Every time we leave our condo, Beth asks two questions of me:
This trusty walking stick is a lingering reminder of the virus.
Do you have your mask?
Do you have your cane?
They are related questions. I wear the mask because it’s required in our building and in Illinois, yes, but more because I want to be part of the solution—and help stop the coronavirus.
And part of my motivation is I don’t want anyone to have the lingering after-effects of coronavirus that I do—recurring dizziness and loss of my sense of balance.
The cane is mostly a security blanket—I rarely need it—but I do need it sometimes. I’ve identified triggers and I try to work around them. If I go from a wide open sidewalk to a narrow passage, that’ll do it. If I pass from deep shade to bright sunshine, that does it. Turning my head up, down, or over my shoulder does it. Downslopes at curb cuts sometimes do it.
I feel like I’m going to tip over.
It really sucks.
I also still get winded very easily. Part of that is the inability to exercise vigorously during my hospital stay and recovering at home. But that’s not all of it. I still have a tightness in my chest that comes and goes. And for a month, crushing fatigue made multiple naps a necessity, not a luxury.
But I still count myself as lucky. I’ve learned from many sources—friends as well as news media—that there are a group of us coronavirus survivors called “long haulers.” Our friend Lynne is one of them—she suffers from the same loss of balance that I do.
But my lingering symptoms pale compared to some of my fellow travelers. From this NPR story about two women who are still suffering long after first diagnosed:
According to reports earlier this year from the World Health Organization, about 80% of coronavirus infections are “mild or asymptomatic” and patients typically recover after just two weeks.
That hasn’t been the case for Roberts or Nowell. Months later, both women are still experiencing symptoms of COVID-19: shortness of breath, chest pains, vomiting, and neurological symptoms that range from headaches and fatigue to hallucinations and jumbled words.
It’s a good story—I hope you’ll read/listen.
I can tell you that all aging jokes aside, the neurological stuff is real. I’ll be mid-sentence and then just go blank. Not losing a word blank, blank like I forgot what I was talking about.
Now, that and dizziness could be a leftover from my fall. But I have had an MRI that showed nothing problematic. And well, I only fell because of the virus.
So, if I see you out and about you better be wearing a mask. Otherwise I’ll whack you with my cane.
Wow, Mike. It must be frustrating to deal with the lingering side effects that you are experiencing. We are praying for you! Also, be cautious downtown- the most recent news about unrest downtown is a new level!
Oh yeah, looting followed by 70 mph winds. Just another manic Monday! Thanks for the kind thoughts.
Mike, thanks for the warning. As much as I fear COVID-19, the threat of your cane is a terrifying thought. I do hope that time will heal your dizziness, breathing and memory. Take as many naps as you want. I’ll be wearing my mask.
Thanks Mel. See you in the hood!
Mike: I’m really sorry to hear about the lingering issues. I’m sure you didn’t want to be in the long hauler category!
I wonder if PT might be helpful for the dizziness? I recently experienced vertigo, which is different from yours because it was BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). I was sent to a Physical Therapist whose Epley Manuever exercises were very helpful. I thought I’d mention the idea because being dizzy really is a terrible feeling. Take care.
Joan, you think like my doc! He referred me to a specialist who ran me through a little Epley like protocol, and she determined it was not vertigo. Some days it’s not an issue at all, but most it is. Very weird sensation. Thanks for checking in!
It’s a crazy disease. So many side effects, and other problems with the corona virus. Every day something new comes up! You cracked me up with your closing comment. Humor helps.
So sorry that this virus is not letting go of you. We still know so little about it. Of course I hope that all your ailments go away – and those of other long haulers. Before too long there will be treatments, and ways to finally finish this thing off. Think of monster movies where they discover that the aliens succumb to high pitched sounds or maybe fire extinguishers. Happy ending.
I’m hoping for the fire extinguishers! Or, Axe body wash.
I’m so sorry you are having debilitating long-term effects from the virus. I have had dizziness that comes and goes — no known reason. The Epley maneuver does help sometimes. Our local mayors, the Chancellor and the administrator of the Public Health District sent an open letter to the community. An excerpt: “As individuals, we also can take easy actions that have been demonstrated to keep ourselves and others safer.
Wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing, washing our hands, limiting our gatherings and interactions to the sizes our public health officials recommend — these are things each one of us must do, every day. A personal commitment to make the effort will help keep our community healthy.
And if we all do them all of the time, it sends an unmistakable and simple message: “I am doing this because there is someone else I care about.” When the most visible person in the country doesn’t care about anyone else, this is a difficult message to get people to take seriously. Best wishes, Mike, I hope your health improves.
Thanks, Pam. I saw an ENT that tested me for vertigo and alas, that is not the case–she essentially did the Epley and watched my response.
OTOH, the MRI was clean–no lesions or other abnormalities, so…I’m optimistic I can outlast it. And thanks for that statement, pretty much sums it up. We could crush this thing if everybody plays nice for 60 days. Seems a small price to pay.
Simply, ditto everybody else, Mike. To think that this virus has still got a grip on you…mind-blowing.
When it’s cool enough to take a walk, I am so grateful for all the YOUNG people – including little kids! – who are wearing masks to protect ME!! We’ve been mask-wearers from the start of this nightmare, but we old folks tend to be compliant when it comes to health rules and regs. THANK YOU to all you under-30’s who are doing their best to defeat Covid-19.
Happy and healthy one day and then….wham!! Thank you for laying it all on the line…. so many people still just shrug this virus off. And hey, I’ll be out there with my cane too. If I ever make it to Chicago…
Oh, Mike, we are so sorry to hear all that you are going through. I wish everyone could read your message, especially those who don’t take this terrible virus seriously. Please take care and give Beth a hug from me. And don’t worry, you won’t need your cane around me, I always wear my mask in public.
I’m using this blog post as a “teaching tool” for people who aren’t doing what I think they should be doing to protect themselves and others. Of course, there are some who say I’m not risk averse enough because I go to coffee shops and restaurant patios.
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