“78 days after the first symptoms of Covid-19, I’m still sick” – Evening edition Ouest France

“We felt a little abandoned, loose Oriane, 23, student in Paris. We heard about the number of ICU patients every day. But nothing about those who have been dragging symptoms for months … “ 78 days after the first symptoms of Covid-19 appeared, the young woman was still sick.

Persistent Covid affects “less than 10% of cases”

Doctors call it the Persistent Covid or the Long Covid. It consists of a relapse of the disease and affects “Less than 10% of cases” according to Professor Pierre Tattevin, head of the infectious diseases department at the Rennes University Hospital, interviewed by West France. “The anatomical explanations are not very clear. But there is a real relapse of the symptoms. “

Hundreds of patients have experienced this bitterly. To make their voices heard, they created a movement on social networks: # J20 and # J60. Understand, 20 and 60 days after being infected with Covid-19. The goal ? Testify to the difficulty of getting rid of this disease. But also no longer be one of the forgotten people of the pandemic.

Lack of knowledge of the virus and lack of treatment

Because this reality has long been concealed. The reason ? Lack of knowledge about the disease. “When my doctor saw that I had tachycardia, he looked for something other than Covid, when I had had the symptoms”, illustrates Catherine, 25, from the Paris region. Indeed, at the start of the pandemic, heart problems were not one of the recurring symptoms.

Claudia, 24, a client advisor in Paris, faced the misunderstanding of doctors at the start of the pandemic. “It was difficult to be listened to. For them, I was somatizing. It was all due to stress. “ However, her stepfather with whom she was confined was hospitalized and diagnosed with Covid-19. And a few weeks later, she will be forced to take time off work.

Others, like Pauline, a 40-year-old woman from Rennes, have been blamed for not having been tested. “I got sick on March 15, I got tested 45 days later. And when it came out negative, I was told that I should have done it before. “

As a reminder, in March, people with Covid-19 symptoms were advised to stay confined for 14 days. With the only treatment of Doliprane and patience.

A multiplication of symptoms over the weeks

Problem, after the 14-day deadline, the illness of these patients did not go away. On the contrary. They developed new symptoms. Joint pain, burning sensation, diarrhea, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain … And often, the relapse was more violent than the first infection.

“I get up in the body of a 90 year old granny”, feels Oriane, the law student. However, it has been 63 days since the first symptoms appeared.

Bruno, 50, from Plouvorn in Finistère has also seen his symptoms multiply. “At first, I had chills like a classic flu. And a few weeks later, I couldn’t sit more than 30 minutes. “

Pauline la Rennaise even developed tendonitis in the knees and wrists. “I am an executive assistant. I don’t see how I can spend the day behind a computer in this state ”, sighs the forties. 78 days after his infection, a doctor has just prescribed him three to four months of rehabilitation with a physiotherapist. That is to say. And this mom to worry: “I don’t know when I’m going to return to normal life. “

The state of health of roller coaster patients

Another significant phenomenon for patients affected by a persistent Covid: a state of health on a roller coaster. Bruno, 50, from Plouvorn in Finistère, experienced several relapses. “Fifteen days after the first symptoms, I was better. And suddenly I relapsed “, remembers the Breton.

During the rest of his confinement, this manager of a digital company alternated between ups and downs. “The disease passes from one organ to another. We feel that we never really heal. It’s like a white noise in my life “, he details.

Catherine also experienced these multiple relapses. She was even arrested twice. “At first, I was taking it upon myself. I was afraid that my colleagues would take me for a madwoman. No one had been arrested more than once. “

In the same vein, Oriane struggled to make her family understand the extent of her ailments. “One day I said I was getting better. The next day, I couldn’t get up. Inevitably, that does not help to follow. “

Deconfinement, not a reality for everyone

Difficult, under these conditions, to benefit from deconfinement. First, because he is physically demanding. “Going out for three poor races means that I have to take a nap of several hours”, breath Pauline, 40 years old. But also because patients are afraid of still being Covid-19 positive.

“The truth is, you don’t know if you’re dangerous to others or not, reports Claudia from Paris. So I continue to stay confined to my home. And for the races, it is compulsory mask. “

Bruno doesn’t even dare to go to the store. “I keep doing my drives. That way I protect others and I protect myself too “, sums up the Finistérien.

Such a psychologically violent disease

Psychologically, the virus also tested the patients of the Long Covid. “I consulted a psychologist by Skype in the first month of the infection, admits Catherine. I was really worried about seeing the disease come back, waking up in the hospital, even dying … “

This anxiety, Bruno saw it reinforced by confinement. “Not only are we sick and it doesn’t pass. But in addition, we are alone. “ So, learning on social media that there were hundreds of people in the same situation as they reassured them. “We tell ourselves that we are not completely crazy”, smiles Oriane.

What impacts for patients in the medium term?

Yet questions remain. Lea, 40, is an industry executive. Sick for more than 72 days, she worries especially about seeing her symptoms become chronic. “At the moment, we don’t know what impact this disease will have on our organisms. I don’t take it lightly. “

Neither did Pauline. La Rennaise has obtained an appointment with Professor Pierre Tattevin, head of the infectious diseases department at the Rennes University Hospital, to discuss his case. She is tired, but it is mainly the pain that she can no longer bear. “This disease is leaving us with after-effects. To believe that there is nothing we can do. “

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