Day 148 of living with #longcovid and every day is completely different, in terms of symptoms and what you're able to do (or not do) - here's a thread to explain more #covid19 1/n

Woke up feeling a bit exhausted rather than completely exhausted like most days since this current relapse started. Had some breakfast, read some news articles, responded to a few "work" emails just for 5 minutes or so, then by 9am, my energy was so depleted, I had to sleep 2/n

Woke up after a couple of hours, feeling somewhat like a zombie, but felt a bit better just doing nothing. Had small meal, did nothing, then emptied the bin in my bedroom and took the rubbish downstairs, walking back up I felt dizzy and a headache began 3/n

So lay down and closed my eyes for a bit, until I felt a bit better. Made some salad for my lunch, chatted with friends (typed messages) over WhatsApp, then felt fatigued again, ended up sleeping for a few hours 4/n

Woke up and didn't feel that great, nausea, a feeling on my abdomen as if someone has tied a band around it and is pulling really hard, and also felt pressure on my head, as if a truck is being pushed hard onto my brain. These symptoms come and go of their own accord 5/n

Had an early dinner, dialled into a video call which was a retirement party for a US client I've worked with for years, left the call after 15 minutes, it was fun to see everyone, but it was cognitive exertion, hence opted to leave the call before it fatigued me too much 6/n

On top of that, for the last few days, I've had this pain in my right shoulder/arm that seems to be there all the time (nothing helps) and it can be very painful, even just drying the plate after washing it, and the pain disturbs my sleep too when as I'm a side sleeper 7/n

The random pains in my muscles/joints have come and gone before during this illness, so I'm expecting the same this time 8/n

I remember earlier in my illness, my GP advising me not to nap during the day as it would reduces the chances of a good night's sleep, but the thing is that she (and others) don't realise one often doesn't have a choice, let me explain 9/n

During the day, when a wave of fatigue hits, it's almost like I've been given a very strong sleeping pill, and I could literally sleep wherever I am - the urge to sleep (and rest) is that strong, hence I don't fight that urge 10/n

The sleep (either at night or in the day) is non restorative though, i.e. sleep (of any duration) right now doesn't refresh my mind and body like it did prior to getting this virus 11/n

I'm not despondent in any way about my symptoms or my health.

I personally think complaining about my symptoms is a waste of my precious energy.

I express gratitude for everything that I have on a daily basis, rather than dwelling on what I don't have /end