A government-funded health service says it's seeing a surge in the number of Australians looking for help with long COVID, as a health economist urges governments to set up surveys to keep closer tabs on the illness.
Melbourne teacher Caroline Hewson's household was hit by COVID-19 in January, when Victoria saw a massive spike in Omicron infections.But there is no national data tracking the prevalence of the conditionWhile her sons and husband recovered reasonably well, Ms Hewson did not.Debilitating fatigue, breathlessness and a brain fog descended and remained for months, causing major disruption for the usually active 42-year-old.
"And I'd just be breathing feeling like I'm drowning and then I'd need a half-hour lie down from the exertion." But during months of long COVID, her voice lost all its power, and she was struggling to parent, let alone work. As someone used to running not only her life but those of her young children, Ms Hewson found the extended illness difficult to accept, despite the support of those around her."What do I keep saying? 'Yeah I feel like crap' ... I started lying and saying 'yeah feeling OK' and pushing through work ... because I was so sick of being sick and just sick of it all."
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