COVID survivors talk about life after the pandemic

It may seem hard to believe, but it’s been over four years since the COVID-19 pandemic brought our world to a standstill, forced us indoors and out, and ultimately changed the way we live.

It’s hard to pinpoint the true “end” of the pandemic. The World Health Organization declared an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 5, 2023, while the United States followed suit a week later, on May 11. But the lingering effects of COVID-19 are still there.

For some, these lingering effects are just a nuisance: it’s just an illness that can leave you feeling lousy for a few days.

For many others, however, the effects of the pandemic years are still very real. From the constant need to protect yourself due to a weakened immune system, to the psychological and physical toll that COVID-19 can take on the body, the pandemic is still raging for many people.

The impact is not just about contracting and recovering from COVID.

Data from the National Institutes of Health shows that frontline workers are more than four times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, but 21% of the adult population has also reported symptoms. Studies on the impact of long COVID are scarce due to the short time since the start of the pandemic, but the NIH found that about 10% of people who initially contracted COVID-19 now have long COVID.

The Idaho Statesman recently asked readers how Boise residents are doing post-pandemic.

Changes in mental health since the pandemic?

Of the 27 respondents to the non-scientific survey, 14 people said their mental health had not deteriorated since the start of the pandemic, while 12 people said it had deteriorated. Two people did not respond to the question.

Several respondents described their mental state as “depressed,” while countless others reported feeling “isolated.”

Michael Pelton, a physician at St. Luke’s COVID Recovery Clinic in Boise, told the Idaho Statesman that depression, anxiety and so-called “brain fog” are some of the most common signs of cognitive problems after contracting COVID-19. He noted that brain fog is not a scientific term, but a patient-made word to describe symptoms such as memory retrieval and trouble multitasking.

“There is no drug that we know of that works for brain fog,” Pelton said, adding that since COVID-19 hit, there hasn’t been enough time to conduct long-term studies.

Instead, Pelton said doctors are often using “off-label” medications, which is when a medication for one symptom, such as anxiety, is used to treat a similar symptom resulting from COVID-19.

“A lot of times we have to use medications off-label,” Pelton said. “Sometimes we use stimulant medications that might be used for someone with attention deficit disorder, for example, to see if it helps them focus better when they have brain fog.”

One of the respondents, Carol from southwest Boise, said she no longer wants to be in large groups of people and dislikes the attitudes of people who don’t care about the health of others.

Fortunately, it’s not all negative. Idaho resident Danielle Terhaar told the Idaho Statesman that her mental health was “terrible for a couple of years,” but that she now has a “more resilient outlook.”

“I am better off after all the lessons I have learned,” Terhaar said.

Has the pandemic had a lasting societal impact?

Only 11 people said the pandemic had no lasting impact on them socially, while 15 people said it had. One person did not respond to the question.

The overarching theme was that people are going outside less often than they used to, which has all kinds of consequences.

Nancy, from Boise, said she now mostly avoids large crowds and only goes to crowded restaurants in the summer when she can sit outside. Terhaar also said she enjoys socializing at home more than going to bars and festivals, making her value quality time more than she did before the pandemic.

Even four years after the pandemic began, some Idaho businesses are still struggling. Don Waltermire, who lives in the Emmett area, said his company is still struggling with supply chain issues.

How is physical health now compared to before the pandemic?

A lot can change physically in four years, the least of which is getting four years older. As Idaho resident Michael Keyes told the Statesman, “I’m older and fatter, but that would happen anyway…”

However, for those who have contracted COVID-19, the effects are still being felt.

Marie, from Boise, told the Statesman that she had lost her sense of balance and found it difficult to walk, making it challenging for her to play golf; she also reported periods of confusion. Sue, from the Weiser area north of the Treasure Valley, also said her mental and physical abilities have declined since the pandemic.

Fatigue is one of the most common indicators of long COVID, Pelton said. He also said chest pain, headaches and dizziness are all common.

“Fatigue is certainly very common, and often it’s just really, really tired,” Pelton said. “It’s not just being a little tired; it’s like you don’t want to get out of bed, a kind of fatigue. There are a lot of aches and pains, joint pains, arthralgias or muscle pains.”

But again, not all outcomes were negative.

Nancy, who previously said she avoids large crowds, also said the pandemic has given her more time to exercise.

“The lockdown made me start making workout videos at home and walking more,” she says, “and I lost 14 kilos.”

How has your life changed since March 2020?

It’s no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought changes to the lives of people in the Treasure Valley that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.

Many people reported that their views on the medical system and government had changed, as had their views on people who blindly follow political figures and beliefs.

“I’m just amazed at how gullible people are when it comes to eating up political, anti-science propaganda,” said Nancy from Boise. “The hatred they’re spewing toward people who don’t want long COVID is horrific.”

JP from northeast Boise told the Statesman they are now “much more skeptical of government mandates and supposed medical experts.”

Others, such as Terhaar, have meanwhile used the pandemic to focus on themselves and the people around them.

“The awareness of others has increased dramatically,” Terhaar said. “I shield myself more from ‘public discussion’ about anything and take good care of myself and the people around me.”

2024 Idaho Statesman. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.