LOS ANGELES — Five years ago, former runner Angela Vasquez was infected with COVID-19 for the first of three times, just after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic.
“I started to get better after about two weeks, then rapidly deteriorated," Vasquez said. "I started having stroke-like symptoms, couldn’t walk, lost sensation on one side, couldn’t speak, was slurring."
Her symptoms ranged from migraines and extreme fatigue to anaphylaxis to almost everything she eats. The toll wasn’t only physical — her mental health also took a hit.
“I think they saw in my chart that I had a history of depression, so all of my symptoms were attributed to that, not the infection I had a few weeks prior,” Vasquez said.
For nearly a year and a half, Vasquez was house- and bed-bound, dismissed by many doctors. It wasn’t until she was finally diagnosed with long COVID she began to understand the severity of her condition.
While Vasquez has since found ways to manage her symptoms, her treatment comes at a steep cost. Her medications alone costs $300 a month, not including out-of-pocket treatments and doctor’s visits.
“It’s a part-time job just to stay stable,” she said.
According to the CDC, long COVID affects up to 10% of U.S. adults. Common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog and exhaustion, with two out of three long COVID patients also experiencing mental health challenges.
Dr. Caitlin McAuley, clinical director at Keck Medicine of USC’s COVID Recovery Clinic, explained why mood disorders often arise after COVID-19.
“People who are especially susceptible can have inflammation in the brain and nervous system. This is where we think many of the symptoms come from,” McAuley said.
McAuley added that those with long COVID often experience lower serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. This can exacerbate existing mood disorders or lead to new ones in individuals without prior mental health issues.
“It’s very challenging when someone is experiencing these severe symptoms and they don’t have tests to prove it. It interferes with their function,” she notes.
Treatment for long COVID may include antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy and anti-inflammatory medications.
Vasquez isn’t sure if she’ll ever run again, but she’s grateful that her current treatment plan allows her to walk. She hopes to raise awareness about the challenges of living with long COVID and the isolation it can bring.
“Have compassion for someone who has been vulnerable enough to share their invisible disability with you, and to know they are probably trying harder than you can imagine to look semi-normal in front of you,” she said.
Five years later, Vasquez is still navigating this new normal — the long road of long COVID.