‘I feel defeated’: B.C COVID-19 ‘long-haulers’ on the day-to-day struggle

Editor’s note: This story is part of a three part series on long COVID-19 and the impacts on British Columbians

More than 200,000 people in B.C. have recovered from COVID-19, but thousands of them are still dealing with the effects of having the virus months or even more than a year later.

Before 23-year-old Hannah Lohnes caught COVID-19 a year ago, she was working three part-time jobs and taking six courses at Douglas College.

Now, she can barely take four classes because the lasting effects of the virus have strained her mentally.

“One of my symptoms that’s lingering is memory and focus problems. So after about ten minutes, nothing else is coming in so I have to go take a break,” the Surrey woman said about her life after COVID.

She says she now uses special accommodation in classes in order to keep her studies going.

No ‘normal’ in sight

Kathy Chorney says she caught the virus nearly a year ago while working as an X-ray Technician at a hospital in Prince George.

“So I have a walker now. I mean, I am 55 and I have a walker,” Chorney said.

She hasn’t been able to return to work, but thankful she is still covered by WorkSafe, otherwise, she says, the financial demands would be too high.

“Working on breathing and expanding the lungs again, that has brought on so much coughing that I cough until the point where I almost physically get ill,” she said.

Never-ending symptoms

The lasting side effects are something many long-haulers, like Lorraine Graves worry people don’t understand.

“So many in the public still don’t know why that it’s not binary, live or die, it’s live, die, or live really disabled,” Graves said.

She says most of the things she used to enjoy have been a challenge because she is in so much pain.

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She tried to get her life back on track once she got her vaccines, but overdid it and paid the price.

“I’m back where I was six months ago…I’m pretty depressed about the future,” she said.

Finding support in others

Patt Elzinga from Chilliwack describes the symptoms as a crushing exhaustion that can come after what feels like a good day – so it seems there is no end.

“I would love to have some hope but it’s been hard. I feel defeated,” Elzinga said.

Those like Elzinga say there is some comfort in the growing community of other long-haulers.

“I’m glad that people believe me. It makes me feel like I’m not crazy that it’s not all in my head kind of thing,” Elzinga explained.