Resources re: the importance of rest in the early stages of post viral fatigue

[Saz94]

Hiya

I’m asking on behalf of a friend who has asked me for resources. He’s worried about *his* friend, who’s been fatigued post-covid for 2 and a half weeks. He is very worried that she is taking things too fast and not letting herself rest.

I’m trying to find some information explaining that taking things slowly and resting as much as needed is likely to reduce the risk of the post-viral fatigue becoming a permanent problem.

Thanks.

 

[Kitty]

I’m trying to find some information explaining that taking things slowly and resting as much as needed is likely to reduce the risk of the post-viral fatigue becoming a permanent problem.

I'm not sure whether many doctors or researchers have been willing to say this, have they? I can't remember seeing it anywhere (but then I have got a memory like a sieve).

It's long been thought to be true, of course, especially among patients who experienced a long-term worsening after receiving GET-type interventions early on in their illness, or who tried to keep up with their work / caring responsibilities.

It's common sense to allow enough time for convalescence, of course, but beyond that it might get a bit fuzzy.

 

[Trish]

The ME Association has some:
https://meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Long-covid-and-MECFS-April-2021.pdf

Activity management is on pages 20-24.

 

[CRG]

There's a longstanding proposition that poorly managed PVS/PVF moves from an acute to chronic state and therefore produces what we call ME/CFS. I don't think there's any clear data for this.

There is a lot of anecdote about managed activity/rest being important in reducing the recovery time post infection, but while it's a well reasoned approach there's a lack of any meaningful data on what that means for an individual dealing with a specific infection.

Edit to remove quote form deleted post.

 

[Barry]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/21/long-covid-recovery-coronavirus

Today, I can comfortably work full-time and exercise six times per week. My few remaining symptoms are minor and manageable. I strongly believe this recovery was only possible because of my early access to care and three months of intense, sustained, radical rest.

[my bold/underline]

 

[Mij]

I deleted my post b/c I didn't understand what Sarah was asking concerning reducing the 'risk of the post-viral fatigue becoming a permanent problem' and whether she was referring to M.E.