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Nine months on, Ryerson student still suffering from COVID-19 after-effects

by Simone Gavros
written by Simone Gavros

‘My symptoms have simply plateaued – no worse, no better’ 

In October, master of journalism student Simone Gavros wrote about what she has experienced as one of the COVID-19 long-haulers — those who suffer from a relatively mild case of the virus, but then endure long or chronic symptoms. This is her update.

After waiting three months for this specialist appointment, the time had finally come to learn what was going on with my lungs. I walked into the respirologist’s office, hoping I’d leave with some answers explaining why I am still left with difficulty breathing and shortness of breath nine months after showing my first symptoms of COVID-19.

Gavros, pictured here waiting for a battery of tests, still has symptoms of COVID-19, nine months after their onset.

The whole drive there, I was filled with all kinds of emotions but most of all, I was anxious that the doctor would tell me something awful, or worse, he’d tell me nothing at all. I parked my car across the street and walked to the office, trying to catch my breath as I waited for the crosswalk to give me the signal to go.

I sat in the examination room, waiting for the doctor to see me. He came in, sat across the room from me, and asked me to tell my story. I told him everything: from March 10, when I started to feel a scratchy throat, to April 18, when my COVID-19 test came back positive, right up until the day of the appointment, to give him a full picture of what he was working with.

I explained how my symptoms have simply plateaued – no worse, no better. The moments where I need to stop and catch my breath happen less frequently than before but when they happen, it feels like I just finished running a marathon.

After evaluating my symptoms, the doctor told me what I was dreading to hear these last few months: there’s not much they can do for me. My heart sank but deep down, I already had a bad feeling that was going to be the case.

Gavros had more bloodwork and another chest X-ray, but doctors say there is little they can do for her.

The doctor said that he understands how frustrating this is for me. It’s equally frustrating for him and other doctors, too. It’s not like they have a remedy available for long-haulers like me. I don’t blame him for not having the answers. I understand that doctors are still learning about this virus at the same time we are.

He listened to my heart and lungs which both sounded normal. He then scheduled me for a chest X-ray and bloodwork, and then a breathing test and an ultrasound of my chest at an appointment in the new year. As he named the tests I was going to do that day, I couldn’t help but think that these were the same tests I did in April that came back clean.

It’s a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand, I’m thankful I look and sound healthy. But I’m so unbelievably frustrated that I still don’t have answers. Why do I get winded while walking up a flight of stairs? Why does vacuuming the living room tire me out?

Mentally, I know I can do it. But physically, my body is holding me back. It’s still a game of tug of war that I’m just going to have to get used to.

It’s hard to not have moments of doubt and think that it’s all in my head when nothing can explain what’s going on. The doctor assured me that it isn’t in my head and hopes that, with time, I’ll just slowly get better. 

Here’s to hoping.

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COVID-19Guest OpinionHow to manageOpinion

COVID-19: A devil in disguise

by Simone Gavros
written by Simone Gavros
Simone Gavros is a journalism masters student at Ryerson University. (Courtesy of Simone Gavros)

When the first COVID-19 case was announced in Ontario, I never thought I’d be among the survivors, let alone a long-hauler. Everyone’s journey with this virus is unique, including my own. It has been a crazy ride since the very beginning.

It started with a scratchy throat in the early morning of March 10. That progressed into chills, fatigue and a runny nose, but never a full-fledged fever. When I called Telehealth to rule out the possibility of COVID-19, my lack of fever signaled to them that it was probably just a cold. Who was I to assume anything else? I could survive with a cold. I’ve done it before.

Five days later, I couldn’t taste or smell my coffee, which was the one joy I could look forward to in the morning amongst all this chaos. I later baked cookies and found I couldn’t taste those either. All of a sudden, everything was flavourless. I couldn’t help but reflect on how bizarre it was — that early on in the pandemic, loss of taste and smell wasn’t a known symptom of COVID-19.

I assumed I had a sinus infection. I made a concoction of warm water and salt, leaned over the sink and flushed out my nose three times a day. By March 20, my cold symptoms were gone and my senses came back. I was so relieved that I was in the clear. Or so I thought.

While doing a school presentation on April 1, I became winded and out of breath. There was nothing strenuous about sitting in a chair presenting an assignment. 

For two weeks, my breathing got progressively worse. My chest felt tight as if it was being pulled apart from the inside. It sounded like I was sighing all the time when trying to take a deep breath to get enough oxygen. No 22-year-old should be breathing as if they just ran a marathon while simply sitting on the couch.

Enough was enough. I called Telehealth again and they told me to go to the hospital immediately. Doctors ran tests upon tests to rule out a blood clot or pneumonia. To my surprise, all my tests came back clean. Then on April 18, I got the call that I tested positive for COVID-19 and it all made sense.

