Psychology Today: My Son’s Crushing Long-COVID Journey

[SNT Gatchaman]

Psychology Today: My Son’s Crushing Long-COVID Journey
Personal Perspective: False assumptions made it hard to find care.

Every day was a sick day that left me scrambling. Marty went from being fully functional to needing 24-7 help, and motherhood felt like an alien experience.

At social events, moms shared stories about their kids’ busy schedules, basketball games, and new friend groups, but my mind was on Marty’s medical records, inflammatory molecules, and post-exertional malaise.

“There’s no inflammation. His immune system is fine.”

“Brain fog isn’t a medical condition. He can get to school.”

“His symptoms aren’t related to COVID. It’s something else.”

I got the message that my parenting stinks. Maybe it does. But that’s not what caused Marty’s malaise.

The system has blind spots. General practice doctors like pediatricians aren’t typically trained to treat or diagnose complex, multisystem symptoms. And specialists often function in strict silos, missing the big picture, according to three medical researchers and clinicians.

“Why aren’t doctors keeping up with research?” she said. “It feels irresponsible that I am looking for help on Facebook. It shouldn’t be this way."

“Kids come to our Long COVID clinic who have been dismissed as being lazy or choosing school avoidance. It’s not the case,” said Alexandra Yonts, an infectious disease doctor and the director of the post-COVID pediatric program at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.


“Fatigue is the most common symptom. I have pediatric patients who sleep 20 hours a day,” she said. “This population group is really suffering.”

 

[Amw66]

Psychology Today: My Son’s Crushing Long-COVID Journey
Personal Perspective: False assumptions made it hard to find care.

The king is dead , long live the king .
Kids have had the same experiences literally for decades - even the significant increase in numbers hasn't changed the response.
Sad .

 

[Trish]

Interesting to hear that Putrino's clinic have gone down the microclots route and telling patient that's what's causing their symptoms.