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I fell ill with 'mild' #Covid19 on 19 March, 2 whole months ago. Lockdown hadn't happened yet. UK unis were still teaching F2F. Today, Day 62, I'm still besieged by symptoms, including intense fatigue
We need to get our heads round Covid debility https://thepolyphony.org/2020/04/15/of-smell-and-loss-tweets-from-a-covid-19-sickbed/ 1/
We need to get our heads round Covid debility https://thepolyphony.org/2020/04/15/of-smell-and-loss-tweets-from-a-covid-19-sickbed/ 1/
In the last couple of weeks, it's become much clearer that many with 'mild' Covid have prolonged symptoms. Current estimates are that 1 in 20 (5%) experience long-term on/off symptoms – but there's still so much we don't know https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/weird-hell-professor-advent-calendar-covid-19-symptoms-paul-garner 2/
Paul Garner's @PaulGarnerWoof's @bmj_latest blog on 5 May made visible how painful & long a trajectory #Covid19 – in 'mild' form – can have. Many of us greeted, with relief, his account of multiple, seemingly unending, symptoms in many parts of body 3/ https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/05/paul-garner-people-who-have-a-more-protracted-illness-need-help-to-understand-and-cope-with-the-constantly-shifting-bizarre-symptoms/
Scientists and clinicians are increasingly pointing to the complex vascular manifestations of #Covid19. Much is still unknown about how much of this arises from direct effects of the virus or from the body’s immune response https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/from-headaches-to-covid-toes-coronavirus-symptoms-are-a-bizarre-mix1/ 4/
Many of us with 'mild' Covid have experienced significant pain, inflammation, and bodily disturbances many days from start of presumed infection. I was taken to A&E on Day 34 w acute abdominal pain. Day 62 and my finger joints are still red & swollen https://twitter.com/felicitycallard/status/1253016786716557312?s=20 5/
(When I read abt childhood inflammatory disorder #PIMSTS – often manifesting wks after Covid infection, & bringing abdom pain, conjunctivitis, rashes – I can't not think back back to my Day 34, which brought those same symptoms (see e.g. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/17/health/coronavirus-multisystem-fnflammatory-syndrome-children-teenagers.html)) 6/
We don't know yet what the long-term consequences of #Covid19 will be – either for those who've been critically/severely ill and in hospital, or for those who have been ill at home. Medics are making some predictions from other viral illnesses https://elemental.medium.com/the-long-term-health-impacts-of-being-infected-with-the-coronavirus-d3a03f3cb6e8 7/
The original definition of 'mild' #Covid19 looks to be under pressure. Severe medical events (including cardiac arrest, strokes) are occurring in some with few, 'mild', or no Covid symptoms. Many with ' #mild' #symptoms are not recovering within 14 days 8/ http://somatosphere.net/2020/mild-covid.html/
Many of us are finding that our attempts to return to physical/mental activity are thwarted by relapses. On the few occasions I've managed a bit of work these last 2 months, I've often then crashed for the next day(s). I've now been advised to rest...rest...rest 9/
But many sick people – partic those w precarious jobs – will be forced to work before they've recovered.
SAGE (late Feb) estimated 14 days' absence duration – w 'most cases probably resolv[ing] 7 days after symptom start'. Is this still the estimate? 10/ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882716/19-current-understanding-covid-19-compared-with-nrsa-pandemic-influenza-26022020.pdf
![But many sick people – partic those w precarious jobs – will be forced to work before they've recovered. SAGE (late Feb) estimated 14 days' absence duration – w 'most cases probably resolv[ing] 7 days after symptom start'. Is this still the estimate? 10/ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882716/19-current-understanding-covid-19-compared-with-nrsa-pandemic-influenza-26022020.pdf](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EYYIknQWoAgBUvm.png "But many sick people – partic those w precarious jobs – will be forced to work before they've recovered. SAGE (late Feb) estimated 14 days' absence duration – w 'most cases probably resolv[ing] 7 days after symptom start'. Is this still the estimate? 10/ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882716/19-current-understanding-covid-19-compared-with-nrsa-pandemic-influenza-26022020.pdf")
SAGE (late Feb) estimated 14 days' absence duration – w 'most cases probably resolv[ing] 7 days after symptom start'. Is this still the estimate? 10/ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882716/19-current-understanding-covid-19-compared-with-nrsa-pandemic-influenza-26022020.pdf
How are universities – as well as other employers – preparing for what might well be significant levels of #Covid19 debility/lengthy periods of absence, in coming months?Is this being built into workload planning? <said in forlorn voice, more as a rhetorical question>
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The order of the day for unis looks to be shedding precarious/fixed-term (& probably also permanent) staff, upping workloads of those who will remain, continuing w bureaucratic evaluation activities.
Many unis already struggle to support those w disabilities, chronic illness 12/
Many unis already struggle to support those w disabilities, chronic illness 12/
How can we insist in the coming months for space and time for rest and recuperation in sites that are deeply resistant to acknowledging the need for either?
I know this struggle – I co-ran a project on rest ( @hubbubgroup) to try to grapple with this https://wellcomecollection.org/pages/Wuw2MSIAACtd3SsS 13/
I know this struggle – I co-ran a project on rest ( @hubbubgroup) to try to grapple with this https://wellcomecollection.org/pages/Wuw2MSIAACtd3SsS 13/
While resting on my bed, I've been thinking a lot about rest, and fatigue, and recovery – what they even might look like in relation to #Covid19, given current political and political-economic priorities. This morning I read this: https://twitter.com/lottelydia/status/1262655475377737728?s=20 14/
Thinking of all those struggling with recuperation from #Covid19 and other illnesses. But now I need to get off Twitter. I'll be berated by my friend for being on here in the first place (sorry @SophiePow_ll 
).
No-one would say Twitter is restful
15/15
).No-one would say Twitter is restful
15/15
