Long COVID is debilitating children. Doctors worry there aren’t enough centers to treat them
Story by Elizabeth Hlavinka, August 29, 2023

"When 11-year-old Jack Coviello contracted COVID-19 in January 2022, his worst symptom was a sore throat that kept him out of school for a week. A couple of days later, graver symptoms started to appear: gastrointestinal issues, tachycardia, panic attacks, and extreme fatigue that kept him sleeping 20 hours a day.

"It would be a full month of running tests in which doctors continued to say Jack was 'fine,' until his pediatrician diagnosed him with post-COVID syndrome, also known as long COVID, and referred him to a specialized clinic, said his mother, Kelli Coviello, who is a principal's assistant at an elementary school in Massachusetts.

"'It's been a challenge of them not really, truly understanding,' Coviello told Salon in a phone interview. "They think it's just school avoidance, and he doesn't want to come in or maybe it's just anxiety, and all this other stuff. … But he's an 11-year-old boy, who is looking at you saying, 'Am I dying? What's happening to me?'"

"Jack is one of thousands of children that has been diagnosed with long COVID. Last month, the National Institutes of Health updated its considerations for long COVID to say the burden of the condition in children "may be quite large." Studies estimating its prevalence in pediatric populations are limited and conflicting, estimating up to 25% of children infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus could go on to develop long COVID, though it's more likely between 2% and 10%. Older children with existing chronic diseases or who had a more severe COVID-19 infection have an increased risk.

"As COVID cases rise again and new variants emerge, coupled with school starting up again, previous waves indicate that long COVID cases could spike along with hospitalizations and deaths. Though kids generally have milder infections, they aren't always spared from the worst outcomes of infection.

"However, evidence suggests long COVID is underestimated in adults, and the same is likely true for children. Plus, some providers still don't know much about long COVID, which may delay diagnoses, said Dr. Alexandra Yonts, a pediatric infectious disease physician at the Pediatric Post-COVID program at Children's National Hospital.

"'I've heard from a lot of our families that they had to go to multiple different doctors to even find someone that believed what their child was experiencing was true,' Yonts told Salon in a phone interview."

Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/long-covid-is-debilitating-children-doctors-worry-there-aren-t-enough-centers-to-treat-them/ar-AA1fQV8J

#LongCovid #MedicalGaslighting #Covid #LongHaul #Covid19 #CovidIsntOver

How much less are doctors paid for operating on female patients in #Canada? https://www.cp24.com/news/how-much-less-are-doctors-paid-for-operating-on-female-patients-in-canada-1.6501209
New research suggests “surgical #sexism” is baked into the #Canadian #healthcare system
#women #MedicalGaslighting #WomensHealth #InclusiveHealthcare

How much less are doctors paid for operating on female patients in #Canada? https://www.cp24.com/news/how-much-less-are-doctors-paid-for-operating-on-female-patients-in-canada-1.6501209
New research suggests “surgical #sexism” is baked into the #Canadian #healthcare system
#women #MedicalGaslighting #WomensHealth #InclusiveHealthcare

We were probably already off to a rocky start because he knew I was diagnosed with ME/CFS. Many neurologists seem to dislike that. They turn down referrals.

And I had told him my muscle weakness could set in after only 200 metres. He didn't try to hide his disbelief.

#pwME @mecfs #MedMastodon #MECFS #Stigma #MedicalGaslighting #Neurology

I once asked a neurologist about the recurrent burning sensation under a part of my skin. He said: "There's no nerve there" and that was it.

I wanted to follow up with "the skin has no nerves?" But didn't because I didn't want to upset him before the EMG testing.

#pwME @mecfs #MedMastodon #MECFS #MedicalGaslighting #Neurology

#imjustagirl #validation #medicalgaslighting #Fibromyalgia #psoriaticarthrits #breastcancersurvivor #Painisinevitable#Sufferingisoptional

Scathing video review of my experience with the office manager at my physical therapist’s practice pending. Folks, this is a classic case where “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” would have worked WONDERS. #Ableism #AbleismIsTrash #MedicalGaslighting #CovidIsntOver #BeKind #EDS #Hypermobility #HealthCare

@mecfs @longcovid

The article says, "Historically … doctors have trivialized ME/CFS or denied that it is a real condition and dismissed patients as having anxiety."

I would add that gaslighting of ME/CFS and Long Covid patients by doctors is not something that used to happen. It is still happening today. Perhaps it's less widespread than 20-30 years ago but it's still there.

