Incomprehension and questioning looks: long covid has had Nicole in a grip for two years

Her parents-in-law recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. ‘Of course’ she was present at the party, but it wasn’t much of a difference. “Those few hours cost me so much energy that it is almost impossible to explain it to others. I genuinely enjoy it, but I know that I am overstepping my limits. The following days I almost only slept.”

Researchers from the UMC Groningen noted last year that one in eight Dutch people have long-term complaints after a corona infection. Nicole from Hoorn also belongs to that group. And while the majority of the complaints disappear over time, the after-effects of the virus have kept the Hoornse in a firm grip for almost two years.

Panting like a horse

In November 2021 she became infected, just like her husband Allard. “I was panting like a horse and suffered a lot from lung problems. I was given medication for that and that helped. In April last year I said goodbye to the pulmonologist.”

But that doesn’t end the problems. On the contrary. Because there is much more than just lung complaints. Nicole has little energy and is easily overstimulated. “I often can’t even stand the television and I have had to find another hairdresser because the sound of the hair salon was too loud for me.” She also suffers from memory and concentration problems. “I have to write everything down, otherwise I’ll forget. Reading is difficult. I’ve already started the same book four times, but after a few pages I think: ‘What have I actually read?’ It just doesn’t come in.”

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Long Covid, or post Covid. Living in first gear. A lot of time is spent on the couch or in bed, there is no work involved, activities with the family are chosen very carefully. There is hardly any progress for the time being. “It’s all about making conscious choices. What do I do, and – especially – what don’t I do? I have to plan everything. And even then, everything I agree on is subject to change. Because I don’t know in advance how I feel. The Some days I can do more than others. That’s very frustrating.”

There is still a lot of uncertainty about the condition in the medical world and she also regularly experiences misunderstanding and ignorance in those around her. “Then people ask how my lungs are, because of the term long covid. But that is not the problem. When I get up after half an hour on a birthday, because it is much too busy for me, people sometimes look at me strangely. But then it just doesn’t work. Then I either panic or turn inward. That’s a completely different Nicole.”

‘Only better’

Creating awareness is one of the reasons to tell her story. “I have often heard: ‘Things can only get better…’. I really hope so, but when? Many people around me sympathize with me and are very sweet. I don’t think others know how My life has changed a lot. Certain comments at work gave me the feeling that some people thought I was being aggressive. That hurts.”

She misses her work at the hospital and regularly going out with the family, such as the recent low-stimulus afternoon during the fair in Hoorn. But she remains optimistic about the future. “It is now frustrating to be able to do almost nothing. That is difficult, but I am hopeful that things will improve at some point.”