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, forcing us indoors and into isolation and ultimately changing the way we live.

It is difficult to determine the true “end” of the pandemic. The World Health Organization announced an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 5, 2023, with the United States following suit a week later on May 11. But the lingering effects of COVID-19 still exist.

For some, those lingering effects are merely a nuisance; it’s just another illness that can make you feel terrible for a few days.

For many others, however, the consequences 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 COVID-19 can take on the body, the pandemic is still ongoing for many people.

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

Data from the National Institutes of Health shows that while frontline workers are more than four times more likely to experience post-traumatic stress, 21% of the adult public have also reported symptoms. Few studies have examined the impact of long-term COVID-19 due to the short time since the pandemic began, but the NIH found that about 10% of people who initially became infected with COVID-19 now experience long-term COVID.

The Idaho Statesman recently asked readers how Boise residents are faring in post-pandemic life.

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 declined. Two people did not respond to the question.

Several respondents described their mental state as “depressed,” while countless others said they felt “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-created word to describe symptoms such as memory recovery and multitasking problems.

“There is no drug that we know of that works for brain fog,” Pelton said, citing that there hasn’t been enough time since COVID-19 began running long trials.

Instead, Pelton said doctors will often use “off-label” medications. This is when a drug for one symptom, such as anxiety, is used to treat a similar symptom resulting from COVID-19.

“Often we find ourselves having to use medications off-label,” Pelton said. “Sometimes we use so-called stimulant medications that could be used, for example, for someone with attention deficit disorder, to see if it will help them concentrate better when they have brain fog.”

One respondent, Carol from southwest Boise, said she no longer wants to be in large crowds and hates the attitude 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 few years,” but that she now has a “more resilient perspective.”

“I’m better off after all the lessons I’ve learned,” Terhaar said.

Has the pandemic had a lasting social impact?

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

The overarching theme was that people are going out less often than they used to, which led to numerous outcomes.

Nancy, from Boise, said she now mainly avoids large crowds and only goes to busy restaurants in the summer when she can sit outside. Terhaar also said she enjoys social events at home more than visiting bars and festivals, allowing her to appreciate quality time more than she did before the pandemic.

Even four years after the pandemic began, some Idaho businesses continue to suffer. Don Waltermire, who lives in the Emmett area, said his company continues to face supply chain issues.

What is your physical health like now compared to before the pandemic?

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

However, for those infected with COVID-19, the effects linger.

Marie, from Boise, told the Statesman that she had lost her sense of balance and walking was difficult, making it challenging for her to play golf; she also reported bouts 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, according to Pelton. He also said chest pain, headaches and dizziness are all common.

“Fatigue is certainly very common, and oftentimes it’s very extreme fatigue,” Pelton said. “It’s not just being a little tired; it’s like not wanting to get out of bed, a kind of fatigue. There are a lot of aches and pains, joint pains, joint pains or muscle aches.”

But again: not every outcome was negative.

Nancy, who previously noted that she avoids large crowds, also said the pandemic gave her the free time to exercise.

“The shutdown made me start doing home workout videos and walking more,” she said, “and I lost 30 pounds.”

How has your life changed since March 2020?

It is not surprising that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in changes in the lives of people in the Treasure Valley that would not otherwise have happened.

Many people said their views on the medical system and government had changed, as well as 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,” says Nancy from Boise. “The hatred they express towards people who don’t want COVID for much longer is terrible.”

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

Meanwhile, others, like Terhaar, have used the pandemic to focus on themselves and those around them.

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

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