Gavros in the hospital. (Courtesy of Simone Gavros)

I assumed that after my mandated isolation period, my symptoms would disappear. I came to learn that that wasn’t the case at all. I was so anxious to get out of my room and back to my everyday activities, but my lungs had other plans. I knew something wasn’t right when I began to record my Greek dance lessons. I tried to dance while talking through the steps. As a dance teacher, this was a skill I could usually do without a problem, but I found it difficult to catch my breath. 

This exhaustion was so foreign to my mind and body that it scared me. In June, I saw a story on the news talking about long-haulers, people who survived COVID-19 but still exhibited chronic symptoms for months after recovering from the virus. Finding this group was such a relief. No one in my family could understand the residual scars I was left with once COVID-19 free. I found so much comfort knowing that these strangers and I were living the same experience. 

Seven months later, I still have to take a second to catch my breath at the grocery store or when walking up the stairs. At times, I have to gasp for air before and after I speak. Some days are better than others, but I’m slowly starting to adapt to my new way of life. 

After explaining my lingering symptoms to my doctor, she said that many other survivors have been experiencing the same lasting effects. It’s not clear whether I’ll be fine in another three months or if this will be a forever thing. It’s the uncertainty that’s the most frightening. My appointment with a respirologist in December should shed some light on any damage left to my lungs.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to be alive. I see how many lives have been lost from this virus and while I may be left with difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, it’s a small price to pay for being here today. 

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Breaking NewsCOVID-19Guest OpinionHow to manageOpinionTopTop stories

COVID-19: A devil in disguise

by OTR Staff
written by OTR Staff
Simone Gavros is a journalism masters student at Ryerson University. (Courtesy of Simone Gavros)

When the first COVID-19 case was announced in Ontario, I never thought I’d be among the survivors, let alone a long-hauler. Everyone’s journey with this virus is unique, including my own. It has been a crazy ride since the very beginning.

It started with a scratchy throat in the early morning of March 10. That progressed into chills, fatigue and a runny nose, but never a full-fledged fever. When I called Telehealth to rule out the possibility of COVID-19, my lack of fever signaled to them that it was probably just a cold. Who was I to assume anything else? I could survive with a cold. I’ve done it before.

Five days later, I couldn’t taste or smell my coffee, which was the one joy I could look forward to in the morning amongst all this chaos. I later baked cookies and found I couldn’t taste those either. All of a sudden, everything was flavourless. I couldn’t help but reflect on how bizarre it was — that early on in the pandemic, loss of taste and smell wasn’t a known symptom of COVID-19.

I assumed I had a sinus infection. I made a concoction of warm water and salt, leaned over the sink and flushed out my nose three times a day. By March 20, my cold symptoms were gone and my senses came back. I was so relieved that I was in the clear. Or so I thought.

While doing a school presentation on April 1, I became winded and out of breath. There was nothing strenuous about sitting in a chair presenting an assignment. 

For two weeks, my breathing got progressively worse. My chest felt tight as if it was being pulled apart from the inside. It sounded like I was sighing all the time when trying to take a deep breath to get enough oxygen. No 22-year-old should be breathing as if they just ran a marathon while simply sitting on the couch.

Enough was enough. I called Telehealth again and they told me to go to the hospital immediately. Doctors ran tests upon tests to rule out a blood clot or pneumonia. To my surprise, all my tests came back clean. Then on April 18, I got the call that I tested positive for COVID-19 and it all made sense.

Gavros in the hospital. (Courtesy of Simone Gavros)

I assumed that after my mandated isolation period, my symptoms would disappear. I came to learn that that wasn’t the case at all. I was so anxious to get out of my room and back to my everyday activities, but my lungs had other plans. I knew something wasn’t right when I began to record my Greek dance lessons. I tried to dance while talking through the steps. As a dance teacher, this was a skill I could usually do without a problem, but I found it difficult to catch my breath. 

This exhaustion was so foreign to my mind and body that it scared me. In June, I saw a story on the news talking about long-haulers, people who survived COVID-19 but still exhibited chronic symptoms for months after recovering from the virus. Finding this group was such a relief. No one in my family could understand the residual scars I was left with once COVID-19 free. I found so much comfort knowing that these strangers and I were living the same experience. 

Seven months later, I still have to take a second to catch my breath at the grocery store or when walking up the stairs. At times, I have to gasp for air before and after I speak. Some days are better than others, but I’m slowly starting to adapt to my new way of life. 

After explaining my lingering symptoms to my doctor, she said that many other survivors have been experiencing the same lasting effects. It’s not clear whether I’ll be fine in another three months or if this will be a forever thing. It’s the uncertainty that’s the most frightening. My appointment with a respirologist in December should shed some light on any damage left to my lungs.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to be alive. I see how many lives have been lost from this virus and while I may be left with difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, it’s a small price to pay for being here today. 

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