Nurse battles long COVID symptoms five years later

Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, nurse Nicole Baca still struggles with lingering health issues. She goes to an infusion center weekly for treatment that helps keep her from fainting. Her ability to participate in daily activities has greatly decreased since her active lifestyle before the pandemic. Baca, 40, experienced severe symptoms after working in a COVID-19 unit in 2020. She faced confusion, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue. Unlike most, she did not lose her sense of taste or smell. Her symptoms worsened over time, and doctors diagnosed her with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition related to her heart and nervous system. Despite receiving workers' compensation for her illness linked to a specific patient, Baca has not returned to full-time nursing. Initially, she managed to work part-time but had to stop after a serious episode at work. Instead, she now works one day a week in case management. Baca expressed frustration with the cancellation of a clinical trial that had shown promise for her condition. Many in the trial experienced significant improvements, making the withdrawal of the study disappointing for them. Along with others, Baca has traveled to advocate for more research on long COVID. She feels that society lacks awareness and understanding of long COVID and its effects. Her struggles have led to the loss of some personal relationships, as not everyone believes in the reality of her condition. However, she has found support from new friends who share similar experiences. Experts like Dr. Marlene Millen warn that new COVID-19 cases continue to emerge, particularly among unvaccinated individuals. Vaccination appears to lower the risk of long COVID. Dr. Millen herself experienced lingering symptoms after getting COVID in 2023 but attributes her eventual recovery to her vaccination status.