If you’ve had COVID-19 and are experiencing lingering after effects, you may have a phenomenon known as post-COVID syndrome. Although each individual experiences unique symptoms of “long COVID,” conditions such as fatigue, shortness of breath, new depression or anxiety, and dizziness are common. Although more studies are necessary to explore treatments for long COVID, new findings indicate that ketamine therapy may be helpful in alleviating symptoms of post-COVID syndrome. Think you may be experiencing post-COVID syndrome? Here, we share more about what to watch for and discuss with your medical team.
What is Post-COVID Syndrome?
COVID-19 is a disease that keeps us guessing. Although most people make a complete recovery in just a few weeks, some COVID patients continue to contend with symptoms long after initially recovering. Even if you had a mild case, it’s possible to experience long-term effects, including (but not limited to):
- Extreme or unexplained fatigue
- Depression or anxiety
- Persistent headaches
- Difficulty with memory, concentration, or sleep
- Chest pain
- Organ damage
Needless to say, post-COVID syndrome presents with a wide array of symptoms. Some can be debilitating, but all are frustrating for the person experiencing them. One of the most challenging aspects of working toward relief of this condition is that there’s often no clear cut path forward. Although treating underlying conditions and prioritizing good-quality sleep and a healthy diet may help, some patients are often left with disappointing results. Since we’re still learning more about COVID-19 and its long-term effects, health professionals have limited tools in their arsenal. The CDC recommends following up with your healthcare team every two to three months to evaluate the status of your symptoms and treatment plan.
If you’ve noticed that you’re struggling to live life the way you did before contracting COVID-19, you may benefit from exploring new treatments. If you’re already working closely with a medical team and haven’t found success with your initial plan of action, ketamine therapy may be an option to consider. Ketamine infusions provide anti-inflammatory effects, which may be especially helpful for individuals experiencing chronic pain, fatigue, or mental health disorders related to COVID-19. If you’re interested in determining whether you’re a candidate for this type of treatment, please reach out to our team. During our consultation, we’ll learn more about your history and symptoms to determine if we’re the right fit. Our team of medical professionals is highly experienced with treating a plethora of conditions and look forward to helping you find relief.
