and a Long Covid patient.
And so, from where I’m sitting, my #1Year1Virus anniversary is about chronic illness in general. I’ve shared more about my Covid fight - physical and mental health - than is normal or comfortable for a person in their lifetime, and I don’t need to revisit the details of the traumas and losses again. You all *know* I’m now partially blind, have 4+ migraines per day every day, have colitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, post exertional malaise, cognitive disorders, seizures, tremors, survivor’s remorse, depression...and on and on. From Covid. You know it all.
But what this anniversary is really about for me is the MULTI-MILLIONS globally that have already, are currently, or will soon have their #1Year1Virus anniversary. And the multi-millions more that are on 10, 20, and 30 years of other chronic, under-recognized and under-supported illnesses that this human family has practically gone out of their way to ignore and sweep under the rug.
What I’ve learnt this past year is that 1 person can do a lot for themselves. They can know their worth, and value and power. They can speak until people listen and find power they never knew existed. But 1 person needs 100s more to move mountains.
I’ve learnt we that need each other. That’s my take away this year. I and we need each other. And we need to stop pretending that we don’t.
Diagnoses: partially blind, migraines, colitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, post exertional malaise, cognitive disorders, seizures, tremors, survivor’s remorse, depression
Start of Illness: June 19, 2020
Profession: Fitness Trainer
Age: 33
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Over 280 days into Covid-induced symptoms, I am feeling better but still have many health struggles. Fatigue has not gone away. Heart rate still spikes but not as often anymore. Neurological issues are still a plenty.
Covid has changed my life for the better and worst. Better in that I know the people in my life who care about the greater good and other who I do not care to associate myself with. Worse in that I do not know how much longer I will be able to stay in my fitness career and keep up with demands and having physical limitations now.
Covid was a vail. It showed the good in this world and it showed the outright disgusting. I now cherish my friends and family more than ever and will be putting my needs first and foremost from now on. I will enjoy saying the world “NO” a lot more LOL.
Start of Illness: March 16, 2020
Profession: Photographer / Podcast Host
Age: 26
Location: Hampton, Virginia
I started feeling sick around March 16th last year. I was one of the first people in the State of Virginia and the young group that caught it. After being diagnosed with double pneumonia, I was put on a ventilator for 12 days. Covid attacked my kidneys and my liver and I had two blood clots in my lungs all at the same time while I was on the ventilator. To top it off, my body wasn't taking in the food that they were trying to feed me through the tube, so I was vomiting while I was on a ventilator.
When I woke up, I lost 50 pounds — all in the wrong places might I add! I lost weight in my shoulders and my elbows. All the weird places. I couldn’t even go to the bathroom by myself -- at 26 years old.
I spent a total of 40 plus days in the hospital with no visitation. I had to relearn how to walk, talk and eat again. But, the main problem is the nerve damage in my right arm. That changed my life completely. I'm a photographer. I need both arms with my camera gear. At this point, I can’t get my arm up to my shutter button and I can’t get the angles I need so it put up a big little stab into what I was doing.
Today, I don’t have any lingering symptoms except for the nerve damage to my right arm that I’m still working on improving and foot ulcers. I have also discovered I have severe sleep apnea.
But on the bright side, I’m back in school going for my bachelors degree in communications and I started my own podcast that’s doing well on @iheartradio.
I’m at a mental mindset of just wanting to do better with the second chance at life and help others by inspiring them with my story! I would say I’m about 80% back to my old self minus the nerve damage and foot pain.
The last year has taught me to not procrastinate because tomorrow is not promised. It also taught me how blessed I truly am to be alive.
God even blessed me with a baby girl due in 3 months. I went from the ventilator to becoming a father!