My discharge diagnosis contained a who who’s of consequences covid patients may experience. Lung damage and scarring, chronic and congestive heart disease, shortness of breath, hypertension, and acute respiratory distress were among the most concerning. These are all potential physical effects. There was not mention of psychological effects. We don’t know enough about covid and how it can affect a person to prescribe one course of recovery. We do know some things that seem to work but the outcomes are not consistent for every covid patient. After getting an appointment with a provider, it opened the door to referrals to specialists. The first appointment was with a pulmonologist to address lung damage concerns and respiratory stress. My lung scan showed the extent covid had ravaged my lungs. I was told not as bad as others. Good news I guess but not as good as no damage. More prescriptions to follow to open air passages, more 24/7 oxygen, and follow up appointments to evaluate pulmonary function, heart damage, and psychological effects. What does this mean for me? More time - how long? I suggested 30 days. The pulmonologist suggested years.
