Happy New Year!
A new year and a hope this is it to finally beat my long haul Covid symptoms. In just a couple days it will mark the two and a half years since my last Covid infection started it and this chronic fatigue and brain fog. In that time, I’ve seen eight specialists in probably the best health checkup I could get. Nearly all great news, nothing showing anything underlying and previously known to medical science to be the cause of my chronic fatigue. Just the inflammation that the Rheumatologist found with her tests unable to see the cause in 2023. Then most recently the Hematologist diagnosing the anemia discovered a year ago, with nutrition fine, but inflammation none of her tests can identify the source neither. It means I’m at the mercy of ongoing long haul Covid research for answers and solutions. It means hoping my immune system can eventually beat it as my other alternative to improvement.
For awesome, the past two and a half years I’ve made diet changes that are the best I’ve ate in years. Consists of vegetables, fruits, rice, fish, pasta, almond milk and water. Cheat on Sundays with bagels. Only inhibition to further weight loss is this chronic fatigue for activity and exercise. High impact stuff quick to bring on chronic fatigue spells, so still mostly low impact walks I can do. I’m back on the testosterone replacement treatments, which haven’t had an impact on my regular chronic fatigue spells or energy much, but has benefits for weight loss and other things going forward.
Of course, the big question for many is probably mentally where I’m at. The couple outings I did make it to have been amazing. From seeing Jer and Devon Kay & the Solutions to bucket list Billy Bragg and Madness to getting one more opportunity for NOFX with a fun rain story to tell with it and just filled my heart with joy to finally catch Omnigone and meet Adam in the tall flesh. Thank you to all the friends who helped accommodate me and my illness to make these opportunities happen. A couple just my own willpower and sacrificing to the PEM for the few days after. I am cherishing these opportunities so much more these days.
I wish I could have made it to more, and a few moments of frustration this year. However, I’ve found I’ve made more peace with my situation the longer this continues. So less frequent, but they still occur. I post them to vent when they do, as it’s just healthier than keeping them inside. Nonetheless, I continue to keep a pretty consistent glass half full mentality. Try to find activities to pass time better, while avoiding the ones I know to be quick triggers, like a racing video game.
Going into 2025 with the hope this is the year I get better. Reading long Covid research and Reddit stories, seems 3 years is the average improvement time. Definitely grappling with the longer this goes, what should I do with Every Show Joe? Perhaps a new name? I do want to get back to it once I’m better, but no one can say when that might be. Do I pause my concert calendar videos until my energy gets better? I saw in just the week off how much people do use them and super appreciated that. I love making them, but exhausting with my chronic fatigue to make. So, always wondering what is best for me right now. Maybe that Halloween fun with my Clerks short the start of me embracing some short form videos? Who knows. Just know, I’m keeping my head up and hoping for the best to come this year no matter the life hurdles it may present. Thank you everyone for all the support and friendships these many years and into this brand new year. Let’s see what fun it will bring!
