Long COVID and its devastating impact on people’s lives

From overwhelming fatigue to brain fog that makes it impossible to complete daily tasks, long COVID is having a devastating impact on people’s lives around the world.

As the world observes Long COVID awareness week Citizen TV’s Lilian Muli spoke to Wachuka Gichohi, who contracted COVID-19 in 2020 and the symptoms have persisted since then.

She shared her experience of living with Long COVID, and the impact it has had on her physical and mental health, and ability to work.

“I had travelled to the Netherlands I think I may have been one of the first people to catch COVID...I felt better after a few weeks then the symptoms came back,” Gichohi recalls to when she contracted COVID.

More than two years later she is still dealing with the aftermath of COVID-19.

“My symptoms range from Neurological symptoms or mental health conditions, including difficulty thinking or concentrating, headache, sleep problems, dizziness when you stand, pins-and-needles feeling, loss of smell or taste, and depression or anxiety, Joint or muscle pain,” she said.

“I was in the first wave of people who had long COVID people gaslighted me. I had to reach out to my GP again and unfortunately, it was really unpleasant no one understood and they only told me it was all in my head,” she explained saying how it was a difficult period for her.

Wachukas's story echoes that of other long hauliers from the persistent symptoms to the struggle to have long COVID understood by doctors family and friends.

“It is an invisible disease since people don't take it seriously but we live in daily pain. I go to places and people say that I look fine from the inside. I think that is what makes it difficult for people to believe us,” she says.

She advises others to find supportive doctors who have an understanding of the illness.

“I finally found a good doctor who has walked this journey for me. She really listened to me since she had got a lot of experience with autoimmune illnesses and chronic illnesses. At the time she said it was an after-effect of Covid,” Wachuka stated.

Wachuka also started a long COVID Kenya support group on Facebook to share her experience and learn from people experiencing similar symptoms.

“We have about 200 members right now and that’s continuing to grow…It’s good for just the support so that people can also write on the group …’ you know am really low today, I need prayers',” she said.

Wachuka’s doctor Dr Caroline Getecha Mwendwa advised people to ascertain whether the symptoms are Covid, flu or a cold since people with mild infections can still develop long covid weeks to months after they have recovered from their mild Covid.

“Women are more likely to get COVID...we manage symptoms with Painkillers and supplements,” she added.

There is currently no proven medication for long COVID, but healthcare providers can provide care to reduce symptoms of Long COVID.