Hear from those with lived experience of PASC:
People with PASC talk about the many ways their symptoms affect their day-to-day life.
“It’s hard because I can’t smell things and I can’t taste things, so sometimes I have to rely on my sight and it’s challenging.”
“I just don't feel like doing anything, even with my daughter.”
“As I tried to get back into my normal routine of bodybuilding, I didn't have the strength. I didn't have the strength to ride my bike.”
“[When going grocery shopping] there were times where I even got a motorized cart because I didn't have the energy to walk to the store.”
“The question is, how do I get up the stairs if I can't walk six feet? How do I get up the stairs?”
"I don't get a full night's sleep. I'm waking up off-and-on, off-and-on all night. It's just not a peaceful sleep at all."
“I just keep getting tired easily and my joints hurt.”
You can learn more about the mental and physical effects of PASC by visiting PASC Guide Symptoms.
People with PASC receive both support and skepticism from their friends, families, and doctors.
“When you tell people what's going on, the first thing they say is, 'Oh that can’t be from the virus', and I was just blessed because I had a doctor that listened to my symptoms.”
“You're expecting the doctors to help you and do whatever is necessary, and they blow you off like you're just a hypochondriac.”
“People are looking to help others because we know it ravaged our community and the church.”
“So, when you see people not wearing masks, when you see people not doin’ whatever, it’s because they're very passive about it, ‘Oh, I know somebody had it, no big deal.’ Yeah, what if your grandmother gets it, then what?”
People with PASC have tried a range of self-care techniques to manage their symptoms.
“I changed my diet to have more organic fresh fruits and vegetables, and I'm starting to feel like my old self again.”
“You do have to plan positive things because you can’t just live your life like you were prior to [PASC].”
“[Take] a walk, [drink a] cup of tea, just sitting back. Those are little things that you can do daily, maybe several times a day, to help break up the pain or the stress of being in discomfort.”
“You got to push through it. You gotta work through it. You gotta say, 'Yes, I’m angry about this. Yes, it’s a struggle. It’s hard. I’m not feeling the best today,' and know that it’ll get better."
You can learn about these self-care techniques and more by visiting PASC Guide Self-Care.
Hear from clinicians who treat patients with PASC:
When seeking clinical care for your PASC symptoms, health care providers have a few recommendations:
- While there are specialized clinics for treating PASC, a referral is often required. As a first step, seek care through your routine health clinic.
- Patients with a history of obesity or diabetes have a higher risk of complications from COVID-19 and PASC.
- If you had a positive test for COVID-19, it can be helpful to bring documentation of this test when seeing a doctor for your PASC symptoms.
- Expect health care providers to ask about your medical history and run diagnostic tests, which may include blood work, as they work to identify and treat your PASC symptoms.