Nicole
2 years since diagnosis
Age at interview: 49
Nicole initially caught COVID in March 2020 after her husband was hospitalized with COVID. Nicole was presumed positive as she was experiencing COVID symptoms but was unable to access a PCR test at the time. Nicole has been experiencing long-term symptoms for over 2 years since her initial infection. Her symptoms have fluctuated over time, but she mainly has experienced tingling and numbness in her hands and feet, brain fog, extreme fatigue and an inability to tolerate foods containing histamine (e.g., tomatoes). Nicole describes herself as someone who is very active in all aspects of her life, but living with long-COVID has made her have to slow down with physical activity, work and socializing. Although this slower pace of life is frustrating, Nicole has come to appreciate how important it is to value the time you have with loved ones and doing the things you enjoy the most. The most frustrating part of her experience has been that many people in her life, such as family, friends and even health care professionals, do not understand and/or believe that she had COVID and is experiencing long-term symptoms. Moving forward, Nicole hopes that long-COVID will be an illness that is acknowledged and better understood by health care professionals, public health and people in general.
More content
- Getting Care for Long COVID – NicoleNicole tried a number of unproven treatments through an online clinic in the United States.
- Symptoms of Long COVID – NicoleNicole couldn't remember the words for everyday objects.
- Advice to Others Living With Long COVID – NicoleNicole now realizes that exercise is not always the right approach.
- People with Long COVID Advocating for Themselves – NicoleNicole explains how hard it is to raise awareness of long COVID when you're living with it.
- Support From Family, Friends, Communities – NicoleNicole feels her colleagues don't understand that long COVID is a long haul condition.
- Lessons Learned and Positive Life Changes – NicoleNicole says she now knows she was doing too much.
- Impacts on Partners and Households – NicoleNicole says her husband has taken on both the dad and the mom duties in their family.
- Psychosocial Impacts – NicoleFor Nicole, isolation is made worse by other people doubting long COVID is real.