#LongCovid #MEcfs #ChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting

My friend's only a few hundred dollars from hitting her goal.
"Brenda Gets Gaslit is a woman-led project created in the ethos of giving platform to universal human stories expressed through consumable art. We're interested in creating beautiful & evocative imagery through film to stimulate dialogue & debate about the widespread issue of medical gaslighting." #medicalgaslighting
https://seedandspark.com/fund/brenda-gets-gaslit#story

What happens when you get sick & go to the Dr.

#AmericanMedicalCare #MedicalGaslighting
#MedicalCare
#MedicalBilling

Nur zur Erinnerung: #medicalgaslighting ist ein großes Problem.

Receiving all the #ableist anti mask corporate, capitalist responses from legislators and medical administrators that removing masks in medical settings is necessary is #eugenics I am over sharing our #covid19 near death stories only to experience #medicalgaslighting Fuck the #MedicalIndustrialComplex My child and millions of other #disabled folx require access to medical supports to stay alive. Please speak out against eugenics policies. #MaskUp #AbledSupremacy #antifa #anticapitalism #oregon

So I had a pretty severe experience of #MedicalGaslighting last evening. What’s wild is that I’m a nurse and I was talking to an NP that I’ve been friends with for ages. I was kind of surprised- my actual Doctor’s office was more with it about my symptoms. So I’m starting to see how deep that runs- it seems the first instinct is to deny- rather than explore concerns- even among providers. So I guess- it all begins among ourselves.

Hug someone you know today, or text/call them to let them know you're thinking about em. You just never know. Say the thing that's in your throat.

My most recent #blog post is about #healing from #medicaltrauma and so TW, I do talk about traumatic hospital/near death topics.

Link is here below or at adonkumentary.com

https://adonkumentary.com/2023/03/01/two-months/
#ptsd #mentalhealth #medicalgaslighting #surgery #healing #adenomyosis #hysterectomy #amwriting #writingcommunity #listentowomen

He believed me on everything. Everything. I went through a lifetime of key points. Onto another specialist and tons of blood work up. It’s not simply #EDS. No matter what they find I’ll be relieved. #MedicalGaslighting is a huge issue for women. Much more so for #BIPOC women. We shouldn’t have to go through 40 years of hell for someone to believe us. I finally found someone. I’m happy. I hope you find someone who’ll believe you. I believe you. Stay strong. BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. #Women

a few highlights:

“If you think you’re sick, you’ll be a sick person”

“Since you’ve experienced a lot of trauma, this is likely the cause of your symptoms.”

“Just try to live a normal life.”

“I see this all the time with people with trauma, the mental illness makes you physically sick.”

… meanwhile I presented a 4 page document showing proof I actually am suffering from a real medical illness that’s been supported by other practitioners… *eye roll*

#ChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting

I recalled this #blog I wrote a while ago: a moment in a dr's office where my [highly acclaimed in his field] hematologist said a single statement that changed everything for me as a person w #chronicillness.

Esp as women, having trouble finding a diagnosis often finds us being told that our symptoms are "stress & #anxiety" or "hormones" etc. #medicalgaslighting is very real when the owness is on you to fix it.

If you need it too, "it's not your fault." #spoonie

https://adonkumentary.wordpress.com/2021/05/30/single-statement/?preview=true

My foot has been keeping me awake with the pain. I'm so disheartened that I'm not even emotionally strong enough to get it looked at again. I'm still certain i broke it that time I fell getting into the bath to shower but because the hospital refused to x-ray it, because of the same pain management skills THEY TAUGHT ME, if it was broken it has probably healed wrong. #pain #ChronicPain #WomensPain #MedicalGaslighting

This story is incredibly sad, but so incredibly infuriating as well.
#ME/CFS
#chronicillness
#medicalneglect
#medicalgaslighting
#NHS
#LongCovid

https://www.codastory.com/waronscience/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-long-covid-unexplained-symptoms/

RT @JuliaaaLoe@twitter.com

Das #Gesundheitssystem ist einfach nicht für schwer kranke Menschen die bettlägerig sind ausgelegt. Menschen mit #MECFS bekommen keine Hilfe weil sie zu krank sind, um sich Hilfe zu holen…

Finden sie den Fehler…

#MedicalGaslighting #wirbrauchenHilfe

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/JuliaaaLoe/status/1613618901660614666