I want to share my personal Covid-19 story, from my infection in March to the ongoing struggle with long-term effects, even four months later. Too many people are still unconcerned about the pandemic. Maybe hearing from those who had the disease can change that. #LongCovid 1/

I have been reluctant to talk about my Covid struggles on Twitter. But when I read this powerful thread by @ahandvanish, I decided I should describe what it’s been like since the infection. 2/ https://twitter.com/ahandvanish/status/1287525539859910657?s=20

When I mention I had Covid, most people react surprised, shocked even. Here in Germany, at least, few have had any personal interaction with Covid patients, which contributes to the threat feeling abstract and removed. It’s understandable, but it’s a problem. 3/

I’m lucky in the sense that the long-term effects from which I’ve been suffering have been nowhere near as severe as what @ahandvanish is describing. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been bad, though. This virus is a mean MFer, we need all hands on deck to defeat it. 4/

As I’m writing this, the situation here in Germany seems under control – no comparison to what’s going on in the U.S. Then again, there’s been a significant uptick in cases, and as we’re all figuring out what to do and how to go on, people should absolutely be worried. 5/

For context: I’m 37, no underlying conditions that I know of, never had any respiratory issues. Apart from regular check-ups with the dentist and a back injury a while ago, I haven’t had to see a doctor in over a decade. Up until March I could confidently claim to be healthy. 6/

Then in March I got infected. A textbook case: pretty severe fever; aggressive, dry cough; chest pain and difficulty breathing; complete loss of taste and smell. For a few days I could barely stand on my feet. 7/

I was pretty sure it was Covid, but I didn’t get tested in March (an antibody test later confirmed the infection). As it never got to the point where I needed medical attention, I was told to just self-isolate, rest, and wait it out. 8/

But while acute symptoms lasted for only 6 to 8 days, I realized quickly that something wasn’t quite right. As the weeks went by, I just never got back to feeling healthy – I still haven’t. As a matter of fact, for the past for months I’ve been feeling pretty shitty. 9/

There are what you might call unspecified ailments: terrible headaches, joint pain, overwhelming fatigue. I don’t even want to suggest that all of that can be attributed only to Covid. The past few months have been difficult - daycares closed, a lot of work, not enough sleep…10/

But then there’s also the more clearly Covid-related stuff: I didn’t get my sense of taste and smell back until mid-June, some three months after the infection – that seems notable, doesn’t it? 11/

Most concerning are the persisting respiratory problems. A general shortness of breath. And at irregular intervals I’ve been suffering from what I’m gonna call attacks: trouble breathing, chest pain, dry cough – sometimes for an hour or two, sometimes much longer. 12/

In April and May these attacks came every other day – it could happen anytime, anywhere. Luckily, they’ve gotten less frequent recently: twice per week in June, more like once per week in July. And not quite as severe as in the spring. 13/

I don’t want to overstate things: It’s never gotten to the point where I felt like I needed acute medical attention. But still: I’m 37, supposedly healthy, and quite often I can barely get myself up the stairs and I’ve been feeling exhausted all the time. That's not great. 14/

I’ve seen specialists, of course, and have done all sorts of tests. Luckily, my doctors have taken my symptoms seriously from the start. And the good news is that there’s no discernible lung damage: When I’m not having these attacks, at least, my lungs seem to be just fine. 15/

Then again, I am having these attacks – and no one really knows why. One doctor mentioned – guessed, really – that it might be a neurological problem related to Covid. But it really remains a mystery. 16/

I want to say that I’m getting better, overall. So maybe it’s all gonna be back to normal soon. But even if I stopped experiencing symptoms tomorrow: That’s four months in which my life was disrupted, my quality of life and my productivity significantly affected. 17/

And that’s the thing: Yes, there’s a very low risk of dying, or even being hospitalized, for young, healthy people. But let me reiterate something that we all know but maybe don’t FEEL with the necessary urgency: This. Is. Not. The. F*cking. Flu. 18/

Be vigilant, take care of yourselves, take care of others. This virus is the real deal, Covid is an unprecedented emergency. We’re not even close to being done with this. The pandemic is certainly not done with us yet – not in the U.S., not in Germany, not anywhere. /end