Recovered from Omicron but still feeling fatigued?
If you have recovered from Covid-19 but still experiencing symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue or brain fog, you could have long Covid condition. Even in mild cases, many Covid patients suffer from long-term residual symptoms.
The Omicron variant is said to be highly transmissible, but milder as compared to the Delta. Symptoms such as a mild fever, scratchy throat, extreme body pain, night sweats, runny nose, sneezing, vomiting and loss of appetite are said to indicate the presence of Omicron in the body.
Furthermore, people should not be negligent after recovery. Even if you test negative, feel better, your body is still in the recovery phase and needs more time to revive its energy. During this time, doctors advise taking rest, eating the right foods and staying hydrated. Avoid strenuous work or exercising beyond your capacity. This may strain the body and lead to post-COVID complications.
โLong Covid can happen no matter what virus variant occurs. Thereโs no evidence that thereโs any difference between Delta or Beta or now Omicron,โ says Fauci.
Here is what you can do to get through this and recover your strength, stamina and wellbeing:
Be kind to yourself
Recognize that fatigue is real. Fatigue is invisible and sometimes its effects arenโt understood that well. It is understandable that you want to get back to work ASAP, but you need to give yourself time to recover from the fatigue. Try not to push yourself too much, and even if you canโt get the work done, donโt be too harsh on yourself.
Self isolate
Even post recovery, it is important to isolate yourself as your body is weak and has a higher chance of contracting another disease. Consult with your doctor and follow the guidelines.
Get a good nightโs sleep
The effects of fatigue can feel a lot worse if your sleeping pattern is disturbed. Try and set a bedtime schedule and adhere to it. Getting 6-8 hours of sleep regularly can help you feel well rested and improve the symptoms.
Try meditation and relaxation techniques
The virus affects our brain function and mind and the best way to relax the mind in addition to good sleep is breathing exercises and meditation. This will greatly reduce your stress and help with the fatigue. Consider taking up guided meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, even coloring in a mandala book can be a relaxing activity! You can also resolve to simpler activities like taking a long shower/bath.
Make a plan
A disordered day-to-day routine can be stressful, making the fatigue tough to deal with. Each morning make a quick to do list of 3-5 tasks youโd like to accomplish in the day. Donโt make them huge tasks, just small accomplishments to begin with. If youโd like, you can also make a daily routine or slowly go back into your older one.
Nourish yourself
Maintain a healthy diet. Try and incorporate as much as vitamins and minerals as you can into your diet. Drink lots of water and stay hydrated. You can also get some fresh squeezed fruit juices to get some vitamins and stay hydrated.
Get back to exercising regularly
Get plenty of rest and slowly incorporate some exercise and youโll be saying goodbye to your fatigue in no time. Just remember to be kind to yourself during the process and be proud of yourself for recovering from a major disease.
