Long Covid proves to be a relentless and painful journey for many, myself included. The persistent and changing symptoms like the uncertainty of waking up in the morning because of sleep apnea, difficulty breathing, the enduring extreme fatigue and the spike in vital signs after doing very basic things have become our way of life.
From someone who used to love early morning walks
To someone who needs a chair to do even the simplest tasks
I can't even begin to describe the physical and emotional toll it takes, especially that there seems to be no possible end in sight.
For someone who has been grappling with this illness for over a year now, with a quality of life said to be hundreds-fold worse than that of someone with a terminal illness, I can definitely say that if I were to be invited to be a part of a clinical trial for a possible "cure" for Long Covid, even with unknown or possibly deadly side effect and no real guarantee of improvement, I will definitely go for it.
Just the idea of a potential cure, or even only a treatment that can possibly alleviate some symptoms, is a striking motivator. Right now, a lot of us who are suffering from Long Covid are in a constant state of dismay. We often hear conflicting diagnoses and advices from doctors, and there are very limited treatments available. The hope of a new approach which is backed by scientific research, is more than enough to outweigh all risks of unknown side effects. With everything we are going through, how much worse could we get?
It might be very important to weigh the risks, but the lack of options for us Long Covid sufferers make us grab every possible treatment there is. For me, the chance of regaining some semblance of even just a near-normal life —be it better energy, lesser forgetfulness, or improved well-being—outweighs the fear of what could possibly go wrong. In the end, everything's about regaining control over the life that has been lived like hell for too long.
Clinical trials are frequently a path forward, even with the uncertainties they are thought to present. For us living with Long Covid, anything is worth considering.
It will always be one of my ardent prayers to be able to go back to how I was before Long Covid.
But, nevertheless, I will always choose to say, Cheers to the life that we are still allowed to live!
