Andy
Retired committee member
Moved from the Long Covid in the media thread
Book review of The Long Covid Self-Help Guide. Practical Ways To Manage Symptoms by Trish Greenhalgh
"The combination of these and other symptoms, along with the fluctuating course (good days interspersed with bad days, and certain activities possibly acting as triggers), leads to severe functional impairment that affects the person’s ability to work, socialise, and participate in family life. The psychological response — when will it end?; what can/should I do?; is it reactivating again or am I being overcautious? — may lead to a vicious cycle of low mood, reluctance to participate in activities, and worsening fatigue.
The origins of this protracted form of long COVID are disputed; its long-term prognosis is unknown; and there is not yet full agreement on which tests and therapies are appropriate (what symptoms or signs, for example, should prompt the full raft of investigations to exclude thrombotic or cardiovascular complications?).
Rare red flags aside, it is becoming clear that an important component of care is supported self-management in which the patient becomes an expert in their own fluctuating illness (for example, learning to pace themselves as fatigue waxes and wanes) — re-learning the art of breathing efficiently, finding ways of handling sleep disturbance, and developing strategies to cope with the heavy psychological burden of such a disabling and unpredictable condition. This book is written by a multidisciplinary team at the Oxford Post-Covid Clinic, including respiratory physiotherapists, occupational therapists, sport and exercise clinicians, psychologists, rheumatologists, cardiologists, and rehabilitation specialists. It offers a clear lay explanation of the pathophysiology of the condition and how its effects tend to manifest. It also includes chapters on all the previously-mentioned aspects of self- management, easy-reference tips and techniques, and appendices on developing and negotiating a return-to-work plan and key investigations. It is accessible, well-illustrated, non-patronising, and up-to-date. It does not, however, promise or provide a miracle cure."
https://bjgp.org/content/72/719/283
Book review of The Long Covid Self-Help Guide. Practical Ways To Manage Symptoms by Trish Greenhalgh
"The combination of these and other symptoms, along with the fluctuating course (good days interspersed with bad days, and certain activities possibly acting as triggers), leads to severe functional impairment that affects the person’s ability to work, socialise, and participate in family life. The psychological response — when will it end?; what can/should I do?; is it reactivating again or am I being overcautious? — may lead to a vicious cycle of low mood, reluctance to participate in activities, and worsening fatigue.
The origins of this protracted form of long COVID are disputed; its long-term prognosis is unknown; and there is not yet full agreement on which tests and therapies are appropriate (what symptoms or signs, for example, should prompt the full raft of investigations to exclude thrombotic or cardiovascular complications?).
Rare red flags aside, it is becoming clear that an important component of care is supported self-management in which the patient becomes an expert in their own fluctuating illness (for example, learning to pace themselves as fatigue waxes and wanes) — re-learning the art of breathing efficiently, finding ways of handling sleep disturbance, and developing strategies to cope with the heavy psychological burden of such a disabling and unpredictable condition. This book is written by a multidisciplinary team at the Oxford Post-Covid Clinic, including respiratory physiotherapists, occupational therapists, sport and exercise clinicians, psychologists, rheumatologists, cardiologists, and rehabilitation specialists. It offers a clear lay explanation of the pathophysiology of the condition and how its effects tend to manifest. It also includes chapters on all the previously-mentioned aspects of self- management, easy-reference tips and techniques, and appendices on developing and negotiating a return-to-work plan and key investigations. It is accessible, well-illustrated, non-patronising, and up-to-date. It does not, however, promise or provide a miracle cure."
https://bjgp.org/content/72/719/283
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