Autoimmune Patients and COVID

I DON'T Want to Get COVID and You Shouldn't Either!

(Heads up: I don’t debate about COVID vaccines. If you don't want to get one, don't. )

Right now, because of the Omicron surge, we're hearing "everyone’s gonna get it” and “anyway, it’s really mild.”

The Omicron variant may not be as dangerous as previous COVID variants — even for people who aren't vaccinated — but here's a reminder: 20-50% of people who get COVID will develop "Long Covid. (Long Covid is defined as symptoms that continue months, and potentially years, after initial COVID infection...even if your vaccinated/boosted, or if you had a mild case.)

The Common Long Covid symptoms include debilitating fatigue, breathing problems, muscle and joint pain and aches, weakness, brain fog, and even organ damage.

Sound familiar? For 25 years, I’ve lived with chronic autoimmune disease. Many of you are in the same situation. It's been a roller coaster of symptoms like brain fog, extreme fatigue and exhaustion, muscle/body aches, chronic inflammation...and later, development of MULTIPLE autoimmune diseases.

But I'm in a good place right now, with everything for the most part in balance. I do NOT want to get COVID, much less Long Covid!

So, what do we know?

Anecdotal evidence is suggesting vaccination may cut the risk of Long Covid in half. That still needs to be shown in studies, but it's a positive development!

But that still means that TENS OF MILLIONS of Americans - and hundreds of millions across the globe - who get COVID (including breakthrough infections) will essentially develop a long term or lifelong chronic post-viral disease that closely resembles many autoimmune diseases. AND, could lead to development of other autoimmune diseases.

Some people who think Covid - and especially Omicron - is just like a flu or a cold are in for a sad awakening when coming up against Long Covid.

We're looking at Long Covid patients who will likely face the same fate as those of us with autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue, and other similar conditions: ongoing symptoms, few treatments, few cures, skepticism and accusations of “malingering” by some medical professionals and members of the public, charlatans and snake oil salesman promising us that their exorbitantly priced Himalayan Salt Lamp and kale smoothies will cure Long Covid, and so on. We’re going to have millions more frustrated patients with chronic illness.

Bottom line: I do NOT want to get "Long Covid." I'm assuming that many of you feel similarly.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• First, don't accept the "everyone's going to get it" myth, and do what you can to avoid getting COVID!!!!!!

• That means you should get vaccinated and boosted (if it’s safe for you). (See above note. I'm NOT going to debate with anti-vaxxers.)

• Wear a good N95 or KN95 mask -- not a cloth mask. And wear it properly, OVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH! (FYI, I’m also NOT going to debate with anti-maskers.)

• Ventilate! Ventilate! Ventilate!

• Avoid group settings — and especially places like bars, restaurants, and other crowded indoor places where you take off your mask — when possible. (The 6 foot social distancing thing is fairly useless with Omicron, BTW.) I don’t care what mask you’re wearing. Even double vaxxed, boosted and masked, you can still get the Omicron variant.

• Make changes to support your immune system: vitamins D, C, and zinc and follow an anti-inflammatory diet.

• Aim for mind-body balance and stress reduction.

• Get 7 hours a night of sleep to support your overall immunity.

• Get outside daily, and get some physical activity daily.

I've heard from a number of autoimmune thyroid patients who have developed Long Covid, and they say that after all the progress they've made, it's like they're back to square one again, health-wise. HELL NO!

I've worked too hard to get to where I am, and I'm doing EVERYTHING I can to avoid going backwards. Who's with me?

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Remember to always talk with your provider about your decisions regarding your health care!