Even asymptomatic people can develop long COVID, the CDC says.
A vast range of symptoms fall under the umbrella of post-COVID conditions.
Most people acknowledge that long COVID is a health issue that no one wants to deal with.
Unfortunately, plenty of people do.
Here are just a few of their stories about how long COVID has impacted survivors.
I had some pretty severe muscle and body aches and pain along with headaches for ten days.
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I also lost taste and smell for about six weeks.
But that was pretty much the extent of it, she says.
Its gotten progressively worse over the last few months, she says.
Nauman says she has taste and smellits just not accurate.
While Nauman says shes always loved coffee, it now has a strong really awful metallic scent to her.
I cant go into a Starbucks anymore.
Its nausea-inducing, she says.
Eggs of all kinds are particularly triggering: They all smell rotten.
Nauman also says garlic and onion flavors make her feel sick, and dairy gives her an intense aftertaste.
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Im a dairy farmers daughter, and Ive been a huge dairy consumer my entire life, she says.
Now, I have to buy oat milk and coconut ice cream.
Nauman has tried scent trainingwhich involves sniffing scents several times a day to stimulate your nosewith no success.
Shes waiting to be seen by an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
I had some chest tightness and difficulty breathing, but it wasnt worse than a common chest cold.
It feels like I have a weight on my chest at all times, he says.
It becomes worse when I work out or do any physical activity.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
I had fevers and chills and spent my birthday in my room, she says.
Its practically crippled my life, McNair says of her symptoms.
I cant do much of anything without the POTS acting up really badly.
I cant eat much either.
Its just really not fun.
McNair says she struggles to even go for walks with her dog without feeling absolutely awful afterward.
She also struggles with brain fog and can have trouble finding the right words at times.
McNair is on several medications for her symptoms.
I feel like trash all the time, she says.
Its very hard to manage.
My symptoms involved my digestive system with a fever and headache, she says.
Although I could taste and smell, I was nauseous for several weeks and lost my appetite.
I also experienced consistent fatigue.
All this lasted for nearly three weeks.
She also struggles with unpredictably intermittent brain fog, which can interfere with her vocabulary.
Often, I cannot find the words I want to use, she says.
It feels frightening like I might be getting early dementia.
At that time, people were still going about life as normal, she says.
But upon returning to New York City, my symptoms worsened.
I had a temperature, I was lethargic, and I had a horrible cough I couldnt shake.
Carpenter says she developed a persistent cough for four months and was very lethargic.
She also lost her sense of taste and smell.
In June, I got an antibody test which confirmed that I had officially had it, she says.
Now, Carpenter goes through severe bouts of vertigo.
She also struggles with brain fog that makes her forget certain words.
Wendy tried to help jog my memory, but my brain was not functioning, she says.
Ive also been embarking on my own wellness journey and strongly focusing on my mental health, she says.
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