*Thread about #LongCOVID*.
I am working temporarily as a clinical psychologist in an #NHS Long COVID rehab team and wanted to share my exp’s in case they were helpful to anyone else. 1/13

I don’t profess to be an expert and would be eager to read others’ helpful resources/ comments below.
Recent NICE guidelines define Long COVID as continuing symptoms of COVID from 4+ weeks onwards. 2/13

I have spoken to a range of people with #LongCOVID from different backgrounds and ages. This includes people in their 40’s and 50’s who have been severely impaired #LongCOVID. It’s scary and based on the current stats, more will experience this. 3/13

It’s my understanding that #LongCOVID is not recognised as a disability, and yet I have spoken to many who feel disabled by it. This has important implications in regard to disability benefit, employment, housing, relationships and mental health. 4/13

Unfortunately, I have heard many accounts of people not having their symptoms or experiences believed or validated by family/ friends/ medical professionals. #LongCOVID may not be fully understood, but it is real, and it’s affecting some of our loved ones. 5/13

I’m guessing many people with #LongCOVID who present with associated mental health difficulties may be referred to their local #IAPT (therapy/ counselling) service. I have found the following to be helpful in my assessments/ interventions so far: 6/13

Spend time listening, validating, and understanding their story if they want to tell it. It’s possible that the person hasn’t had the opportunity to talk through what has happened to them just yet. They may have been told that their symptoms are not real. 7/13

They almost certainly will have heard of people believing that COVID is a hoax. Validate, validate & validate. Work with them to collaboratively make sense of their experiences. 8/13

Be mindful that the person could have undergone many different traumatic events (seeing/ hearing others die in ITU, being bereaved themselves etc). They may also be experiencing a mix of trauma, fatigue/ tiredness, loss, guilt (at surviving)..... 9/13

...cognitive changes (memory, concentration, brain fog), breathlessness, pain, low in mood, anxious etc.
I was surprised by the omission of any mention of #MECFS fatigue in the recent #LongCOVID NICE guidelines. 10/13

Some researchers have spoken a lot about there being considerable overlap between them. I have found the below guidance to be particularly helpful when considering this. 11/13
https://meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Post-Covid-Fatigue-Syndrome-and-MECFS-September-2020.pdf

I am no expert in #MECFS but I'm aware of post-exertion fatigue in #MECFS. Whether this fatigue mirrors #LongCOVID fatigue is a question for the future. I would be hesitant in advising exercise ++ given it has been shown to be detrimental in people with #MECFS 12/13

Would be eager to hear others' thoughts and reflections on how to offer support to those with #LongCOVID.
Hope you all stay safe out there! #MaskUp. 13/13