"After having COVID during Christmas of 2020, I developed long COVID that left me with such unbearable fatigue that taking a shower and brushing my teeth forced me back to bed for hours from exhaustion," recalls Cindy.
Too tired to function
"On top of the excessive tiredness, I had such a heavy layer of brain fog that I couldn't concentrate on anything! I felt like there was a thick coating in my head, making it hard for thoughts to form or make any sense.
"The fatigue grew so severe, I became bed-bound for months, and my husband had to take care of me and the household. We had to rehome our puppy to a wonderful friend in California, which was so hard, but my husband could not take care of him and me and his job. Depression seeped in as I grew more and more sad that the fatigue and fog were slowly stealing every part of my life.
"For more than four months after recovering, the inability to do anything offered few options beyond lying in bed, looking out the window. I developed severe anxiety because of my health, which, teamed with the fatigue, landed me in a constant state of hypervigilance and exhaustion. I only slept a few hours a night, waking up frequently with nightmares.
"My primary care physician offered no treatment. She simply said, 'There's nothing we can do to help you.' Unwilling to accept that this was how I'd feel for the rest of my life, I consulted a functional medicine doctor, who prescribed off-label treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, low-dose naltrexone, antidepressants and more to combat my long COVID and restore my energy levels. While her efforts validated that how I felt wasn't all in my head, nothing she prescribed sparked a recovery, so I stopped the treatments.
Denne historien er fra April 01, 2024-utgaven av First for Women.
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Denne historien er fra April 01, 2024-utgaven av First for Women.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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FIONA DAVIS' The Stolen Queen
Known for her glamorous historical fiction novels featuring iconic New York City landmarks like The New York Public Library and Radio City Music Hall, Fiona Davis has sold more than a million books and counting!
Deck the Halls on a Dime
Americans spend hundreds of dollars on holiday decorations each year. To the rescue: FIRST polled decorating pros on how to make your home merry and bright for less!
FAITH & LAUGHTER
GIVE ME STRENGTH AS A SANDWICH GENERATION’ CAREGIVER
CHRISTMAS TREES GIVE HOPE TO MILITARY FAMILIES
For many soldiers and their loved ones, the holidays can be difficult, both emotionally and financially. But thanks to the Trees for Troops program, hundreds of their homes and hearts are filled with Christmas cheer every year
MARTHA STEWART'S NEW Cookbook
Step into Martha Stewart's kitchen with a collection of timeless recipes sure to elevate your everyday meals and make holiday celebrations extra special
CONFIDENCE, TRADITIONS & ALL THE Good Things
FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, Martha Stewart has been a lifestyle icon.
POWER UP YOUR PROTEIN WITH CREATINE
There are some stories-like How the Grinch Stole Christmas-that we know by heart. Another tale that may be all too familiar to many of us: How we try to slim, only to regain more weight than we lost.
FOUND: HELP FOR HOLIDAY SLEEP LOSS
If you're tossing and turning a lot more this time of year, you're not alone: New research shows Americans lose nearly 40 minutes of sleep each night over the hectic holiday season. To the rescue: Experts share simple tips to transform sleepless nights into sweet, sugarplum dreams, including the strategy that works for 9 in 10 people
5 WAYS TO SICKPROOF YOUR HOLIDAYS
Stay healthy all season with these clever-and easy-strategies
Radiant in Red
3 steps to wearing the bold hue at any age