Most COVID-19 infections go away within the first couple of weeks, but for some people, even those who weren’t seriously ill, these symptoms can last much longer.

Having persistent symptoms that continue or develop after your COVID-19 infection has gone away is referred to as Long COVID, or post COVID-19 Syndrome.

The symptoms experienced can be varied and can even change over time. It can also include new health problems experienced following a COVID-19 infection.

Long COVID is a new condition which is still being studied. The Office of National Statistics reports that there are an estimated 1.9 million people in the UK with Long Covid (March, 2023). Long Covid can affect your physical and mental wellbeing and ability to engage in everyday activities. Unfortunately, there is currently no medical cure. NICE guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach to symptom management.

Common symptoms:

  • Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Loss of smell
  • Muscle or joint pain

Other symptoms can include:

  • Problems with memory or concentration (can be called ‘brain fog’)
  • Tightness or pain in the chest
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Heart palpitations (when you notice your heart beating)
  • Pins and needles
  • Flu or cold symptoms – fever, coughs, sore throats
  • Stomach problems – nausea, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite

If you are worried about symptoms four or more weeks after you have had COVID-19, (or think you had COVID-19), contact your GP Practice.

They will decide what tests, treatments and support you need to manage your symptoms. If your primary healthcare provider thinks you may have Long COVID they may suggest some tests to find out more about your symptoms, and to rule out other things that could be causing them. They can also refer you to our service for further support with symptom management. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have 6 clinics to support patients across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight. 

Referral is via your GP surgery, consultant or Health Care Professional only. NHS staff can access the service through their Occupational Health department. You must be over 18 years old to access this service.

Long covid support recordings

We have produced a series of videos to help with your breathing and fatigue management following infection with COVID 19. These short films will give you techniques and coping methods to help you manage your ongoing symptoms.

We hope you find them helpful:

Long covid fatigue support films
Long covid breathing support films
Long covid relaxation techniques

  • A triage call to briefly discuss your symptoms, decide if you would benefit from our service and if you would, to develop an initial plan
  • You will be signed up to the Living With’ app, if appropriate, and asked to complete some questionnaires about the severity of your symptoms
  • You may be offered to attend an educational group / groups which will be virtual (via zoom)
  • An initial assessment where you will have the opportunity to explain your symptoms and how they effect you in more detail. This will be on a 1:1 basis with a clinician
  • Ongoing support and to be listened to
  • Signposting to other support services as appropriate

Our service is a Rehabilitation service which is led by Allied Health professionals, with support from a GP and consultants. The team includes Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Nurses, Care Coordinators, and experienced Administration staff. The medical management of your symptoms remains with your GP and we will focus on rehabilitation and self management techniques. We can make onwards referrals to other services to support you to manage your pain, fatigue and work as appropriate. We provide a personalised approach to symptom management to support your recovery. This can include providing advice on fatigue and activity management, breathing retraining, improving your sleep and relaxation.

Our appointments are mainly virtual (via zoom or telephone), but face to face appointments may be carried out where necessary.

Hampshire

Portsmouth and Southampton

Isle of Wight

If you’re looking for information on how Long COVID can affect children, or are looking after a child presenting symptoms, the Long Covid Kids charity provides a host of information and resources.

They also have a service that connects children living with Long COVID for peer support. This also includes connecting parents and caregivers.

If I have Long COVID am I still infectious?

No. You are usually only infectious for up to 10 days after developing COVID-19 symptoms.

Can I refer myself into the Long COVID support service?

No, you will need a referral from a clinician into the service. This is because a clinician will need to make sure your symptoms aren’t from anything else, and that you don’t have another respiratory problem. They will also be best placed to assess what support you need.

When will I get back to normal?

Recovery is different for everyone. You might find you make a full recovery within 12 weeks of your initial infection, but you might find your recovery takes significantly longer. Some people also notice that they feel better on some days, and worse on others. The length of time it takes a person to get better isn’t always linked to how ill they were with COVID-19 or whether they were in hospital.

If new problems or symptoms occur and you’re worried about them, seek medical support.

When should I go back to work?

This will depend on your health problems and what your job involves. You could think about returning to work if your symptoms have stayed the same or improved over a period of time, you can manage your symptoms, and you are able to carry out daily activity without your symptoms getting worse.

Before you return to work, make sure you recognise your limitations. We would suggest meeting with your manager or occupational health team to discuss how you’re feeling and your current symptoms. They may be able to introduce a phased return or make reasonable adjustments for you.

“Thank you all for improving my lifestyle and giving me skills to cope with life following COVID”

“Thank you very much for this course, it has made me much more aware of how I have been breathing”

“To know There were others struggling like I was. I have found the Long Covid journey very isolating. To understand what fatigue was and how to manage it. I found the breathing more difficult to master. The relaxation and mindfulness was very helpful and I have incorporated into my efforts to manage the fatigue and sleeplessness."

“I cannot speak highly enough of the staff. The support that they have given me over the last year has really helped me negotiate a long and difficult journey. I am so grateful to them.”

“The quality of the people who helped and supported me and the way the help and support continued over time.”

“Once this was explained to me, I started to understand how modifying my behaviour was key to my recovery.”

Talking Therapies

Mental Health support

Mind support line:

Call Mind's support line on 0300 102 1234.

This is a safe space for you to talk about your mental health. Advisors are trained to listen to you and help you find specialist support if you need it. Open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

Samaritans:

You can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year:

Samaritans is there for anyone who wants to talk. 

Shout:

Text “Shout” to 85258 –  Open 24/7, confidential free text support service.

Financial / benefits advice:

Adults Health and Care: 

Blue Badge applications:

Additional help on the Isle of Wight:

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