Good Lifestyle

Michael Elliott * is in a unique position to understand the chaos of the pandemic. First, he is a journalist of health care, who has trouble translating the world of medicine for the average person who knows they should live healthier but not how. Second, he lived theCOVID pandemic early and intimately. In March 2020, New York was in the midst of one of the most athused and severe epidemics in the United States and it was a stressful moment. For Michael, however, it caused more than disadvantages and anxiety.

"He brought" a foreign feel inside my body "and" a tin grip on my head "but nothing that looked like the typical description of Covid. All the googles of the world could not be answered," he said. Hissymptoms Continued to accumulate, with the feeling that something was wrong with breath testing, chest pain, stomach problems and nausea, "he said." I just knew that my body was suddenly attacked. "

RELATED: Sure sign that you have "Long" Covid and may even know

After an extremely terrifying call at 911 of the floor of his apartment because of being unable to catch his breath, he found himself in the emergency department, but there were no available Covid tests when 'he entered. Other people from the ED had more Covid typical symptoms, coughing violently. He was returned homeless without being admitted, with some tips (and the suggestion he had had a panic attack) but his symptoms continued. But over the month, Michael saw many doctors, had at least eight eight blood drawings and each part of his body was radiant X. Part of the question was that no one had experienced Covid long enough for post- Covid is identified, he thinks now.

"I was happy to do what they asked, I just wanted them to make sense. I am extremely grateful that I had access to so many New York specialists, but after it became obvious that more movements were available, and the doctors were overwhelmed, I felt helpless, "he said." For the long patients of Covid, I can say that even the best doctors of the country, of whom J talked, had no first and can only offer band-help solutions to the symptoms. "

The frustration Michael felt with hisPost-active Covid-19 Syndrome (PACS) - Also known more in colloquacy like Covid Long Haul - is similar to the experiences of many people with autoimmune disorders, with inclusive symptoms, inconclusive diagnostics and the significant change in everyday life. He had access to more information, but much less research or conclusions because of all relatively emerging research on post-Covid syndrome. Most of this is a source of crowd and currently, the summary of all possible VOC symptoms is more than 200. A good collection of data, but no real solutions - and nothing personalized to its situation.

He identified that he needed help to guide him throughout the process because he was not able to determine why his symptoms came and went without clear triggers. He kept a newspaper, saw a physical therapist, herbalist for gastric distress, acupunturists for stress relief, but he was still handicapped by frequent and severe migraines. This led Michael toMymeeA digital care program for Covid Long Haul combining data tracking with personal coaching, in order to try to isolate triggers for its long strap symptoms.

"I followed, but I could not draw the conclusions myself. Mymee helped me give a sense to that. The coach suggested following what to follow at first and we worked together To connect the points, suggesting removing something or reintroducing something otherwise. I have never felt self-conscious sharing because we both had the same goal: to do better, "he said .

Michael, who is at the beginning of 40 years, had already been very active, working five to six times a week, eating a healthy diet and enjoy New York with his wife and 10-year-old daughter. His frustration with whom tries to deal with multiple symptoms and mysterious triggers was growing and feel hopeless added to his stress. After a kind of physical effort, he would have a debilitating migraine in the day or two.

With his coach, they worked together on the diet, including removing some staples he ate regularly, like gluten, dairy products, histamines and pea proteins to try to reduce inflammation. Then the exercise was the exercise, which understood walking and cycling, its two main forms of transport in the city. Together, he and his health coach Jen watched how long he could roll or walk without triggering a migraine, test and timer different variations. They followed its heart rate and found that some types of efforts of more than six or seven minutes cause so serious migraines they took up to a week to recover.

Although much less exercise is a significant change in the way of life, Michael said it is grateful to have the information needed to solve these problems. "Feeling helpless is the worst feeling of having," he said. "I know myself and I knew I would need a guidance hand to follow that correctly. You can not subscribe how important it is to take into account someone's responsibility. And of course , I had no impetus to cheat - it was only for my benefit. "

It remained motivated by small victories and part of its health coach and access available data in the Mymee database for strategies that worked for other people living with chronic self-immune conditions.

"It was therapeutic to unload my experiences every week, so there was an immediate advantage. Then, after hanging up, I have to put the new strategies into practice. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they did not do it, but Each time, I had an indispensable hope of hope. It helped she had experience like a person with a self-immune illness herself. I could trust what she knew this I needed instead of empty platitudes, "he said.

The next challenge was his fatigue, that, as many people who experience it, will tell you - is a word that does not do justice with deep feeling, painful and tired.

"I need to lie down and reload myself or I'll be angry, feel that I will die, my body told me he strongly to stop. I can not even break down boxes to recycle - it must to be someone else's work now, "he said.

Jen and Michael continued to work together during the 16-week program and added useful breathing techniques and Michael modified some of his work habits. Many people have started working from home during the pandemic, but Michael did it before. His coach gave him advice on optimizing his job posture, starting with a moving sofa to an office to avoid deforming on his body.

These small steps made the difference and the wishes of Michael that he would have found them earlier. He continues to work with his doctors and his health care team, and research on the causes of the CAP continues to progress. Until then, it manages by avoiding things that trigger its symptoms and it is much better to describe its symptoms to health professionals when it has a nomination or tests.

In 2021, a Florida move has become a new path of life for Michael and his family, adding more sun, more living space and a swimming pool, because the cold water physically helps feel better. The family has adapted to its lower energy level and Michael stated that his daughter "treats him like the same guy she has always loved" and that gives him a perspective on everything they have crossed the last year and half.

"Knowing even a little bit more than I did with help. I could have understood him alone but I'm grateful for finding that there were things I could do to take a little more than control of my health, he said. " Mymee is not it a therapy but there was no one who knows what I spent the week week as my coach. She was really trying to help and have tools to do - it was really precious. "

The survey is underway and Michael continues to collect indices to solve his symptoms and help others through his work as a health author to understand the components of how and why people living with long distance Covid And other chronic conditions can improve their lives.

Michael recommends the following resources for people living with long distance Covid:

www.mymee.com

https://www.wearebodypolitically.com/support-group

* The name has been modified for privacy