People might still be living with the effects of Covid-19 – even after the infection clears up. It can be easy to miss the signs and dismiss them during the hustle of daily life.
A study by the University of Southampton, published in the Health Expectations journal, analysed NHS England data and found that 9.1% of people suspect they have ‘long Covid‘. The study also found that 4.8% of people reported actually having long Covid, with higher rates observed in more deprived areas, among specific ethnic groups, parents, carers and those with other ongoing health issues.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of long Covid. Experts have been consulted to find out how to differentiate between simple tiredness and a potentially chronic condition that might require more attention than just a bit of extra sleep.
« The symptoms can be vague and generalised, but common complaints include persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, joint and muscle pain and memory problems, sleep disturbance and chest pain, » explains Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice. You might experience changes in your smell or taste, persistent headaches, heart palpitations (feeling your heart beating harder or faster than normal) and stomach upset. »
After you’re infected with the virus, long Covid can appear at any point. Some people get better within a few weeks, whilst some take months and even years to recover from the lasting effects.
« This is normally two to six weeks after the initial infection, » Asif says. « The duration has been noted to be several weeks to several months. However, there have been reports of it lasting for many months and even years. »
How do I tell the difference between general fatigue and long Covid fatigue?
Dr Margaret O’Hara, founder trustee and lead of research at Long Covid Support, told PA News Agency: « It’s a very unusual type of fatigue, and that you haven’t done anything that would warrant you being tired, you’ve just been living your normal life. It can become much worse by doing really simple things like walking a very short distance, emptying the dishwasher or doing a Zoom meeting. Any physical or cognitive effort can cause you to have a return of symptoms.”
Usually when you’re just tired, it happens gradually. After you’ve gone to bed and wake up the next morning you’re usually back to normal – but with long Covid it’s far from this.
People have been warned this kind of tiredness can come on « really sudden ». Dr O’Hara added: « One minute you feel fine, and the next you’ve got to go lie down and sleep. So, it’s kind of unusual patterns of fatigue that don’t really fit with anything that you’ve experienced before. »
She added: « Usually when you’re tired, it kind of comes on gradually, and then you get to bedtime and think, ‘Oh I need an early night’, and the next day you are fine – but with long Covid it’s not a gradual onset. It can be really, really sudden. »
If you have persistent fatigue symptoms, a doctor must assess you to distinguish whether this is long-term Covid-19 or another serious health condition. Your doctor will often do this with a thorough physical examination.
This will include a blood test (to rule out anaemia, hormonal issues and nutritional deficiencies). Sometimes, imaging scans are also used to evaluate the heart and lungs.
Because the condition is still being understood, and cases vary so much, it’s hard to pin down a specific treatment for long Covid. Sammie McFarland, CEO and founder of Long Covid Kids, said: « Pacing is a useful strategy, but isn’t curative, and takes time to learn, and even then the goal posts can change and it doesn’t doesn’t always work. The aim is to avoid energy crashes by balancing activity with rest. »
Sometimes, you’ll be given medication to help with symptoms such as antihistamines, beta-blockers or low-dose naltrexone. If fatigue is severe or affecting daily life, you should never dismiss the warning signs. Seeing a doctor will help get you on track to finding and addressing the cause.
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