Continuing my notes on the app:
The home page has a series of sections to select, I've crossed out the ones convered in my previous post:
My tasks, add task.
Help at Work
Symptom specific resources
Financial resources
Advice for managers or employers
Videos
Advice for friends, family or carers
Condition overview
Provide your feedback
Day streak
Feedback form
Youir trends
Community
__________________
Symptom specific resources
Topics covered:
Anxiety
Breathlessness and cough
Cognition
Communication
Emotional impact of Long Covid
Fatigue
Nutrition and hydration
Pain management
Physical activity and exercise
Sleep
Mindfulness
Stress
Social life and hobbies
Voice advice
Information for people affected by Fibromyalgia
Dysautonomia - A Guided for ME/CFS
Post-exertoinal Malaise
Post-Viral Fatigue - A Guide to Management
Cold hands and feet
Headaches and migraines
Orthostatic intolerance
POTS
Sensitivities, intolerances and hypersensitivities
Stomach and IBS
ME/CFS - A Guide to Symptom Management
_________________
I'll just look at a few of the above:
Anxiety - quite a lot about what it is and why pwLC may experience it, and details of aspects like cognitive distortions and a guide to techniques for treating it including CBT. counselling, grounding techniques, and what they are. Plus links to apps, more info and support groups.
Cognition Describes brain fog, lists some problems people with LC have and impact on life, relatonships and work. Says there's no evidence it's permanent.
Says best for management and rehab to start early:
"Post-Covid related brain fog symptoms should improve with:
Time
Rehabilitation
Management advice and strategies
Adoption of healthy lifestyle habits
Return to normal lifestyle and routine."
List of cognitive processes that can be affected by brain fog including attention, memory, perception, insight, orientation, language, processing speed, reasoning, executive function and metacognition, with brief explanation of each. Says a problem with one or more can cause difficulty.
List of possible causes of brain fog says not established but could include PVFS, lingering virus, encephalitis, hypoxia microvascular damage, breathing and heart probs, MCAS... Tnen details each of these and other possible causes that may need medical investigation. Secondary contributors listed including fatigue, poor diet, meds, sleep issues, pain, stress, anxiety, low mood, social isolation, mental over exertion, physical underexertion.
A bit about possible investigations of brain fog.
Treatment:
fatigue management, cognitive rehab, use of compensatory aids or strategies, adopting healthy lifestyle habits of body and mind.
Lots of advice about pacing, going slowly, lifestyle, reduce sensory stimuli, maintain social contact,
Description of cog, rehab - focus on training to negotiate daily life.
Exercising the brain, remedial strategies, include adding variety, mentally stimulating games etc Recommends a list of brain training apps,
Sleep hygiene,
physical exercise - recommends aiming for up to 30 minutes mild to moderate exercise a day, says more might cause PEM.
Lots more on techniques for aiding aspects of cognitive activity.
Lists and links sources - WHO, booklets by 3 NHS LC clinics.
________-
Communication
Very short, plus a reference
Emotional impact of LC
What you might experience, and what can help - relaxation, grounding technique, list of other useful techniques including meditation, yoga, mindfulness, music.
Thinking patterns and symptoms - a section about worry about and paying attention to symptoms can make them worse/
"For example if you focus on headaches, you will likely get more headaches, ... poor sleep, ...concentration... " Cycle of worry and symptoms affecting each other, ... be kind to yourself...
Source Leeds NHS LC rehab booklet.
More to come
