When Amy Tenenbaum graduates from Dalhousie University on Friday, she hopes to have the strength to walk the stage to get her degree.
Tenenbaum’s life has changed dramatically since he tested positive for COVID-19 in January. The 22-year-old, who is from Rhode Island, is one of hundreds of people in Nova Scotia who are currently suffering from symptoms of long COVID. He is so weak that he uses a wheelchair whenever he has to leave the house.
“I can’t walk for more than a few minutes without breathing without breathing and having very high heart rates and chest pain,” he said. “At 22, I can’t leave home or do anything without help.”
Tenenbaum fell ill in January when the Omicron variant spread rapidly across the province. She and her roommates experienced some common symptoms and recovered quickly. She returned to class and resumed her work as a maid.
In February, she began to feel dizzy and weak. One night, as he was walking home from a friend’s house, he collapsed.
“My heart rate soared to almost 200 beats per minute. I had to sit on the street. I thought I was having a heart attack.”
The test battery confirms long COVID
This was the first of many trips to the emergency service, as his condition deteriorated. He underwent extensive testing, ruling out other illnesses and conditions.
Doctors told him he was dealing with a long COVID. He was surprised to learn that even a mild case could cause serious problems.
“My life changed completely. I can’t work the job that before. I can’t see many people, many of my friends, just because I’m trying to be safe,” he said.
Tenenbaum tested positive for COVID-19 in January and recovered quickly. But in February, she began to feel dizzy and collapsed one night as she was walking home from a friend’s house. (David Laughlin / CBC)
“I’m hypertensive. So I have high blood pressure from a middle-aged man with heart disease. I have asthma. I have post-exertion discomfort. So any inability to work hard at all without feeling sick for days , chest pain, difficulty breathing. That’s the weight. “
Last fall, a Nova Scotia Health team began proactively calling patients three months after their initial diagnosis of COVID-19 to ask if they had persistent symptoms.
Approximately 50% of patients over the age of 16 reported having a symptom. Ten percent had some form of functional impairment, such as brain fog or muscle weakness.
300 Nova Scotians receive additional support
The post-COVID team is now working with these patients, providing access to healthcare professionals and support groups to assist them in their recovery.
Ashley Harnish, the team’s health services manager, says it’s a common mistake that all long COVID cases come from those who were sickest to begin with.
“We now know that this is not really the case, that people may present with post-COVID who may have managed all of their acute illness in their communities or at home,” he said.
Sofia Nicolls, standing, helps Tenenbaum out for some fresh air. (David Laughlin / CBC)
Harnish says there are about 300 neo-Scots receiving additional support because of the long COVID, but he believes there are more patients who have not been identified.
Part of the problem, he says, is teaching health care providers what to look for. Long COVID is still a new condition and its understanding is constantly evolving.
“It’s not as simple as, ‘I have a persistent cough,'” he said of the symptoms. “Nova Scotia is really dynamic. So we have to respond to help patients. “
Long way to go
Harnish says some patients need specialized referrals, while others benefit from physiotherapists or occupational therapy.
“They’re working with patients to see what’s most urgent or urgent for them,” he said.
Tenenbaum knows he has a long recovery ahead of him. He is still too weak to walk down the street to the bus stop.
He is learning to listen to his body and rest as much as possible. He has joined online support groups to connect with other people struggling with a long COVID.
Her roommate, Sofia Nicolls, helps out as much as she can with shopping, cleaning, and walking around the neighborhood in a wheelchair.
Nicolls says it has been shocking to see the change in her friend
“It has given me a new perspective on how serious this can be, especially at any age,” he said. “I think for a lot of young kids, it’s like, ‘Well, that wouldn’t happen to me.’
Tenenbaum was looking forward to going to graduate school in the fall. Instead, she will move home with her parents and study part-time online.
He hopes that by taking a step back for a while, he will be able to fully recover.