Post viral conditions including Long Covid
Typical Post-Viral Symptoms
- Disproportionate levels of fatigue
- Cognitive fatigue (brain-fog) and sensory sensivity
- Flu-like symptoms
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Exertion intolerance
- Painful and inflamed joints/muscles
Some people with Post Viral Conditions experience ‘post-exertional malaise’ or ‘PEM’ for short. This is a worsening of all symptoms which can be triggered by any form of exertion (physical, emotional, cognitive or sensory) and may be delayed in onset of 24-72 hours. PEM can be very debilitating and managing it needs to be built into management plans.
What causes Post Viral Conditions and Long Covid?
It is not fully understood why some people suffer these persistent symptoms or what causes them but research is ongoing and theories are shown below (Davis et al. 2023).
How did it develop?
Research is limited and there is no one size fits all answer to the above question. However, some theories from ongoing research include:
- Immune dysregulation
- Persistent viral activity leading to a prolonged inflammatory response
- Dysfunction of the 'autonomic nervous system'
- Issues with autoimmunity
- Issues with blood clotting and impaired blood flow
Are there tests or treatments?
GPs may request blood tests or refer you for scans to rule out other conditions. Diagnosis is usually made based on the history and pattern of symptoms over time. There are currently no specific diagnostic tests available to confirm your specific illness. This does not mean your condition is not real. Diagnosis is usually made on the pattern of your symptoms over time.
After getting a diagnosis, many people living with a post-viral illness can be disheartened to find out that there are currently no effective medications to treat the underlying condition. Research is being undertaken to consider possible treatments for post-viral illnesses but more research is required to develop our understanding of these conditions. Your GP may prescribe medication that can relieve certain symptoms you experience. For example, some people are prescribed anti-depressants or pain medicines to manage pain and to aid sleep.
What can help?
While there is no cure for post viral conditions, we do know that support to manage symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive fatigue (brain fog) and breathlessness and learning skills in energy management can be helpful. We are also able to offer support with issues with work and education, sleep, low mood and anxiety caused by post viral conditions. The aim is to help people have a better quality of life, doing more of what matters to them within the real limits placed on them by their condition.
- With all this in mind, current treatment options focus on supporting people living with a post-viral illness to feel more in control of their condition by providing them with a tool box of symptom management skills.
- Whilst these skills are not able to 'get rid' of the symptoms, they are there to try and help people with a post-viral illness live better and more meaningfully.
- If we consider current NHS and NICE Guidelines (2020) for Long Covid, the following is recommended:
- Energy Management and Pacing
- Managing your psychological wellbeing
- Managing your physical activity and exercise
- Managing breathlessness
- Managing 'brain fog'
- Returning to work or education
- Eating a balanced diet
Understanding Long Covid and Post-Viral Illness - This session looks at symptoms of Long Covid and Post-Viral illnesses, the causes and how they affect different people. We will look at ways of managing symptoms and explore what is on offer from the ABUHB Symptom Management Service and in your local community to help you live well when living with Long Covid and other post-viral illnesses. We will be thinking through options for you and the next steps as part of your individual management plan.
Duration: 1 session lasting approx. 1½ hours.
We recommend that you attend for the whole session to gain the most benefit and to help you live well with your condition. Regular breaks are provided.
DISCLAIMER: Our workshops are intended for people living with an energy-limiting condition as well as relatives/carers and healthcare professionals looking to learn more about these conditions. Our workshops are aimed to be educational and to provide tips to support your condition management. Due to the broad range of people accessing our workshops, sessions cannot be tailored to individual circumstances therefore some parts may be more relevant than others. There may be time at the end of the workshop to ask questions however we are unable to answer individual queries. Please contact the ABUHB Symptom Management Service using our contract details at the end of this form should you wish to discuss this further.
Fatigue, Energy Management and Living with a Long-Term Condition - This workshop will teach you about fatigue, why this is a problem for people living with a long-term condition and practical strategies that can help you to manage your energy levels. We also discuss how fatigue can affect us psychologically, how to address sleep difficulties and the importance of engaging in meaningful activity to support our health and well-being. Duration: 3 sessions each lasting approx. 1½ hours.
Cognitive Fatigue and Brain Fog - This workshop is designed for people living with a long-term condition who are experiencing cognitive fatigue or 'brain fog'. We will be covering the symptoms and causes of brain fog and provide you with guidance on how to manage this using compensatory strategies and memory aids. We also cover the psychological impact of living with cognitive fatigue.
Duration: 2 sessions each lasting approx. 1½ hours.
Wellbeing and Stress - This workshop looks at the impact of long-term conditions on our psychological well-being. It explores how stress, worry, losses and uncertainty can affect our bodies and minds. We discuss how we can soothe our minds and bodies and improve our well-being and quality of life.
Duration: 3 sessions each lasting 1½ hours.
Please consider the duration of our Symptom Management workshops as a commitment to attend all sessions is required to gain the most benefit. As a service, we are able to offer some flexibility if you are unable to attend a specific session because of other commitments - please inform us of this in the next section or speak to our booking team on 03330 415379 to discuss further.
You can use the links below to join a session or request help or alternatively, you can contact the team on:
Telephone: 03330 415379 or Email: Abb.symptommanagementservice@wales.nhs.uk