165 - Overcoming Long COVID: Lizzie's Journey to Recovery and Resilience
Feb 19, 2025
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Lizzie shares her heartfelt journey through Long COVID, highlighting the transformation from an active lifestyle to grappling with fatigue and brain fog. She emphasizes the power of rest, the importance of acknowledging small victories, and the impact of language on recovery. Lizzie discusses the emotional challenges of her journey and the role of support systems in healing. Her story serves as a testament to personal growth and a renewed appreciation for health, revealing that overcoming adversity can lead to newfound resilience.
53:50
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Quick takeaways
Lizzie emphasizes the transformative power of celebrating small victories and understanding the mind-body connection in recovery from long COVID.
Her journey highlights the necessity of redefining one's relationship with rest, viewing it as integral to healing rather than a sign of weakness.
Deep dives
Personal Journey with Covid and Long Covid
The guest, Lizzie, shares her experience of contracting COVID-19 in July 2022 and how it marked a dramatic change in her previously active lifestyle. Leading up to her diagnosis, she was training vigorously for a triathlon and leading a fulfilling career, but after getting COVID at her sister's wedding, she was floored by fatigue that lingered far longer than expected. Initially dismissing the potential severity of long COVID, she found herself diving back into work prematurely, which worsened her symptoms and led to a cycle of boom and bust characterized by post-exertional malaise. Her story highlights how a once vibrant, active individual suddenly faced debilitating fatigue and other complications as she navigated the complexities of recovery.
Understanding Long Covid Symptoms
Lizzie discusses the main symptoms she experienced during her long COVID journey, particularly severe fatigue and brain fog, which impacted her daily interactions and ability to carry out simple tasks. When she attempted to socialize or engage in conversations, she found herself overwhelmed and drained, further emphasizing how debilitating long COVID can be. She highlights the importance of recognizing that the term 'fatigue' does not encompass the true gravity of the symptoms, likening it to wading through concrete rather than just feeling tired. This distinction is crucial for those who may not understand the invisible and overwhelming nature of long COVID symptoms.
The Importance of Education and Mindset
A key turning point in Lizzie's recovery was her realization of the mind-body connection and understanding the biological aspects of her symptoms. She found that gaining knowledge about long COVID, including insights from a transformative book by Jan Rothney, helped her shift her mindset towards recovery. Rather than fearing her symptoms, she learned to celebrate small victories and redefine her relationship with rest, realizing it’s a crucial component of healing rather than a sign of weakness. This newfound perspective enabled her to approach her recovery journey in a more positive light, ultimately leading to significant improvements in her health and well-being.
Navigating Recovery and Redefining Health
As Lizzie began to feel better, she recounted the importance of pacing herself and recognizing her limits, emphasizing that wellness should not be rushed. She learned to celebrate her accomplishments, no matter how small, reinforcing a positive mindset that helped her rebuild her physical activity levels gradually. Through consistent effort and a supportive routine, she rediscovered activities like running but did so without the pressure of achieving past performance metrics. Lizzie's journey underscores a change in priorities where health and balance became more significant than the relentless pursuit of achievement, highlighting a more compassionate outlook on self-care and recovery.
Lizzie shares her heartfelt journey through Long COVID, detailing the challenges she faced as well as the strategies that eventually led her to recovery. By embracing the importance of rest, celebrating small victories, and gaining knowledge about her condition, she transformed her approach to health and wellness.
• Lizzie's active life before contracting COVID • Initial mild symptoms promptly deteriorating into fatigue and brain fog • The cycle of boom and bust many long COVID patients experience • Importance of learning to properly rest and embrace downtime • Insights gained from Jan Rothney's book on recovery • The challenge of online support groups and potential negative impacts • Emphasising the power of language in shaping recovery experiences • Celebrating small victories as a key strategy for motivation • The journey towards emotional and psychological healing • Long COVID as a catalyst for personal growth and renewed appreciation for health
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs
Please get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com
**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**
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