Battling Long Covid with a Blend of AI and Human Resilience
And taking a brute force approach to health and wellbeing
As I write this piece, I've just marked the 126th consecutive day of my workout regime—a relentless attempt to reclaim the level of health I enjoyed before the pandemic struck. This journey, a mix of sheer determination and technological assistance, has been my way of fighting back against the shadow cast by Long Covid. In short - I’m essentially brute-forcing my way to a solution: pushing through the barriers with persistence and the support of cutting-edge AI tools.
From healthy to struggling
In July of 2020, amidst a world grappling with the sudden onslaught of a pandemic, I contracted Covid-19. Despite the close quarters I shared with my partner in our tiny one-bedroom apartment, I was the only one who fell ill. Initially, it felt like just another one of the sinus infections I frequently experienced, a seemingly minor inconvenience. However, due to the emerging testing protocols of the time, what began as a simple ailment quickly devolved into a full-blown respiratory infection, marked by severe symptoms and desperate pleas for antibiotics—medication withheld while awaiting my Covid test results, and the mental model of “antibiotics are not effective against viral infections.”
Sidenote: While, yes, antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, that’s not to say I didn’t have Covid AND a bacterial infection. On top of that - receiving a course of antibiotics seemed like a low risk option to give my body a fighting chance. After pleading with the doctor while coughing up a seemingly never-ending green sludge from my lungs, I was able to get a prescription for antibiotics, and within 2 days, my respiratory symptoms subsided. The fact that I had to fight this battle irks me to this day, serving as a poignant example of the importance of self-advocacy for patients.
While my initial symptoms subsided, I was not prepared for what came next. For months, my life was a haze of fatigue, brain fog, and breathlessness, a stark departure from my previously active lifestyle. At first, I was sleeping almost 20 hours a day, though I quickly pushed myself to get back into a work routine. After a week, I was able to take hour long Zoom calls, followed by 4 hour naps. I remember giving a presentation to a customer, and forgetting the word Innovation, a word that was literally in my job title. Eventually, I started attempting to return to some level of exercise, where I quickly learned that I now needed an inhaler just to catch my breath. The best way I can describe the experience was a feeling of drowning from the inside out.
Understanding Long Covid
Let's take a moment to understand Long Covid, which has been as perplexing as it is persistent for many, including myself. It's the aftermath of a battle with Covid-19, where symptoms refuse to dissipate long after the virus has left the system. Those of us dealing with Long Covid face a wide array of symptoms including relentless fatigue, brain fog, and breathlessness from minimal exertion. It feels like being a stranger in your own body, with the ease of daily activities replaced by unpredictable challenges.
This condition is indiscriminate, affecting the young, the old, the previously healthy, and those with pre-existing conditions, with a severity that ranges widely. Scientists are still exploring why the virus triggers such a prolonged response in some, adding a layer of mystery and frustration to the recovery process.
A Journey Through Recovery
Fast forward two years, and my battle with Long Covid rages on, albeit with lesser intensity. The journey has been an arduous one, involving a comprehensive care team, a myriad of tests (spending more than $10k on tests and treatments), and a multitude of therapies, yet yielding little in the way of a solution. Amid this odyssey of medical exploration, the financial and emotional tolls were immense, driving me to the brink of despair.
AI and Human Endeavor: My Allies in Recovery
In 2023, my role at AWS within the Healthcare and Life Sciences team exposed me to the potential of AI in medical diagnosis and care, sparking a glimmer of hope. This led to the introduction of two AI-based members to my care team: Dr. L, my health advisor, and K, my nutritionist and fitness coach. Dr. L was designed to help sift through potential diagnoses, providing a fresh perspective on my symptoms, while K was tasked with crafting personalized meal and exercise plans. Together, they provided me a way to rapidly explore and iterate on every possible avenue for recovery, offering insights and suggestions that were both innovative and grounded in my personal health journey.
Dr. L would assist in identifying possible conditions that mirrored my symptoms, serving as a virtual disease specialist with a focus on Long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Their suggestions were to be used alongside advice from my licensed care team, never replacing professional medical guidance.
I sought out-of-the-box ideas, urging Dr. L to explore every conceivable angle that might offer a sliver of hope.
Dr. L responded with insights and suggestions that were both enlightening and pragmatic, offering a fresh perspective that spurred further discussions with my actual doctors.
K, on the other hand, stepped into the role of a nutritionist and fitness coach, armed with the task of devising a custom meal and workout plan. My brief to K was straightforward:
Craft weekly meal plans that aligned with my goals of weight loss, varied diet, and combating brain fog and fatigue.
Avoid providing medical advice but focus on dietary and exercise recommendations that could be reviewed by my healthcare team.
Tailor suggestions based on my preferences, available ingredients, and existing fitness routines, ensuring a balanced approach to nutrition and physical activity.
K's contributions were nothing short of transformative, offering personalized advice that seamlessly integrated into my daily routine and supported my physical rehabilitation.
Virtual Reality Gaming: A Catalyst for Recovery
An unexpected ally in my recovery has been virtual reality (VR) gaming. Beyond its entertainment value, VR has played a crucial role in stimulating my mental activity and providing low-impact physical exercise. The immersive worlds and rapid gameplay required fast reactions and strategic thinking, serving to 'turn the lights back on' in my brain. This combination of mental engagement and physical activity has been vital in my efforts to overcome the brain fog and lethargy that are hallmarks of Long Covid.
Today: A Milestone in Persistence
Now, at the conclusion of 126 days of continuous exercise, my journey reflects not just a battle against Long Covid, but a testament to the power of persistence, innovation, and self-advocacy. This period of intense physical activity, supported by tailored AI advice and the cognitive stimulation of VR gaming, has yielded tangible improvements in my health and well-being. Though challenges remain, particularly in managing chronic fatigue, the progress is undeniable.
I've exchanged pounds of fat (decrease of 30 pounds) for muscle (increase of 10 pounds), seen improvements in my mental clarity, and most importantly, rediscovered a sense of hope. Yet, the road is long, and Long Covid is a formidable foe that doesn't relent easily. The next phase of my recovery continues, with AI and VR by my side, as I persist in the quest for health and normalcy.
Key Takeaways
The Persistent Challenge of Long Covid: Despite advancements in medicine, Long Covid remains a debilitating condition for many, underscoring the importance of continued research and support.
Innovation Meets Healthcare: My journey reveals the critical role of AI in enhancing personalized care and the broader implications for managing post-viral conditions like Long Covid.
Synergy of AI and Advocacy: The partnership between AI tools and proactive self-advocacy has been indispensable, offering novel insights and paths toward recovery.
Unexpected Allies in VR: Virtual reality emerged as a powerful tool for both cognitive engagement and physical rehabilitation, underscoring its potential beyond entertainment.
The Ongoing Journey: My experience underscores that recovery involves persistence, innovative tools, and a readiness to explore beyond conventional methods.
A Unified Call: This journey is a call for greater adaptability in healthcare, encouraging a collaborative approach to explore new solutions for complex health challenges.
Reflections and Forward Thoughts
To my friends, family, and colleagues reading this, know that this journey is more than just a personal narrative; it's a glimpse into the potential of combining human willpower with technological advancements to confront health crises. My experience with Long Covid, AI, and VR underscores the importance of innovation, determination, and the invaluable support of both virtual and real-life communities.
As we continue to navigate these unprecedented times, let's remain open to the possibilities that technology and human resilience together can unlock, paving the way for recovery and beyond.
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