Brain scans reveal neural connectivity deficits in long COVID and ME/CFS

[cooljethro]

This is pretty interesting. I know of a fair few autistic people who also struggle with chronic fatigue.

MSN

Considering that ME/CFS has been described historically as "yuppie flu", even by medical professionals, it is nice to see that there is some science behind the symptomatology rather than the symptoms being pinned on some vague, psychological defict or alleged hypochondria.

I'm not sure how seriously long COVID is taken by medical professionals? Maybe some people on here have experience with that?

 

[vergil96]

I have a few doctors in my family. So, lomg COVID and chronic fatigue aren't actual diagnoses, but it's a well known fact that infections can have complications. Something as simple as the common flu can have a complication as serious as endocarditis and heart failure - it's not all that rare, especially in people who already had a heart condition. Chronic fatigue can be a lot of things, frequently vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune issues or even microstrokes. In the case of COVID, it is known to have caused microstdokes for many people and it's believed to be the cause of the post-COVID "brain fog".

 

[cooljethro]

It is possible to get a formal diagnosis of CFS/ME in the UK and I would imagine there is a diagnosis of Long Covid, too?

Maybe things are different where you are from?

Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

 

[vergil96]

Maybe things are different where you are from?

Very likely

Doctors laugh at those catch-all symptom based diagnoses too. Not at the patient, at the doctor who diagnosed. They believe in the symptoms that the patient experiences, but those diagnostic units come across as inaccurate and bad practice (laziness, lack of knowledge, lack of proper diagnosis and treatment). There are many diagnostic units like that. Fybromyalgia, IBS and so on... ASD is among them too. The most worrying part of it is that patients don't get appropriate treatment and get a label instead. Future treatment might also interfere with the condition.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I keep up on these topics. Long COVID is one of the best things to ever happen for ME/CFS, because the symptoms are similar. It has spurred research into the mechanisms of these syndromes.

There has been a tendency to minimize the legitimacy of ME/CHF, and the appearance of long COVID and incidentally “long Lyme disease” have led to more legitimacy.

Yes, it is most likely that these are artificial categories. Further research will lead to better understanding. For now, treatment is symptomatic.

In this country there must be a diagnostic label to get insurance coverage. No doctors I know are laughing about this.

The most worrying part of it is that patients don't get appropriate treatment and get a label instead. Future treatment might also interfere with the condition

What do you mean by “appropriate” treatment? AFAIK, there is no such thing. And how would treating symptoms now interfere with future treatment?

 

[vergil96]

What do you mean by “appropriate” treatment? AFAIK, there is no such thing. And how would treating symptoms now interfere with future treatment?

Appropriate to whatever the illness really is. IBS might turn out to be celiac, infection of the gut or a whole range of other issues, if the issue is autoimmune, then addressing that is treatment, if vitamin deficiency, then vitamin supplements, and so on. In the case of the microstroke version of long COVID, there is no treatment for stroke that already happened. But if it was identified on time, anticoagulants could be given... The whole point is that it's a complex topic.

I mean that misidentification or lack of identification of the root cause can lead to treatments in the future that are harmful for the patient - not taking into account their counterindications. For example, ignoring progressing allergic reaction to antibiotics leading to an eventual anaphylaxis, giving birth control to a patient with blood clotting issues, giving stimulants or SSRIs to a patient with mania, the list goes on. Very sadly, it's not uncommon.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Appropriate to whatever the illness really is. IBS might turn out to be celiac, infection of the gut or a whole range of other issues, if the issue is autoimmune, then addressing that is treatment, if vitamin deficiency, then vitamin supplements, and so on. In the case of the microstroke version of long COVID, there is no treatment for stroke that already happened. But if it was identified on time, anticoagulants could be given... The whole point is that it's a complex topic.

I think I understand your explanation. I agree many doctors are not skilled in looking deeply into the complaints that don’t fall into a neat category.

I mean that misidentification or lack of identification of the root cause can lead to treatments in the future that are harmful for the patient - not taking into account their counterindications. For example, ignoring progressing allergic reaction to antibiotics leading to an eventual anaphylaxis, giving birth control to a patient with blood clotting issues, giving stimulants or SSRIs to a patient with mania, the list goes on. Very sadly, it's not uncommon.

I don’t agree that it is common to make mistakes as you are describing. Sometimes it happens, but most health care providers in my country are careful about medication allergies and medication contraindications.