In this episode of the Long Covid Hope Podcast, the podcast that aspires to shine a light on the more hopeful stories of Covid 19 Long Haulers, Sarah speaks with the wonderful Angela, or Lady with Long Covid / @theextrafiles on Twitter, who lives in the Pacific Northwest of the USA with her two kids and partner. Angela has done an amazing thing: she has selflessly and tirelessly created a grassroots awareness movement from her couch. We discuss how the Long Covid awareness colours and day were democratically polled across all Long Haulers in all different online communities. She also explains how her efforts have been in collaboration with many long haulers who have helped with design work, the website, coming up with the wonderful merchandise and everything else involved in setting up a brand-new Awareness Day.
I want to shine a strong spotlight on The International Long Covid Awareness Day on 15th March and you can find out all about it on the website, which is in the show notes. Long Haulers have been speaking for years now about how we need an awareness day or month like so many other conditions, and also awareness ribbon and colours. Now we have it! Speaking of the Long Covid awareness colours - Grey, Teal and Black - I really love what they represent, and how represented everyone who cast a vote is in their existence.
Last but by no means least, Angela briefly shares her own Long Covid story with us, which actually began back in December 2019 - speaking of first wave pioneers! Angela describes her Long Covid experience, and how certain medications such as Acyclovir for epstein barr and Pavlovid for a reinfection helped her to ‘level up’, as she puts it. She also describes her experience as a mother homeschooling her children through the pandemic and Long Covid, and how helpful the community online and through the Open Zoom Rooms have been in her journey with Long Covid.
Disclaimer: **Please note that we are not medical professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. The Long Covid Hope Podcast or Sarah, Long Haul Yogi does not endorse any treatments described in the podcast episodes. Always speak to your doctor or medical practitioner before starting any new treatments, supplements or beginning a new exercise routine.**
Trigger Warnings: references to suicide, medical gaslighting, traumatic experiences
Time stamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(4:30) Interview with Angela
(7:30) How the Long Covid Awareness Day and Colours happened
(18:30) Long Covid Awareness Colours - Grey, Black and Teal
(27:00) How to take part in Long Covid Awareness Day
(40:00) Discussing support resources available for Long Haulers - and Hope
(49:00) Angela’s Long Covid experience
