A new virus, a new disease, causing mysterious long-term effects… Even doctors might not always be informed about every detail of the long COVID story, and internet has its limits too. Since I found it difficult to get the right information, I will provide my most valuable recources here for you:

1. For me the most valuable source of information is a series of videos, covering many important aspects of fatigue and pacing. After watching these videos, you will learn the basics of dealing with your fatigue.

Video 1 starts with an introduction to the video-series by Professor Rob Copeland, Director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) at Sheffield Hallam University. This is followed by an introduction to fatigue by Clinical Professor of Ageing and Medicine Julia Newton.

Video 2 is by Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy Kate Hackett, explaining how to manage your energy during the day by firstly stabilising your situation and finding your new energy baseline, using an activity diary and the subsequent building phase with careful small increments of activity.

Video 3 is by Vincent Deary, Professor in Health Psychology, discussing how to deal with fatigue in terms of coping strategies, managing expectations of yourself and others and much more. There is this slide named “What the mind might tell you” that brought tears to my eyes, because it was so incredibly recognisable to me.

Video 4 is my personal favourite, by Victoria Strassheim, a Senior Physiotherapist. She explains the concept of deconditioning, exercise intolerance, exercise adaptation and how to engage in physical activities again.

Video 5 is a Question & Answer – Session by all the above specialists together. They discuss the frustrating non-linear recovery pattern of long COVID as well as other recurring topics.

P.S. As suggested by the authors, I strongly recommend to watch these videos separately and not all in one day.

P.S. 2: All credits for the video-series go to RICOVR Unit at Sheffield Hallam University and the CRESTA Fatigue Clinic – Newcastle Hospitals Foundation Trust. I am very grateful for your effort in sharing your experience and expertise with us.

2. I would like to share with you the most valuable podcast of all scientific podcasts! If you are interested in a weekly scientific update on SARS-CoV-2, then listen to the podcast series ‘Coronavirus-Update’ of NDR-Info.

Watch out: it’s a quite dense, but extremely informative and it beats the nonsense in so many quick and dirty media-resources. Only available in German! (also on Spotify btw).

To be continued…

You can view all other posts here

Image by Janko Ferlic on Pexels.com